Why Don't You Push Harder?

Drive, Commitment and Balance.

People don’t succeed because they’re lacking in these areas, whether in life or the gym.

There are days when I don’t feel like getting up at 3:45AM. I lay back down for a minute and think about all the effort I’ve put into this and my goals, hop out of bed and go kill it (preworkout shake helps). There are also days when I’m getting up and my wife tells me not to leave. I get back into bed. Its an issue of balance.

My question is “if this isn’t something that you’re serious about, why waste your time and money”?

@newdude that posted on complacency (too lazy to go back and look up your username) but what you said is true. Once you become the big fish in a little pond it can be hard to stay focused. Which is why I continue to log into this site. I need those guys in the Tcell to keep me grounded because I rarely see them at my gyms and I also like being held accountable.

[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]its_just_me wrote:
As has been stated numerous times, bad/no progress is a personality thing.

Lack of drive and focus (nothing to do with time, set backs, budget etc).

Secondly, it’s genetics. That’s not an excuse, it’s a fact.

Example: Someone who started off proper skinny (and by skinny, I mean to the point of being able to see your heart beat! true in my case believe it or not, e.g. 130 something pounds at 6 feet tall…and that ‘before’ picture on my hub was AFTER lifting lol) and needs 5000-6000 cals a day just to be able to gain a little is going to struggle to stand out…at least for a very long time. It takes time just to look average in clothes for these people.

If you have a metabolism that’s so fast that you can lose weight on 4000 cals a day, there’s no way that compares to the progress someone made when they just had to eat “normaly” to gain their first 30+lbs. I hear people moaning about having to eat 4000 cals a day to gain, well I have to eat that to maintain my weight LOL.

Once again, it’s not an excuse, simply a set back that needs to be over-come and delays “standing out” for some time.[/quote]

Dude, if I posted a picture of me in junior high, you would think I was joking. I was that skinny. I got to high school weighing 90lbs and was only 150 by the time I graduated…and I worked UP to that by using some lame dumbbells at home and doing push ups.

I agree that genetics play a large part…but those of you still believing that any big guy you see was born that way need to stop. Some of the most stand out players in bodybuilding started out as skinny guys with super fast metabolisms. It took eating in excess of 6,000cals a day many times for me to progress in weight. That is simply what you do if you want it bad enough. That part has shit to do with genetics because a bodybuilder would WANT a fast metabolism. It means they can get away with eating things others can’t.[/quote]

I remember in a thread you said something about your knees giving you shit in the winter. When you were still doing BB exercises for legs, what did you do to overcome this? [/quote]

Nothing. I dealt with the pain and kept training them.

One last thing.

Excuses are for those too lazy to achieve their goals.

I work a min of 50hrs + per week. Manage a team of over 20. Wife and 4 kids at home. Had surgery w/in the last year. Get bone spurs and arthritis. I’ve literally walked into the office on crutches because I was squatting too heavy. Plus my commute is 1 hr both ways (Houstonians, you know what I’m talking about. Katy to Greenspoint is murder in Houston traffic.)

My point is twofold. 1 - most people have lame excuses. 2 - Remind myself how hard I work.

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]its_just_me wrote:
As has been stated numerous times, bad/no progress is a personality thing.

Lack of drive and focus (nothing to do with time, set backs, budget etc).

Secondly, it’s genetics. That’s not an excuse, it’s a fact.

Example: Someone who started off proper skinny (and by skinny, I mean to the point of being able to see your heart beat! true in my case believe it or not, e.g. 130 something pounds at 6 feet tall…and that ‘before’ picture on my hub was AFTER lifting lol) and needs 5000-6000 cals a day just to be able to gain a little is going to struggle to stand out…at least for a very long time. It takes time just to look average in clothes for these people.

If you have a metabolism that’s so fast that you can lose weight on 4000 cals a day, there’s no way that compares to the progress someone made when they just had to eat “normaly” to gain their first 30+lbs. I hear people moaning about having to eat 4000 cals a day to gain, well I have to eat that to maintain my weight LOL.

Once again, it’s not an excuse, simply a set back that needs to be over-come and delays “standing out” for some time.[/quote]

Dude, if I posted a picture of me in junior high, you would think I was joking. I was that skinny. I got to high school weighing 90lbs and was only 150 by the time I graduated…and I worked UP to that by using some lame dumbbells at home and doing push ups.

