Why Don't You Push Harder?

Training Bodybuilding
81

[quote]CircaThursday wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]MEYMZ wrote:
I think this is not for everybody, and not everybody has what it takes.[/quote]

But look at the responses you get if you mention that. At least two of the posters here seemed truly pissed off that I dared to ask for a picture.[/quote]

Have you considered that people with sub-par genetics and a lack of bodily-kinestetic awareness/intuition are the people googling ways to look fit and seek supplements? so they end up at T-Nation and the people who “have it” don’t waste their time in forums?[/quote]

This is a very good post!

Does anyone consider that MOST people who have it going great don’t post much unless they simply like talking shop, want to entertain themselves, or like to help others.

Most people don’t want to spend so much time helping others unless they’re getting paid for it.

Only a few people of them find posting in forums so darn entertaining.

Most people don’t follow the SPORT of bodybuilding so closely in the first place, and it’s not like this site is a TRUE bodybuilding site. Otherwise they wouldn’t have articles that are being featured lately. Regardless of their title or byline (Relentless Pursuit…), they still have articles running by Eric Cressey, Chad Waterbury, and the like.

You’re not gonna find people who know what they’re doing lurking around here much unless they truly love posting for whatever reason.

They don’t post shit like:

“What do you think of this diet?”
“What do you think of this program?”
“Triceps lagging - what do I do?”
“What are some good eats for lunch?”
“What’s the best breakfast?”
“Maltodextrin versus waxy maize?”
“My transformation.” (Their transformation was done a long time ago if they now are adept at this shit.)

People who figured this shit out don’t need to inquire endlessly, so they don’t wind up here.

82

My problem when I was training with bodybuilding in mind was information overload and focusing on what people said was gospel and not listening to what I found worked. I followed a basic four day split and ate four times a day and that got me 30lbs of mass in 2 months, with very little fat. Then when I went back to school I thought that since I had my own kitchen I should eat six times a day out of tupperware, then do a bunch of rear delt and ab shit that I didn’t need. The problem with eating from tupperware in class sizes of 12 people is it’s fucking annoying and all that useless shit I was doing on tiny muscle groups was really cutting into my eating time.
It took me months to gain a pound and even longer to listen to my body before I started gaining steadily again.

So, I guess the problem was trying to balance listening to bigger guys with listening to what works for my body. It seems dumb now that I think of it, but it was really conflicting at the time.

83

[quote]Guilty77 wrote:
My problem when I was training with bodybuilding in mind was information overload and focusing on what people said was gospel and not listening to what I found worked. I followed a basic four day split and ate four times a day and that got me 30lbs of mass in 2 months, with very little fat. Then when I went back to school I thought that since I had my own kitchen I should eat six times a day out of tupperware, then do a bunch of rear delt and ab shit that I didn’t need. The problem with eating from tupperware in class sizes of 12 people is it’s fucking annoying and all that useless shit I was doing on tiny muscle groups was really cutting into my eating time.
It took me months to gain a pound and even longer to listen to my body before I started gaining steadily again.

So, I guess the problem was trying to balance listening to bigger guys with listening to what works for my body. It seems dumb now that I think of it, but it was really conflicting at the time.[/quote]

not to nitpick but if people spent more time concentrating on rear delt work, people would probably injure themselves less due to muscle imbalance and we’d probably see a lot better looking shoulders.

84

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]dnlcdstn wrote:
These are excuses. I could pick myself over my families well being, but I think that makes me
a fucking loser.[/quote]

I think your time management sucks to be honest, that is the loser part, not the iron.

I read on a board FULL of fathers who compete.

Meat is a dad… Lanky still hits it hard 4 days a week…

Don’t get me wrong, at 4 months things are a bit different than my 13 year old, but… You need to learn better time management if you need to be a shitty father in order to spend time in the gym, lol.

