Studying abroad. Plain and simple.
Yeah I know what a shitty problem.
Stu, ID and anyone else…at what age did shit start to hit the fan?
At 31 I felt invincible. Even on my worst day I felt like deadlifting anchors.
At 33 I smell like Tiger Balm and broken dreams.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
[quote]infinite_shore wrote:
1.) What is holding YOU back from being the BEST BBer (making the best progress - fat loss and/or muscle gain) you can be right now? [/quote]
While I have no desire to ever sound negative in regard to my training, I realize that age (will be 40 in May), and injuries are the great equalizer at this point in my life. I’m certainly not the youngest Pro stepping up in the Open classes, and trying to still make noticeable progress year after year, is no guarantee at the level I’ve reached.
Also, to be honest, it’s rare for any trainer, no matter how smart, and careful they may be, to reach 35+ and have no training injuries, even minor ones. Then factor in how stressful competitive bodybuilding can be on your body, and take stock.
Still, things that hold us back, are simply obstacles for use to find ways of overcoming. Either working around, or simply powering through. I for one would not be able to look at myself in the mirror knowing that I had ever not given my all at anything I had undertaken.
Train smarter and harder, be objective and stategic, and know at the end of each day that not a soul alive could have done any better than I did with my circumstances.
S[/quote]
Sage advice, Stu. I wish I realized this sooner.
[quote]PimpBot5000 wrote:
Stu, ID and anyone else…at what age did shit start to hit the fan?
At 31 I felt invincible. Even on my worst day I felt like deadlifting anchors.
At 33 I smell like Tiger Balm and broken dreams.[/quote]
I suppose it may relate to “training age” but it does seem things start to feel funny around 34-35.
To all the young guys, hit it hard and heavy for at least 10-12 years, then take stock on your accomplishments and current goals. Think, plan, execute and never think you are wasting your time warming-up or rolling around on the floor on a piece of foam.
[quote]infinite_shore wrote:
I start:
1.) My worst demon is that I find it VERY hard to bulk in a reasonable way. I eat way too dirty and way too much too soon, leading to more fat gains than necessary. As a result I look way worse nekkid most of the time than needed and I have to spend too much time getting rid of the extra fat, cutting into my time where I could gain LBM.
Why do I do that? I’m not entirely sure to be honest. Lack of self-discipline? In a sense yes BUT I have shown numerous times that I can be as self-disciplined as any BBer when the goal is cutting. After I actually make the decision to start a cut, I turn into a machine and endure any pain necessary. I can’t do that with bulking.
2.) I’m not sure how to solve that issue to be honest. For example, working with Shelby didn’t help really. Also my problem is not the typical “permabulker” mentality.[/quote]
This kinda reminds me of myself. Like it or not I’m an “all or nothing” kind of guy. If I’m dieting down, then it’s easy to go all in. Deal with being a little hungry: no problem, Cardio till I’m blue in the face: no problem. But having moderation is much more difficult for me. When Things are cut and dry: something is either off limits or not off limits, the decisions are easier I guess. Bulking, at least cleanly and without excessive fat gain, relies on one to be disciplined in moderation: eat plenty, but not too much, eat calorie heavy foods, but not junk.
Me, my biggest weakness is beer. Love me some beer. Nothing crazy. Two or three pints a night while I wind down and prep for the next day or just kick back with the wife and watch TV. But it’s enough to stall progress. And it opens the door to late night snacking. Went teetotaller in the spring. No beer, not a drop even on the weekends (all or nothing remember?) for 8 weeks. Not bragging cuz it’s not an accomplishment, but I saw some awesome gains in body comp. However by the end of the 8 weeks I was pulling my hair out in boredom in the evenings. Watching TV and doing laundry are just not as fun with nothing to sip on. Hopefully this legal marijuana thing will gain steam and I can trade one demon for the other…
[quote]MiJuggernaut wrote:
Thanks for this opportunity for self reflection. I think it may have been very helpful.
[/quote]
Cool, I hope it helps a bit.
[quote]kappa927 wrote:
[quote]infinite_shore wrote:
1.) My worst demon is that I find it VERY hard to bulk in a reasonable way. I eat way too dirty and way too much too soon, leading to more fat gains than necessary. As a result I look way worse nekkid most of the time than needed and I have to spend too much time getting rid of the extra fat, cutting into my time where I could gain LBM.
Why do I do that? I’m not entirely sure to be honest. Lack of self-discipline? In a sense yes BUT I have shown numerous times that I can be as self-disciplined as any BBer when the goal is cutting. After I actually make the decision to start a cut, I turn into a machine and endure any pain necessary. I can’t do that with bulking.
