Bodybuilding/weight training and insecurity

[internet warrior]

I started at 16. A mate of mine had (what I then thought was) a reasonable body and I overheard some chicks saying he was hot because of it. So I thought, f*ck it, time to get some biceps.

It never was an insecurity thing at all. What got me hooked was, as you mentioned Harry, the discipline factor. I liked setting goals - like benching the hundy and then working my ass off to get there. The feeling of setting and achieving goals gives you life skills and a general aptitude to be an overcomer. I've been hooked since.

One thing I will say though is my confidence level has actually decreased since I've started spending more time on NZBB. (This is not my first account). I've started feeling shit about my physique and strength when comparing it to guys like soundsgood LOL. f*ck that guy is a m-animal! On the looks front, you go to the post your pics section and see guys with physiques that most people would be mirin, and they're getting ripped to shreds. (Yes, I know, I'm guilty of this - part of the reason for the name change- I'm turning a new leaf lol). But you just get caught up in this insatiable desire to look perfect, to look airbrushed essentially. It's interesting.

Still love it though.

[I Declare War]

One thing I will say though is my confidence level has actually decreased since I've started spending more time on NZBB.

solution: PM the mods asking them to suspend your account.

[HarryB]

I started at 16. A mate of mine had (what I then thought was) a reasonable body and I overheard some chicks saying he was hot because of it. So I thought, f*ck it, time to get some biceps.

It never was an insecurity thing at all. What got me hooked was, as you mentioned Harry, the discipline factor. I liked setting goals - like benching the hundy and then working my ass off to get there. The feeling of setting and achieving goals gives you life skills and a general aptitude to be an overcomer. I've been hooked since.

One thing I will say though is my confidence level about how I look has actually decreased since I've started spending more time on NZBB. (This is not my first account - previous one was maassive). I've started feeling shit about my physique and strength when comparing it to guys like soundsgood LOL. f*ck that guy is a m-animal! On the looks front, you got to the post your pics section and see guys with physiques that most people would be mirin, and they're getting ripped to shreds. (Yes, I know, I'm guilty of this - part of the reason for the name change- I'm turning a new leaf lol). But you just get caught up in this insatiable desire to look perfect, to look airbrushed essentially. It's interesting.

Still love it though.

I actually think you get to a point when you can appreciate what other people are doing without comparing yourself to them. If you don't know where someone started it's really hard to work out what they have achieved. What I like about a lot of the guys and gals on here is that we are competitive but recognise achievement in others without belittling them. I mean SG and I have some backchat about weights lifted and stuff and yet really, you have a guy like Tonka on these forums who would kill both of us together when it comes to straight power! Plus some really high achievers in a lot of sports endeavours. Then you have some crazy physiques, seriously awesome condition and just some all around really decent blokes and gals on here who are super supportive and they balance out the guys who just hate on everything. Hell sometimes I do it because I don't try and understand where that person has come from or their perspective perspective and stupidly think they should see things how I do. This mostly for me comes down to not liking certain types of personalities but I see myself as being the one lacking if I go down that path so I try not to. (Moments of weakness at glaringly obvious stupidity happen lol)

[I Declare War]

.

[severe]

I was a lean kid with no muscle, and everyone around me was pumped. I hated being the skinny guy.

I was insecure, for sure. But training to fight also reduced that. I reckon the fight training stopped the external insecurity, and the weight training made me enjoy being in the body I have.

[HarryB]

I was a lean kid with no muscle, and everyone around me was pumped. I hated being the skinny guy.

I was insecure, for sure. But training to fight also reduced that. I reckon the fight training stopped the external insecurity, and the weight training made me enjoy being in the body I have.

There is a fair amount of that, I reckon some fight training is always a good thing. The best thing you learn when you do a lot of fight training is that there are some little dudes who can really kick your ass!!! ha ha ha ha so you pull your head in!

[Bobsta]

Having worked in the industry for a while now, I can certainly say that for some it would stem from some sort of insecurities, from the young guy who won't take his shirt off at the pool party to the woman who wouldn't have sex unless it's pitch black etc...

But for most I think it's just the desire to better ourselves, it's a basic human need I think and it's a good sign that we're actualy alive!! If we don't strive to be a better version of ourselves then we realy need to check our pulse :pfft:

Obviously not everyone puts as much importance as we do when it comes to our bodies and physical strength etc but the desire is always there and it manifests itself in other ways. And for some of us what once was a simple desire to improve becomes a little bit of an obsession/ extreme hobby , call it what you want but hey it's also our nature to get carried away sometimes

[HarryB]

Having worked in the industry for a while now, I can certainly say that for some it would stem from some sort of insecurities, from the young guy who won't take his shirt off at the pool party to the woman who wouldn't have sex unless it's pitch black etc...

