The Fitness New Age

Off Topic
601

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]This thread was largely about the venom these types of guys seem to bring forth from those hiding behind the internet.
[/quote]
What venom?[/quote]

Right…because “dick riding” and “jamming needles in asses” was the professional response and had no emotional intent?

LOL.

If nothing else it was a very negative way of bypassing a group of lifters completely based on perceived steroid use.

why?

Because how would you know one way or the other unless basing this completely on size alone if you just met someone?

Let’s not even get into the huge number of people who have used steroids and are still tiny.

602

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Let’s not even get into the huge number of people who have used steroids and are still tiny.
[/quote]

HUGE number?

Examples?

Link?

603

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]This thread was largely about the venom these types of guys seem to bring forth from those hiding behind the internet.
[/quote]

What venom? Some people not validating what they’re doing by applying it to their own lifting regiment does not equal venomous animosity.

Nor is it about “He’s on steroids therefore can’t tell me anything”. More like being discerning about what applies and what doesn’t. If you’re an 18-24 year old kid at peak androgen production and an unlimited supply of food- Knock yourself out. That is prime time for making gains that set the stage for a lifetime.

If you’re 40 years old, less than optimal diet, and have multiple stressors- dial it back. Improve what you can, but don’t do what some doped up goofball on youtube says just because he’s huge. Thats a surefire way to accumulate injury and end up further back than where you were.
[/quote]

I think who likes the videos is dependent on the demographics you speak of as well. When I was 25 and younger, I’d probably like these guys… sort of, at least. Now that I am 34 and no longer am hypnotized by men barking and bellowing and chest thumping or are otherwise dysfunctional aside from functioning in fitness, I am not a fan. It’s sort of like musical taste as well. I first discovered “gangsta rap” at nine years old in 1988 or 1989.

After that I moved onto genres like thrash, death, and black metal, and hardcore punk and “alternative”, whatever that might have been. I used to love the rage, disaffection, and angst expressed in the music. Now that real life is here, I no longer like these genres.

I’d rather listen to unassuming people, like CT, Shelby, Chris Aceto, Meadows, Stu, and the like for nutrition and training information.

604

It seems it isn’t about this intensity…and that love for being in the gym anymore.

It is now a gossip battle about who is on what…because that will lead to more people pushing their own limits.

605

When perception matches reality, where is the contention? They were right about guessing or knowing, but wrong because they did it in the first place?

In the same way that you don’t need to see a guy robbing a bank or selling dope, most people can also tell that it’s not a good idea to give certain people a ride to “take care of a couple of things”.

606

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:
When perception matches reality, where is the contention? They were right about guessing or knowing, but wrong because they did it in the first place?[/quote]

About WHO? The Hodge Twins or Kali? Or both? There are people who think they are all on drugs and that anyone that size is on drugs…so yes, this is about why you or anyone else would look at someone and their progress alone and make a judgment that all advice is useless based on it.

Bottom line, there is no way in hell for you to know for sure who is on what without huge assumptions on your part.

What does this have to do with progress in the weight room? You are relating steroid use to selling dope?

607

[quote]BrickHead wrote:

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]This thread was largely about the venom these types of guys seem to bring forth from those hiding behind the internet.
[/quote]

What venom? Some people not validating what they’re doing by applying it to their own lifting regiment does not equal venomous animosity.

Nor is it about “He’s on steroids therefore can’t tell me anything”. More like being discerning about what applies and what doesn’t. If you’re an 18-24 year old kid at peak androgen production and an unlimited supply of food- Knock yourself out. That is prime time for making gains that set the stage for a lifetime.

If you’re 40 years old, less than optimal diet, and have multiple stressors- dial it back. Improve what you can, but don’t do what some doped up goofball on youtube says just because he’s huge. Thats a surefire way to accumulate injury and end up further back than where you were.
[/quote]

I think who likes the videos is dependent on the demographics you speak of as well. When I was 25 and younger, I’d probably like these guys… sort of, at least. Now that I am 34 and no longer am hypnotized by men barking and bellowing and chest thumping or are otherwise dysfunctional aside from functioning in fitness, I am not a fan. It’s sort of like musical taste as well. I first discovered “gangsta rap” at nine years old in 1988 or 1989. After that I moved onto genres like thrash, death, and black metal, and hardcore punk and “alternative”, whatever that might have been. I used to love the rage, disaffection, and angst expressed in the music. Now that real life is here, I no longer like these genres.

