Week 187 :: How Can One Deal With Negative Social Activities?

[the_fake_webmaster]

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* Note: How can I win? 1. Answer all questions in the order that they are asked. 2. Go over reviews (located at the bottom of past TOTW articles) and see what was said about those that did not win. Good Luck!
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TOPIC: How Can One Deal With Negative Social Activities?

For the week of: January 28th - February 3rd
Tuesday @ Midnight Is The Final Cut (Mountain Time, US & Canada).

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Even some of the strongest minded people can succumb to peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. are all negative social activities that many bodybuilders and everyday people struggle with.

How can one deal with negative social activities?

Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?

What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?

BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?

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[AMillane7]

KILL EVERYONE! :eek:


PM Me my giftcard :p

[Brucester]

Some people consider roids and bodybuilding to be a negative social activity.

It's the eye of the beholder.

One mans negative is another mans positive.

Do what you want and let other people cry about it and stop worrying about what other people think.

Juice up or go home brah.

But don't smoke crack.

[UCIMTHEROCK]

The main thing I do to deal with anything negative in social situations is first tell myself how much better my willpower is than others. the people that fall into these bad habits are just not mentally in control period!
I have a goal and sometimes that goal requires me to eat extremely diciplined. I don't smoke so that does't bother me. sometimes when I am not getting ready for a show I will have a couple drinks or eat what I want. if I eat good food 80% of the time in the off season the 20% crap helps me grow
The worst thing a bodybuilder can do is miss a workout or be afraid to train really hard and push your body past limits you are used to.
The worst thing you can do in the off season is miss a meal or workout for a social activity.
When you are getting ready for a show the worst thing you can do is fail to plan every single day ahead even social events.
I am always tempted by good food when I am getting ready for a show I love to eat and train hard and not worry about planning anything but how hard I am going to train next time.
I always tell myself I will be able to slack a little again on my dicipline after I take home another overall!

[phoenixr2]

Even some of the strongest minded people can succumb to peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. are all negative social activities that many bodybuilders and everyday people struggle with.

How can one deal with negative social activities?

The best way ironically, is also the easiest way. Avoid them in the first place. Deep down we all know right from wrong, or good from bad. It is something we are born with. Rather than allow yourself to get into a situation in the first place, avoid it altogether. Is a pizza joint a good place to meet friends when you are trying to cut? Is the bar a good place to go when trying to eat clean? Rather than let yourself get into those situations, just avoid them altogether. Now, a lot of people get upset and try to say, hey I don't want to live life as a hermit. Well who would? Pick your battles. If you do want to go out with some friends then by all means, do! But, prepare ahead of time and make a nice meal to eat before you go, that way you will have a full stomach and emotions wont be running so high. Likeliness of giving into pressure is much reduced at that point. You can enjoy a nice water with lemon while they load up on trash food. Remember, the friends you keep play a huge role on you, so choose wisely. Pick a group of good friends, with positive attitudes. Optimists who have goals and work hard for them, people that will push you hard, but only because they know you can handle it to become a better person.

Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?

People who are beaten down mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is generally the group with low self esteem. They lack confidence, they lack motivation, they lack dedication, to them there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Existing is enough for them, and even then they question it. They constantly degrade and belittle themselves. Failure is ok because they have their mindset that they are what they are and they can't do anything about it.

What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?

A negative mindset. One of my favorite quotes that I constantly tell myself and others was by Henry Ford, "Whether you think that you can, or think that you can't, you're right." Those words have proved to be so true for myself. It is true that we are our own worst enemies. We constantly down play our accomplishments, we tell ourselves we are not strong enough, not rich enough, not smart enough, not motivated enough, not beautiful enough. We are so pessimistic and it does nothing but hold us back from seeing just how truly great we really are. The things we can accomplish are simply amazing if we know that we can, and are determined to.


BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?

It is hard for me to pick out which I was most tempted by. I have struggled with many things in life. Everything from food, to alcohol, to pills, emotions, and I had one of the worst attitudes about life for the longest time. I coped by learning how I worked. I analyzed myself and started to see my biggest flaw. I would become obsessed with anything that caught my interest. I have an extremely addictive personality. The small group I hung out with, and my work environment did not help either so I changed both. I now use my weakness as my strength. I set my mind to something positive and let nothing get in my way. Do I fail? Yes, but I learn from it, I see my mistakes, and I go at it again with more knowledge. It is not failure if you learn from it.

[thomashenry]

Strength in mind has nothing to do with temptation, we all are tempted, who was more tempted than Jesus, by the devil !

We all succumb to certain temptations to one extent or another, even when we instinctively deep down with that still small voice "conscience" still fall, it`s human nature we are not perfect by any stretch and the truth of the matter is we will fail again and again, generally when we are in a negative situation we have tunnel vision and reason is long gone, whether it`s with our mouths, our actions, whether it is switching obsessions and vices or not, be it Alcohol, Heroin, Pot, Porn, Gmabling, Women, Men cheating, Smoking, Steroids whatever the case, you get the point, we squelch our conscience, as loud as it may get we do our utmost to get ouder in a negative way, our escapes are temporary in most instances, and then we have to face reality, and some of us are so caught up that our vices become reality, we become detached from our friends family logic, morals and ethics, some it`s too late, others get help, generally we are allscreaming so loud that no one hears us, or so we think!

Truth is unless we ASK for help, and truly mean it, we will remain lost, and for some that lonliness is all we know, when in fact we want to be part of a much bigger picture and sad as it is we think we are unique, were not !

Were Human, with all our faults and character defects, we are not perfect, however we were created on purpose for a purpose and hopefully with a little helpping hand from our friends and God we can begin aknew and live again ina world that afterall is all we have for now, and find the real meaning one day at a time as to what we are and how we can help each other out

God Bless have a great day and remember what works for me may not work for you, but at least I can try and help

John 14:6

[Sic]

I like to irritate people anyway so when someone tries to get me to do something I dont want I just refuse. The more I say no the more they ask/beg and the more I laugh about it. If I dont want to do something Im not going to. Now if Im already drunk then Im pretty much up for whatever.

[Lifterforlife10]

Even some of the strongest minded people can succumb to peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. are all negative social activities that many bodybuilders and everyday people struggle with.

How can one deal with negative social activities?