I agree that genetics play a large part…but those of you still believing that any big guy you see was born that way need to stop. Some of the most stand out players in bodybuilding started out as skinny guys with super fast metabolisms. It took eating in excess of 6,000cals a day many times for me to progress in weight. That is simply what you do if you want it bad enough. That part has shit to do with genetics because a bodybuilder would WANT a fast metabolism. It means they can get away with eating things others can’t.[/quote]

I’m talking about almost being ‘emaciated’, not just skinny. It’s extremely rare to see people who’re like that naturally make gains to the point of standing out amongst big guys (without chemical assistance/considerable body fat). Some people just aren’t cut out to be huge.

It’s hard to know what your perception of skinny is and how “skinny” you actually were…and whether that was just teen years you’re referring to. In another thread, to prove a point (about not looking like he trained hard), you said that you looked like the OP (~180lbs) before you started lifting in your early 20’s.

Of course you weren’t big all the time, no-one said you were. But it didn’t take you two years just to look “normal” in cloths.

When you ate upwards of 6000 cals a day, that got you to over 250lbs right? Actually, if I remember right you’ve weighed as high as 280lbs? Where did 6000 cals get me? Not far past 200lbs. What am I going to have to eat to get up to 250lbs+ - , 8000 cals/day? Which person is going to reach their weight goals the fastest?

There’s no excuse for pathetic progress (which abounds), just saying that person A will stand out really well and get complements compared to person B…depending on genetics, not just effort per ce. Although, this is the EXCEPTION not the rule. Nobody looks huge without determination. And even the worst of genetics can do considerably better than present.

Please do, we could do with a laugh :slight_smile:

[quote]Loudog75 wrote:
One last thing.

Excuses are for those too lazy to achieve their goals.

I work a min of 50hrs + per week. Manage a team of over 20. Wife and 4 kids at home. Had surgery w/in the last year. Get bone spurs and arthritis. I’ve literally walked into the office on crutches because I was squatting too heavy. Plus my commute is 1 hr both ways (Houstonians, you know what I’m talking about. Katy to Greenspoint is murder in Houston traffic.)

My point is twofold. 1 - most people have lame excuses. 2 - Remind myself how hard I work.[/quote]

You da man

[quote]Professor X wrote:

Dude, if I posted a picture of me in junior high, you would think I was joking. I was that skinny. [/quote]

Aye, do it - it will motivate those with a hardgainer attitude.

[quote]plateau wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

Dude, if I posted a picture of me in junior high, you would think I was joking. I was that skinny. [/quote]

Aye, do it - it will motivate those with a hardgainer attitude.[/quote]

I really don’t want to…because the difference is that drastic. I’m not trying to go viral.

POIDH!

[quote]WormwoodTheory wrote:
POIDH![/quote]

Your wheels: POYDH!
=> http://tnation.T-Nation.com/free_online_forum/blog_sports_training_performance_bodybuilding_alpha/members_before_and_after?pageNo=17#bottom

FattyFat: I’ve been wanting to contact you, but I don’t do PM’s. You think you can send me a quick email with the contact info I have in my hub?

I must admit overcoming social conventions of what ‘big’ means from one person to another has been a big step. By no means am I big, but learning to train for yourself and your own definitions definitely helped me overcome people commenting on my big squatters ass. When I first got in bodybuilding I thought you could get big without gaining any unsightly flab, but now I don’t care and train for myself. Body image is a problem in society and it is definitely a constricting factor on a lot of peoples quest to be swole.

[quote]FattyFat wrote:

[quote]WormwoodTheory wrote:
POIDH![/quote]

Your wheels: POYDH!
=> http://tnation.T-Nation.com/free_online_forum/blog_sports_training_performance_bodybuilding_alpha/members_before_and_after?pageNo=17#bottom[/quote]

no problem man, update within the week, promise!

I’m late to the party don’t want to read through 12 pages of responses, so please forgive me if my ‘excuses’ have been posted already.

Also, is this thread going to come with constructive criticism? Just wondering.

I have mandatory PT three times a week. I’ve said before that I like running, but I’ve cut back so that this is the only time I do run.