And yes, that is how you make it sound, like an either/or, when it isn’t.[/quote]

I’m not sure of their time commitments or their financial well being. I work a lot of hours and don’t make as much as I would like. I would love to train 6 days a week. The grief I get now is enough and I only train every other day for 45 minutes. The negative comments I would receive from those around me just isn’t worth it to me.

85

[quote]behexen wrote:
I’m shocked by how many people don’t really care to push harder. The other day a 39 year old woman i work with was telling me how she is just content in keeping her figure how it was when she was younger. Not that she isn’t attractive as she is but I was surprised that she didn’t want to be “better” than before but only strived to look the same.
Another guy I work with was telling me how he doesn’t understand why I want to get big. That at 5’11 200lbs, i’m big enough and more impressive than the average guy. I couldn’t believe it, i asked him why he thought i’d bust my ass every night to just be average.

I’ve only been lifting for 2 years and although i’m no where near where you are X, i’ve made progress and would like to think i’m on my way. I respect all the hard work you’ve put in over the years and am glad that your willing to share your experiences with the rest of us.[/quote]

How old are you?

Ever stop to think and realize that some people attend a gym to simply stay in shape and don’t see that getting huge or in SUPERB (not average) shape provides them with little return on their investment. Examples: Their everyday needs and quality of life and deesires in life aren’t fulfilled by their strength and size (eg, attraction to opposite sex, relationships, income, social life, eTherefore, they put their energy and “hard pushing” elsewhere in life and the ones who really do give a shit about this (such as yourself) reserve high amounts of effort and time management for the gym. You and us here aren’t special because we attend a fucking gym and build muscle.

I myself made very good gains for many years and am now smaller and weaker simply because my desires in fitness, health, and LIFE changed. And yeah, this involves maintaining my physique and puttign effort into others areas of fitness and my life.

I just read an interview today in the Wall Street Journal with the CEO of advertising and PR giant WPP. This guy doesn’t have weekends! His life is split between NYC and London, UK offices and sometimes his Friday nights are spent on a fucking plane, away from his family and kids! He was asked about exercise and diet. His main concerns: not getting fat and keeping healthy. He has three squares a day and a measly three hours of exercise per week that he manages to fit in a killer schedule and while managing one of the biggest advertising and PR companies in the WORLD! So his interest doesn’t lie in getting physically better and better.

Most people don’t earn a living by getting bigger and bigger, and they don’t attract friends, build a family, or get laid from getting bigger and bigger.

There are hot shot lawyers, financiers, ad execs, and doctors who put in sixteen hour days while havign a wife and kids. They might not understand why you can’t or aren’t willing to put in the work to get richer and richer, just like they don’t understand why you’re trying to get bigger and bigger.

If it’s important to you, then it’s important! But don’t act like some pompous ass because you buy a 50 buck gym membership and step in a gym.

86

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]behexen wrote:
I’m shocked by how many people don’t really care to push harder. The other day a 39 year old woman i work with was telling me how she is just content in keeping her figure how it was when she was younger. Not that she isn’t attractive as she is but I was surprised that she didn’t want to be “better” than before but only strived to look the same.
Another guy I work with was telling me how he doesn’t understand why I want to get big. That at 5’11 200lbs, i’m big enough and more impressive than the average guy. I couldn’t believe it, i asked him why he thought i’d bust my ass every night to just be average.

I’ve only been lifting for 2 years and although i’m no where near where you are X, i’ve made progress and would like to think i’m on my way. I respect all the hard work you’ve put in over the years and am glad that your willing to share your experiences with the rest of us.[/quote]

How old are you?

Ever stop to think and realize that some people attend a gym to simply stay in shape and don’t see that getting huge or in SUPERB (not average) shape provides them with little return on their investment. Examples: Their everyday needs and quality of life and deesires in life aren’t fulfilled by their strength and size (eg, attraction to opposite sex, relationships, income, social life, eTherefore, they put their energy and “hard pushing” elsewhere in life and the ones who really do give a shit about this (such as yourself) reserve high amounts of effort and time management for the gym. You and us here aren’t special because we attend a fucking gym and build muscle.

