Still think you're not big?

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mrhtbd

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Don't know about you, but I was skinny and lean. There's still a part of me that see's myself as skinny and lean. My friend pointed out to me, "No, you are big!" To which I replied, "No, I'm really not that big (still thinking of myself as skinny and lean)!" My friend recanted and said, "What are you talking about, you can't even fit into a Double-XX sized shirt!" It dawned on me that I can't really say I'm skinny and lean anymore, and I wondered how many other guys started out way back and after all the training over the years in the back of their mind still see themselves as something they no longer are?
 
"We are prepared for insults, but compliments leave us baffled." ~ Mason Cooley

Everyone is their own worst critic. The problem is that when a friend is complementing them, they still don't believe it. It is never easy just to agree and say thanks for the compliment and ego boost.
 
I didn't start seriously in the gym till I was 42-3, now at almost 50, my wife thinks it's strange that I am growing while all our friends are "shrinking".... I look in the mirror and see all my short-commings, need wider lats, need traps to pop, legs are still too thin...etc

But the guys at work are all asking what I'm doing to look like I do at 50...spose that's what your getting at...because of the late start I'll never be huge like some of you but I got the bug and it's pushing me to see just how "good" I can build me in my twilight years
 
All of us have body issues it's the nature of this it's what gravitated us towards a site like this. I am 37 and still see myself as the little freshman that couldn't bench 95 lbs. I know that I have size to me the scale says I do the weights I now lift say I do. Just today I squatted 450 lbs for 8 ass to heel reps. Only guys that have similar "interests" as me understand. I have 3 guys that i lift with regularly that know me well enough and have the same pasts as me to understand. I grew big at 25 and have been really big or at least what the world perceives as big but I don't feel big.
 
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Same for me. I will never get it out of my head I was little.
What's kinda new and is sinking in is that now I'm one of the biggest. I see people T my hardcore gym that I think are big. But if they happen to get next to me in a mirror they are not bigger.
But my favorite thing is this: working my ass off and getting semi-delirious and catching sight of myself in an unsuspected mirror. I don't know it's me and I am shocked and say to myself: who the hell is that freak! When I come to my senses and realize its me that is the coolest feeling. 16 years of ass busting work has done this.
 
When I have things going I can't seem to get big enough but then after a while it seems silly and I go off and change things up and actually feel better and more comfortable for a while without the burden of trying to grow grow grow all the time. I guess I can live with 5'8" 200 lbs sometimes. Sometimes 225 feels totally fabricated and then all of the sudden I feel disgusted and change things up. I like being off and athletic as much as on and growing. I never really visualized myself as a bigger than life figure like some of thee guys like 250 on stage at 5%. Guess my idea would be more like 195 to 205 at 5%. Like a Zane type built with just a little more size. Not really possible with my structure but that's what I idealize.
 
I kind of have the opposite problem in that I have always been big. I was 6' 2" 215lbs as a freshman in high school. My problem is wanting to look muscular big, instead of muscle with a lot of fat hiding it.
 
When I look in the mirror I say "Fuckin eh'!". :D

I'm happy with what I see in the mirror, but never content. I've just been big from such an early age - went from 170 at 15 to 220 at 17. Been accused of being on gear ever since. I guess I'm just an easy gainer compared to most, however I've never met anyone to kick it as hard as I so on a continual basis. Some guys compare themselves to the other big guys in the gym. I never did that, as I was usually the biggest dude there. I've always compared myself to the guys in the mags, the pros, the best. When I would knock-out 10 reps with the 150's on flat bench and many in the gym would stop to watch, I never seen it as that strong, as I knew Coleman can do 200's for 12 haha. Thats whats always made me stay hungry and want more. Once you become content, that hunger will go away and the gains will cease.
 
definitely can relate. I was pretty unmuscular for a long time. Late teens through early 20's I was training fairly hard and kinda built, then lost all of it until I started training again around 40 years old. I still see myself as scrawny most of the time and am told by others that I'm muscualr & built. I don't consider myself "big", I'm 5'8", weight 185lbs and am around 11% BF. I think I'm at a healthy weight which I can easily maintain and prefer this weight over the 200lbs I was 2 years ago.
 
It's interesting how we begin with a picture of ourselves in our minds, chosen from people we see and how we would like to see ourselves. The difficult thing is when we want to change our physique to look like another type, like Glycomann's comment to look like Zane. I can relate, I always wanted to look like Steve Reeves, but a 29" waist? LOL, who am I kidding, so we have to get real. I started lifting weights to get the rest of my body in proportion with my big traps, guess what, after 34 years, I'm still trying. Ha ha! I'm impressed that you guys are, too. DPH, 150's? Most people couldn't even get them into position, you are an inspiration. Intensity, your comments stir me up for good reason, they are usually spot on, so let 'er rip, I enjoy the controversy. A1food41, getting big at 50 when everybody else is shrinking or "getting small" is admirable, it says omething about your fortitude. She-Ra, if I told you the line from your waist to your hips remind me of the sweep of a Porsche Carerra, would you believe me? What if I traced it? Willi, wow, semi-delerium from lifting weights, that's almost like a near-to-God feeling. Power of the spirit, rising up! Number-LL, looks like back to supersets and stevia-Balance in yogurt for you my friend, and the waist will shink, trust me, exposing the muscles developed but waiting in the wings. 2 Rhodesians, I can totally relate to what you are saying. I weighed over 245 for 10 years and was very strong, but at 225 I look 10 times better and feel it too. Ozzy, shee-ite, ass-to-heel squats with 450x8? Most people cringe when they get near parallel, once again, the mind to get outta the hole is a powerful force that many can only dream of possessing. I got stuck in the "hole" on my 7th rep one time with 465, I know the feeling, smartly though, I had the safety bars set just 2" below that and gently set the bar down without overstressing my back or knees. There's power in knowing you possess that ability, much more than the muscles needed to do it. That power is what allows you to attempt and rise to "new heights as yet unguessed," as John Masefield put it. All good. Looks like I'm not alone. Now, can anyone tell me how to trim down my traps?
 
i'm not tall so if a shirt makes me look skinny i feel like less of a man...so i'm usually in jcpenny's claiborne polos that are snug
 
I am glad I am over the being "big" thing. I would still say I am not happy with my body and far from an ideal body, but its not the same like when I was 21 when I just wanted to be a hugeeeeee like the pro bodybuilders.
Now if i see a National level body builder i can appreciate the hard work they have put in but I can honestly say I don't think for a second man I wish I looked like that. In fact I can almost start to understand why people make the comments "thats too big" or "thats gross."

ANd yes I have analyzed my subconscious and wondered hhmmmm? is that because I am jealous and I cant do it?? But I dont think thats the case.
 
i'm not tall so if a shirt makes me look skinny i feel like less of a man...so i'm usually in jcpenny's claiborne polos that are snug

I'm the opposite I want clothes that hide my size so If I wear something tight its out of my nature
 
I'm not big enough for myself. But when I get accused of using steroids I hate it. Because alot of the time it's not the gear that got me here. It's everything between that. But I'm here to make myself happy not others!
 
I hear ya...

many years ago I weighted 185# and had a 38" waist...(38 F****** inches!!) I changed my attitude right then...now I'm 195# with a 33" waist...and when I'm training and eating smart I'm 185 again with a 32" waist and lest than 10%BF....I love the 185# me...
 
She-Ra, if I told you the line from your waist to your hips remind me of the sweep of a Porsche Carerra, would you believe me? What if I traced it?

They say seeing is believing. so maybe if I was driving that Porsche I would believe you.
 
Hey She-Ra, on our first vacation I'll rent you one and even let you drive! Deal?
 

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