Building a life and bodybuilding

[BigRo]

All bodybuilders are very selfish? Sweeping generalization.

[whitewidow]

WHITEW,,THAT COULD CHANGE I WAS 30/35 I SAID NO WAY WOULD I WANT KIDS MARRIAGE,WAS ENGAGED BROKE OFF,THEN FINALLY MARRIED AT 37  ...3 KIDS NOW I'M 46...

Your right! who knows. I don't see it ever happening due to my personality. it's just nothing I want. but hell george clooney said the sme thing and he just got married. who knows what life will deal you but very hard to see it right now! I just know how selfish of a person I am. I wouldn't make a good husband or father.

[whitewidow]

All bodybuilders are very selfish? Sweeping generalization.

not all of them but the majority will admit they are selfish, you almost have to be! I'm just selfish as it is. You can ask ronnie and he will admit he put his family on the back burner once he started bodybuilding. cuttler is selfish! all of them are pretty selfish and alot of us are too.

[BigRo]

when in serious prep mode I dont let things get in the way of what I have to do but besides that I always have time for others, for the bigger picture, to laugh and have a joke even when dieting hard.

[njflex]

Your right! who knows. I don't see it ever happening due to my personality. it's just nothing I want. but hell george clooney said the sme thing and he just got married. who knows what life will deal you but very hard to see it right now! I just know how selfish of a person I am. I wouldn't make a good husband or father.

TAKES A REAL MAN TO REALIZE OR KNOW WHO HE IS OR ISN'T..YOU SEEM TO KNOW YOUR WAY ..HOPEFULLY YOUR RIGHT..

[Howard]

howard u said the key words there, TAKING BODYBUILDING TO SERIOUSLY CAN GET U DEPRESSED,i try to look at training now as something i enjoy and thats it. dont get me wrong i still struggle with the COMPETITION  thing of knowing i can throw up the 140-150lb dumbells on the flat bench cause i just want to impress a bunch of high school kids or whatever but the better sense in me doesnt do it. so i just use my usuall 85-95lbs for them and go nice and slow,at my age i have to b real careful and warm up nicely.back in the 90's and early 2000's i got so caught up in the bodybuilding world that i was outta my mind and wasnt thinking rational,everything and i mean everything revolved around bodybuilding,it was a living hell to be honest. i looked really good but i would never ever do that again,talk about a MEATHEAD TYPE,that was me all day. the great thing is i can still maintain a decent build and enjoy myself at the same time

I can relate and thanks for sharing your honest experience on this.
Questions
 - 1.Did you ever find yourself feeling depressed after a few days of strict diet and intense training, etc?
2. Did you start building your life around workouts and meal plans? What jolted you back to your senses?
3. Did you think you can get at least 90% of the actual results without the precise, regimented routine?

[Howard]

I have faced so much adversity in my life it's almost unbelievable !Adversity makes somebody stronger! I can't imagine going through life with no problems,I see people born into money(trust fund babys) without a trouble in the world but those people are weak and don;t know shit about real life!

as far Bodybuilding or anything I have interest in I take the shit way too seriously but that's the kind of personality I have. very addictive personality and I have the means to be selfish right now. I have no wife,no kids, no job, I live like a hermit. I only train and eat and sleep! I am not 100% happy but this is better then when I was partying and fucking up my body! Money means alot to me! I learned that I am a very greedy,selfish person and will probably never change. Money dosn't really make me happy but I feel way more secure knowing I can pay bills!

I also have some Ego issues. Trying to work on some of my issues but I don't live a lie I admit I have these faults. anybody who knows me a little knows I went through a very dark period and still made it out of it and got back on track. No telling where I would be without bodybuilding

Great post! I agree that a person can have a decent life without being married, having children, party with pals, etc.
In my opinion, trying to force yourself to live a more conventional lifestyle is wrong.

I'm glad to read that you make enough $$ to pay your own bills and live an independent lifestyle.
To me, living life on your own unique terms is the real key to being happy.

Tell us more about your job and overall lifestyle.  Thanks.