I myself made very good gains for many years and am now smaller and weaker simply because my desires in fitness, health, and LIFE changed. And yeah, this involves maintaining my physique and puttign effort into others areas of fitness and my life.

I just read an interview today in the Wall Street Journal with the CEO of advertising and PR giant WPP. This guy doesn’t have weekends! His life is split between NYC and London, UK offices and sometimes his Friday nights are spent on a fucking plane, away from his family and kids! He was asked about exercise and diet. His main concerns: not getting fat and keeping healthy. He has three squares a day and a measly three hours of exercise per week that he manages to fit in a killer schedule and while managing one of the biggest advertising and PR companies in the WORLD! So his interest doesn’t lie in getting physically better and better.

Most people don’t earn a living by getting bigger and bigger, and they don’t attract friends, build a family, or get laid from getting bigger and bigger.

There are hot shot lawyers, financiers, ad execs, and doctors who put in sixteen hour days while havign a wife and kids. They might not understand why you can’t or aren’t willing to put in the work to get richer and richer, just like they don’t understand why you’re trying to get bigger and bigger.

If it’s important to you, then it’s important! But don’t act like some pompous ass because you buy a 50 buck gym membership and step in a gym. [/quote]

I think it comes down to what your priorities are in life. It is a very subjective topic, I realize this is a bodybuilding forum, but to each their own.

87

Il never stop pushing. Ever since i was little i wanted to be huge. Only recently i realised i actually had to pull my finger out and do something about it. this site has helped loads, reading the forums and stuff. Its completely taken over my life and I love it. I weigh everything i eat to make sure im getting at least 5k a day, even when the foods already made up (family meal) i take everything off individually and weigh it. Obsessive? yes, but i dont wanna leave anything to chance. Train 6 days a week, rarely miss a workout and always trying to put more weight on that bar. Its true about that inner drive, some people have it and some dont. I think thats all it boils down to. Everyones got that friend who wants to be huge or ripped, but isnt willing to put the work in.

88

21

I’m not trying to be a pompous dick by any means, I just gave the lady tips and pointers on what to do but I was just surprised. Idk I guess my thought process is that if your going to do something not to half ass it. Not to say that she isn’t working hard but i’m just a tunnel vision kind of guy who really dedicates myself to one thing at a time I guess.

I don’t think i’m better than others because I workout. In fact I don’t even go to the gym, i lift in my home gym in the basement. They came to me for advice like they were really concerned to get in shape yet their goals didn’t really seem any different from where they were now. In my mind the whole idea of goals is so you don’t stagnate and you keep pushing yourself. They didn’t seem to want to progress, they just don’t want to regress.

I didn’t mean any disrespect by it. It just caught me off guard I guess.

89

I am the archetype of the guy in the gym who doesnt get huge regardless of many years in there LOL.
My username here should probably be “skinnyfat guy at 135pounds”. So I will try to answer your question.

point 1: perception.
Average skinnyfat people like me think 180pounds lean is looking like you work out and its probably
our ideal body. We dont think of bodybuilding as a sport, but more as a form of strenght training that have
purpose of adding muscle. in short training for more muscle, but not training for haveing a body like a
pro bodybuilder.

point2: eating.
people like me will never get huge, because we dont have the disiplin to eat the amount that are necessary
to be huge. This is probably reason nr.1 that most people dont get huge.

point3: training.
I like to train, but put study`s, work etc first, therefor I dont train more than maximum 3 times pr week.
therefor I will never get huge.

This is probably why I will never get huge by your standard and I am ok with that. My goals are also
reflecting this, therefor my goals are to break rep pr on the big lifts etc not to acomplish what you have.

I know that what I am doing is not bodybuilding so I try to post as little as possible on this sub-forum.
But I felt this tread concerned guys like me.

If someone would like proof that I am a skinny weak guy, I have some pics in my hub LOL.

