Why I quit competing in BB contests. Maybe you can relate?

[Howard]

As some of you may already know I competed in a bunch of shows from 1978 -1995 and then quit.
Since I never won anything bigger then a regional Mr Podunk, my contest record is of little signifigance to most folks.
I still judge a couple times a yr and workout but never competed again after '95. Why?
Trying to do well in bodybuilding contests dominated too damn much of my "LIFE".
I never did find a workable balance between serious bodybuilding and a full , happy life.
I will always be a fan of bodybuilding, but don't miss being an active participant on stage.
When I competed I always felt like the rest of my life was "on hold".
I'm a happy well rounded guy now and really enjoy my rather ordinary life.

Any others have the same experience or feelings when involved with serious bodybuilding? Just curious, thanks.

[Stavios]

why do you want to make a "comeback" that you never actually do every year then 

[Howard]

why do you want to make a "comeback" that you never actually do every year then 

LOL, busted!
Ok, like a lot of old farts I get nostalgic and think I got one more in me...then reality hits.

[Stavios]

LOL, busted!
Ok, like a lot of old farts I get nostalgic and think I got one more in me...then reality hits.

what reality ??

there is a 60+ years old at my gym competing and he kicks my ass

never too old 

[Matt C]

Howard, you're like the older version of Matt C.  

It's the same as how I moan on about not being able to eat.  At a certain point you have to dump your ass or get off the pot.  I can't criticize you for this because I am exactly the same way but maybe it's just time for both of us to shut up about this.

My only recommendation is to take baby steps if you have an interest in competing.  Next thing you know, whether it be three months or three years down the line, you might be physically and psychologically ready to enter a contest again.  Likewise, if I eat a little more each day all of a sudden I will wake up and be eating enough to gain some mass.  I've found that doing a very extensive warm-up allows me to lift more weights.  Again, baby steps.  We're obviously of the stripe that can't just take the plunge but you've been talking about competing for years now.  I think you want to but need to convince yourself.  Just like I want to gain some mass but can't quite motivate myself to that level.  And I know what you mean about personal life and other priorities.  My family comes first, no doubt, but one can still do both.

[Howard]

what reality ??

there is a 60+ years old at my gym competing and he kicks my ass

never too old 

Oh no question, if I applied myself I could compete again and at least look decent in my age group.
Plenty of dedicated masters level bodybuilders do just that.
The day to day REALITY of what it would take is what I no longer want to deal with .
I'm honestly having too much fun living a low key , low demand lifestyle now.
My daily life is more like Napleon Dynamite now then a serious bodybuilder.

I hang out and laugh at stuff on getbig, Tosh.O or whatever else is going on.

[Howard]

Howard, you're like the older version of Matt C.  

It's the same as how I moan on about not being able to eat.  At a certain point you have to dump your ass or get off the pot.  I can't criticize you for this because I am exactly the same way but maybe it's just time for both of us to shut up about this.

My only recommendation is to take baby steps if you have an interest in competing.  Next thing you know, whether it be three months or three years down the line, you might be physically and psychologically ready to enter a contest again.  Likewise, if I eat a little more each day all of a sudden I will wake up and be eating enough to gain some mass.  I've found that doing a very extensive warm-up allows me to lift more weights.  Again, baby steps.  We're obviously of the stripe that can't just take the plunge but you've been talking about competing for years now.  I think you want to but need to convince yourself.  Just like I want to gain some mass but can't quite motivate myself to that level.  And I know what you mean about personal life and other priorities.  My family comes first, no doubt, but one can still do both.

Thanks for the great reply, BUT I have no serious lasting desire to ever compete again in a bodybuilding meet.
I did over 40 shows in a 17 yr period. It was cool chapter with some great memories and experiences.