I’ve changed my diet so that I’m eating a couple cheeseburgers for lunch and a pizza for dinners most days. Breakfast is usually a couple instant oatmeal packs and a protein shake, and another shake post workout. Some days I miss a meal due to work or kids ot other things, some days I miss more than one.

My training… For those who don’t know, I’m a single father in the USAF. The childcare I use has a ten hour per day limit. After that it’s $1/kid/minute for three kids. I’m barely making ends meet as it is; I absolutely cannot afford that.

So after work I change at my shop, haul ass over to the gym where I do as much I can for 35-40 minutes, and then haul ass to get the kids. Most days I do not feel like I accomplished enough. If anyone has any ideas on how to get more out of a very limited time, I’m dying to know.

My current split is something like Monday - Friday, Shoulders, back, chest, legs, arms. The main reason I have a dedicated arm day is so that I can make up a day if I missed it during the week.

Thanks for any help y’all can offer.

[quote]Mad HORSE wrote:
I’m late to the party don’t want to read through 12 pages of responses, so please forgive me if my ‘excuses’ have been posted already.

Also, is this thread going to come with constructive criticism? Just wondering.

I have mandatory PT three times a week. I’ve said before that I like running, but I’ve cut back so that this is the only time I do run.

I’ve changed my diet so that I’m eating a couple cheeseburgers for lunch and a pizza for dinners most days. Breakfast is usually a couple instant oatmeal packs and a protein shake, and another shake post workout. Some days I miss a meal due to work or kids ot other things, some days I miss more than one.

My training… For those who don’t know, I’m a single father in the USAF. The childcare I use has a ten hour per day limit. After that it’s $1/kid/minute for three kids. I’m barely making ends meet as it is; I absolutely cannot afford that.

So after work I change at my shop, haul ass over to the gym where I do as much I can for 35-40 minutes, and then haul ass to get the kids. Most days I do not feel like I accomplished enough. If anyone has any ideas on how to get more out of a very limited time, I’m dying to know.

My current split is something like Monday - Friday, Shoulders, back, chest, legs, arms. The main reason I have a dedicated arm day is so that I can make up a day if I missed it during the week.

Thanks for any help y’all can offer.[/quote]

A db with enough plates at home would go a long way in improving your training.
That way, you could just go to the gym to do the absolute heavy stuff you can’t do at home.

Other than that: go unilateral and heavy. Use your free arm as an el-cheapo spotter.

  • floor presses can build decent pecs, too; once did them with 145 lbs for reps
  • kroc rows, db rows, lateral raises leaning away
  • conc-curls, french press, pinwheels, hammer curls, elbow extension
  • db overhead press
  • shrugs
  • throw in a chin-up bar and a chain / dip belt and you’re set

el-cheapo home gym: it’s not perfect, but will get the job done - and doesn’t occupy any noticeable space

Why cheeseburgers and pizza?

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
FattyFat: I’ve been wanting to contact you, but I don’t do PM’s. You think you can send me a quick email with the contact info I have in my hub? [/quote]

Sent an email your way.

[quote]FattyFat wrote:

[quote]Mad HORSE wrote:
I’m late to the party don’t want to read through 12 pages of responses, so please forgive me if my ‘excuses’ have been posted already.

Also, is this thread going to come with constructive criticism? Just wondering.

I have mandatory PT three times a week. I’ve said before that I like running, but I’ve cut back so that this is the only time I do run.

I’ve changed my diet so that I’m eating a couple cheeseburgers for lunch and a pizza for dinners most days. Breakfast is usually a couple instant oatmeal packs and a protein shake, and another shake post workout. Some days I miss a meal due to work or kids ot other things, some days I miss more than one.

My training… For those who don’t know, I’m a single father in the USAF. The childcare I use has a ten hour per day limit. After that it’s $1/kid/minute for three kids. I’m barely making ends meet as it is; I absolutely cannot afford that.

So after work I change at my shop, haul ass over to the gym where I do as much I can for 35-40 minutes, and then haul ass to get the kids. Most days I do not feel like I accomplished enough. If anyone has any ideas on how to get more out of a very limited time, I’m dying to know.