90

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]gregron wrote:
I’m sure a lot of people simply dont want to be huge. I’m pretty sure thats the honest answer more times than not.[/quote]

No offense, but we’ve been through this. No one is expecting all people to have the same goals. I am talking about WHY so few ever move past “works out”. If this were not the BODYBUILDING FORUM, you would have more of a point. Regardless of how big you really want to be, if you are here, the goal should be to NOT be average looking…because that ain’t bodybuilding.[/quote]

Oh i totally agree with your points.

I think there are a lot of people in life (and on this site) that talk a big game, but thats all it is… talk. I dont know why anyone would want to look/be “average.” Some people just dont have what it takes (mentally or physically)

My personal goals arent to get IFBB Pro Heavy weight size (i probably couldnt get that big even if I wanted to) but I definitely dont look average and dont plan on being average at anything.

91

Guys get big because they’re internally driven.

Most of my life I was the little guy (short and skinny), and I always wanted to be big. When I had the means to change that (college gym and meal plan), I did. Went from 125 to 165 in about 6 months, and haven’t looked back. I did it because I needed to know what it ‘felt like’ to be big. To be stronger than the guy next to me. I wanted it so bad that it didn’t matter what I had to put off or skip or whatever to be in the gym.
And by the way, I started out as a terrible lifter. That first 6 months I pretty much just hit upper body for the first 5 months, and did some leg presses the last month. But I kept reading articles on diet and working out (I found T-mag early on), and nobody worked harder than me, ate more than me, or saw results like I did. I started out as the smallest guy at the gym, shaking with a 45 pound bar on bench press, and benched 200 for the first time within 6 months because it meant more to me than it did to everyone else I saw. I didn’t skip workouts if my training partners weren’t available, and I didn’t miss meals either.
I think part of what drags some guys down is the people around them. I had a zillion haters around me, from my girlfriend who preferred ‘skinny me’, my parents who thought I was on steroids, and the friends who wanted to party more and work less. It’s easy to fall into all that crap, but for me, I just couldn’t keep myself from my goals.

92

[quote]dnlcdstn wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]dnlcdstn wrote:
These are excuses. I could pick myself over my families well being, but I think that makes me
a fucking loser.[/quote]

I think your time management sucks to be honest, that is the loser part, not the iron.

I read on a board FULL of fathers who compete.

Meat is a dad… Lanky still hits it hard 4 days a week…

Don’t get me wrong, at 4 months things are a bit different than my 13 year old, but… You need to learn better time management if you need to be a shitty father in order to spend time in the gym, lol.

And yes, that is how you make it sound, like an either/or, when it isn’t.[/quote]

I’m not sure of their time commitments or their financial well being. I work a lot of hours and don’t make as much as I would like. I would love to train 6 days a week. The grief I get now is enough and I only train every other day for 45 minutes. The negative comments I would receive from those around me just isn’t worth it to me. [/quote]

Don’t get me wrong, at 4 months old things aren’t easy, and every other day is good, lol.

And the comments are going to come, and you will feel guilty by your own means too. Shit dropping them off at daycare to go to work can be a mindfuck in itself.

Money also plays a huge roll in things. I get that too.

But you push through man. You learn and adapt and make a way. It isn’t easy, but one can do it.

93

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]behexen wrote:
I’m shocked by how many people don’t really care to push harder. The other day a 39 year old woman i work with was telling me how she is just content in keeping her figure how it was when she was younger. Not that she isn’t attractive as she is but I was surprised that she didn’t want to be “better” than before but only strived to look the same.
Another guy I work with was telling me how he doesn’t understand why I want to get big. That at 5’11 200lbs, i’m big enough and more impressive than the average guy. I couldn’t believe it, i asked him why he thought i’d bust my ass every night to just be average.

I’ve only been lifting for 2 years and although i’m no where near where you are X, i’ve made progress and would like to think i’m on my way. I respect all the hard work you’ve put in over the years and am glad that your willing to share your experiences with the rest of us.[/quote]

How old are you?

