posted Mon, 05/27/2013 - 17:29
1381
+ 1 When did you start?
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I'm curious as to when most of you guys began to compete, also where are you now far as competing like national level etc how many years you have been training and what you could have changed throughout those times
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I was 19 at my first competition and competed until I was 25. Injuries and some changes in my personal life have put competing on hold for the time being. My first show I did natty and took second in the light heavy weight class of a local NPC show. For me it was a big accomplishment. I'm a taller guy and light heavy weight was not the best look for me, capped in at the weight limit of 198. I still beat 11 other guys but kinda felt slighted because I really wanted to win and I had no reason to feel that way. The guy who beat me was 5'7" at the same weight and just as lean, so he looked a hell of a lot bigger than me.
After that show is why I decided to start using. I went through the 3 month show rebound and let my body come back and equalize itself after the prep. After the 3 months, I started my journey training with gear. The next comp I did I started competing in the heavy weight class, which was a much better fit for me. A couple years later I was able to fill out to a full size heavy weight at 225 and spent the next few years refining my contest look at that weight. I did qualify for nationals twice but never took it to that level. Realistically I was still undersized to compete at a national level (6ft 225) and needed better wheels and a little more lat width. Most of my competitions took place while I was going to school so money was always a factor. Nationals were out of the question based on budget alone.
The things that I would have changed would have definitely not blow up some much past my stage weight during off season. The 'dirty bulk' did nothing for me other than get me fat. The amount of muscle I put on eating like a slob wasn't justified for the amount of weight I gained. At this point I would suck it up and stay leaner year round and look for quality gains in muscle and the mirror, opposed to seeing the numbers on the scale increase. I also wish I had access to higher quality foods, but again I was in school, working and supporting a child, so everything was always on a budget. Now I'm in a good career and have the money for the quality foods but I'm unsure where I want to go with it at this point.
Competing was definitely an awesome experience. You learn a lot about yourself as a person going through the hell of competing. The main thing is to remember to compete for the right reasons, for yourself and no other reason. Also not to rely on the supplements and gear to get the job done. People don't like to hear it, but bodybuilding is about training, nutrition, rest and recovery. The gear is ancillary to that and anyone who forgets that well burn out quick. Anyone spending more in gear than they do in food, is doing it wrong, end of story.
How much do you think it would have cost to go to nationals for you?
Well you have to factor money for travel and hotel stay, so that's a variable depending on which show. The North Americans would have been the most financial viable at the time given the location. I would budget food out to be somewhat where I'm at with groceries now which is 200-250 per week for just myself. There was no way I could afford 800-1000 a month in groceries previously, so that alone was prohibitive. Then odd costs for OTC supplements, tanning, tanning products, oil, and the AAS. My AAS usage is nothing fancy nor costly, but to prep for a show of that caliber I would insist on taking a full year with the highest quality foods, which wasnt a possibility at the time. Those costs vary from person to person, but I'm fairly savvy with my cash.
My recent contest cost me a couple grand it defiantly wasn't cheap. I'm just gonna stay down in the single digit body fat year round from now on so it's easier to prep for a contest and I won't spend as much on food as dirty bulking
First comp was age 23.... last comp was two weeks ago, heres a pic from that comp... bye the way im 53 in 4wks time... not planning on quitting just yet, looking into the powers of creatine to pack more size on then I will hit the stage once more LOL... next comp will be number 21... been training since I was 18 and if I could change anything I wish eroids would have been around in the 80s to save me blundering around in the dark guessing how to use AAS and wasting fucking good years getting things wrong.. then having to constantly start over with a new experiment.other than that nothing!.. the years have been good to me and if I could have my time over... I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN WITHOUT A SINGLE DOUBT I am a "full on" type of person and my passion for bodybuilding runs very deep, people who come into this lifestyle and do it "half cut" piss me off real bad and I have zero time for them, then we have the crew who say "oh yeah .. I used to be a bodybuilder" these types I wouldn't piss on their back teeth if their fucking head was on fire.... too many clowns and jokers around thesedays.. then we have the fuckers who get more calories from the amount of oils they pin than the food they eat LMFAOooooo....... happy days!
http://www.eroids.com/pics/not-dead-yet
http://www.eroids.com/pics/its-all-in-the-detail
Bro, after reading some of your posts and replies, that's not how I pictured you at all
Congrats, you get 50+ from me, it's inspiring to see another old fart working full throttle.
Q: I noticed the bold spot in the back, do you bother with fina, or when do you just say "screw it" and just shave it off?
Bro, even on stage you look angry
Congrats on being a teacher and inspiration to the eroids community.
Now I can go around saying "when im 53, I wanna look as good Viking".
Me and you both! I hope I look half that good at his age
I love your mentality...there really is no going back!
sorry forgot the links.. there you go...
First competition at age 40. Was an all natty local competion. First pin was age 42. Next comp I am planning to enter will be an NPC later this fall and another next spring. Been lifting/training for 25 years and probably wouldn't change a thing.
I'm 26 and 10 weeks out from my first one... I don't plan on stopping till I make it to the top...set the bar high
Age 17 not competing any more to much time. I have a family now. If 3/4 of the guys on here new what really went on and how much hard work there really was ! It takes up every min of your life ! Changes I would have made None I don't look back in life what you did in your past is done. You have to move on and set bigger and better goals now ! I'm always here to help !!
https://www.eroids.com/pics/polishmobs-photo-gallery-from-contest-a-few-...
https://www.eroids.com/pics/younguns-vikings-bad-ass-contest-pic-with-po...
It's crazy how much it consumes you...I'm struggling to balance training with work school and family. It's a 24/7 grind mentally and physically...on the other hand it's a small sacrifice for the sense if accomplishment it brings
I'm in the same boat minus the family. school work and bodybuilding there's basically no time for a social life
Wouldn't have it any other way tho!
You aren't kidding I wouldn't trade it for a thing
I defiantly realize the time it takes and effort that goes into it, there's not a place i go anymore where I'm not lugging around Tupperware full of food so I'm able to eat or leaving somewhere to get my 7 hours of sleep in for the night. I always have friends trying to get me to go have a drink with them but honestly someone couldn't pay me to drink. It's not worth it for all the hard time and hours that goes into it. I'm hooked after walking on stage for the first time!!
Why are you Defiant? ;) j/k