How hard is it really?

[hillbilly79]

I'm finding myself so frustrated.

I don't eat fast food. I don't drink sodas. I don't drink alcohol. I do drink a gallon of water every day. And I generally try to focous on eating healthy (i.e. fruits, veggies, & lean meat). I go to the gym five days a week. And I have been doing the above for a long time (years).

My question to you experienced people out there is: Is the above just the tip of the iceburg and that there is truly severe sacrifice in order to be magazine-lean? How hard do you work for what you've got?

[BlueFenix13S]

Some people are more genetically gifted than others. They also have access to a ton of supplements for free I'm guessing. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm in good shape, but not magazine cover shape. I don't really care. As long as I don't diet from heart disease or anything else related to being overweight or un-healthy, I look at is as a plus! I workout and eat right because it makes me feel good, plain and simple. I understand the frustration though.

[Deja_Entendu]

I hear ya it is really difficult to get that magazine cover look, but don't forget the people on those covers are paid to eat right, excercise etc. and let us not forget about the wonders of plastic surgery and camera trickery involved to get that "look". Not all of us can have that perfect physique but with proper nutrition, supplementation, training, and just flat out dedication you can see stellar results. For a lot of people out there it takes years to find that perfect balance to get things just right and all I can suggest to you is just because you aren't at your physique goals don't let it discourage you from trying. At the very least you can say that you are taking care of your body and thats better then most people out there.

[blueadept33]

depends on your body type. I put on size too easily it is very hard for me to lose weight compared to my friends. I already eat clean and lowering calories is not enough. I have to train with the same intensity as I was without as many carbs and that is not easy to do, you really have to want it, add in cardio and for me, I think it is a hard struggle. I don't even want to mention how many times I go out (because I'm sociable) and people buy me drinks and I have to tell them "I'm not drinking that" and not give into an immense amount of peeer pressure. I can't stop them from ordering so hopefully they will learn not to waste money on me, but for now I just hand it to some hotties, so I guess it works. I have to go about 7-8 blocks to the gym in -15 degree wind chill....and I do it. It depends what else you have going in your life and how badly you want it. For myself the expression "You have to want it so badly you can taste it" seems fitting. You have to get past the taste of things and eat the things good for you, do cardio and taste the sweaty air going into your lungs and know that you are charging forward towards your goal. I think 99% of the people here could get there if they had the will power, I doubt they have genetics that would stop them if they put their all into it. But that will is not easy to summon up, you have to want it for most people who aren't gifted. Really push yourself, too many people defeat themselves by setting up a walls, saying that plateau'd, don't let that stop you, it may be true it may not be, change your routine if you are pushing yourself so hard your blood vessel strains and tears come out of your eyes. I'm not going to lie I have been lazy compared to how I use to be, at 18 I could rep a 315 bench 10 times, now I can only do 225 for 3 sets but I'm working on it. My attitude and priorities changed, before I wanted there to be physically nothing wrong with me to jeopardize my first romance so I could concentrate more on emotions and other parts I did not know about yet, now I get the creme de la creme without much effort paying for my dinner, so motivation is getting slaughtered. How badly do you want it and for what reasons? Of course most people want to have the ideal look, but their reasons for it vary so much, think of why you want it to bring exercise from a hobby into a passion.

[bluedot]

I don't know if this will help, but here's how I think about it:

Imagine all the sacrifices and choices you make on a daily basis in order to achieve your level of fitness and appearance. (If you're like me, you know that there are a few little things that could improved, no matter how slightly.) Now imagine it's your job, and think of all the tiny things you would tweak if it meant career success and security. The guys on the cover have been at it a long time and they've got the genes and have made those sacrifices.

I know it's true of contest prep, and I think it is about photo shots as well, that often the guys are at the tail end of a serious cutting period so that the cuts are deeper and the veins are bigger. There's no question they look better than me all the time, but maybe it's just 100x instead of the 110x you see in print :P

[hillbilly79]

Originally Posted by Deja_Entendu

At the very least you can say that you are taking care of your body and thats better then most people out there.

Very true and I can certainly appreciate the fact that I am trying to do the right thing. I just want more of a reward for it! It just seems like I'm doing better nutrionally and in faithfulness to the gym than anybody else I know. I don't mind giving up daily or even weekly cheeseburgers. But I am horrified that I will have to eat oatmeal everyday for the rest of my life in order to not gain weight. Ah well, when I get to where I want to be that will just make it sweeter for me.

