Bodybuilding, Patience and Time Bring Success

[oldsuperman]

It hardly ever fails when I'm training, that someone will ask me how to get a bigger chest, the most common one for me, or arms, calves, etc. Altho as I have said many times before, genetic plays a big part to successful bbing, yet so much is about "consistency and intensity" in your training, exercises, cardio and diet.

Yet, today when a young man came up and asked, "Hey Popps. How do I get a chest like yours." I gave him the usual talk about training consistently with intensity and doing a lot of incline exercises. I then realized that "PATIENCE" is also an important part of developing a bodybuilding body. Everyone wants a quick fix. They want it fast. They want it NOW!

When I look at my before and after pics, it took 7 mths to lose 52 lbs and I trained hard at the time as well. I started training 2 mths into my 48th yr and by the time I was 6 mths into my 50th yr, I looked great. At that time I chose to compete. One year later at 51, I competed in my first competition.

When I look at my first comp pics, I'm almost embarrassed at how I looked, how I presented myself altho compared to most guys, I looked great. I wanted more! I wanted to win! I wanted it bad!

When I saw all these other men about my age competing and looking at them, it fueled me on to get better. In all areas I continued to improve. It didn't happen in six months, one yr, two, or three yrs. It took 3 very intense, years on consistent dieting, training all aspects of my body. Hours of cardio and eating so many eggs and chicken breasts, I swear to GOD I was growing feathers out my arm pits and farting eggs out my butt.

Yet, I persevered and never cheated myself and put in all the time I could, I was obedient to my trainers and coaches. And TIME was my friend and confidant, and it took PATIENCE to succeed. I did it all again and more for another 3 years. I'm going on 7 yrs now of training.

We hear a lot of complaining on these boards about how slowly their progress is happening and they've only been at it several months, or only a year or two, and wonder what is wrong. There may be several or many things that can help them improve training, yet TIME AND PATIENCE will most likely help you the most.

It takes TIME AND AN EMENCE AMOUNT OF PATEINCE to become a bodybuilder! How do you know if you're a bodybuilder? Not when you call yourself a bodybuilder. You are a bodybuilder when someone else calls you a bodybuilder!

[eomrat]

I could print this and post it on my Gym locker (or my mirror). It would do me alot of good when I get frustrated with my lack of an Arnold-like body.
Thanks

[strghtrzr]

Great post brother. You are so right.

[Bronzebird]

I know that after one year, I have only scratched the surface and have alot to learn and earn!
Thanks OleSoup!!

[Reality_Check]

Originally Posted by oldsuperman

I then realized that "PATIENCE" is also an important part of developing a bodybuilding body. Everyone wants a quick fix. They want it fast. They want it NOW!

So true

[StressMonkey]

Loved this post. It's so easy to become discouraged at first when you're putting in (what seems like) a ton of work for minimal results.

[NotTooLate]

Yep, I actually talked a guy into weight training a couple of months ago and he went out and got weights and started on it right away. I saw him a month later and asked him how it was going and he said he was disappointed because he wasn't noticing any difference after a month! LOL I asked him if he had increased the weight lifted at all or felt stronger in a month and he said he had but his appearance hadn't changed! LOL I then gave him the *it takes a long time and a lot of patience* talk Seriously, I could not believe that someone would expect to see major physical changes in size that fast.

[Stevelegh]

First of all this should be stickyed as it answers so many threads started here.

Second. Ed, I think your age and wisdom in life gave you understanding that you weren't going to have a 3 months transformation.

Third, Guilty as charged. I thought 3-6 months would do it and I still fool myself from time to time. 'Right, holiday in 3 months, better start hitting the gym hard'.

Fourth. The diet and fitness industry and supplement companies largely exist on the myth of rapid transformations. Look at the taboids. This celeb got buff for a role in 3 months. Doesn't mention the full time chef, PT, and other 'assistance' the celeb may have got. It's easy to get suckered.

You're right. You're not a bodybuilder until someone says you are. And I know I'm no bodybuilder. The closest I got was when a friend mentioned that I look like I work out. I was on cloud nine. Still makes me feel good looking back.

