This your first post?Hey everybody, I have read this forum for what feels like ages but never registered and participated. I really appreciate the in your face honesty that GetBig (especially the gossip and opinions section) offers when it comes to bodybuilding.
I am 38 years old and have been bodybuilding for almost 4 years now. Truthfully, I started bodybuilding to attract more women. It always seemed like at the nightclubs or bars, the guys with the big muscles would get so much attention from women and I'd be left on the sidelines. Once I began lifting weights and sculpting my body, the response and re-enforcement I got from everyone was great. People really noticed and commented on how different I looked and so it didnt take me long to get hooked.
After the first 2 years of training, I realized that there was more to bodybuilding than getting girls and I set my sights on doing a competition. I plan on competing when I turn 39 - I will find a local show within an appropriate timeframe to diet down. Over the last year and a half - since I set my aspirations on competing - I really kicked my training intensity up. Lifting heavier poundages, eating every 2-3 hours (either a whole food meal or a protein shake), getting enough sleep at night, etc.
Honestly, if I could project my hopes and dreams 10 years down the line, I hope that I can be on a national stage before I turn 50. I don't want to say something extreme like earn an IFBB pro card but I do think I have pretty good genetics for gaining size and if I could say I turned pro (even in a masters category) - well, I truly cant describe how happy I'd be.
Bodybuilding has really changed my life positively and I'm happy to be a member of this board now, too. I hope that I can help share any training and nutrition advice and I also hope to learn from you guys as well.
Below are two pictures of myself.
This photo is after the initial 2 years of training:
This is me recently:
