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Despite training primarily for strength, I do have some size goals, and when I see guys like the one Sturge just described, it's kind of disheartening.
Let me preface this by saying I am fully aware that size and strength are not equal.
I remember Bob -the knob- Kennedy said anyone who could do 20 reps with 100 additional pounds on Close-grip Dips would have the arm size they wanted. Well, I did that, and I wasn't even close to the arm size I wanted. And I went all the way down, until my brachioradialis would get really smashed by my biceps (literally, as I'd burst blood vessels).
When I see that, I then wonder what the fuck am I going to to have to do to get what I want. Especially since there are diminishing returns. Dip for 20 reps with 300 additional pounds?
Same thing with Overhead Presses. I want a large Overhead Press, and also the development of the triceps and deltoids. So, I'm a semester away from pushing 300 up for at least one rep, judging by my performance this past Friday. What the Hell's next? 400 pounds? Is 400 pounds going to be the line where I am somewhere closer to reaching my goal?
I have seen good progress, but not in relation to what kind of weight I am moving. Calories are plentiful, too. I am eating clean, which works against me, but I am getting a bare minimum of 4500 Cals/day, which is not too bad, considering my budget and everything else. I've also limited my activity levels to conserve energy.
I'm thinking perhaps a very long, somewhat heavy cycle is in order when I can invest the money and time into it, but I don't know if I want to go that far. Before, it was about plateaus and breaking them. Reaching the next level. Now, I don't know. I know lots of guys do a lot of stuff, but I'm not them. I am not interested in using AAS just to keep myself whole, nor am I looking forward to using a lot of androgen. I feel like my body can go so far, and anything that would be accomplished by a long, heavy cycle, assuming I may not be able to keep most of it, would be borrowed. It would be owned by the substance, not the man. I don't want to sit there and wonder how much of my results were forged by me, or laid out for me by the enhancers.
I know the work is up to me, and a gram of test/week plus orals never lifted a pound of weight, but it's confusing.
I had a similar dilemma when I started juicing, but it was easier then, as the reasons and results were expected to be different, and expectations matched results. I hit plateaus, they lasted, and I used chemicals to break plateaus. Then I put the chemicals aside, kept going, and then (eventually) hit new plateaus (of course). I have broken through many plateaus via training and eating strategies, but some barriers just refused to be broken on my own merit. I hated that, but figured there was no other way. Maybe I was right. Maybe I was wrong. Either way, that's done and cannot be undone.
I'm just a bit confused. It also doesn't help with the individual differences. I have a nice body. Athletic, lean, and with a very aesthetically pleasing shape. A Reeves-like bone structure (I just said bone structure, so don't go apeshit). However, many I train alongside grow very easily. I turned away from pure Bodybuilding because the gains were somewhat hollow to me. I was tired of kicking my ass for the gains that were not adequate. Strength gave me something to strive for. Still, I don't know.
I know life is unfair, and we cannot all get what we want, but I didn't set the most unreasonable of goals for myself. I'm basically venting. You can add if you like. *shrug*
Let me preface this by saying I am fully aware that size and strength are not equal.
I remember Bob -the knob- Kennedy said anyone who could do 20 reps with 100 additional pounds on Close-grip Dips would have the arm size they wanted. Well, I did that, and I wasn't even close to the arm size I wanted. And I went all the way down, until my brachioradialis would get really smashed by my biceps (literally, as I'd burst blood vessels).
When I see that, I then wonder what the fuck am I going to to have to do to get what I want. Especially since there are diminishing returns. Dip for 20 reps with 300 additional pounds?
Same thing with Overhead Presses. I want a large Overhead Press, and also the development of the triceps and deltoids. So, I'm a semester away from pushing 300 up for at least one rep, judging by my performance this past Friday. What the Hell's next? 400 pounds? Is 400 pounds going to be the line where I am somewhere closer to reaching my goal?
I have seen good progress, but not in relation to what kind of weight I am moving. Calories are plentiful, too. I am eating clean, which works against me, but I am getting a bare minimum of 4500 Cals/day, which is not too bad, considering my budget and everything else. I've also limited my activity levels to conserve energy.
I'm thinking perhaps a very long, somewhat heavy cycle is in order when I can invest the money and time into it, but I don't know if I want to go that far. Before, it was about plateaus and breaking them. Reaching the next level. Now, I don't know. I know lots of guys do a lot of stuff, but I'm not them. I am not interested in using AAS just to keep myself whole, nor am I looking forward to using a lot of androgen. I feel like my body can go so far, and anything that would be accomplished by a long, heavy cycle, assuming I may not be able to keep most of it, would be borrowed. It would be owned by the substance, not the man. I don't want to sit there and wonder how much of my results were forged by me, or laid out for me by the enhancers.
I know the work is up to me, and a gram of test/week plus orals never lifted a pound of weight, but it's confusing.
I had a similar dilemma when I started juicing, but it was easier then, as the reasons and results were expected to be different, and expectations matched results. I hit plateaus, they lasted, and I used chemicals to break plateaus. Then I put the chemicals aside, kept going, and then (eventually) hit new plateaus (of course). I have broken through many plateaus via training and eating strategies, but some barriers just refused to be broken on my own merit. I hated that, but figured there was no other way. Maybe I was right. Maybe I was wrong. Either way, that's done and cannot be undone.
I'm just a bit confused. It also doesn't help with the individual differences. I have a nice body. Athletic, lean, and with a very aesthetically pleasing shape. A Reeves-like bone structure (I just said bone structure, so don't go apeshit). However, many I train alongside grow very easily. I turned away from pure Bodybuilding because the gains were somewhat hollow to me. I was tired of kicking my ass for the gains that were not adequate. Strength gave me something to strive for. Still, I don't know.
I know life is unfair, and we cannot all get what we want, but I didn't set the most unreasonable of goals for myself. I'm basically venting. You can add if you like. *shrug*
