Have you given up?

[PissedPajamas]

Clickbaity title

We all can’t be mass monsters. Some of us have been trying to make a dollar out of 75¢ all their life and just aren’t cut out for this no matter how you slice it.

Past a certain point, after blasting grams of gear, pounding tons of food, and pouring years into dialing in your training, sleep, and nutrition under the guidance of various coaches, with not much return on the amount of sacrifice invested, when do you say enough is enough? Have you tempered your expectations, dialed back on your gear/food/rigidity and tried to find fulfillment in other aspects of your life?

I actually had to get off IG because seeing 16-18yr olds blow past me while natural feels humiliating. Maybe your response to everything just gets worse with age, (33yrs old now) but I’ve long left behind any aspirations to be a freak.

This has been an obsession of mine for more than a decade and with nothing to show for it, I just know better than to keep risking my health for shit gains. Is it mental weakness to just change your direction and goal? Or is it just being grounded in reality?

I’m just wondering if anyone else has dealt with similar feelings and how you mentally got past it. Was it just a mental slump or a down time in your bodybuilding? If so, what did you do to get past it and continue to make progress?

 

[PRorER]

I think everyone has a point where they realize they can/can’t be a pro. But what’s important is you figure out what brings you self fulfillment in this endeavor. For me personally It’s awesome knowing that I’m setting an example for my son and I get to look good/feel good everyday. The days of blasting a large amount of gear for a few extra lbs of muscle are behind me

 

[td]

I never wanted to be a mass monster. Even though I came up in the era of Ronnie and Jay, I always found the classic era more appealing.

I've been lifting weights for 30 years now. I'm likely near the end of my competitive career but I don't expect there will ever be a time that I don't train.

Ask yourself, do you enjoy it? If so, focus on the process, not the outcome. If you're smart and you can exercise some restraint, you can continue to do this for a long time regardless of whether the Olympia is ever in your future.

"It’ll destroy you if you try to make it mean anything to anyone but yourself."
-Henry Rollins

 

[Splitzz]

I enjoy the grind of pushing myself. End goal, get as big as I can but Im still satisfied with what I’ve accomplished so far. Will I hit my goals one day, I sure hope I can get close!

 

[TheOtherOne55]

This isn't about giving up, its about tempering your expectations.

A LONG TIME AGO i stopped thinking about, "wait, i'm not progressing like them!" and just made sure I was progressing every year. Me, myself. Am I better than I was 6 months ago? Am I better than I was a year ago? If the answer is yes, I want to keep going. Bigger, leaner, stronger, whatever "better" equals to you. That is what I chase. I just learned to stop comparing myself to others and just compare myself to what I was before. Keep progress going. Easier said than done, but it works.

You're bound to give up if we compare ourselves to Phil Heath, so why do it? Take a picture, right now, and beat that tomorrow. Then a month from now. Then 6 months from now.

 

[madg]

Mass monster is relative

Look and proportion in everything

Im only 95 kg at my best and i have met countless ppl weighing much more than me and telling me they would kill to look like me

Weight is irelevant imo

Be happy with yourself and what you can achieve

I wanted to be 110kg but i cant eat for it so i accept it and be happy

Dont compare your self to others imo

Compare you vs you

 

[comedycentral]

I give up about 3 times a week for the last 10 years.

 

[Splitzz]

This isn't about giving up, its about tempering your expectations.

A LONG TIME AGO i stopped thinking about, "wait, i'm not progressing like them!" and just made sure I was progressing every year. Me, myself. Am I better than I was 6 months ago? Am I better than I was a year ago? If the answer is yes, I want to keep going. Bigger, leaner, stronger, whatever "better" equals to you. That is what I chase. I just learned to stop comparing myself to others and just compare myself to what I was before. Keep progress going. Easier said than done, but it works.

You're bound to give up if we compare ourselves to Phil Heath, so why do it? Take a picture, right now, and beat that tomorrow. Then a month from now. Then 6 months from now.

Well said! Keep pushing to better ourselves instead of comparing to the elite of elite genetics.. enjoy the process

 

[Sectør]

Clickbaity title

We all can’t be mass monsters. Some of us have been trying to make a dollar out of 75¢ all their life and just aren’t cut out for this no matter how you slice it.