[slaydox]

Originally Posted by hillbilly79

Very true and I can certainly appreciate the fact that I am trying to do the right thing. I just want more of a reward for it! It just seems like I'm doing better nutrionally and in faithfulness to the gym than anybody else I know. I don't mind giving up daily or even weekly cheeseburgers. But I am horrified that I will have to eat oatmeal everyday for the rest of my life in order to not gain weight. Ah well, when I get to where I want to be that will just make it sweeter for me.

You can still treat your self to things that you dont normally eat once a week and not gain weight. 1 cheese burger wont make you gain 10lbs just have it as a cheat meal and enjoy it. Just keep your diet clean all week and one cheat meal wont hurt you at all just dont eat 10000 calories in one meal lol.

To the OP, dont try to be what the media portrays. 90% of the picutres are photoshoped and 90% of the magize models have ED to get that way. Train hard and be happy with yourself and you'll see better results then those makeup artist have. If you really look at celeberaties there not really riped ive seen TONS of people on here that are more riped then brad pit and usher so just relax and eat clean, work hard and you'll be bigger, stronger and an overall better person then Celebs!

[curb_pks]

Make sure you take pictures of yourself. Then compare, I see better results that way. If you look in the mirror every morning its like watching a pot waiting for it to boil.

[ebes22]

a lot of us have doing it for years and years without that magazine look that we want... I used to blame it on my ectomorph genetics, but F that. If you want something enough, you can achieve it. It took me 4 years to understand nutrition/diet and get it right to fit my body. I am miles away from where I want to be, but guys on this board keep me motivated to push through. If your body isn't changing how you like, learn more, switch it up, and try something new. One day it will click, and you will get more motivated than ever.

[hillbilly79]

Originally Posted by ebes22

It took me 4 years to understand nutrition/diet and get it right to fit my body. I am miles away from where I want to be, but guys on this board keep me motivated to push through. If your body isn't changing how you like, learn more, switch it up, and try something new. One day it will click, and you will get more motivated than ever.

Perhaps I just think I understand nutrition and I really haven't tried to understand how my body operates.

I don't know where you think you should be, but your abs look pretty awsome to me. (I am female by the way.) I don't necessarily have to look like a magazine model, but I would be way happy to have the definition you've got.

[ebes22]

Originally Posted by hillbilly79

Perhaps I just think I understand nutrition and I really haven't tried to understand how my body operates.

I don't know where you think you should be, but your abs look pretty awsome to me. (I am female by the way.) I don't necessarily have to look like a magazine model, but I would be way happy to have the definition you've got.

thank you.. and yes, nutrition is the biggest part of getting your body to look the way you want. I'll tell you what helped me, its a pain in the ass but: Write down what you have for every meal, exactly, with calories/pro/carbs/fats. That means you might have to weigh food. I realized I was eating for a cutting diet (when I was "bulking") and my macro's were way off. Also, be honest with yourself. Are you doing everything you need to do and still not seeing results? And, as you are doing now, ask questions and research. I learn something new everyday!

if you have questions feel free to PM me if you don't want to ask on the board, I do not mind helping out

[Jules Verne]

Originally Posted by hillbilly79

My question to you experienced people out there is: Is the above just the tip of the iceburg and that there is truly severe sacrifice in order to be magazine-lean? How hard do you work for what you've got?

For me, yes. I can stay fairly lean (OK abs, definition) with occasional mild cutting for a few weeks in the year (usually after 'controlled' bulking) and essentially watching what I eat year round. I keep a diary of calories and macros for 90% of the year. I eat a lot of veg and not too much fruit (those calories can easily add up to an extra 200+kcal/day for me). I do 'cheat', but they are more like the odd beer here and there after sports or 1-2 small squares of chocolate etc..

I do also mix up dinners though - I'll eat almost any cut of meat, cook chilli's, curries, make sauces for chicken and fish etc.. I just watch the calories and portion sizes and if I'm not working out I usually just have the dish with just veg, rather than rice or potato as well.

I never do whole cheat days and when I go out for dinner (which is only once every month or two) I eat something reasonable. I may have a desert (or share one with my wife) but even that will be something reasonable.

To get really cut, I'd have to go on something a pre-contest diet. Weigh ALL my food, no 'odd piece of chocolate or candy' etc..

Actually I'd like to try, but I would need my wife's strong support and there is no what she'd put up with that just for the sake of it.

Don't know if this helps. But the bottom line for me is that if I don't count calories, and just eat 'healthy', but as much as I want, I will put on fat.

[slaydox]

Yea i got down to 3% BF but i had also developed an ED to get there i was only eating 1000 calories a day. Sure i was all muscle and my veins poped out all over my body inclding my abs but i didnt look good because i only weighed 112lbs! So Getting cut isnt always the best thing your better off staying at a good weight and just eating clean, Follow a calorie meal plan whether it be cutting or bulking if your calories arent right you'll probably never reach your goals.