No, I'm no bodybuilder, but I'm better than the average guy my age and I can take my shirt off without feeling self conscious. That'll do for now.

[gbg]

Very true ed, I have been at it for over 10 years and although I have been consistent with my training I am not where I would like to be and that is because of inconsistency with my diet.
You can't give 100% of one aspect and 70% of another. There is no room for slacking anywhere for that look, I can say that from my own mistakes over the years.


Great write up ed!!

[redweston]

Great words of wisdom super Ed ! I love when people complain, deep down know the answer, they just don't want to face up to it !
Keeponpumpin!- red

[blopid]

Ed, Ed, Ed... What can I say? I'd rep you, but it won't let me!!! Thanks for the words of wisdom...


Peace...

[Guff]

Thanks Ed, I needed this. I've been at it a year and a half now and sometimes I get down on myself for lack of progress.

[oldsuperman]

You know dropping the 52 lbs was the easiest part of the this whole process. It took seven mths and weekly you could see and measure my success. Yet the building of muscle was so much more painful, disappointing and time kept creeping by and hardly a change.

Yet as time went by, every now and then, I'd catch myself in the mirror and say, "Who is that guy? WOW! It's me!" Just a subtle change, a little here and a little then. Not much, maybe a new striation in the delts, and new vein. My bi's starting to spit for the first time, etc and so it goes. A little here and a little there. Nothing much, just a little more hope in my quest to be big.

[ntrllftr]

Originally Posted by oldsuperman

A little here and a little there. Nothing much, just a little more hope in my quest to be big.

My wife tells me she gives me an inch and I'll take a mile.

So I guess I am always thinking in bodybuilding terms an inch is a mile.


Great thread Ed!
.

[BuckSpin]

Great words of wisdom. Generation X/Next is the NOW generation. Immediate satisfaction. Reset buttons. The iGeneration where anything they want is a click or drive-thru window/microwave away.

Patience is definitely a virue, but I'm afraid the next generation may see it as a vice.

I'm know that I need another 2 to 3 years to really see any decent progress, and I'm prepared to do that. Its the journey, not the destination.

[Baldiewonkanobi]

EeeeK...it's gonna take THAT long? Man I want it all and I want it now. Isn't there any shortcuts, like er pills powders shots, ya know...tricks?

What the I want it all and I want it now crowd needs to know it that you, Ol Supe, are practising what you preach and have yet again set out a year long program to add more quality muscle mass on to a physique that most would sell their grandmother for.

Folks...it gets harder the further you take this advocation. It's like having an old Chevy home built dragster that does a 10.1 quarter. It's taken you years to get it there but that elusive Winter Nationals trophy will need you to hit the light perfect and run a 9.8. Back to the garage working late into the nights. Or, after 20 years you have your golf handicap down to an amazing 2. You placed third in this years club championship and it will take a scratch or -1 handicap and luck to win it next year. Back to the driving range every night after work after a gruling day and ungodly traffic home.

So you see time and patience always is the key. Watch this man over the next year. And, if you keep pace with him in your own way your own style and with your own goals taped to the refrigerator door, next year you will be rewarded, however, do not be surprised if you tear down that refrigerator note and post a new one.

[eddied27]

No arse kissing here Ed but that is one of the better posts I've seen in this forum!

Very motivating for this 40 year old looking to get into the best shape of his life! I all too often fall into that trap of wanting it now.

Thanks for the reminder!

Ed

[reamade]

Great post Ed. So true.

[jeremy_chess]

Originally Posted by oldsuperman

It hardly ever fails when I'm training, that someone will ask me how to get a bigger chest, the most common one for me, or arms, calves, etc. Altho as I have said many times before, genetic plays a big part to successful bbing, yet so much is about "consistency and intensity" in your training, exercises, cardio and diet.

Yet, today when a young man came up and asked, "Hey Popps. How do I get a chest like yours." I gave him the usual talk about training consistently with intensity and doing a lot of incline exercises. I then realized that "PATIENCE" is also an important part of developing a bodybuilding body. Everyone wants a quick fix. They want it fast. They want it NOW!

