How did you tell a nice person that don’t waste your time on competitive bodybuilding simply because they don’t have the genetics?

[Bad_genetics]

Hi. I think I got very lucky back in the early 2000s when I trained at a gym that had many ifbb pros and although I was very determined I have long limbs, short shoulder ratio and large waist bones, always store fat in my torso and most people with origins from my part of the world (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc) are almost always skinny fat. A kind former IFBB pro bodybuilder let me know that I’m just not built for this. Painful to hear at that time but I’m so glad he told me the honest truth.

Thankfully I used that drive for bodybuilding and went into real estate and did pretty okay while training as a hobby and being a bodybuilding fan.

Did any of your folks hear this from others or had to tell a driven young person you know so they don’t waste their health and time on a goal that is simply unattainable?

 

[Fleezy]

i just mind my own business tbh

 

[traininsane11]

It’s their life not yours and you have no idea what they’ll accomplish maybe they’ll have a bang average physique but kill it on socials and make millions

Something along the lines of if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say nothing at all

 

[Brock456]

Hi. I think I got very lucky back in the early 2000s when I trained at a gym that had many ifbb pros and although I was very determined I have long limbs, short shoulder ratio and large waist bones, always store fat in my torso and most people with origins from my part of the world (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc) are almost always skinny fat. A kind former IFBB pro bodybuilder let me know that I’m just not built for this. Painful to hear at that time but I’m so glad he told me the honest truth.

Thankfully I used that drive for bodybuilding and went into real estate and did pretty okay while training as a hobby and being a bodybuilding fan.

Did any of your folks hear this from others or had to tell a driven young person you know so they don’t waste their health and time on a goal that is simply unattainable?

That’s kind of a douchebag thing to say.

Many guys with shitty genetics have gone on to compete and win shows and IFBB pro cards. There was another thread on here talking about pro cards are kind of being handed out and not as prestigious as they once used to be…. Take that for whatever you will….

Regardless I would never let someone tell me I CANT do something.

If anything it would motivate me to prove that person wrong.

 

[FrenchBench22]

Some people compete in bodybuilding because they want to win, and can win.

Some people compete in bodybuilding because they just like the process.

Some people train because they like training.

I may not have the genetics or physique to be an Olympic ice skater, but there's nothing wrong with ice skating with friends and family for the love of ice skating - or occasionally doing local ice skating competitions for the love of the process.

There is an man in my area in his 50s that's always loved competitive swimming. He swims every morning, and does a race in the Caribbean every summer. He has no aspirations of being Michael Phelps, but he is happy and enjoys himself. Nothing wrong with you training or bodybuilding and just enjoying yourself.

 

[thethinker48]

Average today is so far below impressive that even people with below average genetics can be outliers in society with some effort

Now competitive bodybuilding, yeah that's a sailboat your mom and dad buy a ticket for in the womb lol

 

[thethinker48]

i just mind my own business tbh

Best approach in all facets of life

 

[alfresco]

Hi. I think I got very lucky back in the early 2000s when I trained at a gym that had many ifbb pros and although I was very determined I have long limbs, short shoulder ratio and large waist bones, always store fat in my torso and most people with origins from my part of the world (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc) are almost always skinny fat. A kind former IFBB pro bodybuilder let me know that I’m just not built for this. Painful to hear at that time but I’m so glad he told me the honest truth.

Thankfully I used that drive for bodybuilding and went into real estate and did pretty okay while training as a hobby and being a bodybuilding fan.

Did any of your folks hear this from others or had to tell a driven young person you know so they don’t waste their health and time on a goal that is simply unattainable?

My Dad when I was 18.

He admonished me to no avail but in the end he was right, and I don't begrudge him one iota. I never stepped on stage. (I have always felt that you weren’t a bodybuilder until you stepped on stage . . . until then you are a weight lifter.)

 

[Bad_genetics]

My Dad when I was 18.

He admonished me to no avail but in the end he was right, and I don't begrudge him one iota. I never stepped on stage. (I have always felt that you weren’t a bodybuilder until you stepped on stage . . . until then you are a weight lifter.)

Your dad was a good man.

 

[hawkmoon]

I never had to do this, but I would if I felt someone was obviously disadvantaged. I would not tell them to give up competing completely if they truly loved it, but I would find a way to help them manage expectations.

Many many years ago my training partner who loved BB'ing wanted to compete. He started prepping and got about 8 weeks in.
We went to visit our source for an assessment. He himself was a national-level competitor and PED source and training partner for several top guys, and this being the 90s we wanted his opinion.

