Competing for a 'plastic trophy'

[MAINEVENT]

This is something i hear a lot on the internet and recently someone else made a comment about it....not sure where. I understand to a degree what people are meaning by this phrase but I feel that if you are truely looking at it this way, competing is definitely NOT for you. Some people are just competivie while others are happy not competing....but just improving. For the record, Ive never competed for anything or anyone other than myself.....not for recognition, or to get into a magazine.....just to improve each and every time, period.


OK, just had to get that off my chest.

 

[Vander_V]

This is something i hear a lot on the internet and recently someone else made a comment about it....not sure where. I understand to a degree what people are meaning by this phrase but I feel that if you are truely looking at it this way, competing is definitely NOT for you. Some people are just competivie while others are happy not competing....but just improving. For the record, Ive never competed for anything or anyone other than myself.....not for recognition, or to get into a magazine.....just to improve each and every time, period.


OK, just had to get that off my chest.

Thats strange you felt you had to convey this

I dont get it, if you dont like competing then dont do it right? its just that simple .

 

[Kaiser]

That would be here:
http://www.professionalmuscle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32015&highlight=plastic

I understand what you mean, I have competed for a piece of paper in the past in the form of an award that was framed. One of them was Microsoft MVP which I won a few years in a row, another from the Navy/DoD, and another was one from Lockheed Martin (7 times). The funny thing is that even though I wasn't aware of the outcome at the time, these paper trophies, framed, with my name on them brought me another form of paper in the end: money.

 

[Dusty Hanshaw]

I know what you mean Main. I think the only way a person can understand why we do what we do is if they have tried competing. The joy of competition has little to nothing to do with the show itself or the trophy. It is about the challenge and discipline required to make it to the stage in the best shape of your life. It's about pushing yourself past mental and physical barriers. I love to compete but I would never let a trophy decide whether my most recent contest was a success or failure. In the end I think what makes BBing such a great "sport" is the fact that it is far more mental than physical and when you have successfully completed something that is both mentally and physically grueling you enjoy satisfaction knowing you did your absolute best. Every great athlete competes to win but only the lucky few understand it is a competition with yourself.

 

[Vander_V]

Yo Dusty when are u and Rob going to let me train u foos on chest or arms???

 

[steele]

for "just a trophy"

the reasons i think people say that (in order of relevance):
1. they lack the drive to compete so this is their "cop out"
2. they realize they are not as good as their competition, another "cop out"
3. they see only money as a reward and not hard work and being steadfast
4. They don't think they could be a pro so they just dismiss competing
5. they have no idea the sport is about so much more than a "plastic trophy"

i see very little reason for using superphysiological doses of hormones for any other purpose than competing. HRT, whole different story. but for me, the only reason i use "supps" is to acquire the "look" it takes to compete
STEELE

 

[MAINEVENT]

Thats strange you felt you had to convey this

I dont get it, if you dont like competing then dont do it right? its just that simple .

I recently read a thread on getbig (lol) of all boards and they were talking about this....thats all.

I wasn't knocking on anyone if they dont like competing just that some feel competing is for a plastic trophy thats all.

Dusty, thats why I like you man. You say what I mean, just in more of an eloquent way.

 

[Dusty Hanshaw]

Yo Dusty when are u and Rob going to let me train u foos on chest or arms???

Anytime. I train at 5:00am

 

[MAINEVENT]

the reasons i think people say that (in order of relevance):
1. they lack the drive to compete so this is their "cop out"
2. they realize they are not as good as their competition, another "cop out"
3. they see only money as a reward and not hard work and being steadfast
4. They don't think they could be a pro so they just dismiss competing
5. they have no idea the sport is about so much more than a "plastic trophy"

i see very little reason for using superphysiological doses of hormones for any other purpose than competing. HRT, whole different story. but for me, the only reason i use "supps" is to acquire the "look" it takes to compete
STEELE

I think some say that for those reasons for 'cop outs' and some dont. My opinon has changed over time. My main purpose was to say that we all do it for different reasons, but the people who truley love to compete dont see it as competing for a trophy.

 

[MAINEVENT]

Anytime. I train at 5:00am

What in the hell???????????

You my man are the picture of dedication! (insert bow down smilie)

 

[HUTCH]

Im sure no one competes for the actaul trophy but for what that trophy represents...It would kinda be like catching a huge fish and not taking a picutre of it...you would probably feel really proud of the catch because you woke up at 4 am and sat out on the lake all day and went through a lot to reel the big fish in...would you wanna just throw it back in or take a pic and put it on the wall...the pic or a trophy is there to represent all you went through to achieve a goal.

 

[HUTCH]

Anytime. I train at 5:00am

your a sick, sick person...

 

[Dusty Hanshaw]

your a sick, sick person...

What in the hell???????????

You my man are the picture of dedication! (insert bow down smilie)

Classic. I figure why the competition is sleeping I'm getting better and why they are out at all hours of the night I'm sleeping and growing. You know what they say, early to bed early to rise healthy wealthy and wise.

 

[b-boy]

great thread! and dusty my man great post, i totally agree with your first post in this thread.
Man i do it for the love of doing it, i absolutely love watching my fat ass transform into a carved piece of artwork..LOL
the trophy is just a representation that the judges approved of my personal piece of art work!
I honestly love bodybuilding and when it ceases to be fun i will call it quits, even if my vitaligo gets really really bad, as long as im having fun i will get up on stage.

 

[Kaiser]

You know what they say, early to bed early to rise healthy wealthy and wise.

Yeah, but the GoGo bars suck during the day compared to the night shift.

 

[Dusty Hanshaw]

Yeah, but the GoGo bars suck during the day compared to the night shift.

Good point. Forget about all I said earlier, I'm going out tonight

 

[edge250]

actually the last trophy i got many years ago was actually more of a sculpture than a plastic trophy. its pretty sweet and looks nice in the back of my closet covered with clothes.

 

[Kaiser]

Good point. Forget about all I said earlier, I'm going out tonight

You have an email buddy.

 

[hotttsauce]

I know what you mean Main. I think the only way a person can understand why we do what we do is if they have tried competing. The joy of competition has little to nothing to do with the show itself or the trophy. It is about the challenge and discipline required to make it to the stage in the best shape of your life. It's about pushing yourself past mental and physical barriers. I love to compete but I would never let a trophy decide whether my most recent contest was a success or failure. In the end I think what makes BBing such a great "sport" is the fact that it is far more mental than physical and when you have successfully completed something that is both mentally and physically grueling you enjoy satisfaction knowing you did your absolute best. Every great athlete competes to win but only the lucky few understand it is a competition with yourself.

Well put Dusty! You have to do it for yourself and see what limits you can go beyond, in the end, your judged by preferences, so you need to compete with yourself to truly win.

Sadly, we all fall short at times. I know I did my last contest, so you have to just try to redeem yourself, which includes puking during leg workouts, guess I need to up the pace, lmao! (inside joke)

 

[oldfella]

Dusty and Hutch, My thought exactly. I have never thought of the trophy, only what it means to me! I do it for myself because getting into trophy winning condition is one of the toughest challenges anyone could ever do. So it becomes personal. The title that comes with the trophy is the reward for the effort!