maintaining sanity in bodybuilding....

[needsize]

Normally I would have to admit that my drive to always get bigger and add more mass is bordering on obsession...if I am not dieting, I am almost always bulking, trying to get bigger...every now and then I will schedule a period where I try and train lighter, and give my body a break, and come off of everything, or cruise on a little bit of anavar.... But I am the first to admit, this constant drive, although it has gotten me pretty far, isnt healthy, especially not in the long run...
This time around I decided to just take this summer, and relax....no dieting, no bulking, no training real heavy...not try and make and changes to my body, just sit back and enjoy the size that I have built....although its never enough and I tend to feel small, this time around I dont care, I just want to relax for a while....I am following my contest training, so its not as heavy as usual, and more enjoyable, along with at least 30 minutes of cardio a day to keep my bodyfat where it is...
And the funny thing is, I not only feel physically more healthy, mentally I feel so much better...no pressure, I am just enjoying my workouts, not stressing about meals..I normally eat minimum 7 times a day, never less then 6, yesterday I ate 4 meals and had one shake, and didnt stress out about it like I normally would...man is it ever nice to not be stressing about everything I do...and funny thing is I look the same as I do when I am stressing about all the little things that go with bodybuilding....
I am already looking forward to bulking in the fall, but for now I am happy just cruising, for the first time ever....it just sucks that it took this many years of training(I turn 32 this year), to actually get to this point mentally

 

[Triple J]

congrats to you needsize on all you have accomplished in the sport and growth as a person

 

[swordfish151]

needsize = small...NO WAY! lol...bro for all your hard work and dedication you deserve to unwind...Im still in the same stage as you though as always watching everything i do to a "T" but it drives me...i have a passion for it like you do..but glad to hear you kickin back and enjoying what you worked really hard for...

 

[karachi183]

amen to that bro... good to see your enjoying life.... what else is it for

 

[needsize]

thanks guys
you know how it is with the feeling small bit, thats what I see in the mirror, although I know otherwise....I went back and watched the dvd from my last show, just so I could see how I really look...
it is nice to not be stressing about it all...but I cant wait till the next bulker too

 

[cranny]

I hear ya bro. I keep wanting to do that although I'm no where near my potential as you. But it does take a toll on you over the yrs. I'll do it for about a wk. and then I start feeling guilty and afraid of getting fat and sloppy like I was yrs. ago. I know what I've learned in the past 2 yrs. about my diet that it shouldn't happen keeping it in moderation but the fear sets in and there I go training hard again before I realize it. I so want to relax a bit and enjoy it. If I would just commit to it I bet I would come back w/ a new intensity for training. Good luck w/ it NS. You deserve it w/ the dedication you put in.

 

[Stacemranger]

Great for you Needsize. Good to hear you're enojoying life. Small, not. You're jacked.

 

[SgtSlaughter]

Time well earned brother

Much to be enjoyed in this life outside of our obsessions with bodybuilding.

 

[Makavelli]

I feel ya bro. I'm done competing and modeling, I still train hard and eat good, but I'm much more relaxed about it. If I don't feel like doing cardio I don't do it. If I feel like going out to dinner with friends on a Friday night, I do it. I feel much more healthy now.

 

[thelion2005]

This post is extremely insightful and I applaud needsize being able to look in the mirror.

I would like to see a return to health and fun in the so called "body building lifestyle."

If you look at the guys and gals in the late 1940's and 1950's, they had great natural bodies built by reasonable exercise and a wide assortment of foods, emphasized health and strength with the body as a temple to be cared for, and played and had fun in the sand and sun.

Why is that not enough today?

 

[OMEGA]

here let me motivate you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVzaUlbXSxY&search=mr.olympia

 

[Prizz]

Yeah, this is very important for EVERYONE who lifts religiously to do.... I usually Slack off in the early Fall (mid Sept) for like 2mths, and get back on around Thanksgiving.... I don't stop lifting TOTALLY, but cut it back to like 2-3 times per week, and no cardio, and no strict dieting really.... I like to allow myself to eat some junk, have some ice cream, go out to eat, drink some booze, and enjoy the "Normal American" Lazy Ass Life..... LOL.... To be honest, after 2 mths of living like this, I get SICK..... I hate being Lazy, and hate getting Fat like Most Americans do EVERY DAY..... However, it is good for my Sanity, and keeps me motivated the rest of the year..... Good Choice Mak....

rizz

 

[needsize]

it is nice to sit back and enjoy myself for a while, so much less stress today....its 8pm and I am about to sit down to my 4th meal, so I am 2 behind, and frankly I dont care right now....I still dont miss workouts, but thats because I really enjoy those....
But this is also getting me ready for the fall, mentally I will be much more ready for the demands that come with doing a bulking cycle right