Here's a story I told a few times.
I know this local guy. Now he has a good physique for sure but he always falls just short of winning his weight class at a show and he competes all the time. (2-3x's) year.
He never won his class or ever qualified for National level shows. He's 32 and still lives with his parents. He hasn't had a day job or any kind of job for at least...5-6 years. Like most BB's, especially at the local/state/national level he nickle/dimes gear and drugs like viagra, vicodin etc...
Last year for the Arnold Classic he drives up with me and he was like..."Yea, bro...I'm going...my dad gave me $200 to spend...you think I'll need more than that? Should I ask him for another $100 or something?" The nig gas like 32 or 33. Graduated from highschool in 92...whatever.
So he lives the life, eats, sleeps, tans, shaves, trains, hustles gear etc...
His goal is to qualify for nationals because then he has to place in Top-2 to get 'recognition' and a ProCard. So last summer he comes to the gym and tells me...
" Yo, Block...the Fire Department sent me a letter...they want me to report to the Academy next month...looks like they want to hire me..."
I was excited for him. I told him "Fcuk YEA! Do it! That's AWESOME!"
6 years prior he took the written exam, passed, passed the drug test a year after that, passed the two physical tests and he gets the letter saying he's hired.
Tells me..."Fcuk that dude...I aint doing that siht! I'm gonna do the Indiana State Show...I aint even gonna be all running those stairs, running around with hose and that gear on...all fkn cant eat and sleep like I need to...fuck that! Thats like...all day at the academy...fcuk that!"
I said..." thats the best job in the city...work only 81 days a year? You could still be a BB with that job...fkn 45K-55K/year? Wasn't your dad a fireman?"
"Yea, but look at his fatass...naaaa...fcuk that dude. I need to get ready for the show...I sent my pics to Beverly and they're sponsoring the show so fcuk that I got to focus on that, man...you know? "
"So you're going to turn it down?"
"Yea...I aint even about to loose all my weight...you know eh...you know 'so and so'? When he went through the police academy he lost like 40lbs from all the running...fcuk that, man...Fire is the same...all that running and siht...no way man! "
Now is that HARDCORE or what?