I really am enjoying having new expericnes via travel and other adventures.
Going to a good gym will never get old, but I don't even care about beating anyone on a BB stage, even if I could hehehe

[Captain Equipoise]

I realized pretty quickly how much bullshit and politics are involved, I have a lot of friends that compete all the way up to pro level and the amount of shit I've seen and heard told me pretty quickly never to get on stage, even in small local shows, half the time the winners are pre determined because they're either friends of the promoter, judge or fucking the promoter and/or judge or have magazine coverage lined up so they automatically get top 3

fucking bullshit and politics.

[Stavios]

I realized pretty quickly how much bullshit and politics are involved, I have a lot of friends that compete all the way up to pro level and the amount of shit I've seen and heard told me pretty quickly never to get on stage, even in small local shows, half the time the winners are pre determined because they're either friends of the promoter, judge or fucking the promoter and/or judge or have magazine coverage lined up so they automatically get top 3

fucking bullshit and politics.

I go to pretty much every show here in quebec and I think the placings are always spot on

of course, every bodybuilder in the show exept the winner say they got screwed by the judges tho

[Largerthanlife]

yeah something about injecting massive amounts of drugs into your system that you have to buy, getting a plastic trophy and no health insurance if you ever do turn pro, yeah lots of incentive 

[Howard]

I realized pretty quickly how much bullshit and politics are involved, I have a lot of friends that compete all the way up to pro level and the amount of shit I've seen and heard told me pretty quickly never to get on stage, even in small local shows, half the time the winners are pre determined because they're either friends of the promoter, judge or fucking the promoter and/or judge or have magazine coverage lined up so they automatically get top 3

fucking bullshit and politics.

In over 40 shows I never felt I got a really bad call, even when I lost a close one or didn't place high.
For me quitting had NOTHING to do with winning or placing, etc.
It was a simple case of feeling that serious contest prep dominated too much of my life.
If I could ever find a way to get in contest shape and not feel it dominated my life , I would consider it.
BUT, I never have found a way to do THAT.
I ended up just accepting that was the nature of contest BB and moved on.

[Captain Equipoise]

I go to pretty much every show here in quebec and I think the placings are always spot on

of course, every bodybuilder in the show exept the winner say they got screwed by the judges tho

I remember a level 2 show about 6 years ago that a buddy of mine was in, I think Cormier or Dexter Jackson guest posed at it (can't remember which, 90% sure it was Cormier) it was clear across the board (by majority) that 2 guys were clearly either the winners or top 3, I mean by a mile.. the guy who ended up winning the show was soft as butter but over the course of that summer was hyped up as the next big thing and had gotten magazine coverage and attention from 2 seperate mags. He ended up winning the show to a roar of boo's from the crowd of about 1,000 people (it was at a large summer event the CNE exhibition)

[Howard]

I remember a level 2 show about 6 years ago that a buddy of mine was in, I think Cormier or Dexter Jackson guest posed at it (can't remember which, 90% sure it was Cormier) it was clear across the board (by majority) that 2 guys were clearly either the winners or top 3, I mean by a mile.. the guy who ended up winning the show was soft as butter but over the course of that summer was hyped up as the next big thing and had gotten magazine coverage and attention from 2 seperate mags. He ended up winning the show to a roar of boo's from the crowd of about 1,000 people (it was at a large summer event the CNE exhibition)

Bodybuilding doesn't really follow any actual rules and in the IFBB pros you can use any substance or whatever you want.They don't display the scores like other judged sports ( diving, gymnastics). The best guy tends to win but it is all pretty subjective and random.
It is the exact opposite of  some conspiracy or politics like some think.
Things are more random and half assed then you would imagine, trust me.

[Matt C]

Thanks for the great reply, BUT I have no serious lasting desire to ever compete again in a bodybuilding meet.
I did over 40 shows in a 17 yr period. It was cool chapter with some great memories and experiences.

I really am enjoying having new expericnes via travel and other adventures.
Going to a good gym will never get old, but I don't even care about beating anyone on a BB stage, even if I could hehehe

I sometimes wonder if you yearn for your glory days and want to reproduce them.  I think it's a case of "Uncle Rico Syndrome" in some ways.

