Well, Cole and I sort of had a meeting of the minds on this subject.
[My buddy Lats and I disagree on this subject, but I still love him.
]
Here is a half-assed quote or a paraphrasing of my friend Lats' statement above-"Oh, this is bodybuilding and it only takes an hour of my day and meals only take 10 minutes."
That might be for someone like you and I Lats...then you'd be 100% correct.
However, I don't think that's accurate for the athlete who competes frequently or who is an unsponsored Pro scrambling to earn a living. [ I know you sure as hell know more pros than I do! However, I have competed and I have lived with competitors and helped others prepare, so I am not totally ignorant on this topic.]
I think for THOSE people the training, diet, cardio, social interactions, are CONSUMED by the time and effort it takes to be your best.
Meals take ten minutes to prepare? It also takes time to sit down and eat those meals and that's another 10minutes AT LEAST. Then you've got clean up. If you are eating six or seven meals that adds up. Plus, you are eating when others are not, you are eating on the clock. Then you've got meals to prepare for everyone else who ISN'T DIETING. [I am speaking of serious competitors, not someone like me how eats whenever cause he's swimming and missed a meal]
Then figure in that you are getting up at the ass-crack of dawn to do 40-60 minutes of cardio. Then if you have a job...and you have to earn money....you work all day....THERE GOES ANOTHER 8HOURS..then you come home for one of those "quick" meals...rush off to workout...you are then gone for another hour...minimum and more if you end up doing more cardio. That's another 30-45 minutes, plus travel to and from the gym. Then you come home and what time is it?
Are you tired? Is there much time left to enjoy other interests or relationships? Is there time to study? No, you are dead tired and need some sleep....badly just to maintain that schedule.
Thats right your day is GONE. It's been about YOU. I think it is rare indeed to have a guy like Mark Dugdale who has it together with family etc. Plus, not everyone is so fortunate as to have a huge family business where cash isn't an issue. Even then, I am sure he'd be the first to say that his family makes big sacrifices so he can pursue this goal.
Plus, let's get real, to be successful there are a LOT of other things involved.
Look at the Pros, do most of them have a real job? Do most of them have successful, happy lives that you'd want? What are their relationships like? And what is there once you aren't a young goodlooking guy or a "hot" female? Not much unless you've been one of the fortunate few who are one of the top 10 competitors in the world and actually make a living off the sport.
I think a person better have host of things in life that bring real joy, "things that are important in life" to fall back or it's going to be a tough go.
Do I LOVE lifting and the super cool physiques? YES......BUT I AM NOT one of those people who is willing to get on the spinning wheel like a rat and run someone elses race.
That's just my opinion. If it comes down to a barbeque with friends or not going on a hike in the mountains for fear that I might "overtrain" my legs. The choice is VERY clear for me. That WOULD NOT be the case be for someone at the top of their game and wanting to compete. I am talking about those who want to win and have a shot at it.
Life is good and we all have opinions. It's good to kick things around some. All of you make good points.
It was good talking to you Cole. I am glad you got a kick out of my laughter and overall b.s. We'll have to talk more over a burger in Wallace.