Ever stop to think and realize that some people attend a gym to simply stay in shape and don’t see that getting huge or in SUPERB (not average) shape provides them with little return on their investment. Examples: Their everyday needs and quality of life and deesires in life aren’t fulfilled by their strength and size (eg, attraction to opposite sex, relationships, income, social life, eTherefore, they put their energy and “hard pushing” elsewhere in life and the ones who really do give a shit about this (such as yourself) reserve high amounts of effort and time management for the gym. You and us here aren’t special because we attend a fucking gym and build muscle.

I myself made very good gains for many years and am now smaller and weaker simply because my desires in fitness, health, and LIFE changed. And yeah, this involves maintaining my physique and puttign effort into others areas of fitness and my life.

I just read an interview today in the Wall Street Journal with the CEO of advertising and PR giant WPP. This guy doesn’t have weekends! His life is split between NYC and London, UK offices and sometimes his Friday nights are spent on a fucking plane, away from his family and kids! He was asked about exercise and diet. His main concerns: not getting fat and keeping healthy. He has three squares a day and a measly three hours of exercise per week that he manages to fit in a killer schedule and while managing one of the biggest advertising and PR companies in the WORLD! So his interest doesn’t lie in getting physically better and better.

Most people don’t earn a living by getting bigger and bigger, and they don’t attract friends, build a family, or get laid from getting bigger and bigger.

There are hot shot lawyers, financiers, ad execs, and doctors who put in sixteen hour days while havign a wife and kids. They might not understand why you can’t or aren’t willing to put in the work to get richer and richer, just like they don’t understand why you’re trying to get bigger and bigger.

If it’s important to you, then it’s important! But don’t act like some pompous ass because you buy a 50 buck gym membership and step in a gym. [/quote]

Good post.

94

[quote]123watson wrote:

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]behexen wrote:
I’m shocked by how many people don’t really care to push harder. The other day a 39 year old woman i work with was telling me how she is just content in keeping her figure how it was when she was younger. Not that she isn’t attractive as she is but I was surprised that she didn’t want to be “better” than before but only strived to look the same.
Another guy I work with was telling me how he doesn’t understand why I want to get big. That at 5’11 200lbs, i’m big enough and more impressive than the average guy. I couldn’t believe it, i asked him why he thought i’d bust my ass every night to just be average.

I’ve only been lifting for 2 years and although i’m no where near where you are X, i’ve made progress and would like to think i’m on my way. I respect all the hard work you’ve put in over the years and am glad that your willing to share your experiences with the rest of us.[/quote]

How old are you?

Ever stop to think and realize that some people attend a gym to simply stay in shape and don’t see that getting huge or in SUPERB (not average) shape provides them with little return on their investment. Examples: Their everyday needs and quality of life and deesires in life aren’t fulfilled by their strength and size (eg, attraction to opposite sex, relationships, income, social life, eTherefore, they put their energy and “hard pushing” elsewhere in life and the ones who really do give a shit about this (such as yourself) reserve high amounts of effort and time management for the gym. You and us here aren’t special because we attend a fucking gym and build muscle.

I myself made very good gains for many years and am now smaller and weaker simply because my desires in fitness, health, and LIFE changed. And yeah, this involves maintaining my physique and puttign effort into others areas of fitness and my life.

I just read an interview today in the Wall Street Journal with the CEO of advertising and PR giant WPP. This guy doesn’t have weekends! His life is split between NYC and London, UK offices and sometimes his Friday nights are spent on a fucking plane, away from his family and kids! He was asked about exercise and diet. His main concerns: not getting fat and keeping healthy. He has three squares a day and a measly three hours of exercise per week that he manages to fit in a killer schedule and while managing one of the biggest advertising and PR companies in the WORLD! So his interest doesn’t lie in getting physically better and better.

Most people don’t earn a living by getting bigger and bigger, and they don’t attract friends, build a family, or get laid from getting bigger and bigger.