I believe that the easiest way to deal with negative surroundings and negative social influence is to really ask yourself, is this what you really want? For most of us, we don?t think before we act, and then we end up regretting it after and achieving nothing more than a sense of unhappiness. The fact of the matter is that people attempting to find social normality often find themselves doing something they will regret. To avoid this, you have to have that mindset that you are better than this. Keep in mind what it is you are trying to achieve, and attempt to realize that whatever you are about to do, and all your decisions in life, will affect how easily and how well you can reach that goal. Does this mean that you can?t enjoy yourself? No, it just suggests that you act smart about it and try not to go overboard. Think about the feeling you will get after you commit yourself to what you are going to do. And, if you really are trying to avoid these bad situations, don?t hang around those who would do these things or who would attempt to change you. Accept you for who you are and always remember that it is your decision whether or not to act. The best way to avoid bad social activities is to develop a strong mindset and to realize your goals.
Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?

People who are unhappy or those who feel like a social misfit. People will do anything to feel socially accepted, which is a rather poor aspect of our society. All those who lack the self-discipline or the will power to maintain self-control often struggle with poor social behavior. The questions these people ask themselves are such questions as: Am I pretty enough; I am thin enough, am I good enough? People should accept themselves for who they are. This is really just a side effect of our pathetically materialistic and superficial social structure. So overall, all of those people who fall under peer pressure, those who cannot find acceptance, and all those who fail to see through the marketing of the world to see the true beauty they hold underneath. I f they lack the determination and mindset to ignore such things, they are likely to fall into bad habits.
What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?

The absolute worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into is an attitude of I can?t. A positive attitude will help people struggle through any trials and troubles they may have, and when one falls into a negative mindset of I can?t, it will ripple through every aspect o their lives, including their training and social lives. The mind has such a power over our bodies, yet so many fail to realize it, and often this mindset leads to people falling into negative social environments. Honestly, a positive attitude is the first key to a better life, let alone a better bodybuilding lifestyle.
BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?
I can honestly say that I have fallen to peer pressure and to our societies imagery and I developed a serious problem involving weight, but with a positive attitude I have changed my life around. I always analyzed myself and told myself that I wasn?t good enough, and I always felt that I needed to impress all those around me. I have never dealt with the issues of drugs or alcohol, nor have I tried them, and nor will I, all because I told myself one day to just be happy with who I was. I began to turn things around by being positive and learning to accept myself. I first worked on my mental well being, getting in the mindset that I only have one life and I have to take what I want. I thought of my goals and I realized what I would have to do to reach them. Every time I think negatively, I remind myself of what I want and that I deserve it. A strong mindset helps me cope with any struggles I come across.

[thedreadedwrath]

How can one deal with negative social activities?


The best way to deal with negative social activities is to avoid them. Although it is not possible to avoid them completely, you can minimize exposure to these activities by choosing friends who do not participate in these activities or by making sure your friends understand that you do not want to participate in those activities.
Even with a limited exposure to these activities you will still be tempted occasionally. In these situations, when you are tempted, it is easier to say no to temptation, if you used proper goal setting. Goal setting helps to deal with temptations by giving you a perspective on how these activities will have negative effects on achieving your goals. Seeing what those negative effects are helps you to say no when tempted to participate in those activities.
Another way to deal with negative social interactions is to replace them with positive ones. You can do this by filling your schedule with fun social activities that will not have a negative effect on your life or goals.


Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?


Not setting goals is one of the most common reasons why people fall into bad habits. People who do not set goals are more likely to fall into bad habits. This is due to having less commitment to achieving any goal therefore they do not have any feeling of compromising their progress. To deal with this you should set S.M.A.R.T. goals and write it down and tell people about them. Writing down your goals helps you achieve them by making you remember them and discouraging you from changing them.
Telling people about your goals helps to keep you accountable. Specifically you should find a committed training partner who will hold you accountable and help them achieve their goals. Without a training partner you are accountable to no one but yourself. This lack of accountability leaves you more vulnerable to falling into bad habits.


What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?


The worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into is laziness.
When one starts to give into laziness it can start slow, with something simple like putting less intensity into a workout. From there they will progress to skipping workouts because they are ?too tired? or they do not ?feel like working out? or whatever excuse they can come up with. These skipped workouts can either slow or reverse their progress which will cause them to become even less motivated.
This lack of motivation and energy can cause you to give into other things such as eating out at a fast food place instead of making your own healthy food. Eventually laziness can cause you to become so unmotivated that you will give up your fitness goals completely.


BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?


The thing that has tempted me the most is laziness. I coped with by having a committed workout partner. When I would become unmotivated my partner?s motivation would help me remember what my goals were. Remembering those goals would help to motivate me and give me energy to complete my workouts.

[andydreamchaser]

Even some of the strongest minded people can succumb to peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. are all negative social activities that many bodybuilders and everyday people struggle with.


How can one deal with negative social activities?


The answer to this simple, but yet complex question is, acknowledging activities one is participating in (such as ending a workout day at a fast food restaraunt with friends, which I, many others, wouldn't personally recommend), & through will power & determination, avoid thus activities (opt out from) which will cause one's instability towards their goal. Simply put, one must reflect upon their activities, judge whether, or not one should continue of this unstable path, & if one doesn't consider the outcome of their reminiscent activites, what will be the overall result of making such decisions.

Example, let's take a certain John Doe, who's routine seems adequately consistent, 5 days a week, for 2-2 and a half hours in duration. John (pre workout) receives a phone call from a friend (whom we'll name Mike for the time being) suggesting him to visit his friend's home for a few hours. John accepts the invitation & decides to travel the distance to his home, & arrives their to be suprised by his other friends appearances.

As soon as John steps out of his vehicle, his friend Mike offers him something to drink. John asks for some water, but Mike insists John to drink some beer instead (since his other friends are doing so) and to sit & relax for a while. John unfortunately gives in after a few minutes of persuasion from Mike, which in the inevitable end, causes John to miss a workout day, and ruin the balance in his metabolism, & diet.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/louis12.htm

Presuming that these certain people will, &/or have fallen under, due to 'peer pressure', or other variables, we must clarify the ways people can succeed, even under the toughest pressure!


Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?


Unfortunately, ANYONE, yes ANYONE can fall into these terrible habits. It's human nature, we make mistakes, some succumb under these habits more often than other.