My current split is something like Monday - Friday, Shoulders, back, chest, legs, arms. The main reason I have a dedicated arm day is so that I can make up a day if I missed it during the week.

Thanks for any help y’all can offer.[/quote]

A db with enough plates at home would go a long way in improving your training.
That way, you could just go to the gym to do the absolute heavy stuff you can’t do at home.

Other than that: go unilateral and heavy. Use your free arm as an el-cheapo spotter.

  • floor presses can build decent pecs, too; once did them with 145 lbs for reps
  • kroc rows, db rows, lateral raises leaning away
  • conc-curls, french press, pinwheels, hammer curls, elbow extension
  • db overhead press
  • shrugs
  • throw in a chin-up bar and a chain / dip belt and you’re set

el-cheapo home gym: it’s not perfect, but will get the job done - and doesn’t occupy any noticeable space

[/quote]

Good idea, thanks a lot. I really want to get past the ‘barely looks like he trains’ look, so this and any other advice is greatly appreciated.

Like the good Prof has said, “Like attracts like.” That’s one of the main reasons I started on these forums. I read a lot of the BB, PL, and Combat boards, but as probably the smallest dude around I don’t feel that I have any busines posting most of the time.

[quote]MeltedFace wrote:
Why cheeseburgers and pizza? [/quote]

Extremely calorie and protein dense foods for cheap.

There are better alternatives for sure though, probably cheaper. For my clients who want to get bigger but don’t have a lot of money, I recommend buying rice and whole chickens. You can get tons of quality calories and quality protein at a pretty decent price. 6 whole chickens plus a few bags of rice won’t run more than $40/week. Throw in some vegetables, seasoning, or sauce of your choice and you’re good to go. Lots of calories and lots of protein.

Yeah you have to spend some time cooking the rice/chicken and picking apart the chickens, but you’ll have a lot of meals and probably save money in the long run. I realize time is a huge constraint for you, but it’s definitely worth it if you can make the time.

I have no doubt that it’s not just your busy schedule and stress level that is causing your lackluster workouts, it’s also your nutrition. You probably aren’t getting good quality carbs to fuel your workouts from the hamburger buns and pizza crust and all the dairy from the cheeses isn’t going to make your body very fuel efficient. In fact, those foods are probably harming you just as much as you might think they are helping you.

If you don’t have time to cook chickens and rice, you could try picking up rotisserie chickens and minute rice as that will cut your prep time immensely. Yeah rotisserie chickens are loaded with sodium, but ripping off the skin will bring that sodium content down a lot. I have no doubt that what you are already eating has more sodium anyway.

What’s your weekly food budget look like and how much time do you have to prepare meals a week?

[quote]MeltedFace wrote:
There are better alternatives for sure though, probably cheaper. For my clients who want to get bigger but don’t have a lot of money, I recommend buying rice and whole chickens. You can get tons of quality calories and quality protein at a pretty decent price. 6 whole chickens plus a few bags of rice won’t run more than $40/week. Throw in some vegetables, seasoning, or sauce of your choice and you’re good to go. Lots of calories and lots of protein.

Yeah you have to spend some time cooking the rice/chicken and picking apart the chickens, but you’ll have a lot of meals and probably save money in the long run. I realize time is a huge constraint for you, but it’s definitely worth it if you can make the time.

I have no doubt that it’s not just your busy schedule and stress level that is causing your lackluster workouts, it’s also your nutrition. You probably aren’t getting good quality carbs to fuel your workouts from the hamburger buns and pizza crust and all the dairy from the cheeses isn’t going to make your body very fuel efficient. In fact, those foods are probably harming you just as much as you might think they are helping you.[/quote]

No shit? I thought the source of carbs didn’t matter once it hit the bloodstream. It all became the same then.

And with the dairy - it’s not good for weight gain then?

[quote]MeltedFace wrote:
If you don’t have time to cook chickens and rice, you could try picking up rotisserie chickens and minute rice as that will cut your prep time immensely. Yeah rotisserie chickens are loaded with sodium, but ripping off the skin will bring that sodium content down a lot. I have no doubt that what you are already eating has more sodium anyway.

What’s your weekly food budget look like and how much time do you have to prepare meals a week?
[/quote]

This is all great stuff, and if I do things right it’s very doable. Thanks alot!