Does anyone who competed has regrets about it?

[falco]

    For those who wore the thong on stage in the past, does anyone regret it or feels ashamed by it? Regardless of placing or even if you have won the plastic trophy.
   
    I recognize and know everyone's effort involved in competing, but now, looking back in the past i find myself thinking: "Was i making a fool of myself?"

[Yamcha]

I am in the same thought process as you, and I haven't even stepped on stage yet. I plan on competing for the first time in 15 weeks and have only told like 3 people. I am not ashamed of attempting to compete, but I think social media has pretty much ruined the entire fitness industry for me. I am tired of people constantly bombarding everyone with pictures of meals, selfies, motivational quotes, "going to war", "grinding", etc. etc. It has given the "sport" an obnoxious taste in my mouth and I don't want to be associated with any of that filth.

The only reason I am attempting to compete is to see the final outcome of my 9 years of lifting. I have never been in contest shape and am curious as to what I will look like as a natural bodybuilder.

[bigmikecox]

Only regret I have is competing so much as a teen! I wish I would have only done a few shows then took some time off to grow. I did 2-4 shows a year from 1989-1993

[Howard]

I am in the same thought process as you, and I haven't even stepped on stage yet. I plan on competing for the first time in 15 weeks and have only told like 3 people. I am not ashamed of attempting to compete, but I think social media has pretty much ruined the entire fitness industry for me. I am tired of people constantly bombarding everyone with pictures of meals, selfies, motivational quotes, "going to war", "grinding", etc. etc. It has given the "sport" an obnoxious taste in my mouth and I don't want to be associated with any of that filth.

The only reason I am attempting to compete is to see the final outcome of my 9 years of lifting. I have never been in contest shape and am curious as to what I will look like as a natural bodybuilder.

Your reasons for competing are ideal and I think you have the right attitude.

BUT, one of the things I cherish was the contest environment.
At the actual show, it was always cool to be around like minded meatheads.
In most of our everyday lives, bodybuilding is a fringe activity.
At a bodybuilding contest , ripped muscle was the main deal.

In addition to the contest weekend, the prep workouts in the gym were memorable.
It was common to get together for posing practice after a workout.
A few competitors would critique each other in front of a mirror while they hit various shots.
If you've seen Pumping Iron, you know what I'm talking about.

Social media technology is a wonderful tool to communicate with.
The problem is that most people abuse it, by flooding everyone with endless trivial bullshit.
For example, texting when you can meet for a workout is convenient .
Posting a couple poses or some intense lift is pretty cool.

Posting pics of your breakfast or what song you listened to while driving to the gym, is crazy.
This just shows how self absorbed the avg idiot is and you simply need to IGNORE it.

The good news is, the contest experience can still be a positive, memorable experience.
Focus on THAT and your own body as it dials in for the bug day.
EVERY era had it's douchebags and self absorbed nuts.
The main difference is today , they have social media to broadcast on.  * IGNORE most of it.

[Overload]

Not ashamed, but it's not something i mention to everyone.  I competed for 5 years and it was a good experience, but overall it was a bit frustrating.  So many variables and the judging is always biased IMO.  That's why i got into competitive weight lifting.

[Wiggs]

I don't see how anyone could be ashamed they competed.  Overwhelmingly most people would not have the confidence to get on stage and be judged like that. Not to mention the sacrifice it takes to get up there and look good. Diet, training etc.

[falco]

    The thing is, outside the bodybuilding industry bodybuilders are considered freaks or outcasts of some sort. And once you got out of there and deal mostly with "normal" (outside bodybuilding) people, you perceive how they look at it.
    If in a social event (non bb) you refer you competed, someone will ask if you juiced, and once you say: "We all did to be competitive, except the liars", people label you like a criminal or a ex-con.

[Papper]

Only gay if you think of it like a thong pageant

[bigmikecox]

Only gay if you think of it like a thong pageant

You even lift bro?   

[io856]

I don't see how anyone could be ashamed they competed.  Overwhelmingly most people would not have the confidence to get on stage and be judged like that. Not to mention the sacrifice it takes to get up there and look good. Diet, training etc.

this

[Papper]

You even lift bro?   

Lift = donning a thong ?

[Howard]

    The thing is, outside the bodybuilding industry bodybuilders are considered freaks or outcasts of some sort. And once you got out of there and deal mostly with "normal" (outside bodybuilding) people, you perceive how they look at it.
    If in a social event (non bb) you refer you competed, someone will ask if you juiced, and once you say: "We all did to be competitive, except the liars", people label you like a criminal or a ex-con.

I always liked  bodybuilding being an outlaw freak activity.
I get "normal" behavior all the time in my daily working life.
The last thing I want is a normal , ordinary lifestyle with my hobby.