[whitewidow]

Great post! I agree that a person can have a decent life without being married, having children, party with pals, etc.
In my opinion, trying to force yourself to live a more conventional lifestyle is wrong.

I'm glad to read that you make enough $$ to pay your own bills and live an independent lifestyle.
To me, living life on your own unique terms is the real key to being happy.

Tell us more about your job and overall lifestyle.  Thanks.

well your a bodybuilder it can be a very boring life but it's better then the life I was living partying all the time and fucking my body up. I seldom go out anymore. I don't drink or smoke. I don't crave as much sex as I used to. Like I said very boring life. Like I said I have face a shitload of adversity wich is a blessing to me.

I can't stand petty people who complain about stupid things. I hate trust fund baby type people. I have been on super highs and had the world in my hand and super low and living a awful life. I worked a shitload since I was 14 years old and just am real cheap and selfish so I have been able to save alot of money. I sold supplements and pretty much anything I could profit on for years. I also got a decent insurance settlemnt after I got hit by a drunk driver.But that started alot of issues. I couldn;t train and was a mess. I would give all that money back and would erase that day if I could. no amount of money was worth that injury and the addiction to oxycontin that came from it.

[Howard]

WHITEW,,THAT COULD CHANGE I WAS 30/35 I SAID NO WAY WOULD I WANT KIDS MARRIAGE,WAS ENGAGED BROKE OFF,THEN FINALLY MARRIED AT 37  ...3 KIDS NOW I'M 46...

I think we all change over time.

[Howard]

Your right! who knows. I don't see it ever happening due to my personality. it's just nothing I want. but hell george clooney said the sme thing and he just got married. who knows what life will deal you but very hard to see it right now! I just know how selfish of a person I am. I wouldn't make a good husband or father.

While any of us can and do change over time, there is no requirement to do so.
As long as your financially independent and /or have a good job, I see no reason why you NEED to change.

I've  known too many men that get married and have kids because it's just what you do by a certain age.
If you are happy NOT being married , then stay the course.
If it's not broke, don't fix it.

Ok, without giving any specific details (names/places) , I wonder if you could give us some drug dealing tales?

[Natural Man]

Great post! I agree that a person can have a decent life without being married, having children, party with pals, etc.
In my opinion, trying to force yourself to live a more conventional lifestyle is wrong.

you realize that if everyone stoped breeding, it would be the end of the specie, right?

[Howard]

you realize that if everyone stoped breeding, it would be the end of the specie, right?

I've always said , a caring, loving parent is a wonderful thing.
The world needs BOTH types of people to survive well on planet earth for the next 1000 yrs.
Right now too many careless people produce babies .
With the world population booming at over 7 billion humans now, we need to have a few NOT reproduce.

[Ronnie Rep]

Great stuff Howard! It's threads like this that make Getbig the best. You and I competed around the same time and are around the same age. Maybe some day if I have the time and the motivation, I will put some of the trials and tribulations I have experienced along the way.

[BIG ACH]

I've only read part 1 and 2 so far... But great stuff Howard... Keep it coming!

[pellius]

you realize that if everyone stoped breeding, it would be the end of the specie, right?

If everyone were football players that would be the end of baseball.

You make a pointless point. The problem is hardly that not enough people are having children. In fact, too many people are having children that shouldn't be. At least Howard and WW are insightful and reflective enough to see their strengths and faults and what they are capable of and what suits their disposition and predilection.

Please start spelling better, use correct punctuation and capitalize the first letter at the beginning of a sentence if you want to try to sound smart.

TA is right. Deep down you regret having kids because you are such a self-absorb narcissist. If there's anyone on this board just crying out for therapy it's you. Quit blaming your parents for your bitterness and unhappiness and take responsibility for your own life and decisions.

[Howard]

Great stuff Howard! It's threads like this that make Getbig the best. You and I competed around the same time and are around the same age. Maybe some day if I have the time and the motivation, I will put some of the trials and tribulations I have experienced along the way.

