I competed 13 times from age 20-24, then I took an 8 year lay-off and had a little comeback last September. I'm gonna do the same show I did last year with hopes of improving. Even though I have qualified for nationals several times in the past and have 2 Overall titles and never placed worse than third since I was 21, I never put the peddle to the medal to see what I can do if I pushed the envelope. I'm now doing insulin for the first time and loving it! But I'm still not doing what I believe to know what it takes to be a top caliber comoetitor.
The reason why I never pushed it? Well, to be totally honest, I knew that I could never be top 10 in the world. I knew that in bodybuilding you have to be at the top to make good money, so it just isn't worth it. Unless I'm gonna make a half million or more a year doing this, it's not worth risking my health. Even if I knew that I was gonna make $150,000 a year doing this, its still not worth it to me, not nearly enough money to risk health.
And the last reason why....is that I'm a pussy. Remember when Dante was calling people out a few days ago and asked if we knew that we could take a bunch of drugs and go pro why wouldn't we? Then he asked "what? are you guys pussies?" lol, yes Dante, I'm a pussy, I didn't want to risk my health and take what I believe it takes to be a top pro!
I will continue to compete using the doses I'm comfortable with until I turn 40, then I've made a promise to my wife and family that for the sake of my family and possible health risks doing what I currently do, I will stop and just continue with hrt doses. This is a lifestyle and a hobby, not a total way of life. There is a difference between a "lifestyle" and a "way of life". Bodybuilding is part of my life, but bodybuilding isn't my life...big difference.[/QUOTE}
DNA,This is the post of the thread for me. It isn't that your a pussy it is that you realize the risk vs reward. Many don't.
It was said earlier that if you don't compete, your not a bodybuilder. I don't agree because you still can push yourself to new best and new limits every year. Besides bodybuilding is still a individual sport where you very much compete against yourself. Also, turn 40 and see if the bug is still biting.