Have you given up?

[-Spartan-]

Crazy, you verbalized exactly how I feel. Totally fucked up my gut with pounding food, gave myself ulcerative colitis and in the process of fixing it I stripped away a good 15lbs of muscle cause it wouldn’t go away unless I dropped protein hard and pulled back on the training. Struggling to put it back on while rebuilding lol. Some people just aren’t meant to bodybuild but it’s about putting one foot in front of the other and just keep on keeping on

bro are we long lost brothers?!?! cause damn we have a similar story in this game.

 

[Jefe]

Shifting a goal to lower priority isn’t giving up as long as you’re still working towards it. You’re just taking a detour.

My life is one long, non consensual, grand tour.

 

[AllLoadedUp]

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?

I've always known I would never "look" the way I wanted to. I never desired to be a Pro or even step on stage. I just love to lift. I knew from the beginning basically. I simply do not have the genetics to have that "look". At one point I was 300lbs. But I looked awful. My mid section was waaay too big. However that mass allowed me to have a much better look now at 260lbs at 52. I'll be 53 in a few months. I feel a lot better at 260 also. I'm 6'1. Being 300lbs was uncomfortable as hell. I don't see how fat people can stand it. I was mostly muscle and it was uncomfortable. I can't imagine being 400lbs. WTF.

I do not do any social media. Unless you consider this place social media. Now you're 33 I don't blame you for being on IG. The fact is if you're going to have a love life in this day an age you HAVE to be on IG. Its just the way things are now. I'm not on IG. And guess what I have zero love life. Doubt I will ever go on a date or hell even have sex the rest of my life. When I go out I hardly ever even see attractive women anywhere. They're all at home getting attention and validation from their phone. So I don't blame you one bit for being on there. BUT if being on there is having a negative effect on your life then stay the fuck off of it. I don't even take my phone in the gym. I really don't get it. I can't for the life of me understand why people can't leave their phone in the car, yes they're addicted to it, I know. Or can't stay off social media. I don't find it difficult at all.

I did not find it difficult to accept reality of my genetics. Yeh it sucks. But what can you do? Sit around and waste your life whining and feeling sorry for yourself? Be the best you can be, look the best YOU can look and go on with your life. Life is short. Why waste it worrying about what you didn't get in the muscle/genetics dept? Can you change that? Hell no. Be thankful and happy you look as good as you do. You could have been born Rosie Odonnell. Imagine having to go through life looking like that?

 

[hawkmoon]

I've been doing this for over 41 years now and never given up. Partly because I'm always interested in what I can do better, but it is so much more

Bodybuilding for me is discipline, goal setting, persistence and progress. It taught me to be who I am today. Starting at 15, it keep me on the straight and narrow, always focused on making myself better in some way. I avoided 99% of the typical teenage and young adult pitfalls.

I "gave up" being a pro in 1991. I have competed in pro qualifiers again in 2018 and 2019 but didn't care about a card. I'd like to compete again, but still don't care. I do this for myself and no one else. Partly because I'm naturally not competitive and content. Partly because I don't care what anyone else is doing or what they have.

I admire great physiques, but recognize they and I are different people with different talents and skills, and I'm happy with that.

I'll never stop bodybuilding because it has always been for me. I'll be 57 this year and would not change a thing.

 

[AllLoadedUp]

I've been doing this for over 41 years now and never given up. Partly because I'm always interested in what I can do better, but it is so much more

Bodybuilding for me is discipline, goal setting, persistence and progress. It taught me to be who I am today. Starting at 15, it keep me on the straight and narrow, always focused on making myself better in some way. I avoided 99% of the typical teenage and young adult pitfalls.

I "gave up" being a pro in 1991. I have competed in pro qualifiers again in 2018 and 2019 but didn't care about a card. I'd like to compete again, but still don't care. I do this for myself and no one else. Partly because I'm naturally not competitive and content. Partly because I don't care what anyone else is doing or what they have.

I admire great physiques, but recognize they and I are different people with different talents and skills, and I'm happy with that.

I'll never stop bodybuilding because it has always been for me. I'll be 57 this year and would not change a thing.

Very wise advice to anyone.

 

[Ha.Ki.Beom]

in the end we all end up on some sort of trt, downsizing, and trying to do more cardio...this is the end of the line for all of us that dont die trying.

When I realized this I also realized that id rather run low dose for longer in life than having to stop completely because of heart issues etc...

@hawkmoon I think does similar, at least from what I could perceive from his latest podcasts. Minus the contest preps, he stays in the 600-800mg range in the off season, probably can even do it at the 500mg range and make slow progress, have a fun time with this for longer.

With gh, insulin, peptides, the "trt plus" territory is more exciting. I know that beyond 300mg per week I can see myself progressing through time. But at true TRT probably not.

 

[carbs]

Did it for 35 years religiously. Not great at it at 6 foot 4 height. But just for hobby and disclplilne and because I loved it.

Yes gave up once at 49. I can't even explain why. In that time I started partying very hard and getting into things you shouldn't. Had a great time.

It was so hard to get back into the gym (in my head I knew I always would) but it's difficult to describe how hard it was just leaving the house to go to the gym. Something I used to always look forward to, the best part of my day had all of a sudden become the hardest (it went on for almost a year after not stopping for more than a week in 35 years) . I'm slowly getting back now. But fuck I don't know why it became so hard just to get there all of a sudden.

Looking back.. no regrets about the training itself even though it wasn't the sport for me with my frame but it provided me with so much structure, routine and taught me discipline.

My only regret is all the money I spent at a young age when I didn't have much money on all the bullshit supps, food, magazines, even the drugs at times.
I wish that money was invested properly.