2.) I’m not sure how to solve that issue to be honest. For example, working with Shelby didn’t help really. Also my problem is not the typical “permabulker” mentality.[/quote]
This kinda reminds me of myself. Like it or not I’m an “all or nothing” kind of guy. If I’m dieting down, then it’s easy to go all in. Deal with being a little hungry: no problem, Cardio till I’m blue in the face: no problem. But having moderation is much more difficult for me. When Things are cut and dry: something is either off limits or not off limits, the decisions are easier I guess. Bulking, at least cleanly and without excessive fat gain, relies on one to be disciplined in moderation: eat plenty, but not too much, eat calorie heavy foods, but not junk.
[/quote]
Yes, I think you do a very good job in describing the problem.
Now what to do about it? Embrace this aspect and avoid any of these “middle” situations or try to learn to be cope with being “moderate”. Hmm…
[quote]infinite_shore wrote:
[quote]kappa927 wrote:
[quote]infinite_shore wrote:
1.) My worst demon is that I find it VERY hard to bulk in a reasonable way. I eat way too dirty and way too much too soon, leading to more fat gains than necessary. As a result I look way worse nekkid most of the time than needed and I have to spend too much time getting rid of the extra fat, cutting into my time where I could gain LBM.
Why do I do that? I’m not entirely sure to be honest. Lack of self-discipline? In a sense yes BUT I have shown numerous times that I can be as self-disciplined as any BBer when the goal is cutting. After I actually make the decision to start a cut, I turn into a machine and endure any pain necessary. I can’t do that with bulking.
2.) I’m not sure how to solve that issue to be honest. For example, working with Shelby didn’t help really. Also my problem is not the typical “permabulker” mentality.[/quote]
This kinda reminds me of myself. Like it or not I’m an “all or nothing” kind of guy. If I’m dieting down, then it’s easy to go all in. Deal with being a little hungry: no problem, Cardio till I’m blue in the face: no problem. But having moderation is much more difficult for me. When Things are cut and dry: something is either off limits or not off limits, the decisions are easier I guess. Bulking, at least cleanly and without excessive fat gain, relies on one to be disciplined in moderation: eat plenty, but not too much, eat calorie heavy foods, but not junk.
[/quote]
Yes, I think you do a very good job in describing the problem.
Now what to do about it? Embrace this aspect and avoid any of these “middle” situations or try to learn to be cope with being “moderate”. Hmm…
[/quote]
I used to be of the “I should work on my weaknesses” camp. I did that for several years, and kind of just became mediocre all around. And depressed. And unhappy. My weaknesses improved, but it wasn’t “me” anymore. It was uncomfortable. It wasn’t natural.
So now I’m moving back toward the “forget about my weaknesses, I’ll focus on my strengths, and find other ways/systems/people to deal with the weaknesses” approach.
I’m definitely happier with the 2nd.
i am far too undisciplined and mentally weak to stick to a diet.
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The fatherly demands associated with a newborn.
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Ummmm… nothing?
damn lol
I have no problem starving myself or eating 6000 calories a day. Anything in between is a problem.
[quote]infinite_shore wrote:
1.) What is holding YOU back from being the BEST BBer (making the best progress - fat loss and/or muscle gain) you can be right now?
2.) What do you think you can do about it?[/quote]
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Finding time in the day/remembering to eat a lot of quality food. And every time I make a lot of progress there is a serious set back. It’s happened 4-5 times ie mono, injury, surgery…
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Not much…
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Sleep. I work full time, teach part time, and have five kids.
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I have no idea. I’ve thought about faking my own death and checking in to a hotel for a couple of weeks and just sleeping the entire time. When I come back I’ll tell my family the truth and we’ll all have a good laugh about it.
This is what I wish for:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/281960
One positive change I’m happy about is that I switched jobs about a year ago (went from general practice attorney to in-house counsel) and now I lift at lunch time. I’m more consistent with my training than when I was lifting late at night in my basement.
This is a great thread. I’m not competing in bodybuilding nor do I plan on it in the near future but in terms of just being a general gym rat and whats holding me back from my goals.
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Lack of time management. I have a physical job therefor getting proper amounts of sleep is very important to me. I seem to piss them away for stupid reasons be it watching football, listening to music, surfing the web, hanging with friends, or just genral insominia.