I’d rather listen to unassuming people, like CT, Shelby, Chris Aceto, Meadows, Stu, and the like for nutrition and training information.
[/quote]

Yeah. There is a much higher quality to the content, depth and experience to those guys. I’m sure the rah-rah based stuff serves some purpose to some people but I’m more interested content at this point than some dude reppin no-splode with his partner, both of whom are on a boatload of drugs and yelling “This is how we roll Bitchez!”.

608

[quote]BrickHead wrote:

I’d rather listen to unassuming people
[/quote]

I’d rather listen to whoever can help me reach my goal.

Sitting around waiting for the person who acts just the way you like may not lead you there.

To each his own.

609

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]BrickHead wrote:

I’d rather listen to unassuming people
[/quote]

I’d rather listen to whoever can help me reach my goal.

Sitting around waiting for the person who acts just the way you like may not lead you there.

To each his own.[/quote]

Yes, to each his own.

Unassuming people are far too numerous that I’d be left with a bunch of chest thumping loudmouths. If you like that style, fine.

610

[quote]Professor X wrote:

What does this have to do with progress in the weight room? You are relating steroid use to selling dope?[/quote]

No. I’m talking about an intuitive sense of who fits with who, in that most people know (whether they know or not) the difference between a natural build, a somewhat assisted build, and someone who doesn’t want too much blood in their drugstream.

Same way you can look at someone who has gone under the knife and tell that those are not the tits, lips, nose or hair that they were born with.
Then again, some guys do end up going home with a girl who’s schlong is bigger than theirs.

611

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

No. I’m talking about an intuitive sense of who fits with who, in that most people know (whether they know or not) the difference between a natural build, a somewhat assisted build, and someone who doesn’t want too much blood in their drugstream.

[/quote]

So you use this to judge who you will and won’t listen to? You judge how big they are and then decide to listen to them based on potential steroid use?

No offense, guy…but it just doesn’t seem like guys who think like this ever have much to worry about looking like they use steroids themselves.

This seems to be the mindset of those who don’t really plan on building much.

612

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

No. I’m talking about an intuitive sense of who fits with who, in that most people know (whether they know or not) the difference between a natural build, a somewhat assisted build, and someone who doesn’t want too much blood in their drugstream.

[/quote]

So you use this to judge who you will and won’t listen to? You judge how big they are and then decide to listen to them based on potential steroid use?

No offense, guy…but it just doesn’t seem like guys who think like this ever have much to worry about looking like they use steroids themselves.

This seems to be the mindset of those who don’t really plan on building much.[/quote]

X, speaking totally serious here. Don’t you think that with all this talk for years–on how OTHERS are not stepping up to the plate, not stacking up, not trying hard, not being huge or very strong, or are inferior to you or others in some way–that you should finally step up to the plate and enter a show in which you will be judged against other men who cut the mustard?

You know, finally, be stacked up against other jacked dudes, people of your own kind, the kind that is really trying hard, who are heavily dedicated. It would be an experience in which you are only surrounded by these people and won’t have the burden of being around people you have to carry on your back with the burden of helping them out and seeing the light. Or perhaps you could tell them they aren’t trying hard enough and seeing how it pans out, or help them with their next show, not just the sort of less consequential e-coaching on these boards.

What do you think?

613

[quote]Professor X wrote:

So you use this to judge who you will and won’t listen to? You judge how big they are and then decide to listen to them based on potential steroid use?
[/quote]
Yes.

As silly as it seems, I’ve actually been asked by several people what I was using. (Crazy, huh?)

[quote]
This seems to be the mindset of those who don’t really plan on building much.[/quote]

It’s always hard to tell what people plan. I’ve also been asked if I even lift at all.

Perceptions of others is a bitch. Perceptions of self are even worse sometimes.

614

[quote]Professor X wrote:
No offense, guy…but it just doesn’t seem like guys who think like this ever have much to worry about looking like they use steroids themselves.