There are hot shot lawyers, financiers, ad execs, and doctors who put in sixteen hour days while havign a wife and kids. They might not understand why you can’t or aren’t willing to put in the work to get richer and richer, just like they don’t understand why you’re trying to get bigger and bigger.

If it’s important to you, then it’s important! But don’t act like some pompous ass because you buy a 50 buck gym membership and step in a gym. [/quote]

I think it comes down to what your priorities are in life. It is a very subjective topic, I realize this is a bodybuilding forum, but to each their own.[/quote]
Key word…bodybuilding forum. Which is why brick’s rant was uncalled for, although he makes good points.

95

I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone in this thread, there are some good points. As K-Man32 said, as did I, this is a bodybuilding forum, correct me it I’m wrong but I don’t think there are CEOs, Lawyers, Docs, etc writing here. I by no means want to say they are not worried about health either, its just I think the focus should be on people who strive to be the biggest, baddest, and strongest guy around. What is holding them back? I am by no means there yet, I am going to be though. Well actually, is there an end? When you push harder, don’t you just want more? Add another x number of pounds to your squat, round out the shoulders a bit more. Do you have the fire? The will to drive on? For me this is sometimes blurred, but after reading some logs and watching the amazing videos of things I aspire to achieve, my goal becomes all to clear.

96

The Vagina’s on T-Nation are out in FULL FORCE. LOL

97

[quote]123watson wrote:
I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone in this thread, there are some good points. As K-Man32 said, as did I, this is a bodybuilding forum, correct me it I’m wrong but I don’t think there are CEOs, Lawyers, Docs, etc writing here. I by no means want to say they are not worried about health either, its just I think the focus should be on people who strive to be the biggest, baddest, and strongest guy around. What is holding them back? I am by no means there yet, I am going to be though. Well actually, is there an end? When you push harder, don’t you just want more? Add another x number of pounds to your squat, round out the shoulders a bit more. Do you have the fire? The will to drive on? For me this is sometimes blurred, but after reading some logs and watching the amazing videos of things I aspire to achieve, my goal becomes all to clear.[/quote]
Well, I wouldn’t go treading into what other people do for a living. Prof x is a dentist for example, a dentist that WANTS to get as big as he can. That’s the take home point, the CEO in brick’s post didn’t want to get big. The rest of your points i agree with, this thread is for people actively striving to get bigger. It’s also for the obstacles people run into/ ways to make time for it, etc.

98

[quote]123watson wrote:
I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone in this thread, there are some good points. As K-Man32 said, as did I, this is a bodybuilding forum, correct me it I’m wrong [/quote]

Youre wrong

99

[quote]Professor X wrote:
I just want to know what is holding some of you back. There are clearly some here who can and do push for more than average…and we all know who they are by now…but why do so many others seem to not be moving forward much at all?

How many people here have ever gotten a response like, “what the fuck have you been eating?”…from someone who was big and not sedentary?

Just askin’[/quote]

Many parts to this,

Holding me back,

  1. waiting for gym to be built where I work so I can double up my training (at home and work). Will help move forward with my plan to get into double figure sessions per week, 2) have to share parenting duties with the wife who likes to train too (7 week old baby boy :slight_smile: we both still training 5 days per week each, 3) dodgy right knee and hip after spending my 20’s playing sport and running alot (miss a few reps here and there because of it)

Ever gotten response…

Yes. Going from under 80kg - 101kg in just over 18months caused alot of interesting comments and opinions at the time. Most often…“Why do you want to get that big?”…“cause I want to”

Now-a-days (cleaner weight at 96.5kg, and going up) I just get amused comments about my dietary habits and regular lunch inspections from colleagues eating their crackers and sandwiches who watch me eating my steak/chicken/lamb and eggs.

“The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price”

100

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]123watson wrote:
I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone in this thread, there are some good points. As K-Man32 said, as did I, this is a bodybuilding forum, correct me it I’m wrong [/quote]

Youre wrong[/quote]

hahaha, guess I did leave that door open.