I know what you mean about personal life.  I'd rather watch Barney on YouTube with my kids than worry about getting more protein during the day.  I like people who verify their contest results and strength claims as you have.  Zach won the bench contest on getbig, but you would think judging by posts that everyone is stronger than him:

I think you and I feel like we need to "prove" ourselves to getbig or something.  But look at Dave Palumbo who is making $168,000 a year from banner ads alone on RX and god knows how much more for his stake in Species and people are still bashing him and accusing him of being a financial failure.  Layne Norton has a Ph.D, successful marriage and career, 700 deadlift, and people are still bashing him.  Bob goes to every bodybuilding event with all expenses paid and people still bash him.  Ronnie won eight Mr. Olympia titles and people still bash him.

It never ends on here.

By all means if you want to enjoy your life Howard, go for it.  But if you want to compete again, get at it!    You don't need the approval of anyone else to do it.

[IrishMuscle84]

As some of you may already know I competed in a bunch of shows from 1978 -1995 and then quit.
Since I never won anything bigger then a regional Mr Podunk, my contest record is of little signifigance to most folks.
I still judge a couple times a yr and workout but never competed again after '95. Why?
Trying to do well in bodybuilding contests dominated too damn much of my "LIFE".
I never did find a workable balance between serious bodybuilding and a full , happy life.I will always be a fan of bodybuilding, but don't miss being an active participant on stage.
When I competed I always felt like the rest of my life was "on hold".
I'm a happy well rounded guy now and really enjoy my rather ordinary life.

Any others have the same experience or feelings when involved with serious bodybuilding? Just curious, thanks.

With bodybuilding/life. You need BALANCE/VARIETY. Thats pretty much why i took a year off back from Sept of 08 to Like Oct of 09. My 2/3 year of lifting, i was training like there was no tomorrow, but i burnt myself out. In a way im glad i took a year off BUT it sucked because you lose basically ALLL your size/strength. Ive only been training for 7 years but nowadays, im only training 3 days a week and my body feels great. Hopefully my " obssesive days" of training are over.

[BayGBM]

LOL, busted!
Ok, like a lot of old farts I get nostalgic and think I got one more in me...then reality hits.

"... if you go on another cycle of tren, you have to move out!" 
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=385533.0

[Captain Equipoise]

Either way, risking health (severe diuretic use, unsafe diets) for a plastic trophy is downright retarded.

[Largerthanlife]

I go to pretty much every show here in quebec and I think the placings are always spot on

of course, every bodybuilder in the show exept the winner say they got screwed by the judges tho

outted

[Howard]

I sometimes wonder if you yearn for your glory days and want to reproduce them.  I think it's a case of "Uncle Rico Syndrome" in some ways.

I know what you mean about personal life.  I'd rather watch Barney on YouTube with my kids than worry about getting more protein during the day.  I like people who verify their contest results and strength claims as you have.  Zach won the bench contest on getbig, but you would think judging by posts that everyone is stronger than him:

I think you and I feel like we need to "prove" ourselves to getbig or something.  But look at Dave Palumbo who is making $168,000 a year from banner ads alone on RX and god knows how much more for his stake in Species and people are still bashing him and accusing him of being a financial failure.  Layne Norton has a Ph.D, successful marriage and career, 700 deadlift, and people are still bashing him.  Bob goes to every bodybuilding event with all expenses paid and people still bash him.  Ronnie won eight Mr. Olympia titles and people still bash him.

It never ends on here.

By all means if you want to enjoy your life Howard, go for it.  But if you want to compete again, get at it!    You don't need the approval of anyone else to do it.

You called it right, I am just guilty of pulling an Uncle rico at times. I had a few good times and some neat memories from doing contests but a lot of crap that sucked along with it. You tend to forget how bad it feels to have 3 day old pro tan on and feel like death trying to pump up.
I don't expect anything serious from getbig and don't have a facebook page. I come on here for laughs and little bodybuilding info or debate and that is it.
take care, and thanks for the kind words. I have no desire to compete again and that part of my life ended 16 yrs ago with my last show.