There's a saying that goes, "What does not kill me makes me stronger", ironically, this may be true in this case. Now, I wouldn't want you to go out into the "wilderness" & try it out for yourself, but if one does succumb to such error, or mistake, DO NOT OVER EMPHASIZE THE EVENT/ACTION! NEVER! What's worse, mistakenly opting for a unhealthy food, or tormenting one's conscience due to this mistake? Obviously, the second choice. Without deviating away from the subject, one must recognize the power of one's mentality. If one approaches a subject "strongly willed", or "strong minded", one is more than likely to succeed, & overcome their reluctant fear!

Now, we all know eating a pizza, or two during your workout week, is more than likely going to cause an effect down the road, but 'a few more' is more than worse. So, if one makes a mistake during their scheduled week, don't worry, continue with your normal dieting plan & leave the preocupations behind at the door of your gym! Next day, organize your daily plans, your nutritional plans, etc. & figure out what you might of have done to avoid certain situations. As my father had once told me (before going behind the wheel) "on the defensive son, always remember that!"

"Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson


What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?


Peer pressure. Yes, this form of effect can be referred to as tribalism, or social conformity. The possession of a strong cultural or ethnic identity that separates oneself as a member of one group from the members of another. This phenomenon is related to the concept of tribal society in that it is a precondition for members of a tribe to possess a strong feeling of identity for a true tribal society to form. The distinction between these two definitions for tribalism is an important one because, while tribal society no longer strictly exists in the western world, tribalism, by this second definition, is arguably undiminished. People have postulated that the human brain is hard-wired towards tribalism due to its evolutionary advantages*. This is the reknown definition of tribalism (or basic conformity)(*1).

Quite shockingly, there have been experiments conducted upon willing individuals in order to figure out the level of conformity one might be exposed to (link to Youtube video of Asch's Conformity test)(*2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6LH10-3H8k

Unfortunately (yet again), it's human nature, & one must be able, & capable, to manage it.


BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?


Personally, as a teenager, & as a high school student, it has to be peer pressure, amongst all other things.

The way I was capable of managing thus problem, was by (at first) recognizing the mistakes I succumbed to, & correcting them (remember, a mistake doesn't become an error, unless one does not correct it!) in the upmost proper form (in this case, avoiding the after-school burger place & the apathetic gym participation).

As always, have faith, & self-determination!

Links:
1.)(*Snippet from Wikipedia)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribalism
2.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6LH10-3H8k

[vavavoom545]

Even some of the strongest minded people can succumb to peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. are all negative social activities that many bodybuilders and everyday people struggle with.

How can one deal with negative social activities?

When someone decides to move forward and really makes efforts to change his or her life for the best, its always threatening to those who want to stay in their comfort zone.
By watching you get results out of your hard work and dedication is hard for most of the people around you because it confronts them. Some will encourage you and respect your choices, while others will try to influence you to give in to alcohol or fatty food, because they may think it is the only way someone can have fun or they don't want to feel guilty
eating that chocolate cheese cake in front of you when you are having your salad. The decision belongs to you. People who love you and support you will eventually understand your choices.
Stay away from those who constantly criticizes your lifestyle. chances are, you have a better body and a stronger mind then them. Take one minute and observe your friends who are drinkers and smokers. Do you want that for yourself ??? And after the hours spent in the gym, why sabotage that feeling of accomplishment for a couple of beers and some nachos?
Everybody will eventually slip off from his diet once in a while. If you want to have a cheat meal, do it if you are going to feel good about it , not because OTHERS want to see you go off
the wagon.
Always keep your goals in mind and get your satisfaction from your good results and improved mental strength, not from ice cream and alcohol.

Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?

Everybody will at some point get engaged in a negative social activity because of peer pressure but I think it is harder for a beginner. Your friends and coworkers often underestimate your will power at first. Take it as a challenge. Every time you refuse to follow your friends destructive behavior, you grow stronger mentally. Every time you fall off the wagon, use the experience to learn about your patterns better. Who were you with ? What type of food tempted you ? Were you under the influence of alcohol or drugs when you decided to finally share that enormous evil pizza with your friend?
The more you get to know yourself the easiest it will be to make good decisions for you.

What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?

I think the worst thing a bodybuilder can give into is discouragement and self disappointment. If you fall under peer pressure once it doesn't makes you a failure. Stay focused and don't let go off your goals.

BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?

I used to be a big party girl. I was EXPECTED to get drunk every week end and it was a shock to my friends when i decided to change my life over. I had to justify my choice of not drinking over and over again. Same for the fatty food, but alcohol was more of a challenge because it was a big part of my social life... Some friends understood right away, it took more time for others and some people will never get it. It is hard at first but you know what's best for you. I just remind myself that I am on my way to achieve my goals and they are destroying their bodies. I will accept a glass of wine once in a while but drinking on a regular basis is not part of my habits anymore.

[Hemosean]

The best way to deal with the negative social activity would be to surround yourself with better friends that will support you in staying away from the negative activities. I think Teenagers in college have a difficult time staying away from these bad habits. a lot of different people have different issues but I think teenagers in college have a hard time because they are getting adjusted to life on their own, have no authority figure guiding them and become very experimental which could lead them down a bad path. Laziness, that is the worst thing anyone can get into. If your lazy your screwed. You don't eat right, workout, or study.
Bonus: Being a freshman in college I was extremely tempted by binge drinking, fast food, and staying up late. All those added together make for a lot of fat gain. Over break I started researching dieting tips and eating healthier foods, limited my drinking, and changed my sleeping habits and all of that has lead me to losing that fat and getting in shape! :D

[soundcheck129]

Even some of the strongest minded people can succumb to peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. are all negative social activities that many bodybuilders and everyday people struggle with.

How can one deal with negative social activities?

While the easy answer to this question would be to just avoid them, I don't think this is realistic. First of all, negative social activities are all around, so you'd have to sit by yourself at home, totally cut off from the rest of the world in order to insulate yourself from the vices of others. And even if this were the case, I think you'd still have temptation, because the desire to engage in negative social activities often grows out of boredom or dissatisfaction with one's current state. So being a hermit is NOT a solution, it's a problem in itself.

