Competitive BB and Family

[deags]

Hello all -

I was just wanting to know if there are any older competitive bodybuilders out there that compete on a fairly regular basis, and have a family and hold down a career outside of the fitness industry (I have always thought those that are personal trainers or who own a gym have a leg up on most of us).

A little background, I competed last year and did quite well, and would love to compete again next year, but I find so many other things in my life taking priority. I have three small children and my wife and I are extremely busy with them because they are all 4 and under including a two month old. I also hold down a productive sales job as an insurance broker and somehow keep finding time to get in the gym as necessary.

My question is, since it is so difficult getting ready for competitions, I would like to know how some of you balance it all. People ask me all the time how I do it, and I simply reply that I just do it because I enjoy it. However, being a competitive bb is tough - preparing all your meals and maintaining a pretty rigorous program to get better requires a lot of time and effort.

I guess I am just looking for others (you do not have to be a competitor) who find it all worth it. I would like to continue competing for many years, but it is simply very hard at this point in my life and career. Any competitors thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Have you been through this before?

Thanks.

Mike

[Cgb6810]

I hear you. It's tough to balance a career, family life and all of the time necessary to compete in bodybuilding. I ask myself why Im doing this often.

I own a small commercial roofing business. The winter allows me more time in the gym, but the summer months are extremely busy for me. I travel a lot in the summer spending weeks away from my home. And, if you know anything about the roofing business, its pretty tough work. It's hard to find the energy to work out in an out of town gym after shoveling gravel all day on a hot roof.

My kids are older then yours freeing up both my time and my wifes. And my 16 yr old son works out with me often. That motivates me a lot, and gives me pride. Im hoping that we can compete at least once together with him as a teen and me in masters.

For me, it's essential to have my families support. My family has been at every one of my competitions. My wife always takes pics and talks with me after prejudging. She applies my color and oil (shaves my back). She's a part of my competing. If my wife gets sick of this, it's going to be tough to put in the time.

Most of the year, bodybuilding doesn't take too much time. Its the contest prep that gets you. If you compete just once a year, you've got 3 months of prep. For that 3 month period time is at a premium. I never thought I could compete in the middle of the summer or late fall because Im putting in so many hours at work. This last year I tried anyways. It went great! Because of the intense work on the roofs, I didn't have to do any cardio. This actually saved me a lot of time. Better then 2 hours of cardio a day.

People do a lot of things in their spare time. Some golf. Some fish. Some go clubbing. I dont do much now except bodybuild. But I want to make the best run I can until I hit the proverbial wall. Then I'll start doing something else.

[deags]

Originally Posted by Cgb6810

I hear you. It's tough to balance a career, family life and all of the time necessary to compete in bodybuilding. I ask myself why Im doing this often.

I own a small commercial roofing business. The winter allows me more time in the gym, but the summer months are extremely busy for me. I travel a lot in the summer spending weeks away from my home. And, if you know anything about the roofing business, its pretty tough work. It's hard to find the energy to work out in an out of town gym after shoveling gravel all day on a hot roof.

My kids are older then yours freeing up both my time and my wifes. And my 16 yr old son works out with me often. That motivates me a lot, and gives me pride. Im hoping that we can compete at least once together with him as a teen and me in masters.

For me, it's essential to have my families support. My family has been at every one of my competitions. My wife always takes pics and talks with me after prejudging. She applies my color and oil (shaves my back). She's a part of my competing. If my wife gets sick of this, it's going to be tough to put in the time.

Most of the year, bodybuilding doesn't take too much time. Its the contest prep that gets you. If you compete just once a year, you've got 3 months of prep. For that 3 month period time is at a premium. I never thought I could compete in the middle of the summer or late fall because Im putting in so many hours at work. This last year I tried anyways. It went great! Because of the intense work on the roofs, I didn't have to do any cardio. This actually saved me a lot of time. Better then 2 hours of cardio a day.

People do a lot of things in their spare time. Some golf. Some fish. Some go clubbing. I dont do much now except bodybuild. But I want to make the best run I can until I hit the proverbial wall. Then I'll start doing something else.

Thanks Cgb6810!

Really nice to know that I am not alone out there. I think the main difference between you and I (other than you are far larger than I - lol!!) is the age of our children. My wife supports me, but finds it difficult to give me the attention and support needed to compete because our children need so much attention right now.

I think I will just continue to work on my physique, and down the road, get back into the competition mode when my kids are older. It is just very difficult when they are this small.

Thanks for your input!

Mike

[Cgb6810]

Originally Posted by deags

Thanks Cgb6810!

Really nice to know that I am not alone out there. I think the main difference between you and I (other than you are far larger than I - lol!!) is the age of our children. My wife supports me, but finds it difficult to give me the attention and support needed to compete because our children need so much attention right now.

I think I will just continue to work on my physique, and down the road, get back into the competition mode when my kids are older. It is just very difficult when they are this small.

Thanks for your input!

Mike

Good luck Mike. You look damn good in your pics BTW!

[deags]

Originally Posted by Cgb6810

Good luck Mike. You look damn good in your pics BTW!