Granted, I never got into extreme BB drug use, but in all modesty, I built some above avg muscle size.
I found that a lot more people were positive about my physique then negative.
Guys like Arnold are admired by the mainstream.
Jay and Lee Haney, but not be as popular as Arnold, but seem to garner a lot of respect from the avg person.

Social media interaction can become little more then a juvenile party of retarded insults.
LOL< getbig has it's foundation in bodybuilding and look at how negative it can be sometimes on BB.

[Mr. MB]

I competed for over 20 years. Overall a great experience. Kept my head into life while I was tending to a sick and prescription drug addicted wife. The bad memories were corrupt judges both AAU and NPC (and even some natty organizations*) . I even became a judge and ended up a national AAU judge trying to be Mr. Clean Up the Fucking Judging. Did not work. I could write a book on the deeds done at the judging table.

BB is similar to any other non team subjective sport like Ice Skating. In many cases it's who you blow...er, I mean know.

* I must tell you about this one natural assoc. "National Championship". I was the 2 years required natty and was drug tested with the other competitors. The winner of each age group got a 100% paid for trip to Australia for their version of Mr. Universe. I was clearly at my best and was the clear winner of my division. Wait!! a late entrant. The association's former Vice President showed up back stage belly out looking 5 months pregnant and soft as a newborn baby. He scrounged around and borrowed a posing suit that hung down in the back like he took a dump. He was a dark skinned man and needed no tanning or color prep. He slapped on some baby oil and we hit the stage. You can guess who got a free trip to Australia. The resounding boos from the paid audience did not phase the judges one bit.

[bigmikecox]

Lift = donning a thong ?

[Wiggs]

I competed for over 20 years. Overall a great experience. Kept my head into life while I was tending to a sick and prescription drug addicted wife. The bad memories were corrupt judges both AAU and NPC (and even some natty organizations*) . I even became a judge and ended up a national AAU judge trying to be Mr. Clean Up the Fucking Judging. Did not work. I could write a book on the deeds done at the judging table.

BB is similar to any other non team subjective sport like Ice Skating. In many cases it's who you blow...er, I mean know.

* I must tell you about this one natural assoc. "National Championship". I was the 2 years required natty and was drug tested with the other competitors. The winner of each age group got a 100% paid for trip to Australia for their version of Mr. Universe. I was clearly at my best and was the clear winner of my division. Wait!! a late entrant. The association's former Vice President showed up back stage belly out looking 5 months pregnant and soft as a newborn baby. He scrounged around and borrowed a posing suit that hung down in the back like he took a dump. He was a dark skinned man and needed no tanning or color prep. He slapped on some baby oil and we hit the stage. You can guess who got a free trip to Australia. The resounding boos from the paid audience did not phase the judges one bit.

Please discuss as much as you feel comfortable. You can leave out all names.

[BigCyp]

Please discuss as much as you feel comfortable. You can leave out all names.

I was just about to ask the same thing! We might even get a thread that is interesting to read, God forbid! 

[local hero]

I never bring it up with people I've just met, I wont deny it, but I don't advertise it..



I've also seen some shocking judging over the years... And seen some epic arse kissing, buying bottles of wine, remembering kids/wives names etc, sickening

[HTexan]

I used to feel ashamed buying bbing mags with Schmoetastic looking bbers wearing fucking daisy Dukes  on the cover when I was a teenager. That was before I grew up and realize that gays are people too, and nothing is wrong with people liking different things.

[Big Slice]

I still compete once or twice a year.The only thing that bothers me is the slin and synthol abuse,and I wont cross that line.No regrets though,I like taking my body to extremes.

[wes]

No real regrets from me......I`ve done far worse things to my body.

[timfogarty]

I have had dozens of people over the years asking me to remove their name from http://musclememory.com, a handful threatening to sue me.  I politely point out that they signed a waiver with their respective bodybuilding org, and stepped onto a public stage, so contest results are public information. I also point out that there are many other websites (including the bodybuilding org's) that list the same info.

[SquidVicious]

Did anyone else read the thread title and think Oh shit, this is just clickbait for Howard to chime in with 427 paragraphs about competing?

[Pet shop boys]

What I trully regret is one  Friday night ( night prior the contest) I was at a bar not drinking of course but too hungry to stay home and this HOT chick wanted to take me to her place and I said no ..

Had I gone with her; Id probably would've have been drier the next day which I needed it cause I won my class but not the overall .




WoooSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH  TA NA KA

[epic_alien]

theres nothing to regret about deciding to be the best at something. setting out a plan and following it till the end. having the conviction to be the best you can and never cheat or lie to yourself. then you step on stage and prove it. theres no hiding on stage. its just you and the truth.

[tommywishbone]

Regrets- I've had a few
But then again- too few to mention.