But for most I think it's just the desire to better ourselves, it's a basic human need I think and it's a good sign that we're actualy alive!! If we don't strive to be a better version of ourselves then we realy need to check our pulse :pfft:

Obviously not everyone puts as much importance as we do when it comes to our bodies and physical strength etc but the desire is always there and it manifests itself in other ways. And for some of us what once was a simple desire to improve becomes a little bit of an obsession/ extreme hobby , call it what you want but hey it's also our nature to get carried away sometimes

lol

I was more thinking about those of us that push it well past that point. Like you for example Bobsta and SG and Android. I mean there was a point where we made a decision to just go well past what was getting rid of a bit of bf or putting a bit of mass on the guns....

[tomleegolf]

Having worked in the industry for a while now, I can certainly say that for some it would stem from some sort of insecurities, from the young guy who won't take his shirt off at the pool party to the woman who wouldn't have sex unless it's pitch black etc...

But for most I think it's just the desire to better ourselves, it's a basic human need I think and it's a good sign that we're actualy alive!! If we don't strive to be a better version of ourselves then we realy need to check our pulse :pfft:

Obviously not everyone puts as much importance as we do when it comes to our bodies and physical strength etc but the desire is always there and it manifests itself in other ways. And for some of us what once was a simple desire to improve becomes a little bit of an obsession/ extreme hobby , call it what you want but hey it's also our nature to get carried away sometimes

Shit! Is that yourself in your avatar Bobsta? Mirin hard if it is.

[I Declare War]

Having worked in the industry for a while now, I can certainly say that for some it would stem from some sort of insecurities, from the young guy who won't take his shirt off at the pool party to the woman who wouldn't have sex unless it's pitch black etc...

But for most I think it's just the desire to better ourselves, it's a basic human need I think and it's a good sign that we're actualy alive!! If we don't strive to be a better version of ourselves then we realy need to check our pulse :pfft:

Obviously not everyone puts as much importance as we do when it comes to our bodies and physical strength etc but the desire is always there and it manifests itself in other ways. And for some of us what once was a simple desire to improve becomes a little bit of an obsession/ extreme hobby , call it what you want but hey it's also our nature to get carried away sometimes

Shit! Is that yourself in your avatar Bobsta? Mirin hard if it is.

Yea I was lookin' at that too. All I can think is... "that's how I'm gonna look if I hop up on stage next year!". If only I could redistribute some mass from my pecs to other places I'd be there! lol

[Bobsta]

Having worked in the industry for a while now, I can certainly say that for some it would stem from some sort of insecurities, from the young guy who won't take his shirt off at the pool party to the woman who wouldn't have sex unless it's pitch black etc...

But for most I think it's just the desire to better ourselves, it's a basic human need I think and it's a good sign that we're actualy alive!! If we don't strive to be a better version of ourselves then we realy need to check our pulse :pfft:

Obviously not everyone puts as much importance as we do when it comes to our bodies and physical strength etc but the desire is always there and it manifests itself in other ways. And for some of us what once was a simple desire to improve becomes a little bit of an obsession/ extreme hobby , call it what you want but hey it's also our nature to get carried away sometimes

Shit! Is that yourself in your avatar Bobsta? Mirin hard if it is.

Google images bro, Phil Heath was taken so I settled with this geezer :pfft:

But thank you Tom, yes thats me last year at my 1st comp

[train hard]

i grew up watching all the 80s action movies Arnold, sly, hulk hogan etc and i thought they where all cool my Dad used to do abit of bodybuilding too and had a very good body and was only natural for me to get into it too he took me for my first train when i was 13 and then i got into it more serious when i stopped playing league i genuinely just love training its my own buzz and i don,t care what other people think would be a very sad life if i didn,t get too train

[deepmen15]

Count me in....started wid being shy ...being fat and skinny :pfft: ...I guess BB build your inner confidence , keeps you focused , helps you vent ur frustration lol... loads of benefits ... I guess most of us starts with insecurity but then eventually you get over that and pursue it for once own passion and gains...

[anyonehelp?]

Good post.

I was 60kg at the age of 13ish. Was one fat f*ck. I have sworn to myself to never be fat.

Now I am 6"2 and cracking 105kg.

[Chemo]

Good post.

Would have to say I had some insecurities at some level. But now besides the gains I only train for the enjoyment and escapism it gives me. Love it

[severe]

I was a lean kid with no muscle, and everyone around me was pumped. I hated being the skinny guy.

I was insecure, for sure. But training to fight also reduced that. I reckon the fight training stopped the external insecurity, and the weight training made me enjoy being in the body I have.

And I forgot to add, that they are all fat now. How classic. Once they got married, they all fell away from training.

[drizzt]

I think I know what Harry is getting at here...

I first got into training because my Dad did it, and I always looked up to him (and his shiny PL trophies!) so he caved in to my requests and bought me my first gym membership when I was 12-13. Would train a few times a week after school with him and his TP, and that was an awesome start to the lifting life (would be so much better now if I didn't slack off for a few years due to girls! :doh:)

But I've always been pretty shy and insecure, and weight training on it's own hasn't changed that. I think it can help with immediate satisfaction from any praise you may get, but it's always fleeting. So I've learnt to not try and use weight training to fix any insecurities, and just do it because I enjoy it :nod:

[DANIEL8]

I think I know what Harry is getting at here...

I first got into training because my Dad did it, and I always looked up to him (and his shiny PL trophies!) so he caved in to my requests and bought me my first gym membership when I was 12-13. Would train a few times a week after school with him and his TP, and that was an awesome start to the lifting life (would be so much better now if I didn't slack off for a few years due to girls! :doh:)

But I've always been pretty shy and insecure, and weight training on it's own hasn't changed that. I think it can help with immediate satisfaction from any praise you may get, but it's always fleeting. So I've learnt to not try and use weight training to fix any insecurities, and just do it because I enjoy it :nod:

to be honest i agree with weight training not helping with insecurities. i thought it would at the start. it did for a while. i thought once i got at a certrain size i wouldnt care about anything and would be confident as!!!! turns out im never reaching that certain size and wont be happy til i die. lol

as for the insecurities...im insecure as hell braaaah!!!!

[nate225]

One of the funny things people mention above is the "target size" they thought they'd get to and it'd be nirvana! I'm exactly the same - started thinking when I got to 75kg I'd be happy, then 85, then 90, then 100.....damn I hit 114 and still not content with an endpoint size wise!!

Them goalposts keep shiftng, which I think is what keeps me interested. I guess thatn could explain some pro's retiring, when they figure they are too old/injured to ever attain what they've already acheived size/condition wise?

[tomleegolf]

Haha, I thought I was huge at 65kgs in May when I gained 11kgs in 5 months. Now I look in the mirror at 71kgs and I look smaller than when I first started! Just gottta get to 80kgs then I'll be happy... :roll:

[farrout]

Haha, I thought I was huge at 65kgs in May when I gained 11kgs in 5 months. Now I look in the mirror at 71kgs and I look smaller than when I first started! Just gottta get to 80kgs then I'll be happy... :roll:

That's what I thought ...

80kg eluded me for years & when I finally got there I thought ...this isn't big at all

And that was after gaining 44 kg ...

[HarryB]

Count me in....started wid being shy ...being fat and skinny :pfft: ...I guess BB build your inner confidence , keeps you focused , helps you vent ur frustration lol... loads of benefits ... I guess most of us starts with insecurity but then eventually you get over that and pursue it for once own passion and gains...

I think it's a bit of a journey, goals change and evolve and typically we set new goals so it's a constant thing. Confidence comes I think more from achieving the goals we set for ourselves than the actual gains etc etc etc it's taking control.. well for me anyways.

[HarryB]

Haha, I thought I was huge at 65kgs in May when I gained 11kgs in 5 months. Now I look in the mirror at 71kgs and I look smaller than when I first started! Just gottta get to 80kgs then I'll be happy... :roll:

That's what I thought ...

80kg eluded me for years & when I finally got there I thought ...this isn't big at all

And that was after gaining 44 kg ...

This one cracks me up cos here I am with over 20" arms and basically a monster and yet when I was 18 and 85 I thought I was a tank and here at 112 I think I need just a few more muscles and maybe I will look like I train ha ha ha ha

[HarryB]

One of the funny things people mention above is the "target size" they thought they'd get to and it'd be nirvana! I'm exactly the same - started thinking when I got to 75kg I'd be happy, then 85, then 90, then 100.....damn I hit 114 and still not content with an endpoint size wise!!

Them goalposts keep shiftng, which I think is what keeps me interested. I guess thatn could explain some pro's retiring, when they figure they are too old/injured to ever attain what they've already acheived size/condition wise?

Never stops eh bro!! But that's why we keep on coming back and hitting it!

[farrout]

Haha, I thought I was huge at 65kgs in May when I gained 11kgs in 5 months. Now I look in the mirror at 71kgs and I look smaller than when I first started! Just gottta get to 80kgs then I'll be happy... :roll:

That's what I thought ...

80kg eluded me for years & when I finally got there I thought ...this isn't big at all

And that was after gaining 44 kg ...

This one cracks me up cos here I am with over 20" arms and basically a monster and yet when I was 18 and 85 I thought I was a tank and here at 112 I think I need just a few more muscles and maybe I will look like I train ha ha ha ha

Ha ha - the body grows, maybe the mind stays the same ...