Thanks Cgb6810 -

I am going to leave it up in the air and see how the next 1-2 years go - I sort of have the competition bug right now, as I won my WNBF Masters' Pro Card on my very first try, and I am interested in how far I can take this because I really do enjoy it. Plus, being under contract, I have to compete within 2 years or lose my pro status, not that that means too much, but it is nice. We will see, I did this with 2 small children, and we will see if I can do this with 3 small children, but the time is going to have to be right for me to do it!

Ummm....you look very good in your pics too - can you lend me like 20 pounds? lol!

Mike

[someday]

I'll chime in for the two of us. I sold my dance studio and retired when I was 28, so I could stay home with the kids. I have worked part time here and there, but nothing stressful. Hubby on the other hand is the CFO of a sleep lab. I've always said I have no idea how he managed work more than full time and do a show too. I know I couldn't! Competing is a selfish thing to do to some extent, but it's part of who we are. The meal thing is really no big deal to us since we are used to cooking food in batches. We've tanned each other several times and yes, I've shaved his back.... at least one thing he doesn't have to do for me We"ve only competed together 3 times, but we've both always supported each other. We've always been a team and always will be. Our kids are older(10 &14), so they know how hard it is. They see all of the hard work,effort and how it all pays off.....because of that they are our biggest fans! The sport had brought us closer together and can't imagine life any other way.

[ntrllftr]

I have three children as well. a 16 mo. boy, 3 yr old girl and a 11 yr old boy.
I am sure we share a lot of the same obsticles so no need to write it all down.

When I was working 10-11 hour days it was really rough though. Now I have a great job working 8 hours a day and almost never any Saturdays. This frees up tons of time to spend with the family.

Normally these days with the new job by the time I get home from the gym the family is already sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner. It works out great because i get to make my dinner and lunch for the next day in the kitchen and spend time with them that way. Also What they eat and what I eat is usually always different.

As you said, nope your not alone.

[Mr. Someday]

Hey Shell....two days of lower carbs and you've already forgotten how old our daughter is??!!

I am very fortunate that I have a pretty flexible schedule, so if I wake up late I can just stay home and make all my meals and get my cardio in and then get to the office. If I am wiped out, I'll just work from home and get a two hour nap in to try and recharge. Our 13 locations are for the most part local, so my travel rarely involves planes and overnight stays. Our one out-of-state location is in Manhattan and day travel is easy....just bring my meals with me. I also can eat whenever I want in the office....people just expect to always see me chowing on turkey and rice during a meeting....plus, what are they going to say anyways...they all report to me!

And as far as our kids go, we keep it normal for them. They can still order a pizza and I take them out to restaurants and often bring my own food and eat it there. You can always work around that stuff even though I agree it is a very selfish endeavor.

[deags]

Originally Posted by Mr. Someday

Hey Shell....two days of lower carbs and you've already forgotten how old our daughter is??!!

I am very fortunate that I have a pretty flexible schedule, so if I wake up late I can just stay home and make all my meals and get my cardio in and then get to the office. If I am wiped out, I'll just work from home and get a two hour nap in to try and recharge. Our 13 locations are for the most part local, so my travel rarely involves planes and overnight stays. Our one out-of-state location is in Manhattan and day travel is easy....just bring my meals with me. I also can eat whenever I want in the office....people just expect to always see me chowing on turkey and rice during a meeting....plus, what are they going to say anyways...they all report to me!

And as far as our kids go, we keep it normal for them. They can still order a pizza and I take them out to restaurants and often bring my own food and eat it there. You can always work around that stuff even though I agree it is a very selfish endeavor.

Mr. and Mrs. Someday -

You guys are great - thank you for your wisdom and great attitudes. Yes, it is a selfish endeavor, but bb has completely changed my life in a far more positive way than a negative one.

I certainly try to keep everything normal for my family as I am the only one into fitness and that doesn't bother me or them at all. My wife knows that bb makes me happy and has provided me with a great sense of self pride and accomplishment. As my kids get older, I hope they will want to be a part of it too, but it will be completely up to them - I have just found my hobby and feel I am just getting started in my competitive bb career and want to see how far I can take my physique naturally and prove that age is only a number!

Mike

[deags]

Originally Posted by ntrllftr

I have three children as well. a 16 mo. boy, 3 yr old girl and a 11 yr old boy.
I am sure we share a lot of the same obsticles so no need to write it all down.

When I was working 10-11 hour days it was really rough though. Now I have a great job working 8 hours a day and almost never any Saturdays. This frees up tons of time to spend with the family.

Normally these days with the new job by the time I get home from the gym the family is already sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner. It works out great because i get to make my dinner and lunch for the next day in the kitchen and spend time with them that way. Also What they eat and what I eat is usually always different.

As you said, nope your not alone.

ntrllftr -

Sounds like you and I live in the same household! Thank you for your input!

BTW - I was born, and bred in Ohio and am a Buckeye through and through!

Mike

[namtrag]

This is one reason I am becoming a little tired of dieting and trying to get to single digit bf%. I never eat what my family eats, and it really gets old. Not to mention that dieting doesn't seem to be working for me. After 12 weeks, I am down 6 lbs. Maybe my body is telling me to go a different route.

I am tempted to just eat normally and try to get stronger and lower my bf% by gaining muscle.