Past a certain point, after blasting grams of gear, pounding tons of food, and pouring years into dialing in your training, sleep, and nutrition under the guidance of various coaches, with not much return on the amount of sacrifice invested, when do you say enough is enough? Have you tempered your expectations, dialed back on your gear/food/rigidity and tried to find fulfillment in other aspects of your life?

I actually had to get off IG because seeing 16-18yr olds blow past me while natural feels humiliating. Maybe your response to everything just gets worse with age, (33yrs old now) but I’ve long left behind any aspirations to be a freak.

This has been an obsession of mine for more than a decade and with nothing to show for it, I just know better than to keep risking my health for shit gains. Is it mental weakness to just change your direction and goal? Or is it just being grounded in reality?

I’m just wondering if anyone else has dealt with similar feelings and how you mentally got past it. Was it just a mental slump or a down time in your bodybuilding? If so, what did you do to get past it and continue to make progress?

“Comparison is the thief of joy”

Kind of like others said—it might be best to just get off social media and stop comparing yourself to people and just do the best you can with what you have

For me, mass monster has never really been the goal. I did chase and hold some size when I was younger, maybe held onto some delusion of becoming a pro for a bit, but realistically I just don’t think my genetics are there and I just don’t want to have to push the mega doses I’d probably need to overcompensate for subpar genetics

Plus I’m in my 30s now, the idea of being 280-300lbs and all the health issues that build when you’re carrying around that much weight just doesn’t appeal to me anymore. Rather just be lean and aesthetic, stay in the 230-240lb range, and have the ability to run 5 miles or do an hour of stairs while building my strength up. Well rounded is the goal now.

I guess the point is: if you’re training and dieting and you’re enjoying yourself and look forward to it everyday, then who really cares what anyone else around you is doing. Find something you enjoy, and just do that (forget everyone else), and if you’re bored with you’re style of training or goals, you could Always change something up to keep it interesting.

 

[qbkilla]

I started out wanting to be the biggest guy in the gym. Every time I pushed the scale I never liked what I saw, too much fat, proportions didn't look good. Id cut, bulk, cut, bulk always trying different ways to get huge..added gear too. At one point...maybe with all this rise of social media and seeing so many lean guys...I started to realize I envied the ripped dudes way more than the big guys. Realized that my goal physique changed...and was now attainable and healthier. I started cutting, stayed leaner and more athletic looking and never looked back. So I guess to summarize my journey...I did give up being massive but over time my goal physique changed as well...kinda found my niche and couldn't be happier. Still always looking to improve weather its 1% to look better, be stronger, or be healthier. I genuinely enjoy training and love being at the gym.

 

[buck]

I pushed things as far up my comfort level as i was willing to for over 20 years. Challenging myself was my favorite part not the result.

 

[PissedPajamas]

“Comparison is the thief of joy”

Kind of like others said—it might be best to just get off social media and stop comparing yourself to people and just do the best you can with what you have

For me, mass monster has never really been the goal. I did chase and hold some size when I was younger, maybe held onto some delusion of becoming a pro for a bit, but realistically I just don’t think my genetics are there and I just don’t want to have to push the mega doses I’d probably need to overcompensate for subpar genetics

Plus I’m in my 30s now, the idea of being 280-300lbs and all the health issues that build when you’re carrying around that much weight just doesn’t appeal to me anymore. Rather just be lean and aesthetic, stay in the 230-240lb range, and have the ability to run 5 miles or do an hour of stairs while building my strength up. Well rounded is the goal now.

I guess the point is: if you’re training and dieting and you’re enjoying yourself and look forward to it everyday, then who really cares what anyone else around you is doing. Find something you enjoy, and just do that (forget everyone else), and if you’re bored with you’re style of training or goals, you could Always change something up to keep it interesting.

Getting off social media really helps, by far the best thing I’ve done for my mental. I’ve never been one to compare myself to others, but the speed of progress is what gets me. Seeing these 50lb two year transformations on my feed can make anyone who wasn’t built for the sport feel like they’re doing something wrong even if everything is dialed in. Genetics is a crazy thing, but putting my focus on what I can do is all you can do at the end of the day

 

[TDeck]

I’ll be honest, I really can’t relate at all. I loved lifting weights since I first touched them at 14. It’s never been a chore but an escape/challenge for me. I’ve also never compared myself to anyone else, but instead enjoyed my own journey.

I’m not trying to be some preachy purist or amateur psychologist, we all have our own motivations and ambitions. If I had to guess though, I would say at one point your motivation and desire was much more simplistic. Perhaps try reconnecting with what initially sparked your interest. Changing your perspective might be the only adjustment you need?