This seems to be the mindset of those who don’t really plan on building much.[/quote]

And yet if you chat with any of the top WNBF or IFPA Pros (which for my money, I’d say damn f-ing impressive, easily like they ‘use steroids’ to a layman), they’ll all echo a similar sentiment. So just who do you think you’re speaking for when you throw such blanket descriptions, and in all honesty, do you really think that they dedicate time to the gym, and a daily dietary plan, for years on end, and yet don’t plan on achieving “much?”

It’s been said by others on here already, and I’ll say it again; a healthy understanding of what’s realistically possible and what isn’t doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Heck, why can’t I look at the Incredible Hulk’s physique and honestly believe that if I really have faith in myself, eat right and train hard, that eventually I can achieve the same physique? Where is the line actually drawn?

S

615

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

So you use this to judge who you will and won’t listen to? You judge how big they are and then decide to listen to them based on potential steroid use?
[/quote]
Yes.

[/quote]

That’s all I needed to know.

616

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:

And yet if you chat with any of the top WNBF or IFPA Pros (which for my money, I’d say damn f-ing impressive, easily like they ‘use steroids’ to a layman), they’ll all echo a similar sentiment. So just who do you think you’re speaking for when you throw such blanket descriptions, and in all honesty, do you really think that they dedicate time to the gym, and a daily dietary plan, for years on end, and yet don’t plan on achieving “much?”

It’s been said by others on here already, and I’ll say it again; a healthy understanding of what’s realistically possible and what isn’t doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Heck, why can’t I look at the Incredible Hulk’s physique and honestly believe that if I really have faith in myself, eat right and train hard, that eventually I can achieve the same physique? Where is the line actually drawn?

S[/quote]

No offense, Stu, but you just had a guy admit he chooses who NOT to listen to based on size alone and “potential” steroid use.

If you want to believe top naturals in the sport also do that to everyone they see in the gym, so be it.

I don’t believe it at all and will wait for them to speak for themselves and say that.

You seem to be at ease speaking for all of them.

617

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:
It means there are people turning their noses up at other lifters because they think they are too big to tell them anything.[/quote]

I’m pretty sure that’s the last thing it means, that you shouldn’t listen to someone because they’re “too big.”

S[/quote]

Damn…I guess you were wrong about that one, huh?

618

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

So you use this to judge who you will and won’t listen to? You judge how big they are and then decide to listen to them based on potential steroid use?
[/quote]
Yes.

[/quote]

That’s all I needed to know.

[/quote]

Of course it is. You’ve been begging for validation of your idea this entire thread!

I’m surprised you’re even willing to accept it from a pipsqueak like me!

619

[quote]Professor X wrote:
No offense, Stu, but you just had a guy admit he chooses who NOT to listen to based on size alone and “potential” steroid use.[/quote]

Which, while only one individual, is perfectly alright and nothing worth a flogging in my book. There are plenty of other very reputable sources out there who not only have achieved amazing results, but have proven to be unassisted.

If that’s what someone needs to look up to another, then so what? To be honest, having been around many of the competitors I have been over the years (assisted and non), I like to think I’ve got a good eye for at least judging what’s probably an enhanced physique. Yes, I will always acknowledge the potential of a rare genetic freak. Of course I’m certainly rationale enough to understand that I can’t base all of my internet arguments on every single dude throwing videos online being that unique outlier.

[quote]If you want to believe top naturals in the sport also do that to everyone they see in the gym, so be it.
[/quote]

I will. You see unlike when you and I look at IFBB pros, read everything about them in the magazines, even chat and train with NPC competitors (as you’re fond of mentioning) at our respective gyms (I’ve actually trained and prepped a few, along with some professional athletes who have to be honest with me about any PED usage in addition to their definite superior genetics), I’m personal friends with a hell of a lot of the top natty pros, and they all seem to have a very different outlook on matters than you seem to think.
(See my ‘grain of salt’ reference earlier)

[quote]
I don’t believe it at all and will wait for them to speak for themselves and say that.[/quote]

And yet all of them seem to be on every other bodybuilding board but this one,… this sole site where you choose to stay, safely away from interacting with any pro competitors, coaches, ‘gurus’… anyone who might call you on any skewed perceptions you may be clinging to.

Yeah well, friends are like that :slight_smile:

S

620

[quote]BrickHead wrote:
Yeah, like on Tom Platz. Before I knew about this stuff, I never understood why his cheeks looked so big. [/quote]

Diet of tennis balls and unpeeled citrus fruits.