Why is everyone obssessed with being "hardcore" I don't get it!
You don't have to be "hardcore" to be an awesome bodybuilder!!!!
I am in no way an awesome bodybuilder, but I want to share my perspective... Although I have had some great work outs at Gyms that would be considered "hardcore". I choose to train regularly at a VERY clean Golds Gym in a very "yuppie" area, Although I don't sit there and color coordinate my work out clothes, I do train in nicer clean apparel, like Under Armor, Adidas,etc, for the longest time I used to wear BRIGHT red Puma Sneakers until they ripped, I use Harbinger gloves during every work out except legs, I wear a belt when I squat or deadlift anything over 225 (sometimes even with 225), and I have BRIGHT red lifting straps Embroided with "BIG ACH", I don't SCREAM during my work outs (I have in the past) today I may grunt and stuff during lifts but never scream, before I begin a heavy set or a PR i dont sit there and hop around and shout come on or profanitiies, on the contrary, i'm usually VERY quiet before a brutally heavy set almost taken over by a quiet calm then a few huffs and puffs and off we go! Although I do use free weights, I much prefer using machines. I don't do steroids, but I'm not against people that do use them (actually many of my bestest friends use them), but it was just a personal choice and I do not hold myself on a high horse because I've never used them, we all work hard in the iron game. I follow a bodybuilding diet, but its far from a Jay Cutler super strict diet, last night I enjoyed some chicken wings at Chilis and the night before some Tandoori Indian food! I do read a lot of bodybuilding magazines and a lot of bodybuilding books and bodybuilding websites, but I also read a lot about electronics gadgets, watches, and business news, I have competed in bodybuilding shows and will continue to do so but I have not made it my mission or my life dream to turn into an IFBB pro and win the olympia, I'm happily married, and have two college degrees in Engineering, i go out and have a good time with my friends on the weekends and I stay out late, somedays i don't even go to sleep until 4 in the morning.
I am the farthest thing from "hardcore" but I think I did 'ok' for myself