 

[PissedPajamas]

I’ll be honest, I really can’t relate at all. I loved lifting weights since I first touched them at 14. It’s never been a chore but an escape/challenge for me. I’ve also never compared myself to anyone else, but instead enjoyed my own journey.

I’m not trying to be some preachy purist or amateur psychologist, we all have our own motivations and ambitions. If I had to guess though, I would say at one point your motivation and desire was much more simplistic. Perhaps try reconnecting with what initially sparked your interest. Changing your perspective might be the only adjustment you need?

Oh dude, I’m training intensely till I’m in the casket. It’s moreso asking myself if pushing drugs and extreme amounts of food is worth it when you aren’t gifted. If 80% of health and effort are sacrificed for 10% of gains then you gotta start asking yourself if this is really for you.

And I know it’s not, but nothing in my routine will change regardless. Maybe less drugs and no wild offseasons going forward, but training is what got me into this in the first place

 

[Fleezy]

seeing 16-18yr olds blow past me while natural feels humiliating.

kids these days are hitting themselves in the face with a hammer to try to look more facially aesthetic

 

[control]

I could never stop training. I would probably drink myself to death in a few years if I did.

That being said, the results from training aren't the same anymore, and it is demoralizing sometimes. Especially because I train at a gym with tons of IFFB pro's everyday.

 

[traininsane11]

I hear you especially on the social media thing! Came off it some time ago and haven’t looked back!

I haven’t given up though.

I did start to question if my expectations matched up to my potential but then started working with Luki who really believes I have potential and wasn’t just being deluded and that reignited that fire again - BUT I don’t do worry about or have any expectations now I just follow the plan and know Luki doesn’t sugar coat anything and wouldn’t say something he didn’t believe so I can just switch off mentally about “what if’s” and just enjoy the process of it all and know if I follow his guidance I will be the best bodybuilder I can be!

Also having other hobbies is massive! Bodybuilding is probably the slowest and least “more is more” endeavour there is so just tick the boxes and switch off from it mentally and what will be will be

 

[rAJJIN]

It’s Humbling to try so Hard for so
Many years just to be pretty good.
I’ve had to be honest w myself a few times with that one. As others said though it’s a lot bigger picture than trying to be The Best in the world or even your area.
I’m good as long as I’m twice as good as “normal men”

Not trying to chase the crazy mofos with no regard for anything except muscles.
And also not as good as the generic freaks.

 

[KyleSmith1985]

Can't say I really relate. I feel great around 210lbs 6-8 BF%. Not very big but still muscular and not too big to play sports proficiently. Getting about 225 I just don't like how it feels. As I get older my plan is to downsize to around 185 and really I'll have no problem with it. I'll be able to run, mountain bike climb, and pretty much be better at most sports down sizing.

 

[madg]

This isn't about giving up, its about tempering your expectations.

A LONG TIME AGO i stopped thinking about, "wait, i'm not progressing like them!" and just made sure I was progressing every year. Me, myself. Am I better than I was 6 months ago? Am I better than I was a year ago? If the answer is yes, I want to keep going. Bigger, leaner, stronger, whatever "better" equals to you. That is what I chase. I just learned to stop comparing myself to others and just compare myself to what I was before. Keep progress going. Easier said than done, but it works.

You're bound to give up if we compare ourselves to Phil Heath, so why do it? Take a picture, right now, and beat that tomorrow. Then a month from now. Then 6 months from now.

I hear you especially on the social media thing! Came off it some time ago and haven’t looked back!

I haven’t given up though.

I did start to question if my expectations matched up to my potential but then started working with Luki who really believes I have potential and wasn’t just being deluded and that reignited that fire again - BUT I don’t do worry about or have any expectations now I just follow the plan and know Luki doesn’t sugar coat anything and wouldn’t say something he didn’t believe so I can just switch off mentally about “what if’s” and just enjoy the process of it all and know if I follow his guidance I will be the best bodybuilder I can be!

Also having other hobbies is massive! Bodybuilding is probably the slowest and least “more is more” endeavour there is so just tick the boxes and switch off from it mentally and what will be will be

Best thing you did was go with luki

If he says you have potential .. he really means it he is not one to mislead for clients

Plus he carea for health

You so much more calm since you hooked up with him