What I Have Learned

[Fuzzy]

I sit here, posting away, reading article after article, constantly thinking about htis, watching movies about this.

And I realise what a total waste these past few months have been.

Why? Because I becae consumed by all this, by wanting to lift heavier, by wanting to be the best, by wanting to dominate, prove to myself and to everybody that I am the best.

And for what? To move weight, flex for the mirror? Yes folks, having big muscles and being super strong is great, but without the rest of the **** in your life, is it worth it?

"cant go to jacks... gotta squat tommorow"

Take it from me, never let this be you.

I have come so close to losing many good friends, and making many enemies because of my passion, because I let it control me in my quest to control it. I become so defensive whenever the topic is brought up, instantly snarling at anyone who is simply misguided.

I train, I eat, and then I sit and look for ways to train better, to be better, and once I find it, the cycle begins again. Till you find that every moment your thinking about this, about getting back into the gym and lifting.

But its a recipe for disaster, how many of my attmepted cuts have a I failed? Too many to count, its always been the same, 'Im a powelifter, I dont need to...' well theres a body builder inside all of us that would like to look good.

Why do I fail, because I think of failing, all the time, you cant cut if your thinking about it every single second. Scratch that, you cant progress if your consumed by it.

Because your letting it control you, the gym, and lifting, its something you do, its a passionate habit, eating right... its a habit, you eventually learn it. and that way it becomes part of your life, wich you should be doing much more with.

Train hard, but dont live to train.

I could ramble on for hours... and really, I havent made a point, and Im sorry I cant leave everyone with a strong life message. but yeah...

and it just hit me... especially over these past few weeks, how many parties could I have gone to, new friends I could have made, new things I should have explored.

I dunno... Im gonna go have me alot of fun tommorow and to hell witht he bench session! Its my last weekend of holidays, Im gonna have a good time!

[Clifford Gillmore]

I look at my high school time as time wasted playing guitar. I would of much rather of been training, studying harder and applying myself with proper goals. I would of loved to have redone it all to become a strength coach, but alas. Oh well.

[phreak]

Fuzzy, you are well on your way to an adult mindset. Congratulations, most adults don't ever achieve that -- let alone someone age 15.

[sharkall2003]

I wish I would have lifted more often and with a high amount of intensity when I was in high school. The parties got old, the man with a lot of friends has none in reality, and I don't miss a single thing I did. The only thing I really enjoy doing is lifting weights, so I guess I don't know what to say Fuzzy. It's a way of life. Lifting is life to me. Sure, there are a few other things in the mix, but find people that will understand that. Lifting was the only thing that was there for me when all my friends ditched me. It's the only thing I had late at night when I was by myself. I guess weightlifting never turned it's back to me, so I am going to stick with it. Eating really healthy is a habit. Lifting on schedule is a routine. I haven't found many things in my life that are more important about improving on than my body and the image I have for myself.

[Detard]

i agree with you fuzz but you also gotta find some compromise between partying and training. sure i have blown off freidns that are just gonna sit around and drink, to have an upper body workout, but thats fine with me because i didnt miss out on much. you just gotta schedule stuff around either training if your serious about it or your life outside of lifting. if you missed that party at jacks, couldnt you have gone AFTER your squat session? or got to the gym earlier so that you could be finished with time to spare to go to jacks.

I think that you just need to start to manage your time properly and more effectively. there are LOTS of guys and girls on this forum who are just as commited as you, if not more, but they still find time to have a regular life. I understand lifting and rowing are your passion but you gotta have social time aswell outisde of the gym. just my $0.02.

[Ritzol]

It's all about finding a happy medium.

It's one thing if you are preparing for a competition, and quite another if you are just totally obsessed all year long.

And I used to be that person, I wouldn't go anywhere because I wouldn't eat anything but certain foods and I didn't drink and I had to run at least 2 hrs a day. I lost friends, and gained a whole new perspective.

[WillKuenzel]

Its all about compromise. I surround myself with people that hold the same values I do. That way there's never any question as to what I hold on high because my friends do as well.

[sharkall2003]

Its all about compromise. I surround myself with people that hold the same values I do. That way there's never any question as to what I hold on high because my friends do as well.

Damn right. My family knows that lifting comes before everything. If I have a huge exam the next day, I'm going lifting. If I have date and I need to be in bed on time, I tell the girlfriend I have to go home and get my rest. I don't eat whatever I want, I don't drink (except two cups of wine every couple months), and thats it.

If the people are really your friends they'll make sure that you can do what you love. Remember, if something is worth a lot you'll have to make a compromise. What's worth a lot in your life? Lifting, getting strong and staying strong or partying?

[sharkall2003]

Fuzzy you're at that age where you probably want to fit in and be like everyone else. That means partying, having sex, staying up late, etc. I'm just guessing that's what it is because as you get a little older (not that I am the all knowing) you'll understand that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Well, not in the long run, anyways. I wish the best of luck to ya in whatever you do.

[Fuzzy]

I agree... this sitll is a way of life for me.

But Ill burn out like this. I wasted 8 weeks of beautifil Aussie sun, just reading. Im talking hours upon hours, sometimes marathons of more then 8 hours of reading. Iv ebasically cleaned out WBB, T-Nation and any other article base I can find.

Compromise is the key, everyone is right, and Ill find the happy medium. I havent made things a habit so to speak, because its all Id think about.

This lifting, this lifestyle, its a habit, I only need to be this intense and concentrated in the gym, not while Im scratching my ass and dreaming of dead lifting.

Ill sort it out... Im looking forward to a happy balanced year.

[sharkall2003]

Just remember that friends may leave, relationships might end, but the one you have with yourself will never leave until you turn your back to it.

[mickyjune26]

smart comments here. We all have to have the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social balance to everything.

man, could that statement be any more vague?