I'd love to read some BB adventures from another getbigger during the same period. Start the thread 

[gracie bjj]

I'd love to read some BB adventures from another getbigger during the same period. Start the thread 

even though i didnt compete til the late 90's ive been going to bodybuilding shows since the early 80.s,82 to be exact i went to radio city music hall in new york city to see the AAU MR AMERICA bodybuilding contest,i saw TIM BELKNAP walk in the bathroom when i was taking a piss,lol,im this young kid and these guys r my heros and im staring at him with my jaw hitting the floor,tim prolly thought i was a FRUITCAKE or something .saw rory leidelmeyer walking around also,i swear to god he was the biggest human being ive ever seen up to that point,i mean rory was just a pure monster,he was off season i think and looked even huger. GREAT TIMES for me in the 80's,BODYBUILDING WISE AND IN GENERAL,especially early 80,s,i MISS THOSE DAYS BIGTIME

[Howard]

no doubt about it howard,sometimes when i ease up on my mental intensity and just relax or take a chill pill so to speak id end up with better over all progress and my nervous system wasnt shot to shit. thats the crazy thing,one day i got home and my wife saw me putting all my muscle mags in a box and said(what r u doing)?i said this bodybuilding is starting to control my life and im not gonna let it,she said (ok,u know better than me)instead of reading muscle mags everynight after i trained id watch a stephen king movie or a comedy,whatever i did i just made sure it wasnt bodybuilding related.ill tell u howard my quality of life,as far as my nerves and my well being got really great and i felt like i had a life again. ofcoarse i still train hard when im in the gym and eat clean 6 days a week but other than that i try to keep bodybuilding off my mind. i know thats sounds contridicting since im posting this on a bodybuilding site but the difference is im on here as a therapy to help myself laugh alot more and relax,posting on getbig is stress relief for me believe it or not. its enjoyable and i have fun,its different than sitting home reading about ronnie colemans arm workout or whatever

I spent a number of years just trying to be involved with bodybuilding as the only sport that mattered. I too read and studied the mags and totally absorbed myself into BB .
In recent years I've become a reborn sports fan and especially enjoy watching NHL ( hockey) and MLB( baseball) games along with some of the other sports.

[Howard]

even though i didnt compete til the late 90's ive been going to bodybuilding shows since the early 80.s,82 to be exact i went to radio city music hall in new york city to see the AAU MR AMERICA bodybuilding contest,i saw TIM BELKNAP walk in the bathroom when i was taking a piss,lol,im this young kid and these guys r my heros and im staring at him with my jaw hitting the floor,tim prolly thought i was a FRUITCAKE or something .saw rory leidelmeyer walking around also,i swear to god he was the biggest human being ive ever seen up to that point,i mean rory was just a pure monster,he was off season i think and looked even huger. GREAT TIMES for me in the 80's,BODYBUILDING WISE AND IN GENERAL,especially early 80,s,i MISS THOSE DAYS BIGTIME

Wow, you saw Belknap win the America?! He had some awesome quads and I remember being in awe seeing his 1 arm front most muscular pose. Ya know graciebjj, we actually have MORE events to watch and attend NOW then we did back then. The big difference is, back then it was just bodybuilding. For me, the Europa events offer a lot of bang for your fan buck.

[gracie bjj]

Wow, you saw Belknap win the America?! He had some awesome quads and I remember being in awe seeing his 1 arm front most muscular pose. Ya know graciebjj, we actually have MORE events to watch and attend NOW then we did back then. The big difference is, back then it was just bodybuilding. For me, the Europa events offer a lot of bang for your fan buck.

actually the year i went to watch the america belknap guest posed,thats when i saw him in the bathroom,right before he guest posed.he was a monster,his legs especially where just plain freaky,no other way to describe them. i saw mike christian there also. great times back then,miss them bigtime

