Is competitive bodybuilding possible for the average person?

[supertrucker212]

Me and a friend of mine got into a lengthy discussion the other about the competitive bodybuilding lifestyle and how it's very difficult for the average person. We all know from an economic perspective how difficult it is, (gear, soaring cost of food and gas), but also the time factor. Training, working a full day and eating six meals doesn't leave time for much else. It almost seems like you have to have the chips fall in the right places for everything to work. Take Jay Cutler for example. Now we all know Jay gives 110%, but Jay doesn't have to work a full time either. I remember reading an article about him right after he turned pro at 22 and he said how he's in the land developing business, (he wasn't physically developing land but buying @ auctions and hiring people to do the labor end). At 22 that is a very fortunate position to be in. Then take the '97 Mr. USA Ken Brown from my home state of Pennsylvania. He worked 10-12 hours a day at a boiler factory and still managed to win that show. To boot he had a wife and kid to take care of. I read his daily schedule and between working, eating, training, and taking care of his daughter the man got like 4-5 hours sleep a night. I have all the admiration in the world for him. I want to compete next year but don't see how I can fit tanning, cardio, and practicing poses into my day. I just want to get some other board members thoughts on this.

 

[oldfella]

I, lke many others here who have competed have always had a full time job and still mangaed to get my average ass on stage numerous times to compete. It takes discipline and dedication to do this. Yes sacrifices along the way. if you are married or in a relationship then you will need support from your significant other as well. It will put a strain on things around the home front but yes it can be done. You will need a mindset that is more one track than anything else. So the answer is yes the average person can compete in Body Building. If I did it any one can!

 

[Titan1969]

Yes...

I work 40-50 hours a week. Cardio 6am till 7am, go home shower and eat breakfast, go to work, eat at 10am, noon, 3pm go home at 5pm, pre workout shake train 5:30-7pm, another shake, pose for 30 minutes then head to tanner, go home eat dinner prepare all food for the next day get done around 9 or 10pm...go to bed.

Repeat for 12-16 weeks...your ready for the show!

This is an old nattie shot...after following the above protocol

 

[vadim_b1]

If thats really you as a natty, i dont think you would have any problems , with a full time job or without it

 

[Sassy]

I consider myself the average person too. I work a full-time job, and I've gone through life's lovely road blocks and manage to compete in six competitions over the past 8 years. The question is... how bad do you want to do it?

It will take planning and organization. You have to prepare meals for each day. I fit your workouts and contest prep into your work schedule. Others on PM will tell you it is possible.

steele is right.... there is NOTHING average about it, but that shouldn't stop you. It didn't me.

 

[jay_dub]

i think i am fairly "average." i work an 8am-5pm job THEN workout THEN edit video for another 2-3 hours THEN sleep THEN repeat, always repeat...
you have to pack your own food...
you have to get adequate sleep...
you have to have consistent workouts...

WAIT A MINUTE there is NOTHING average about any of that. that is going FAR above average. so the answer is NO.

(average is eating whats in the vending machine at work, average is working out for a week then quitting, average is eating fast food everyday...average sucks.) -STEELE

You nailed that on the head bro. Good post.

 

[halflife]

You nailed that on the head bro. Good post.

All about priorities, goals, making lists of things need to do hourly, daily, weekly, yearly, to reach those goals - and evaluate your programs everynight before bed. A lot more too that but basic setup of what works for me. I don't work but go school full time all year and prepping for med school in a few months.

 

[buselmo]

average man's life:
-wake up 20 minutes before work
-pick up a cup of coffee from starbucks, and a bagel or whatever
-work from 9-5 (with a lunch break where lunch is basically crap food)
-go back home and watch tv, surf the net, play xbox or ps3, or go to a friend's house and do the same
-if he has a wife and kids, 5-7 take care of the kids... 7-12 or 1 am watch tv
-7 pm, dinner... again either crap food or a "home cooked meal"
-1 am try to sleep but can't cuz he doesn't have a set time to sleep in every night
- by 3 am, he's asleep...
-wake up at 8:30 am to go back to work

now, if he went to bed at 9 pm, woke up at 6 or 7 am to do cardio, cut out 1 or 2 hours of tv or xbox or whatever, saved a bit of cash by actually buying fresh food and cooking 5-6 meals a day instead of eating 2 crappy meals from a fast food joint or a restaurant, skipped the coffee and snacks (and just used plain old instant at home or work)... he'd:

1- be a competitive bodybuilder
2- saved time and money
3- been a better example for his kids to show them how to manage time

these days, average = hectic and doesn't know what to do with his life. you can have fun all you want even if you're a competitive bodybuilder. the only thing you have to hold back on is food. I really don't see where the challenge is.

Personally, it's cheaper for me to eat 3-4 solid meals per day and 2 shakes, plus the supplements than to eat 2-3 crap meals per day like everyone else. the average economy meal here at work costs around $4, it tastes like shit, makes you as bloated as fuck, and it probably has 80 grams of fat in it.