He took a good long look at my buddy and clucked a bit. Looked him in the eye and told him to got home and have a pizza - he's nowhere near making it.
My friend was crushed, but Louie was right. The friend recovered and moved on understanding it just wasn't for him.

 

[NaDa]

It’s their life not yours and you have no idea what they’ll accomplish maybe they’ll have a bang average physique but kill it on socials and make millions

Something along the lines of if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say nothing at all

What this guy said.

Maybe they never go pro but they just enjoy the trip. Gives them something to focus on, meet cool people, and just be a part of something.

Im never going to be on a stage and that is my choice. I still like to train like I am. Hell, even during the shitty times it's still better than being aimless. Just keep on keeping on like one of the greats said.

 

[hawkmoon]

Let me be clear with what I said above - it would never be an unsolicited comment. Only given if asked for.

After reading my own words I realized this wasn't clarified.

 

[qbkilla]

The only way I can think is to show him the most unaesthetic bodybuilder you can find..like someone with horrible proportions..bubble gut...stick arms...no ass...I've heard it called spider physique. Explain to him about guys pushing too hard and out eating their growth potential and using dosages that are past what they need....focusing on moving the scale at all expense.

 

[buck]

The only way I can think is to show him the most unaesthetic bodybuilder you can find..like someone with horrible proportions..bubble gut...stick arms...no ass...I've heard it called spider physique. Explain to him about guys pushing too hard and out eating their growth potential and using dosages that are past what they need....focusing on moving the scale at all expense.

Dave Palumbo made good money from bodybuilding!

When i have had people directly ask me if they would do well i tell them the truth as i see it. I point out where their structure is lacking the most as they will have to work hard to compensate for that. Which others that are more gifted don't have to do. I also point out that is will take some time, years to find out how well they can be disciplined and spend years toiling away to improve. Competing, doing well and winning shows are 3 different things.

 

[qbkilla]

Dave Palumbo made good money from bodybuilding!

When i have had people directly ask me if they would do well i tell them the truth as i see it. I point out where their structure is lacking the most as they will have to work hard to compensate for that. Which others that are more gifted don't have to do. I also point out that is will take some time, years to find out how well they can be disciplined and spend years toiling away to improve. Competing, doing well and winning shows are 3 different things.

Palumbo comes to mind lol. How did he become so popular with his structure? I don't really follow bodybuilding so not sure his story. I'm sure during his era there were dudes who could match his size with much better structure?

 

[Sectør]

Hi. I think I got very lucky back in the early 2000s when I trained at a gym that had many ifbb pros and although I was very determined I have long limbs, short shoulder ratio and large waist bones, always store fat in my torso and most people with origins from my part of the world (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc) are almost always skinny fat. A kind former IFBB pro bodybuilder let me know that I’m just not built for this. Painful to hear at that time but I’m so glad he told me the honest truth.

Thankfully I used that drive for bodybuilding and went into real estate and did pretty okay while training as a hobby and being a bodybuilding fan.

Did any of your folks hear this from others or had to tell a driven young person you know so they don’t waste their health and time on a goal that is simply unattainable?

Just don’t feel like it’s my place going around telling people what I think they could or couldn’t achieve. Let them do what they want

Maybe it’s different if they were paying you to try to get them to IFBB pro, and there’s no change in hell it would happen. At that point maybe just a little bit a realism would helps otherwise let people live in their delusion if it allows them to push harder

 

[buck]

Palumbo comes to mind lol. How did he become so popular with his structure? I don't really follow bodybuilding so not sure his story. I'm sure during his era there were dudes who could match his size with much better structure?

When he was just Palumbo he didn't look as bad. When he became Jumbo Palumbo the last little bit of aesthetics imploded.

 

[AllOkJumpmaster]

Ask them why they want to compete in the first place before saying anything else. Gauge what you say, if anything based on that response. People compete for many many reasons, often times the reason has nothing to do with winning a show, or becoming a pro. Personal reasons are often at play, sometimes it is just a challenge to see if they can use the discipline required to make it to stage.

 

[AllOkJumpmaster]

Let me be clear with what I said above - it would never be an unsolicited comment. Only given if asked for.

After reading my own words I realized this wasn't clarified.

I did not take your original comment as not clear, but your follow up is also good brother

 

[massephase]

Totally depends on the persons expectations, as others have said.
I know I will never accomplish anything noteworthy on a stage. But I can build something relatively impressive and love doing it, so that's what I will do.

Now if a guy thinks he can turn pro and asks for your opinion, tell him. But don't just shoot him down by giving your opinion unsolicited.