[BilltheButcher]

I think another way to look at this is. Do you want to be great? Most people who are great at something, are fanatical about whatever it is. THat is what they do morning, noon and night. THat is why there are so very few people that are great at something. Being geat at one thing usually means other parts of your life and personality sacrifice. Personally, I'd rather experience life then being chained to some skill that makes me great in certain circles, but doesn't allow me to learn about other things in the world.

[bhsf2006]

I think you have just convinced me to go sledding with my friends instead of working out this afternoon. :)

[Majog]

if you want to waste less time then why post the same topic on two seperate message boards *cough bodybuilding.com*

only joking, but seriously, try to obsess less and find a compromise between your social life and lifting, because it is most definitely possible

[Detard]

or instead of reading for 8 hours at a time. read for 2 hours then go and hang out with friends.

[Hatred]

Anyone else see the Irony in the fact that he wrote about how much time he spends here?

[Shark]

I was just thinking that!!

[RedSpikeyThing]

you'll understand that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Well, not in the long run, anyways.

Yeah I was actually thinking that the other day. My first year at Univeristy I was in residence. Drinking heavily minimum once per week, usually two. Wild parties, crazy hangovers and incidently some school and education. Second year was tamer, but I could legally go to the bars! So that meant lots of money spent at the bars. Now, in thrid yeat, I haven't drank in weeks. Maybe a glass of wine here or there, but it's not that much fun anymore. I'd rather chill with some friends. We're all kind of that way now.


Growing up sucks! :cry:

[Beast]

Having weightlifting as the central part of your life is just plain stupid unless you're Ronnie Coleman.

[Chubrock]

Why?

[McVein]

Having weightlifting as the central part of your life is just plain stupid unless you're Ronnie Coleman.

Why?

[Detard]

probly because there is so much time in the day and usually people only spend around an hour (give or take) in the gym per day. unless your a professional body builder, in which case i guess you would go morning and night sessions because that is your profession

[McVein]

but, im sure most of the people on here carry out their days whilst working around their lifting, i.e putting their lifting 1st.....

which makes it the central part of your life??....

I lift, i enjoy it...its not my life, but its a big part of it

[mickyjune26]

dude. I'm gonna go lift. YEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHhhhhhh!!!!!!!!......

[Beast]

its not my life, but its a big part of it
That's what I meant. It shouldn't be the most important thing in your life. Of course it's a big part of everyone's lives on here.

[McVein]

That's what I meant. It shouldn't be the most important thing in your life. Of course it's a big part of everyone's lives on here.

...oh yeah....:bang:

ignore me

[blazedprodigy]

I definitly feel where your coming from. What you need to do is sit down and ask yourself whats more important than a few pounds of LBM? Personally outside of a few loved ones, Building muscle is one of the, if not the most important thing to me.

Get a list and write down some things that you'll never let building some muscle get in the way of. It'll help clear your head.

Respect for admitting where you drawn the line.

"Having weightlifting as the central part of your life is just plain stupid unless you're Ronnie Coleman." -Beast.

With all due respect man. This is how champions are made. And I say if someone thinks they got it in them to even possibly have a chance at making something out of their self and it fuels their fire to chase Big Ron I say get after it and don't look back.

[Herc]

I am going to chime in here with the basic "balance is the key" theme here, but throw a little cold water on it as well.

At 15 life is about little obsessions. The Oprah crowd loves to talk about teens "going through a phase" and there is some validity to it. The fact that you are "wasting" you time on something other than drinking, smoking, video games, or malls is a good thing.

IMO, the more important reason for balance is guard against burnout. Being healthy and active and a bodybuilder as a teen will serve you the rest of your life. Most all of us here WISHED we would have had the dedication you are showing at your age.

So my advice is keep it up the dedication, but don't let it consume you because bodybuilding is not a sprint, it is a marathon.

[Thorongil]

Tbh im around your age (15) and i totally get what you are saying and you should chill out but not quit lifting(Ofcourse!). The thing i find as a guy our age even though we lift, we can still be pretty damn lazy about it etc ( as i am, i admit it!) but tbh at this age we still grow like hell pretty easy so it doesnt matter as much and heck when im like 21 maybe i will show some vague sense of responsibillity (in anything) but not today mate, thats all that matters, not today :D

[Stumprrp]

i will admit that this is a huge part of my life, considering its going to be my career also (trainer, coach, powerlifter) and i know im in for a rough road, but its not going to stop me.

[EternalPuppy]

i will admit that this is a huge part of my life, considering its going to be my career also (trainer, coach, powerlifter) and i know im in for a rough road, but its not going to stop me.

Tru dat. And to anyone that complains about it consuming their life your obvisously on the wrong path. You either got it or you don't, Life ain't sugarcoated you gotta dig your trench if your in it for the long haul.

[Roddy]

Good post.

Its all about finding a happy medium brother.

* tighten a guitar string too tight and it snaps..dont tighten it enough and the guitar sounds like crap...you gotta tune it jst right." same goes for life
^^ a Raiki healer (sp?) told me this once, i remember it always when i have to take a look at what is wrong.

[Cirino83]

I am going to chime in here with the basic "balance is the key" theme here, but throw a little cold water on it as well.

At 15 life is about little obsessions. The Oprah crowd loves to talk about teens "going through a phase" and there is some validity to it. The fact that you are "wasting" you time on something other than drinking, smoking, video games, or malls is a good thing.

IMO, the more important reason for balance is guard against burnout. Being healthy and active and a bodybuilder as a teen will serve you the rest of your life. Most all of us here WISHED we would have had the dedication you are showing at your age.

So my advice is keep it up the dedication, but don't let it consume you because bodybuilding is not a sprint, it is a marathon.

I like that one....going in the sig :thumbup: