took me about 4 years to go from 120lbs bodyweight to 170lbs bodyweight with a 1050lbs total, paused bench, squat to depth etc. my training partner was over 1000lbs after about 6 months of training,...
i think the head and facial hair gives it to him, he's prob a legit 9/10 where as you are an 8. the physique as well but we will forget about that as he is not el naturalo like yourself.
Once you've experienced some competition, some success within that competition, it's like an addiction, don't matter how you get it sport gaming etc, it's a sick buzz, like hitting a bit pr, maybe...