 

[dieselbuilder]

I'll be 53 in a few months.

Doubt I will ever go on a date or hell even have sex the rest of my life.

Respectfully: may I ask why no sex again at 53 or even a date? I hear ya on the phone stuff but maybe go on a dating app. I bet you can find someone

If you’re good with not getting any that is one thing. I read that and began to wonder how you got to that point.. doesn’t the test etc make you want to get laid?

 

[bigbumpkin2003]

Respectfully: may I ask why no sex again at 53 or even a date? I hear ya on the phone stuff but maybe go on a dating app. I bet you can find someone

If you’re good with not getting any that is one thing. I read that and began to wonder how you got to that point.. doesn’t the test etc make you want to get laid?

He may be at a point he has just given up on anyone worth his effort wandering into his life. I can personally testify that when you least expect it… and are in no way looking… that’s when some amazing person will walk into your life. Don’t get me wrong, every day can’t be sunshine rainbows and fuckin sprinkles. Relationships take a lot of damn work…. But when you find the right one… the work doesn’t seem as hard.

 

[Josefein421]

Respectfully: may I ask why no sex again at 53 or even a date? I hear ya on the phone stuff but maybe go on a dating app. I bet you can find someone

If you’re good with not getting any that is one thing. I read that and began to wonder how you got to that point.. doesn’t the test etc make you want to get laid?

Def went off on a bitter tangent about women and IG lol.

But yeah I dont get when people say that stuff. Seems like self punishment of sorts. I could see someone not wanting to marry again or something serious. But we are social people. Nothing wrong with healthy casual relationships. I personally wouldnt want to be celibate or hang with dudes or myself only for 30yrs

 

[qbkilla]

Respectfully: may I ask why no sex again at 53 or even a date? I hear ya on the phone stuff but maybe go on a dating app. I bet you can find someone

If you’re good with not getting any that is one thing. I read that and began to wonder how you got to that point.. doesn’t the test etc make you want to get laid?

There's always escorts and arrangements. Guys look down on guys that use them like they can't get any, but yet they are spending 2 hours in the club or endless hours texting women, maybe even going on a dates. Time is more valuable than money for many and they have more $$ to blow than time lol. This is if sex is the goal.

 

[dieselbuilder]

There's always escorts and arrangements. Guys look down on guys that use them like they can't get any, but yet they are spending 2 hours in the club or endless hours texting women, maybe even going on a dates. Time is more valuable than money for many and they have more $$ to blow than time lol. This is if sex is the goal.

Yea I was gonna suggest hiring a working lady haha. Remember: you pay them to leave not to stay

 

[NeveReveN]

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?

I would say, if being a full on, everyone who sees you knows you’re a bodybuilder, high level bodybuilder, and “nothing has worked” you should hire a trainer/underground pharmacist that trains big, successful bodybuilders. Someone like a Dave Palumbo or another been there, done that retired pro or very high level amateur. You might not be doing as much right as you think you are. Might not be eating as great and consistently as you think. Probably aren’t optimizing PEDs even close to what would get you to your goal.

Do THAT for a year. If at the end you’re still a disappointment to yourself in the full length mirror, then you can say you did all you could and accept your genetics and fate with no regrets, no wondering what could have been only if.

 

[AllLoadedUp]

Good Lord I didn't know I was gonna open a Pandoras box in here. Ha ha. I'm not hijacking OP's thread. Suffice to say I am not even remotely bitter about anything. Life is too short for that shit. I'll start my own thread if you guys are really that interested in me. Lol. jk.

 

[PissedPajamas]

I would say, if being a full on, everyone who sees you knows you’re a bodybuilder, high level bodybuilder, and “nothing has worked” you should hire a trainer/underground pharmacist that trains big, successful bodybuilders. Someone like a Dave Palumbo or another been there, done that retired pro or very high level amateur. You might not be doing as much right as you think you are. Might not be eating as great and consistently as you think. Probably aren’t optimizing PEDs even close to what would get you to your goal.

Do THAT for a year. If at the end you’re still a disappointment to yourself in the full length mirror, then you can say you did all you could and accept your genetics and fate with no regrets, no wondering what could have been only if.

Actually, this explains everything. Here I thought my genetics took a shit on me, I’ve just been running fake gear for the last 12 weeks instead of my 900mg test/600mg EQ blast

My sense of relief is immeasurable. The dream is still alive

 

[traininsane11]

Actually, this explains everything. Here I thought my genetics took a shit on me, I’ve just been running fake gear for the last 12 weeks instead of my 900mg test/600mg EQ blast

My sense of relief is immeasurable. The dream is still alive

Join the club

I did realise though the fact I didn’t regress massively over about 5 months that I gave gear way to much credit … either that or my response to gear was less than I’d hoped

 

[dieselbuilder]

Actually, this explains everything. Here I thought my genetics took a shit on me, I’ve just been running fake gear for the last 12 weeks instead of my 900mg test/600mg EQ blast

My sense of relief is immeasurable. The dream is still alive

What’s the name on the vial of said fake gear?

 

[PissedPajamas]

What’s the name on the vial of said fake gear?

not a board source here, OEP from Meso. If this isn’t allowed someone let me know and I’ll remove it

 

[NeveReveN]

Actually, this explains everything. Here I thought my genetics took a shit on me, I’ve just been running fake gear for the last 12 weeks instead of my 900mg test/600mg EQ blast

My sense of relief is immeasurable. The dream is still alive

So totally disregarding the advice about getting a trainer? Like every top bodybuilder of the past 10 plus years?

 

[gains4000]

not a board source here, OEP from Meso. If this isn’t allowed someone let me know and I’ll remove it

I would be shocked if the EQ I’m using from them is fake.