[oldtimer1]

even though i didnt compete til the late 90's ive been going to bodybuilding shows since the early 80.s,82 to be exact i went to radio city music hall in new york city to see the AAU MR AMERICA bodybuilding contest,i saw TIM BELKNAP walk in the bathroom when i was taking a piss,lol,im this young kid and these guys r my heros and im staring at him with my jaw hitting the floor,tim prolly thought i was a FRUITCAKE or something .saw rory leidelmeyer walking around also,i swear to god he was the biggest human being ive ever seen up to that point,i mean rory was just a pure monster,he was off season i think and looked even huger. GREAT TIMES for me in the 80's,BODYBUILDING WISE AND IN GENERAL,especially early 80,s,i MISS THOSE DAYS BIGTIME

You're story of meeting Belnap in the bathroom reminds me of the time I was taking a leak in an airport bathroom. A guy comes in next to me and it's Mick Jagger. True story.

[Howard]

You're story of meeting Belnap in the bathroom reminds me of the time I was taking a leak in an airport bathroom. A guy comes in next to me and it's Mick Jagger. True story.

That's pretty cool. What year was this and how old, ugly and haggard did he look, up close, in person?

[Ronnie Rep]

even though i didnt compete til the late 90's ive been going to bodybuilding shows since the early 80.s,82 to be exact i went to radio city music hall in new york city to see the AAU MR AMERICA bodybuilding contest,i saw TIM BELKNAP walk in the bathroom when i was taking a piss,lol,im this young kid and these guys r my heros and im staring at him with my jaw hitting the floor,tim prolly thought i was a FRUITCAKE or something .saw rory leidelmeyer walking around also,i swear to god he was the biggest human being ive ever seen up to that point,i mean rory was just a pure monster,he was off season i think and looked even huger. GREAT TIMES for me in the 80's,BODYBUILDING WISE AND IN GENERAL,especially early 80,s,i MISS THOSE DAYS BIGTIME

Belknap did a seminar at the gym where I trained in S.FL.around 81 or 82. He was thick and vascular his legs where freaky. Nice guy down to earth not cocky. Rory was my favorite BBer back then, never got a chance to see him up close on stage or off season. You say the same thing every one else says who has ever seen him. Biggest BBer they ever saw back then. Certainly should have been a pro, Mr. O potential.

[Ronnie Rep]

Here you go. Back in the the early 80's my first real hard core gym I trained in was Gold Coast Gym in North Lauderdale FL. It was owned by Rafael Gurrero who was the Cuban Olympic Weight Lifting coach. He coached Sergio Oliva in Cuba. He was also a a gymnast and hand balancer. It was a great gym he used to make all of his own equipment. All the lat puldown machines, cable crossovers etc. Chris Duffy started training there when he was a senior in High School. He worshiped Arnold and would bring Education of a Bodybuilder in there and follow every routine from cover to cover. After about a year or so he had two training partners, one a blond haired guy named Greg, the other a huge guy named Larry. I used to occasionally train with the three of them. One day a few years later, I am watching Florida Championship Wrestling.  I see this huge guy who looks like a Bodybuilder named Lex Luger, I am thinking I know this guy. Sure enough it was Larry Pfohl, Duffy's old training partner.

[njflex]

Here you go. Back in the the early 80's my first real hard core gym I trained in was Gold Coast Gym in North Lauderdale FL. It was owned by Rafael Gurrero who was the Cuban Olympic Weight Lifting coach. He coached Sergio Oliva in Cuba. He was also a a gymnast and hand balancer. It was a great gym he used to make all of his own equipment. All the lat puldown machines, cable crossovers etc. Chris Duffy started training there when he was a senior in High School. He worshiped Arnold and would bring Education of a Bodybuilder in there and follow every routine from cover to cover. After about a year or so he had two training partners, one a blond haired guy named Greg, the other a huge guy named Larry. I used to occasionally train with the three of them. One day a few years later, I am watching Florida Championship Wrestling.  I see this huge guy who looks like a Bodybuilder named Lex Luger, I am thinking I know this guy. Sure enough it was Larry Pfohl, Duffy's old training partner.

..luger was thicker early on,,then shredded up as he got more mainstream'in the ring persona'