I will admit, i am a lazy and hectic person (as my dad would like to call me ), yet still i manage to do all of this. why? cuz i've decided to ditch the stupid things in life that waste time... spending 3 hours infront of the tv watching something you don't even want to watch because "nothing good is on" isn't enjoying life.
jogging at 5 am while the cool morning breeze hits you and watching the sun rise is.


anyway, just a personal point of view

 

[JohnnyPro]

Larry Scott worked a full time job and he won the Olympia twice

 

[AWN2004]

I worked 50 hours a week when I got ready to compete in 2005. I still managed to have some free time as well. Its not as bad as you think. Its all about time management. It can be done...trust me.

 

[DarkWarrior]

It is simply a matter of motivation and definately not a question of capability!
Consistency is the key!
Excellent replies on this, goals, planning, organization and they are within your reach but you really need a strong enough why!
Lay out your plans on paper and then adjust accordingly, when you run into a problem ask for help or better yet find someone that has done it already!!!!
There is huge amounts of information in this forum alone, along with alot of really great people, dont let it go to waste.
Go after it!

 

[alecaf]

(average is eating whats in the vending machine at work, average is working out for a week then quitting, average is eating fast food everyday...average sucks.) -STEELE

AMEN!

 

[figo]

good thread!

 

[MrPump]

Not that im a body builder or anything...but its possible. I work full time, have 5kids, a wife and still find time... This is what have been doing for the past 4 weeks and seeing some excellent results....

5am - Wake - Eat
6am - Shower
8am - Eat
10am - Shake - Preworkout supps
11am - Workout
12:30 - Shake
2:30 - Eat
4:00 - Snack
5:00 - Cardio
6:00 - Eat
8:00 - Bedtime meal
SLEEP

EVERYDAY FOR THE PAST 4 weeks so far....

I have learned you have to pre-make your meals and bring them to work. It helps that I work in a office and have a cooler for my food. It would be hard if you had a more manual labor position.

 

[OuchThatHurts]

i think i am fairly "average." i work an 8am-5pm job THEN workout THEN edit video for another 2-3 hours THEN sleep THEN repeat, always repeat...
you have to pack your own food...
you have to get adequate sleep...
you have to have consistent workouts...

WAIT A MINUTE there is NOTHING average about any of that. that is going FAR above average. so the answer is NO.

(average is eating whats in the vending machine at work, average is working out for a week then quitting, average is eating fast food everyday...average sucks.) -STEELE

Definitely a most righteous post! Fuck average!

Average doesn't work for me. Not in anything. In fact, I don't even know what it means to be average anymore. If it means you come home from work, feed the kid(s), and then watch 4 hours of television with a bag of nachos, then I'm screwed because I'll be in the grave before that happens.

I work 50+ per week. It's just another part of my routine - like making my meals for the next day, or getting in two sessions a day, or carrying an igloo cooler around. Difficult? Sometimes. Average? Hell no!

[edit]
Whoops! I forgot to answer the question. Can an average guy teach himself the discipline it takes to accomplish these tasks? Not only can he learn the discipline but he can grow to live it and then he becomes a whole different animal - at work, at play, heck even in bed!

 

[Hellbilly]

I think about this sometimes and remember that Ronnie Coleman won Mr. O's while supporting two kids and being a full time police officer.. this was after years of doing the same thing. I guess it boils down to how bad do you want it? Ain't nuthin' but a peanut.

 

[6.8SPC]

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that our ability to perform it has improved."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Persistence is the key.

 

[Big Bapper]

Its all about habbit, doing the same things day in, day out untill it becomes routine. Then when you do not do it you miss it, then you will realize you how much you really love it.

Big Bapper.

 

[hotttsauce]

Nope

I dont think it is possible. It takes an extreme amount of discipline to do BB/powerlifting/strongman and it is more of a lifestyle choice that many are not able to choose.

You can be an average Joe/Jane and do it yes! But it is that inner drive that actually makes you one and most normal people lack the 'grit" inside.

 

[abadseal]

now, if he went to bed at 9 pm, woke up at 6 or 7 am to do cardio, cut out 1 or 2 hours of tv or xbox or whatever, saved a bit of cash by actually buying fresh food and cooking 5-6 meals a day instead of eating 2 crappy meals from a fast food joint or a restaurant, skipped the coffee and snacks (and just used plain old instant at home or work)... he'd:

1- be a competitive bodybuilder
2- saved time and money
3- been a better example for his kids to show them how to manage time

these days, average = hectic and doesn't know what to do with his life. you can have fun all you want even if you're a competitive bodybuilder. the only thing you have to hold back on is food. I really don't see where the challenge is.

Personally, it's cheaper for me to eat 3-4 solid meals per day and 2 shakes, plus the supplements than to eat 2-3 crap meals per day like everyone else. the average economy meal here at work costs around $4, it tastes like shit, makes you as bloated as fuck, and it probably has 80 grams of fat in it.

I will admit, i am a lazy and hectic person (as my dad would like to call me ), yet still i manage to do all of this. why? cuz i've decided to ditch the stupid things in life that waste time... spending 3 hours infront of the tv watching something you don't even want to watch because "nothing good is on" isn't enjoying life.
jogging at 5 am while the cool morning breeze hits you and watching the sun rise is.


anyway, just a personal point of view

Fantastic post!!!! You literally took the words right out my mind it was eerie enough to give me goosebumps.