When I look at my before and after pics, it took 7 mths to lose 52 lbs and I trained hard at the time as well. I started training 2 mths into my 48th yr and by the time I was 6 mths into my 50th yr, I looked great. At that time I chose to compete. One year later at 51, I competed in my first competition.

When I look at my first comp pics, I'm almost embarrassed at how I looked, how I presented myself altho compared to most guys, I looked great. I wanted more! I wanted to win! I wanted it bad!

When I saw all these other men about my age competing and looking at them, it fueled me on to get better. In all areas I continued to improve. It didn't happen in six months, one yr, two, or three yrs. It took 3 very intense, years on consistent dieting, training all aspects of my body. Hours of cardio and eating so many eggs and chicken breasts, I swear to GOD I was growing feathers out my arm pits and farting eggs out my butt.

Yet, I persevered and never cheated myself and put in all the time I could, I was obedient to my trainers and coaches. And TIME was my friend and confidant, and it took PATIENCE to succeed. I did it all again and more for another 3 years. I'm going on 7 yrs now of training.

We hear a lot of complaining on these boards about how slowly their progress is happening and they've only been at it several months, or only a year or two, and wonder what is wrong. There may be several or many things that can help them improve training, yet TIME AND PATIENCE will most likely help you the most.

It takes TIME AND AN EMENCE AMOUNT OF PATEINCE to become a bodybuilder! How do you know if you're a bodybuilder? Not when you call yourself a bodybuilder. You are a bodybuilder when someone else calls you a bodybuilder!

THIS IS THE COOLEST DUDE I HAVE CAME ACROSS IN A VERY LONG TIME . YOU ARE DA **** SUPERMAN

[Stevelegh]

Originally Posted by oldsuperman

Yet as time went by, every now and then, I'd catch myself in the mirror and say, "Who is that guy? WOW! It's me!"

I did that when I caught myself in mirror and realised I had no stomach and pecs.

I started a thread titled 'Are your tits bigger than your gut?'

Very immature, but a glance in the mirror can make you feel like a kid at Christmas.

[SR800]

I would like to add that success is a personal measure, a battle against your own genetic potential. Expanding the boundaries of your mind is the first challenge of expanding the boundaries of your your body. Always compare against you, because you are the only measure against which success can be ultimately judged.

For example, I have an ultimate goal of someday attaining 14 inch arms. Not much of a goal for some, but when I reach it, and some decade I will, it will be the greatest accomplishment in the history of me.

[Stevelegh]

Originally Posted by SR800

For example, I have an ultimate goal of someday attaining 14 inch arms.

You arms look bigger than that. I'm confused........

[BergMuscle]

Great post, Ed. Just what I needed to hear coming off a deload week.

[SR800]

Originally Posted by Stevelegh

You arms look bigger than that. I'm confused........

Definition and symmetry and relative size create the illusion.

[atoybbacs]

Good post

[Old-Time-Lifter]

True words and well said!

[oldsuperman]

Originally Posted by ntrllftr

My wife tells me she gives me an inch and I'll take a mile.

So I guess I am always thinking in bodybuilding terms an inch is a mile.

.

Isn't that the truth! I remember over 4 yrs ago and my trainer was more excited to see my bi's getting vascular! He said, "Flex your bi's again! WOW! Look at that vein in your bi! That is so cool!!" And it was cool. I was proud for a moment. Yet then, I wanted to see it branch out like the veins of leaf with veins crawling out from the new pipe that ran from for-arm to shoulder. And with more time and patience...... it happened! AAAaahhhh feels soooo good!

[MJD1]

Your post is right on! I have to take a physical agility test each year for work. I have always lifted weights but no cardio. I decided to make a change 4 years ago. After a year of added intense cardio and dieting I had lost 50 pounds but my time time had not really improved. I was pretty disappointed at the time. I had lost the weight and now it was time to add strength. I stuck with it and now have knocked over 30 seconds off and improving each year. Glad I did not give up. I look, feel better and I am stronger and faster than I was when I was 21 and started this job. Out performing the guys 15 years younger than me.

This site is great! Infomataive and inspirational. Thanks.

[Clubrcr]

Thank you for this post, I have found patience to be very hard to deal with.

[tomdana]

Then he goes speechless.....




Thanks that is awesome!