The first way to deal with these activities is to just be happy with yourself. It may sound a little hokey, but when you look in the mirror, you should realize that you have plenty of reasons to smile. Have confidence in yourself and love your life. If you do, you'll realize that things like smoking and abusing substances is only going to tarnish the greatness of the person you are. Think about it - how many celebrities appear shamed in the news for a DUI conviction or a trip to drug rehab centers? Have you ever seen a headline that says, "Coach 'Couldn't Be More Proud' of Star Athlete's Consecutive Keg Stand Record"? I didn't think so. It may have been cool in high school to break the rules and sneak cigarettes into the bathroom, but your parents had a point in punishing such actions - you were only hurting yourself by doing them.

It can be difficult to avoid imbibing if you're at a party, but with enough confidence, you should realize you don't need alcohol as a social lubricant. You're interesting enough to converse with even without a drink in your hand. And sure, beer pong victories are sweet at the time, but the only lasting impression from such an event will be on your liver. Life is short enough - don't make it shorter.

Similarly, smoking damages you inside and out. It tarnishes your teeth, nails and skin and leaves you smelling all the time. You work hard to better yourself in the gym - don't waste that effort by tearing down what you just created by taking a drag after you're done.

For bodybuilders specifically, diet can be a huge issue. As a college student, I know how many temptations there are - unhealthy food, substance abuse, sleeping in all day, partying all night and forgetting the gym altogether. The best way to keep these temptations at bay is to keep your goals in mind at all times. Is three seconds of chewing really worth the energy crash and a compromised physique? Probably not.

A good way to keep yourself in check is to surround yourself with others who have a similar mindset. This way, you can all help each other stay on track and reinforce good habits rather than begin or continue bad ones. You'd be surprised how much of an influence your friends can have on you; make sure it's a positive one.

The bottom line, regarding any of these bad habits, is just to think about the consequences before you act. Sure, giving in once won't kill you, but once patterns of behavior are developed, they are very hard to disengage from. The best way to avoid a domino effect is to make discipline your habit, and eventually it will become second nature. It's a simple, logical process: think, and then act. If your goals are worth anything, they're worth a minute or two of consideration to weigh how an action may affect you later on. Focus on the big picture.

Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?

While some people think that certain individuals have more addictive personalities than others, I don't believe that is the case. Anyone can fall victim to bad habits, but certain factors can make them more likely. A lack of discipline, a "follower" mentality, friends with poor habits and an overly busy lifestyle can sabotage even the best intentions.

However, though it may seem unlikely, I feel as though some of those who are very rigid may be particularly susceptible to falling into self-destructive behavior. An overly strict adherence to an 100% clean diet and daily, intense exercise with no break can leave one craving some sort of solace. At this point, one may be liable to "snap" and fall off the wagon. Rather than a minor slip-up, the harshness of a brutal routine can drive one into a complete collapse, whether it be going crazy with binge eating or drinking.

In order to avoid such a nightmare, it is essential to give yourself a break at times. Giving yourself time to relax and 'giving in' occasionally to minor temptations just to be sane. This is why some trainers require "cheat days." A structured deviation from a very disciplined lifestyle can keep one sane and help one focus on goals more clearly. We're not robots - so don't expect to be able to ignore every urge.

What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?

The worst thing a bodybuilder can give in to is himself. While others may often tempt you with things, you are ultimately the boss. Not having goals, or not respecting them will set you on a path toward failure. Similarly, falling for your own excuses as to why you don't want to follow your diet or training will harm you as well.

It all boils down to attitude. Giving in to a bad attitude will get you nowhere. Don't get discouraged if you have a misstep, and don't be disillusioned if your goals seem to be far off. The longer and harder the journey, the greater the reward. Your greatest weakness is in your mind, but you can overcome it with the right mindset. Be proud of your accomplishments, be confident in your pursuits, but be realistic enough to see your faults and have the will to move past them.

BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?

As I previously mentioned, I am a college student, so I'd have to say the biggest temptation is alcohol. While the dining hall is filled with a lot of sweets, I can steer clear of that section pretty easily. But in a small town with not many entertainment venues, life outside of class revolves around alcohol. And I'd rather not sacrifice socialization, so I do go out. When I first started going out but not drinking, I was always drilled with questions about why not, how did I expect to have fun, what was wrong with me, etc, etc. However, once people became used to it, it wasn't as much of an issue. I just had to stick to my convictions and stay strong. Sure, it's still a temptation, but resisting it has become a habit so it's not as difficult as it once was. Also, my friends like me for who I am and respect the decision, so it's a more comfortable situation all around. Plus, they know they have a designated driver to count on.

[Smykowski]

Even some of the strongest minded people can succumb to peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. are all negative social activities that many bodybuilders and everyday people struggle with.

How can one deal with negative social activities?

While the easy answer to this question would be to just avoid them, I don't think this is realistic. First of all, negative social activities are all around, so you'd have to sit by yourself at home, totally cut off from the rest of the world in order to insulate yourself from the vices of others. And even if this were the case, I think you'd still have temptation, because the desire to engage in negative social activities often grows out of boredom or dissatisfaction with one's current state. So being a hermit is NOT a solution, it's a problem in itself.

The first way to deal with these activities is to just be happy with yourself. It may sound a little hokey, but when you look in the mirror, you should realize that you have plenty of reasons to smile. Have confidence in yourself and love your life. If you do, you'll realize that things like smoking and abusing substances is only going to tarnish the greatness of the person you are. Think about it - how many celebrities appear shamed in the news for a DUI conviction or a trip to drug rehab centers? Have you ever seen a headline that says, "Coach 'Couldn't Be More Proud' of Star Athlete's Consecutive Keg Stand Record"? I didn't think so. It may have been cool in high school to break the rules and sneak cigarettes into the bathroom, but your parents had a point in punishing such actions - you were only hurting yourself by doing them.

It can be difficult to avoid imbibing if you're at a party, but with enough confidence, you should realize you don't need alcohol as a social lubricant. You're interesting enough to converse with even without a drink in your hand. And sure, beer pong victories are sweet at the time, but the only lasting impression from such an event will be on your liver. Life is short enough - don't make it shorter.

Similarly, smoking damages you inside and out. It tarnishes your teeth, nails and skin and leaves you smelling all the time. You work hard to better yourself in the gym - don't waste that effort by tearing down what you just created by taking a drag after you're done.

For bodybuilders specifically, diet can be a huge issue. As a college student, I know how many temptations there are - unhealthy food, substance abuse, sleeping in all day, partying all night and forgetting the gym altogether. The best way to keep these temptations at bay is to keep your goals in mind at all times. Is three seconds of chewing really worth the energy crash and a compromised physique? Probably not.

A good way to keep yourself in check is to surround yourself with others who have a similar mindset. This way, you can all help each other stay on track and reinforce good habits rather than begin or continue bad ones. You'd be surprised how much of an influence your friends can have on you; make sure it's a positive one.

The bottom line, regarding any of these bad habits, is just to think about the consequences before you act. Sure, giving in once won't kill you, but once patterns of behavior are developed, they are very hard to disengage from. The best way to avoid a domino effect is to make discipline your habit, and eventually it will become second nature. It's a simple, logical process: think, and then act. If your goals are worth anything, they're worth a minute or two of consideration to weigh how an action may affect you later on. Focus on the big picture.

Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?

While some people think that certain individuals have more addictive personalities than others, I don't believe that is the case. Anyone can fall victim to bad habits, but certain factors can make them more likely. A lack of discipline, a "follower" mentality, friends with poor habits and an overly busy lifestyle can sabotage even the best intentions.

However, though it may seem unlikely, I feel as though some of those who are very rigid may be particularly susceptible to falling into self-destructive behavior. An overly strict adherence to an 100% clean diet and daily, intense exercise with no break can leave one craving some sort of solace. At this point, one may be liable to "snap" and fall off the wagon. Rather than a minor slip-up, the harshness of a brutal routine can drive one into a complete collapse, whether it be going crazy with binge eating or drinking.

In order to avoid such a nightmare, it is essential to give yourself a break at times. Giving yourself time to relax and 'giving in' occasionally to minor temptations just to be sane. This is why some trainers require "cheat days." A structured deviation from a very disciplined lifestyle can keep one sane and help one focus on goals more clearly. We're not robots - so don't expect to be able to ignore every urge.

What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?

The worst thing a bodybuilder can give in to is himself. While others may often tempt you with things, you are ultimately the boss. Not having goals, or not respecting them will set you on a path toward failure. Similarly, falling for your own excuses as to why you don't want to follow your diet or training will harm you as well.

It all boils down to attitude. Giving in to a bad attitude will get you nowhere. Don't get discouraged if you have a misstep, and don't be disillusioned if your goals seem to be far off. The longer and harder the journey, the greater the reward. Your greatest weakness is in your mind, but you can overcome it with the right mindset. Be proud of your accomplishments, be confident in your pursuits, but be realistic enough to see your faults and have the will to move past them.

BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?

As I previously mentioned, I am a college student, so I'd have to say the biggest temptation is alcohol. While the dining hall is filled with a lot of sweets, I can steer clear of that section pretty easily. But in a small town with not many entertainment venues, life outside of class revolves around alcohol. And I'd rather not sacrifice socialization, so I do go out. When I first started going out but not drinking, I was always drilled with questions about why not, how did I expect to have fun, what was wrong with me, etc, etc. However, once people became used to it, it wasn't as much of an issue. I just had to stick to my convictions and stay strong. Sure, it's still a temptation, but resisting it has become a habit so it's not as difficult as it once was. Also, my friends like me for who I am and respect the decision, so it's a more comfortable situation all around. Plus, they know they have a designated driver to count on.


sounds like someone is a former alcoholic

[jdaw2552]

Throughout everyone?s life, everyone comes into contact with drugs and alcohol, how much is up to them. Being a bodybuilder is probably the most difficult lifestyle to attain while consuming alcohol and drugs.

How can one deal with negative social activities?

First I would like to explain why these are negative social activities for a bodybuilder. Besides the occasional glass of wine for antioxidants, alcohol serves little purpose to a bodybuilder. Alcohol contains 7 calories for every gram. These aren?t just calories though. Alcohol is empty calories and contains no nutrients. A can of beer on the very light end contains around 100 calories and can go up to over 200 calories. A light beer probably averages around 120 calories per can. That is only slightly less than a can of soda. In order to get drunk, you may consume upwards of 10 cans. That is well over 1,000 calories! Keep in mind that vodka has slightly less calories, but still contains a high calorie content per shot.
So you?re thinking, ?Whatever, I will just have that on my cheat day, I eat healthy the rest of the week?. Wrong. When alcohol is in your system, it messes up your Krebs cycle. Messing up your Krebs cycle causes your metabolism to slow down and causes your body to stop burning fats. Your body is fighting to get rid of the alcohol that it stops burning fat. This can be disastrous if you are trying to lose weight. Alcohol has been shown to lower testosterone and raise estrogen. There is a reason guys build muscles much more efficiently than girls and the testosterone is a very large part of that. To make matters worse, alcohol disrupts and slows down protein synthesis a lot. It does this by taking water out of your muscles (which causes it to fight against Creatine, which stores water in the muscles, another reason we should avoid alcohol). As bodybuilders, we strive for every extra inch of muscle by taking expensive supplements, some of which haven?t even been proven. With all the time you put in at the gym, losing some of your protein synthesis is making your workout a waste. Keep in mind that these effects last 1-2 days, this isn?t just a one night thing.
Drugs are not much better. There are many drugs out there and getting into all of them wouldn?t be necessary besides telling you THEY ARE DRUGS! They are illegal for a reason. Meth, Crack, Heroine, Cocaine have so many negative effects, such as hallucinations and tremors among others, they should be avoided at all costs. But I would like to mention the more popular drug Marijuana, also known as weed. There have been studies that say Marijuana is better for you than cigarettes and may actually contain health benefits. I?m going to settle this once and for all. Cigarettes are terrible for you, so something being better for you doesn?t make it healthy. Smoking anything is bad for you. It is very bad for your lungs and heart. Bodybuilders cardio. We need our lungs and heart to be able to get the best workout we can from our cardio. Weed is a gateway drug and can lead to far more unhealthy drugs. I had a friend who said he would drink, but not do drugs, within a few months he had started smoking weed regularly. He then said he wouldn?t go any farther. After a few spills with drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, he has dropped out of college. They say weed kills ambition. I have seen many people quit caring about life because of it. Saying your going to workout is easy, actually doing it is even harder. How many times have you wanted to skip a workout and didn?t? You have the ambition and drive to succeed, not many people have what it takes to live a healthy lifestyle, but you do. Don?t give that up for anything.



It?s easy for me just to tell you to avoid Friday and Saturday nights at the bars or parties, but you could have told yourself that. Staying in on the weekends when it seems like everyone else is out will quickly kill any social circle you thought you may have been a part of. If you can find a group of friends that you like and enjoy being around that stay away from parties, that?s great and consider yourself lucky.
In high school, if you drank you wouldn?t be able to play sports, so that was a reason I avoided alcohol during high school. Even being caught at a party with alcohol even if you weren?t drinking was grounds for getting cut from the team, so I strayed pretty far from parties throughout the better part of high school.
College is a different story. Besides an underage drinking charge, you lack any real incentive not to go out and party.
Let?s suppose you have exhausted all possible ways out of a party and decided you would rather be at a social gathering where drinking/drugs are prevalent than whatever the other options are. I have explained why someone who cares about their body shouldn?t drink, but dealing with the situation is different entirely.
Now you are at a social situation and have already decided you will not engage in any such negative behavior. At a very large social situation, it is very likely that the place is so packed that you can just walk around and talk to people and no one will notice you are not drinking except maybe a few close friends, who shouldn?t care, but I will go into your friends in more detail later. You can skip out on the beers and if someone comes up and gives you one, it shouldn?t be too hard to find someone there who would gladly take it off your hands. If you really want to be creative and make people think you are drinking, it is very possible to put juice (or a protein shake by using a funnel) in a flask and pretend you are drinking. If anyone tries to drink it, protein shakes don?t taste that good anyway and you can tell them it?s a malt alcohol beverage. Keep in mind that if you do go out to drinking situations, you shouldn?t frown upon others drinking. Trying to preach about staying clean at a party is just foolish. Just remember why you won?t drink, and realize these people don?t care about their bodies as much as you do and it is their choice to participate in the said activities.
You will find that at every social situation there are people not drinking. There are designated drivers and people who just don?t want to drink. Being a designated driver gains instant respect among partygoers as you are sacrificing your night of fun to keep your friends safe. Even if you aren?t driving, it is much easier to say you are a designated driver than trying to explain protein synthesis and the Krebs cycle.
More than likely, your friends drink and enjoy it. If you are at a place with just your friends and they want you to drink with them, you will have to explain to them why you are avoiding alcohol. Explaining this to your friends will require some skill as most if not all of them, don?t understand bodybuilding or the strict health requirements we abide by. At least some of them have been skinny their whole lives and don?t understand eating healthy. I?m going to have to emphasize this; this is going to be a difficult conversation. Your friends don?t care about protein synthesis, they don?t care about calories, and they don?t care about alcohol taking water away from your muscles. You won?t be able to win a debate or argument with them because they will likely never be on your side of the fence. You will have to explain your own choices and hope they respect them. Explain to them that even though you don?t drink, you see nothing against them doing so. If your friends are drunk when this conversation happens, it can become very heated. My friends from high school got very angry with me when I returned one summer saying I wasn?t drinking anymore. They thought I was being dumb (They thought I had a great body, so why should I be counting calories, they wondered)
A true friend won?t honestly care if you drink or not. Your friends, even your true friends will still give you crap about eating healthy and not drinking, this is friendly messing around, and shouldn?t be taken too seriously, it will be obvious if someone is angry over your healthy lifestyle. Your fake friends will probably think that you think you are ?too good? to drink, and thus too good for them, even though that is not the case.
After your friends see that you want to live healthy (which may take a while for them to accept), they shouldn?t care if you are not drinking at a bar or party.
The main message here is, don?t give into peer pressure. If you don?t want to do something, don?t. You can have fun without alcohol.

Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?

It would be easy to stereotype and say it?s the kids from broken homes living in the wrong neighborhood. This group is certainly included. Any Psychology class will tell you that stereotypes have truth to them. Rich people, poor people, white people, black people and everything in between have fallen into these habitand every race have done drugs and drank alcohol. I have seen many people fall down the dark path of drugs and alcohol. I?ve also seen people take drugs and alcohol and live successful lives. I?ve seen the smartest and most ambitious people lose sight of their goals and fail at life due to drugs and alcohol. The success stories for people involved in these activities aren?t quite as numerous. I want to emphasize that doing drugs or alcohol in no way makes you a bad person or doomed to fail at life, but alcohol has no place in a bodybuilders diet.
It seems to me that impressionable people tend to fall into these habits more than others. It is people that aren?t as confident in who they are and what they want to do in life that seem to fall into these habits. But once again, you can be impressionable and steer clear of drugs and alcohol, there is no set stereotype.

What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?

The worst thing is a little strong of a word. Giving into things you don?t want to do that you know you shouldn?t be doing is probably the worst thing you could do. This includes skipping workouts and putting yourself down. You know its bad, so just do your best not to do it. Never give into peer pressure. Your probably not dumb and know exactly what you should and shouldn?t be doing. Don?t give up your identity and everything you have worked for just to please someone else.
BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?
Alcohol has always been very tempting to me and I have done it quite a bit in my past. I know the night of drinking is usually fun, even if the next day sucks. Being drunk feels good and when all of your friends do it. It can be very tempting.
I had heard alcohol contained lots of calories, so I did some research; what I found was shocking. What alcohol did to my metabolism by messing up my Krebs cycle and slowing down protein synthesis was too much for me.
I realized what bodybuilding was to me. I love bodybuilding. I love sculpting and I love results. Bodybuilding is a lifestyle. It?s not just a hobby that can be done when you want. It has to be a lifestyle, you have to be constantly eating right, working out right and never missing a workout. There can?t be any other way to reach your goals.

[michaelhill]

How Can One Deal With Negative Social Activities?

A person can deal with negative social activities by having a tremendous amount of will power and a lot of positive support from family members and true friends. These are the people who will stick by your side and be there for you every step of the way. They will like you for who you are and what you do. They will let you be what you are driven to be life. Do not become what somebody else may want you to become in life, just be yourself and make you happy. Deep down inside the peole who you will meet that are negative towards you or are encouraging negative social activities, probably are wishing that they could be just like you, and as mentally strong as you are.

Which people are Most Likely To Fall Into These Bad Habits?