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My diet is lackluster. I typically have a hard time eating enough to gain weight without adding alittle more fat than needed, if I would clean things up alittle better this would solve the problem but my tastes are rather picky and my cooking skills aren’t the greatest nor is it my favorite hobby.
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My mind. I seem to have alot of conflicting ideas, when dealing with injuries or sickness I always try to push myself and muscle through even though i somtimes know i’m better to rest. It usually results in lackluster workouts and worse injuries but for some reason to just sit by and be idle seems like a waste, I struggle to convince myself that resting is sometimes more important than working.
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Mental toughness. Some days I just don’t feel like I can take it to the next level, aches and pains, tired, stressed, it seems sometimes these are my best days in the gym but others I can’t hardly get out of my own way. When I keep myself highly motivated i usually do well to fight through it but sometimes you just don’t feel like doing it and thats when those aches and pains creep up on you and you puss out.
All of these can be corrected by better dedication, work ethic, and using more inteligence. Figuring out the ways to fix my problems isn’t that hard, forcing myself to act on them is a different story. Great thread, hopefully this will help light fire under my ass and get me to work alitter harder. I’m going to need to do these things when I start smolovs in january.
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
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Sleep. I work full time, teach part time, and have five kids.
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I have no idea. I’ve thought about faking my own death and checking in to a hotel for a couple of weeks and just sleeping the entire time. When I come back I’ll tell my family the truth and we’ll all have a good laugh about it.
This is what I wish for:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/281960
One positive change I’m happy about is that I switched jobs about a year ago (went from general practice attorney to in-house counsel) and now I lift at lunch time. I’m more consistent with my training than when I was lifting late at night in my basement.[/quote]
There’s a reason you’re a super saiyan bro… You’re just on that level
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
- Sleep. I work full time, teach part time, and have five kids.
[/quote]
FIVE kids?
Much respect!
<—Salutes!
[quote]infinite_shore wrote:
I start:
1.) My worst demon is that I find it VERY hard to bulk in a reasonable way. I eat way too dirty and way too much too soon, leading to more fat gains than necessary. As a result I look way worse nekkid most of the time than needed and I have to spend too much time getting rid of the extra fat, cutting into my time where I could gain LBM.
Why do I do that? I’m not entirely sure to be honest. Lack of self-discipline? In a sense yes BUT I have shown numerous times that I can be as self-disciplined as any BBer when the goal is cutting. After I actually make the decision to start a cut, I turn into a machine and endure any pain necessary. I can’t do that with bulking.
2.) I’m not sure how to solve that issue to be honest. For example, working with Shelby didn’t help really. Also my problem is not the typical “permabulker” mentality.[/quote]
This^
I too fall prey to the dangers of being overally ambitious to bulk when the days start getting shorter.
As another gentlemen said, I think that guys like ourselves are just impatient (I know that I am in virtually every area of my life).
I really want to work on it.
[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
- Sleep. I work full time, teach part time, and have five kids.
[/quote]
FIVE kids?
Much respect!
<—Salutes![/quote]
Thanks ID. My wife can’t keep her mitts off me. I can’t say I blame her though. I’m pretty damn sexy.
[quote]Kakarat wrote:
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
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Sleep. I work full time, teach part time, and have five kids.
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I have no idea. I’ve thought about faking my own death and checking in to a hotel for a couple of weeks and just sleeping the entire time. When I come back I’ll tell my family the truth and we’ll all have a good laugh about it.
This is what I wish for:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/281960
One positive change I’m happy about is that I switched jobs about a year ago (went from general practice attorney to in-house counsel) and now I lift at lunch time. I’m more consistent with my training than when I was lifting late at night in my basement.[/quote]
There’s a reason you’re a super saiyan bro… You’re just on that level[/quote]
My sleep problem will be solved once I finish building my hyperbolic time chamber.
I think what’s slowing me down in getting bigger are all the nagging little injuries I have. For example, I got my legs up and then my left knee started hurting so I couldn’t much much weight at all with it, after it got better, I pulled a hamstring playing soccer and after that my knee started acting up again. My right shoulders been messed up for years so it gets really painful to try and press any decent amount of weight. And now my lower back hurts so squatting and deadlifting are painful for me to do.
I have no idea what to do about my knee, I’ve been doing single leg stuff for it over the past few weeks and it seems to be getting better, but slowly. A couple weeks back I started doing 60 shoulder dislocates about 5 days a week for my right shoulder and it also seems to be getting better. And for my lower back, I tried lowering the weight to see if that helped, lowering volume to see if it was overtraining and now I’m going to foam roll to see if it helps.