Author Topic: The right attitude to compete with? (Read 4751 times)

HowieW · « **on:** March 28, 2006, 03:21:55 PM »

If you are a pro, you should be on the stage to win or place higher each time out. Same with amatuer NPC guys trying to "climb the ladder" . However, if you know you will never be going pro or have a shot a national show, should you compete with the same attitude as them?
No! Why? You pay $$$ to compete as an amatuer and to win you have to impress the judges more than the others you are up against. This is often subjective, especially when 2 bodybuilders are quite close.
My view is to USE the contest atmosphere and date as a concrete goal to be your individual best.
Get in your best shape ever, show it off on stage, take lots of pics, etc.
In my opinion, way too many guys/gals in state, local shows worry too damn much about how they look compared to others. Often they are in their best ever contest shape, yet leave pissed and frustrated if they fail to place high or win.
I mean c'mon, why pay your hard earned money to compete and then worry ONLY about what the judging panel thought of you??? That is like YOU paying your boss, to work and please HIM

Once again, as an amatuer , that is NOT trying to go pro, you will always pay $$ to compete.
It makes a hell of a lot more sense to compete and PLEASE yourself, instead of paying all that money to please others, like judges or rude idiots.
Granted bodybuilding is competetive and we all want to win and beat the next guy/gal.However, if the conetst motivated you to get in great shape, why not celebrate THAT as the most important thing.
Its' YOUR nickel, your hours in the gym and weeks on a diet, etc, so why not enjoy it?
I think contest day should be a day of celebration of how much you have changed your body for the better, rather than a test to pass or fail based on others subjective judgements.
Howard

sarcasm · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2006, 03:24:10 PM »

Quote from: HowieW on March 28, 2006, 03:21:55 PM

If you are a pro, you should be on the stage to win or place higher each time out. Same with amatuer NPC guys trying to "climb the ladder" . However, if you know you will never be going pro or have a shot a national show, should you compete with the same attitude as them?
No! Why? You pay $$$ to compete as an amatuer and to win you have to impress the judges more than the others you are up against. This is often subjective, especially when 2 bodybuilders are quite close.
My view is to USE the contest atmosphere and date as a concrete goal to be your individual best.
Get in your best shape ever, show it off on stage, take lots of pics, etc.
In my opinion, way too many guys/gals in state, local shows worry too damn much about how they look compared to others. Often they are in their best ever contest shape, yet leave pissed and frustrated if they fail to place high or win.
I mean c'mon, why pay your hard earned money to compete and then worry ONLY about what the judging panel thought of you??? That is like YOU paying your boss, to work and please HIM
Once again, as an amatuer , that is NOT trying to go pro, you will always pay $$ to compete.
It makes a hell of a lot more sense to compete and PLEASE yourself, instead of paying all that money to please others, like judges or rude idiots.
Granted bodybuilding is competetive and we all want to win and beat the next guy/gal.However, if the conetst motivated you to get in great shape, why not celebrate THAT as the most important thing.
Its' YOUR nickel, your hours in the gym and weeks on a diet, etc, so why not enjoy it?
I think contest day should be a day of celebration of how much you have changed your body for the better, rather than a test to pass or fail based on others subjective judgements.
Howard

meltdown.

HowieW · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2006, 03:30:44 PM »

Quote from: sarcasm on March 28, 2006, 03:24:10 PM

meltdown.

LOL hardly, in fact the oppositte .
I see too many have a meltdown if they fail to place high or win.

shiftedShapes · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2006, 03:33:30 PM »

monster advice

forreal dough you have a good head on your shoulders

alexxx · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2006, 03:33:42 PM »

I didn't read it but sounds like a speech for losers.

shiftedShapes · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2006, 03:49:00 PM »

that's why you should read it ALEXXX

sarcasm · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2006, 04:11:24 PM »

howie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'll bet you're the type of guy who starts up a traveling sperm bank and your motto is We Cum to You and you go to the guy suck the dude off, collect the sperm in your mouth and transport it back to the "shop" and spit it out, hahaha, what a penis puffer.

Unknown8471 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2006, 04:19:30 PM »

Quote from: HowieW on March 28, 2006, 03:21:55 PM

If you are a pro, you should be on the stage to win or place higher each time out. Same with amatuer NPC guys trying to "climb the ladder" . However, if you know you will never be going pro or have a shot a national show, should you compete with the same attitude as them?
No! Why? You pay $$$ to compete as an amatuer and to win you have to impress the judges more than the others you are up against. This is often subjective, especially when 2 bodybuilders are quite close.
My view is to USE the contest atmosphere and date as a concrete goal to be your individual best.
Get in your best shape ever, show it off on stage, take lots of pics, etc.
In my opinion, way too many guys/gals in state, local shows worry too damn much about how they look compared to others. Often they are in their best ever contest shape, yet leave pissed and frustrated if they fail to place high or win.
I mean c'mon, why pay your hard earned money to compete and then worry ONLY about what the judging panel thought of you??? That is like YOU paying your boss, to work and please HIM
Once again, as an amatuer , that is NOT trying to go pro, you will always pay $$ to compete.
It makes a hell of a lot more sense to compete and PLEASE yourself, instead of paying all that money to please others, like judges or rude idiots.
Granted bodybuilding is competetive and we all want to win and beat the next guy/gal.However, if the conetst motivated you to get in great shape, why not celebrate THAT as the most important thing.
Its' YOUR nickel, your hours in the gym and weeks on a diet, etc, so why not enjoy it?
I think contest day should be a day of celebration of how much you have changed your body for the better, rather than a test to pass or fail based on others subjective judgements.
Howard

RANT!

what is the point of compeating if you are not there to try and win? true a lose shuld not upset you but nomader what you do you shuld always bee trying to win.

alexxx · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2006, 04:30:12 PM »

Quote from: sarcasm on March 28, 2006, 04:11:24 PM

howie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'll bet you're the type of guy who starts up a traveling sperm bank and your motto is We Cum to You and you go to the guy suck the dude off, collect the sperm in your mouth and transport it back to the "shop" and spit it out, hahaha, what a penis puffer.

This post has as much authenticity as sarcasm's strengh claims!

Mars · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2006, 11:14:05 PM »

Quote from: sarcasm on March 28, 2006, 04:11:24 PM

howie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'll bet you're the type of guy who starts up a traveling sperm bank and your motto is We Cum to You and you go to the guy suck the dude off, collect the sperm in your mouth and transport it back to the "shop" and spit it out, hahaha, what a penis puffer.

Haha yes coincidently i was thinking what kind of a guy "Howie" would be and i came up with something simular to that hahahaha.

ARMZ · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2006, 11:31:40 PM »

I would NEVER enter a show if I thought I wouldn't win..

drkaje · « **Reply #11 on:** March 29, 2006, 06:40:44 AM »

Compete to win or stay home.

HowieW · « **Reply #12 on:** March 29, 2006, 02:57:41 PM »

Quote from: drkaje on March 29, 2006, 06:40:44 AM

Compete to win or stay home.

I know it seems like the win is the end all , be all but is flawed logic.
By this win or die attitude, if 100 guys compete in a show in the best of their life, 99 guys go home as having watsed their time getting in the show...wtf???
Plus, unless you are a pro or going for a pro card, you PAY $$$ to compete. So, if you compete ONLY to win first and please the judges , you are paying to please others and put on a show for them.
Kinda like you paying YOUR boss to come to work.
So why compete?
I like to use the date of the contest and the being on stage as a form of strong motivation to be my best.
However, if some guy shows up that is just plain better, due to genetics , training /dieting harder, more drugs or whatever, I realize THAT , and who the judges pick , is beyond my control.Sure, I want to beat the next guy, but after decades in this game, it is adventure, excitement and drama that keeps me involved in shows as fan, judge and competitor.

In the end it amazes me how so many end up as "mentle slaves" to the ideals and judgements of the judges and organization, when they are PAYING $$$ to be involved.

THINK ABOUT THIS:

If you pay your money to compete, do it for own pleasure, bennefit and overall enjoyment.
If you don't you pay to please others, that is like a 'ho paying her John.
Howard

HowieW · « **Reply #13 on:** March 29, 2006, 02:59:08 PM »

Quote from: ARMZ on March 28, 2006, 11:31:40 PM

I would NEVER enter a show if I thought I wouldn't win..

Question ; How in thw world can any bodybuilder know for sure they will win unless, they knew for 100% sure, who they were to compete against and what shape, size they were going to be?

ARMZ · « **Reply #14 on:** March 29, 2006, 03:02:06 PM »

Quote from: HowieW on March 29, 2006, 02:59:08 PM

Question ; How in thw world can any bodybuilder know for sure they will win unless, they knew for 100% sure, who they were to compete against and what shape, size they were going to be?

If somebody looks like shit, they know it and shouldn't waste time trying to compete.. When I go into a show, I feel I will win no matter who shows up..

CQ · « **Reply #15 on:** March 29, 2006, 03:07:36 PM »

Personally, I compete to win

If I were to go pro obviously I would need an attitude adjustment, as that would not be happening then to put it mildly.

alexxx · « **Reply #16 on:** March 29, 2006, 05:34:23 PM »

Quote from: CQ on March 29, 2006, 03:07:36 PM

Personally, I compete to win

If I were to go pro obviously I would need an attitude adjustment, as that would not be happening then to put it mildly.

lol

HowieW · « **Reply #17 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:18:21 PM »

Quote from: ARMZ on March 29, 2006, 03:02:06 PM

If somebody looks like shit, they know it and shouldn't waste time trying to compete.. When I go into a show, I feel I will win no matter who shows up..

Look I don't enter a contest to try and lose, BUt once again, if you ONLY know how you look ,how can you be certain you are going to win UNLESS you have the worlds biggest ego, or are the current Mr O, etc.
My point is just because some guy/gal gets into what is for them great shape, does NOT guarantee they will be better than some that show up.
Now, in the pro shows, they have pretty good idea of where they stand based on who singed up to compete.
BUT, in a state or regional NPC, you most likely have no idea who you will be up against.
In my humble opinion it is a combo of inflated ego with a delusional self importance and greatness that causes this "certainty" of winning without seeing the competition first.
How dare anyone even question the granduer of my physique!

LuciusFox · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:25:29 PM »

Quote from: drkaje on March 29, 2006, 06:40:44 AM

Compete to win or stay home.

The words of a man who doesn't challenge himself.

HowieW · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:34:41 PM »

Quote from: LuciusFox on March 30, 2006, 03:25:29 PM

The words of a man who doesn't challenge himself.

LOL

Ok here is my logic.

1. I am not going to be a pro, bodybuilding is my hobby and I pay for it with my own money.

2. I enjoy the contest atmosphere and the goal of seeing myself getting in top shape.

3. While I want to win ...dah, of course I WANT to win, I am realistic enough about my physique to know that even if I am my individual best, it is very possible a few guys can show up at a decent regional show that are better than me.

4. Since is my nickel, and my bodybuilding life. I use the shows to enhance my bodybuilding lifestyle without allowing it to rule my own values.

5. I also enjoy being an NPC judge and attending national and pro shows, watching those that are the best in the game.

In the end I love the sport, have for almost 3 decades now and just love being involved at all levels.

Howard

LuciusFox · « **Reply #20 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:38:33 PM »

Quote from: HowieW on March 30, 2006, 03:34:41 PM

LOL

Ok here is my logic.

1. I am not going to be a pro, bodybuilding is my hobby and I pay for it with my own money.

2. I enjoy the contest atmosphere and the goal of seeing myself getting in top shape.

3. While I want to win ...dah, of course I WANT to win, I am realistic enough about my physique to know that even if I am my individual best, it is very possible a few guys can show up at a decent regional show that are better than me.

4. Since is my nickel, and my bodybuilding life. I use the shows to enhance my bodybuilding lifestyle without allowing it to rule my own values.

5. I also enjoy being an NPC judge and attending national and pro shows, watching those that are the best in the game.

In the end I love the sport, have for almost 3 decades now and just love being involved at all levels.

Howard

That's a very healthy attitude. I never understood people who won't do something unless they are certain of success. I like to play pick-up basketball and if I only played when I was sure I would win then I would just wait around until little kids or old people showed up. Where's the fun in that?

HowieW · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:45:45 PM »

Quote from: LuciusFox on March 30, 2006, 03:38:33 PM

That's a very healthy attitude. I never understood people who won't do something unless they are certain of success. I like to play pick-up basketball and if I only played when I was sure I would win then I would just wait around until little kids or old people showed up. Where's the fun in that?

Thanks for the kind wirds L fox. The wait for the lil kids line is pretty funny . Sadly I know some in this sport that won't compete because they are so afraid to get beat or insecure about their physiques.
In the end , I think the most healthy attitude may be guys/gals that are simply happy to stay in shape and workout with no desire to compete.
In my case, now at 47, I know many in my gym and the area bodybuilding scene, know I competed years ago, but kinda look at me as big guy that USED to compete , lifts and judges now.
Win, lose or get last, I want to show everyone I can still get on stage with a mean set of abs and decent body overall. It sucks to be an "AL BUndy" and constantly think back to your glory days gone by. It is my observation that too many in this sport tend to say and do what "sounds more impressive" vs what is in their own best interest.
Howard