A person who is most likely to fall into these bad habits, is one who has a low self-esteem and tends to be a follower instead of a leader or an individual. This type of person is usually scared or worried to be different or what society may consider to be out of the ordinary. They may have feelings of not being normal, but what exactly is normal? Normal is different to each and every one of us. To me and probably everybody reading this, normal means training hard five times a week, and eating 6-8 quality meals per day every day 365 days per yer. Drinking raw oats with two scoops of protein out of a shaker cup for a fast and effective meal. Trust me when I say this, most of society would not consider this normal, but would think that I am extremely crazy and or obsessed. To me and many other people this is completely normal, and no I am not crazy and or obsessed, just simply disciplined and dedicated.

What is the worst thing that a Bodybuilder can give into?

I believe that the worst thing that a Bodybuilder can give into is to do anyhting that he or she does not want to do that would be extremely detrimental to his or her Bodybuilding goals and achievements, and doing so because they are being pressured or may feel like they have to do it. Whether this innvolves drugs, alcohol, bad food, and the list goes on forever. Live a Bodybuilding lifestyle beause thats what you want, and do not give this lifestyle up because of what others may think about you. If this is the lifestyle that will make you happy, then live it and love it.

Which of these Things were you most tempted by?

I was most tempted by alcohol and bad food. This is mostly because I live and grew up in Buffalo, NY where bars are open till 4am and there is plenty of great tasting food to be had. Buffalo is predominately an eating and drinking city that is not very fitness oriented. I coped with this fairly easy though. I was so excited and happy about the way my body was transforming, that I did not care what I had to do or give up for this to continue to happen. I absolutely loved the way working out made me feel along with the way I was starting to look and most of all how high my self-esteem was getting. It felt so great, better than any type of food or drink could ever make me feel. I became addicted, and to something that was good for me so I very quickly came to a point where I could resist any type of negative situations that society would throw my way.

[blackirish]

Even some of the strongest minded people can succumb to peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. are all negative social activities that many bodybuilders and everyday people struggle with.

I think it is important to state from the outset of this article that I completely disagree with the premise.

First, we need to be clear that peer pressure goes both ways. My friends can either pressure me to engage in negative activities or positive activities. We use semantics to differentiate the two, calling one ?pressure? and the other ?inspiration.? I won?t have friends who try to get me to do things they know go against my values or goals. Conversely, I try to find and befriend individuals who share those values and goals. You often find that success gurus suggest finding a mentor to push you towards your goals. That is peer pressure at its best.

Second, strong minded people do not succumb to negative peer pressure. One may consider him/herself to be strong minded and completely self directed, but if they can be put off their goals or values by simple peer pressure, then they are mistaken. A person who knows what they believe, and why they believe it, will not be swayed by pressure. That is the heart of a strong will and strong mind. I believe that one can consider themselves strong minded when their social contacts simply stop trying to pressure them, because they have learned that such efforts are futile.

The applicable axiom is ?Know thyself.?

How can one deal with negative social activities?

There are two ways to approach social situations that are potentially damaging to a person. One must decide what strategy they will adopt by examining what they know about themselves. Make sure you understand the temptations, understand the ramifications, and understand your own nature in dealing with such things.

As an example, I will use myself. I have never smoked, never been drunk, and never experimented with drugs. I even avoided sexual situations before I met my wife. Why? I was born into a family rife with addictive personalities. My father and all three of my brothers smoke, chew, or both. One of my brothers struggles with several destructive addictions. As I grew up, I watched them, and came to understand that this was in my blood. I don?t want to have an addiction to deal with, and I took the opportunity to learn about myself by observing the mistakes of others.

First, one can simply avoid such situations. This is the option you need to choose when you recognize that the activity poses a serious threat to your willpower. You may not be tempted to smoke or shoot drugs, but a night out at your favorite bar & grill may be too much to handle when you?re dieting and buffalo wings fill the air with their delicious aroma. If you love to drink, and getting drunk is not in your best interests, then avoid the temptation. This strategy does not imply complete abstinence from these activities, only that you have the wisdom to decide whether the activity in question is appropriate at that particular point in time.

As a bodybuilder, you should understand that getting drunk is never in your best interests. None of us need lower testosterone, higher cortisol, and the resultant plunge into catabolism. Again, understand the ramifications. If you are willing to pay the price, don?t worry about doing the deed, but weigh the consequences carefully.

The second strategy involves sheer willpower, or disinterest in the supposed temptation. This is my way. I know myself, and have an intellectual understanding of my weaknesses, and so drugs and alcohol hold no attraction for me. If you can find this kind of self knowledge, you will be able to enter any social situation and remain untouched by peer pressure. Always remember that if people can?t accept you the way you are, then you shouldn?t worry about having them accept you at all. In fact, you should feel somewhat insulted when a group only wants to spend time with you while you are inebriated. I don?t care who you are, you are worth more than that.

There are those that believe in the idea of ?tribalism? as an excuse to give in to destructive social pressures. This theory teaches that as social creatures we are extremely vulnerable to being taken in by the group, to subordinating our will to the will of the tribe. While this is indeed a good, solidly proven theory, I believe we often completely misunderstand the implications of the idea.

Someone has to lead the tribe; someone has to provide the ideas that make up the will of the whole. This person is the strongest of the tribe in terms of self confidence. Sometimes this coincides with intellectual and/or physical superiority, but not as often as one would imagine. This confidence comes from a complete self actualization. These people know who they are, they know what they believe, and they absolutely believe (right or wrong) that their convictions are best for the group.

The key to social interaction is to become the chief, and guide your circle according to your values, or to find a group with leadership that reflects your attitudes.

The concept of self actualization leads to the next question.

Which people are most likely to fall into these bad habits?

There are a few personality types that are likely to find themselves constantly bowing to negative peer pressure. However, these types often have a certain characteristic in common. In one way or another, these people usually have a flawed or incomplete perception of themselves. This causes them to look to others for actualization. They perceive themselves, and their worth, as they think others perceive them. They will do anything to be liked by others, even if they find that they don?t like themselves afterwards. They don?t understand their own worth, don?t know their own strengths. Most importantly, these people are so plugged into their need to be liked, that they will not leave their current ?friends? to find people who accept them at face value, without further expectations.

