Note: It will take multiple posts to make my argument, probably over 2 days. If I stop, it means I have something else to do (like train my wife in 40 minutes). The topic will thus fill out over multiple posts. I will try an cover 1 main concept each post.
Having spent a while on this forum now, I have noticed a very distinct trend. Before discussing that trend it should be noted that this forum has the highest concentration of elite level body builders I have encountered on the net, or in life.
Having said that, I have noticed a trend here. To illustrate, there was a thread about when someone realized they would never be a top bodybuilder
http://www.professionalmuscle.com/f...ou-realize-you-never-top-pro-bodybuilder.html.
The overall tone of the argument is that they were failures at the sport and the gold standard was an IFBB pro card. I disagree strongly. The participants in that thread were any thing but failures, they were champions. Posters fell in love with bodybuilding and did amazing things. They just did not realize it.
Many won tough local and regional contests. They were NPC champions.
Think about that fact this way: For every 10-20 guys/gals that step into the gym, 1 will still be training a year later. For every 10 left, 1 will make the kind of progress needed to even contemplate competing. Out of ten of those, 1 will make it to the stage. Out of 10 of those, one will become a champion.
Viewed as such, it becomes clear that a win, even a class win makes you an exceptional person. You are a true champion.
The next year you go to nationals and end up 13th. The next year, you break the top 10. The next year you place eleventh. Clearly, you are not getting a pro card.
Since the card was your dream, you see your self a a loser.
That is 100% wrong!!! you are a champion, you just were not one of the 1 in 50k who had pro genetics.
Nonetheless, your training loses focus. Your intensity is down. You start missing workouts. Eventually you stop training altogether, and view bodybuilding as a waste of your life.
You could not possibly be more wrong!!! You re a champion, and nothing can ever take that away. You just need some new goals. Furthermore, you will keep a large amount of your size and strength AND develop new goals.
Finally, you will be healthier. That will be the topic of the next section.
Having spent a while on this forum now, I have noticed a very distinct trend. Before discussing that trend it should be noted that this forum has the highest concentration of elite level body builders I have encountered on the net, or in life.
Having said that, I have noticed a trend here. To illustrate, there was a thread about when someone realized they would never be a top bodybuilder
http://www.professionalmuscle.com/f...ou-realize-you-never-top-pro-bodybuilder.html.
The overall tone of the argument is that they were failures at the sport and the gold standard was an IFBB pro card. I disagree strongly. The participants in that thread were any thing but failures, they were champions. Posters fell in love with bodybuilding and did amazing things. They just did not realize it.
Many won tough local and regional contests. They were NPC champions.
Think about that fact this way: For every 10-20 guys/gals that step into the gym, 1 will still be training a year later. For every 10 left, 1 will make the kind of progress needed to even contemplate competing. Out of ten of those, 1 will make it to the stage. Out of 10 of those, one will become a champion.
Viewed as such, it becomes clear that a win, even a class win makes you an exceptional person. You are a true champion.
The next year you go to nationals and end up 13th. The next year, you break the top 10. The next year you place eleventh. Clearly, you are not getting a pro card.
Since the card was your dream, you see your self a a loser.
That is 100% wrong!!! you are a champion, you just were not one of the 1 in 50k who had pro genetics.
Nonetheless, your training loses focus. Your intensity is down. You start missing workouts. Eventually you stop training altogether, and view bodybuilding as a waste of your life.
You could not possibly be more wrong!!! You re a champion, and nothing can ever take that away. You just need some new goals. Furthermore, you will keep a large amount of your size and strength AND develop new goals.
Finally, you will be healthier. That will be the topic of the next section.