[CHALKOUTLINE]

anythings possible.. but ide say the best advice is do a search on EVERY question you have and you will have pages and pages of what ****t to read (im not saying you should have searched for this post ha) and eventually it will come as a hobby (like someone said) and not a chore.. and a fun hobby at that thought =) but i also thought i was eating "right" for years.. then i said what the hell and joined here and even if you have been eating right you will learn some backdoors that will double ur results (if you have patients)

[slaydox]

Originally Posted by CHALKOUTLINE

anythings possible.. but ide say the best advice is do a search on EVERY question you have and you will have pages and pages of what ****t to read (im not saying you should have searched for this post ha) and eventually it will come as a hobby (like someone said) and not a chore.. and a fun hobby at that thought =) but i also thought i was eating "right" for years.. then i said what the hell and joined here and even if you have been eating right you will learn some backdoors that will double ur results (if you have patients)

Same here, i though i was eating right by getting protein from a double cheese burger but man was i wrong. But you know whats funny? i saw better gains eating whatever i wanted then i do eating clean! lol and i wasnt overweight i could still see my abs just eating whatever i felt like, mcdonalds, pizza, candy....

[corple]

Originally Posted by slaydox

Same here, i though i was eating right by getting protein from a double cheese burger but man was i wrong. But you know whats funny? i saw better gains eating whatever i wanted then i do eating clean! lol and i wasnt overweight i could still see my abs just eating whatever i felt like, mcdonalds, pizza, candy....

yep, its quite normal amongst us bodybuilders:]

[hillbilly79]

Originally Posted by Jules Verne

Don't know if this helps. But the bottom line for me is that if I don't count calories, and just eat 'healthy', but as much as I want, I will put on fat.

I guess this is the bottom line answer I was looking for.

I have book on order about eating clean. Hopefully this will further my understanding of how to acheive my goals.

(sigh) I suppose I should start being a little more obsessive about all my foods and quit trying to be normal.

[StandTall]

Originally Posted by hillbilly79

I guess this is the bottom line answer I was looking for.

I have book on order about eating clean. Hopefully this will further my understanding of how to acheive my goals.

(sigh) I suppose I should start being a little more obsessive about all my foods and quit trying to be normal.

Life is their to live not to strive toward an astectic look that people may consider as ideal. Many people have this problem created through the media displaying pictures of lean, cut ripped starts. The reality is very few if any of them have this look year round if at all. Most of the look can be attributed to them preparing for the photo shoot and the use of the computer after the shoot. Im not saying its bad to have a goal of looking lean and cut but from experience i know its a race you never win. The goal of being lean never got any closer for me and i developed an eating disorder. Be happy live life and learn to accept the body you have which is no dout alot better them most as you workout often etc.

[slaydox]

Originally Posted by StandTall

Life is their to live not to strive toward an astectic look that people may consider as ideal. Many people have this problem created through the media displaying pictures of lean, cut ripped starts. The reality is very few if any of them have this look year round if at all. Most of the look can be attributed to them preparing for the photo shoot and the use of the computer after the shoot. Im not saying its bad to have a goal of looking lean and cut but from experience i know its a race you never win. The goal of being lean never got any closer for me and i developed an eating disorder. Be happy live life and learn to accept the body you have which is no dout alot better them most as you workout often etc.

Totally agreed. Like Standtall said, its better to be happy then devoting yourself to being lean all the time because then when you do slip up you take it really hard. I also developed an ED from trying to be so lean. Beleive me thats not the route you wanna go.

[hillbilly79]

Originally Posted by slaydox

Totally agreed. Like Standtall said, its better to be happy then devoting yourself to being lean all the time because then when you do slip up you take it really hard. I also developed an ED from trying to be so lean. Beleive me thats not the route you wanna go.

Agreed totally. I just mean obsessive to the extent of really, really setting my mind to accomplish what I want as opposed to hoping that refraining from cokes and other such foods will in itself be enough. Actually I think I have been a little too happy with my body judging from the sloppiness that has built up over the past few years.

[slaydox]

Originally Posted by hillbilly79

Agreed totally. I just mean obsessive to the extent of really, really setting my mind to accomplish what I want as opposed to hoping that refraining from cokes and other such foods will in itself be enough. Actually I think I have been a little too happy with my body judging from the sloppiness that has built up over the past few years.

Yea i know what you mean, its just thats how it started with me. I got obsessed with how many calories i was getting in anf it eventually got to the point where i was barely eating. make sure to be eating the right amount all the time and try to eat every 3 hours to speed your metabolism.
Try to drink green tea to it helps speed your metabolism