People need to realize that they don?t need to pursue experiences or external inputs to ?find themselves.? The core beliefs and values of an individual are set early in life, and those core components will almost invariably win out in the end. So look to yourself and your family to find out who you are. Sometimes you?ll find that you have been shaped by the positives of your upbringing, and sometimes by the negative. Either way, you will find that what defines you comes from those experiences, not the experiences of your teenage and early adult years. You may have guessed from my statements above that I was shaped by the negative, that I learned how NOT to do things from my family. My values are no less valid for it. Don?t assume that a poor upbringing has doomed you to repeat the mistakes of your forebears.

For those reading who are parents, consider this deeply. My daughters will not go off to college ?looking for themselves.? My greatest gift to them will be sending them off to face the world knowing that they stand on a firm foundation of values and confidence in their own judgment.

The good news for bodybuilders is that they rarely have this personality characteristic, in my experience. The sport naturally weeds out those who do things to please others. We thrive on discipline, self control, and we live to see improvement. This kind of attitude annihilates destructive behaviour.

Further, bodybuilding is a thinking man?s pursuit, an intellectual exercise. The sheer volume of thought we must put into manipulating the various aspects of the bodybuilding lifestyle leads naturally to a thoughtful approach to other issues in our lives.

An individual must always remember that thoughtfulness leads to wise decisions, while emotionally driven decision making often begets negative actions and consequences.

What is the worst thing that a bodybuilder can give into?

The obvious answer to this question is hard drugs. However, one must remember that all drugs are gateways to stronger drugs. Nicotine to pot, pot to crack. If you determine that you may have an addictive personality, resolve to avoid all drugs, even addictive painkillers. In my mind, hard drug users have most likely long given up being bodybuilders. Such substances leave little room for other pursuits, as I understand.

If you can drink socially without getting drunk, then by all means feel free. Smoking is bad no matter how you cut it, but if you feel you can indulge in this addiction without moving on to others, that is your choice. As George Foreman says about his cheeseburger addiction, ?You gotta be willing to pay the price.? As I said before, it all comes down to knowing yourself before you make decisions that could end in disaster.

BONUS QUESTION: Which of these things were you most tempted by? How did you cope with it?

As I have said, I have not really ever been tempted by the specific items laid out in the opening statement of this topic. I have drunk alcohol in the past socially, but never been drunk. Food is my greatest temptation. This is due, I believe, to my mother?s penchant for preparing very large meals when I was young, and letting us eat as much as we wanted. My mom is a very good cook. This habit was set very young, and I struggle to control myself when confronted with tasty treats. So I avoid them as much as possible. This is the only area in which I make use of strategy #1.

I?d like to wrap this up with an observation. When you are yourself, when you stand on your convictions and refuse to budge, you will be respected. You will find that those who genuinely like you will like you more, and want to spend more time with you. Those who use you for their own ends will quickly find others to dominate.

All of my close friends in high school were regular guys. They drank, smoked pot, chased women, and cursed like sailors. I still hung out with them, and not only did they never try to pressure me into behaviour that they may have been ?more comfortable? with, they quickly began to emulate me. By knowing who I was, I naturally became the chief of the tribe. I found that they followed where I led, and adopted my attitudes while they were around me.

I was not naturally gifted with leadership. In fact, in my junior high years, I was the farthest thing from a leader. I was depressed, didn?t like myself or my family, and actually thought often of suicide. The change was the result of a single decision. One day, in a black mood, I simply grew tired of trying to be what other people wanted me to be. I decided I would be my own person, and that even if that person drove everyone away from me, at least I would be able to respect myself.

I found that people liked me more. So will you.

[LiLgreek]

My advice is this. I see younger people on here too. Don't get started with the bars, drinking, smoking and anything else that is illegal. Bars stink and they are dirty. Dirty air, dirty environment, dirty music, dirty behaivor.
Clean living isn't easy. But it is healthy.
Learn about the effects of everything that goes into your body. This helps us to make better decisions.
Make friends with people of "like" minds. This can be difficult; but you have to "know" what you really want.
When it comes to foods that are not good for us - we need to eat before we go to the event and/or leave early too. While at events try to pick out what is "healty ist" and eat smaller quantities.
Life if full of compromise and sometimes it is positive.
Why should we deal with ""negative""" social activities anyhow?

[acpornstar]

Everyone has bad habits. For me its come down to FOCUS. Wanting something. I would go out and binge drink every weekend which just killed the work I put into my body during the week. It was a poor lifestyle choice but I did it anyways. Finally I came to the conclusion that I wanted to get cut up and with drinking and smoking, it was wasting my time and burning a huge hole in my pocket. I cut all of those habits out and focused on my BF cutting goals. When people pressured me to come out, I didn't give in (I normally did) I can't say I'm where I want to be but now I'm definitely making huge strides towards my goal with no set backs http://www.justmysizefurniture.com/1843e35d41ccf6e63273495ba42df3c1.gif

[phoenixr2]

how many winners can their be? a lot of great replies in this thread!

[Brucester]

Clearly i'm the winner, lol

[andydreamchaser]

how many winners can their be? a lot of great replies in this thread!

One must win overall, but hey, a little healthy competition has never hurt anyone!

[chaosmatt]

i think this is a really good topic as it is something all of us have to / have had to deal with at some point. I think one of the best ways to avoid negative social activities is simply to not be around them, so by not going to parties or keeping better company, thats not to say dont see your friends by any means but just when there is a party with bad thing or an event with bad things try and avoid it.

I think weak willed / "the badasses" are most likely to or the people not dedicated to something as they dont see how it can affect them. That isnt to say that dedicated people will not i just think they are less likely to.

In my opinion there is not one single bad thing that a bodybuilder / professional can give into as they all have their side effects that work in different ways possibly alcohol if i was going to pick one as it reduces protein synthesis can cause you to miss a meal or puke up your previous one, it can screw up your next day of training / eating due to not feeling up to it, and so on.

I personally was most tempted by alcohol and i didnt over come it for about 6 months, i wouldnt drink every weekend it was more like every 3 weeks but when i drank, i drank and it was bad and it wasn't until i realised how much it threw off my eating and the damage it can do in the long run ( and the fact that i got board with it) tha ti decided no more drinking like that, i will have the occasional alchopop or larger but nothing that will get me wasted or screw anything up.