[Matt C]

yeah something about injecting massive amounts of drugs into your system that you have to buy, getting a plastic trophy and no health insurance if you ever do turn pro, yeah lots of incentive  

Great post.  Someone from my town competes at local contests and is yet to turn pro or even place in the provincial show.  He sent me this a few years ago:

whether it is swingin dumbells in a biceps excersise or bouncing weight off ur chest in a bench press and then bragging that u got 225 for 15 reps is useless (what gains have u made?) .

I think these guys who have nothing except for plastic trophies really hate when more rounded people beat them in the one area they are successful in.

Enjoy your plastic trophies if that's your thing, but working out will remain a hobby for me.  My goal now is to strive for the most realistic physique I can have and maintain year-round based on my schedule, appetite, and overall genetic potential.  I'm guessing I can be maybe 170 at 10% body fat without any problems.  Getting big is not realistic for me and I have no intention to sacrifice anything to get there.  I just want to be fit and healthy.  If being bigger was in my cards, I would take it, but it's not an I'm not going to force-feed to get there.

Unless you're Olympia caliber there is no career potential in bodybuilding.

[BikiniSlut]

Howard...you post this exact same post once every 4 months and just rotate it on different boards.

Time for some new shit.

[Howard]

Howard...you post this exact same post once every 4 months and just rotate it on different boards.

Time for some new shit.

Great words of wisdom are timeless!
I feel the need to share my genius with the common man

[Howard]

Howard has now left the forum. Howard has left the forum.
Good night and God Bless the getbig nation

[BikiniSlut]

Great words of wisdom are timeless!
I feel the need to share my genius with the common man

This is Getbig Howard. We are not common here....we are special.

[wes]

Sounds to me like Howard misses competing,and is crying because now he wishes he never stopped!!  

Competing is tough,but not rocket science...............sa me as any other sport, you have to put some time/prep into.

Right now I`m dieting for a contest.........I normally train 5 x a week as a rule...........now I`m training an extra day per week!!

Big fucking deal,an extra hour or so on a weekend day spent at the gym instead of laying around drinking beer and eating chips and burgers.


WOW!!

Not a big deal in my book if you workout and eat food on a daily basis like most here do........you just eat a lot different is all.


As a rule,I eat 6 x a day............I`m still eating 6 x a day for the upcoming show so no real added pressure there!!


WOW!!

I don`t know if I can take the fucking stress...........nothing`s changed except I`m eating better!!  LOL  

The only thing that`s really changed timewise is I`m doing more cardio,my diet is tighter,and I`m training as hard as possible with an added day with minimal carbs.............I always train hard anyway,again no biggie,the eating part is making me look and feel much better as there is no junk in it whatsoever,and cardio has gotten rid of all the useless fat I was carrying.

Sounds like a "win"/ "win" situation to me.


Extra time practicing a posing routine...........not all that much..........barely noticeable,it just means I may have to miss a bit of TV or some other such time waster I do,just as we all do every day.

In the end I do it for me, and it`s truly hard, but so is training in general and eating right............if it was easy we`d all be walking around at 5 % bf on a daily basis just like Howard used to but since he stopped he`s more like 30 % bf these days.

Age is no reason to get sloppy especially if still working out regularly............... .....it`s the discipline to eat right that usually goes first.


DISCIPLINE is the  hardest part, and you can burn out ,that`s the time to rest up, but if like to compete,after a good rest,you do your annual competing or whatever you do in your particular case personally.

It`s not like you`re prepping for a zillion contests in a row..........after it`s over,back to normal which,means a looser diet and one less day at the gym in my case.


Of course it`s tough,but so is competing in any sport................esp ecially for a regular guy who has to work a regular job.