Competing - for yourself, or to win?

[Skeletor]

People say they are only entering competition for themselves. They don't care where they place. I don't buy it.

[HarryB]

People are only entering competition for themselves. They don't care where they place. I don't buy it.

Everyone wants to win. Human nature. Takes a while to realize you're only competing against yourself.

[Realtalk]

People are only entering competition for themselves. They don't care where they place. I don't buy it.

That's what fucking losers say bro, and is so disrespectful to person who beat you. Typical bikini mentality when they tell whole world how great they are and how knowledgable they are in their prep then get there ass handed to them on a silver platter on comp day because they dont practise what they preech, and pretty much know f*ck all. The day after they change their whole tune.

I got blocked from a nzifbb bikini fitness facebook page for pretty much saying the exact thing above lol. People have 2 eyes, 2 ears and 1 mouth... They should use the first 2 senses to build some knowledge before they open the last.

[HarryB]

That's what fucking losers say bro, and is so disrespectful to person who beat you. Typical bikini mentality when they tell whole world how great they are and how knowledgable they are in their prep then get there ass handed to them on a silver platter on comp day because they dont practise what they preech, and pretty much know f*ck all. The day after they change their whole tune.

I got blocked from a nzifbb bikini fitness facebook page for pretty much saying the exact thing above lol. People have 2 eyes, 2 ears and 1 mouth... They should use the first 2 senses to build some knowledge before they open the last.

Lol cmon man that's a very close minded attitude. Reality in bodybuilding is if you're not competing for yourself then you're pushing shit up hill cos there's no absolute standard you can compare against. The subjectivity of the sport means you can't actually define exactly what it takes to win. Powerlifting you lift the heaviest you win... simple. Bodybuilding not so simple at all.

I agree a whole lot of loser say they just do for themselves and wanna do it the healthy way etc etc yet truth is they're smashing all kinds of shit just have a crap work ethic or ability to diet = 0. But I know plenty who compete just got themselves. The goal is to win of course but all you can focus on is improving from your last show. And even those improvements are subject to what you think needs improving.

You just like raging on people cos you don't think they're as open and honest as you are... allow people to have a different attitude and don't assume everyone wants the same things or does things the same way you would

[Realtalk]

Deleted my last post because the girl was about will probably see it lol.

But there are 2 types of people in this bucket... The people who are really doing it for themselves, these are 12 week challenge competitors, mums and dads who are first time competitors, older people. These are people who if you asked if they cared if they win or not would say no. And that would be a truthful answer. I respect that.

The other type are the people who don't win and then use the "I'm doing it for myself", "I'm doing it the healthy way so of course I won't win" bullshit... Let me tell everyone, that if you have a facebook fitness page then you want to win... Winning is important, it makes you look better, Winning means u are the best. In an Industry fuelled by ego how can you accept loosing. Admitting you accept defeat and are fine with it is such a cop out. Makes the said person look like a weak piece of shit. Least they could do is be humble and have some respect for the winner.

But no we can't admit we don't know how to train and we lost fair and square, lack knowledge of nutrition.., after all we are selling meal plans for $29.99. We know everything and we must save face.

[Skeletor]

Just from personal experience of people ive known including family members. They say "Im not competing against anyone , just myself" Yet when others start doing better than them they hate on them or have all these reasons why or attack the judging after the show . If they truly were only doing it for themselves would they even need to get on stage in the first place? Yes I understand these 12 week challenges etc and good on them for doing it , they should get on stage . No way hating on it because bodybuilding is freakin hard work but I just think EVERYBODY wants to win deep down . Saying you don't care is silly. Ive got one mate who competes and hes straight up. "Yes I want to win and yes im going in to win" Calls it like it is and if he doesn't he doesn't blame judges or hate on anyone . Accepts it and trains harder.  

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

hahaha, i get all kinds of eyes rolling when people ask about why i go gym or work so hard to squeeze quantities of food that clearly require a lot of effort to stay in.. i just say honestly that i'm completely selfish and i only do it because i find it fun getting better and better day by day. initially getting in to it for health reasons (underweight + dad had a heartattack then revealed its hereditary lol). no one believes that shit everyone fking cynical. everyone says its gotta be to impress the girls or compete against someone else , is it really so ridiculous that someone competes with oneself to become better and healthier?

[Pseudonym]

This seemed worthy of its own discussion, so I split it from the original topic.

 

I can see Realtalk's point - it's the hypocrisy of someone using the "just competing for myself" as an excuse AFTER they lose that's annoying. If they'd entered the comp saying that, it wouldn't be so irritating.

 

At the other end of the spectrum, I get annoyed by the guys who refuse to enter a competition "until they know they're going to win". In reality, it just means they never get on stage. If everyone did that, there'd be no competition.

[HarryB]

My 2c is that you measure yourself against yourself after a while. My initial motivation for training was to look like a beast. But day in and day out what kept me and still keeps me training is being bigger and stronger than I was. It also happens I'm super competitive in the gym and always try to be the strongest at everything just for my own ego gratification I guess..

With bodybuilding comps the first ones I did I just wanted to see what I looked like lean (I was a fat kid) fortunately my genetic shape lent itself quite well to competition so I did ok. I looked at the areas I felt needed improvement and I worked on those and improved them as best as I could. Whilst I wanted to win I was also always aware that I couldn't control what someone else looked like and the sport is so subjective that there's no concrete way to guarantee a win. So I just focused on what I wanted to improve on and worked hard there.

It's funny as a competitor how my mindset changed and it became less about what judges told me to do and more about what I wanted to do.

I always tell people I work with that we focus on what they want to improve on from their last comp and if we achieve that then we're winning lol I know it sounds trite to some but it's like say in powerlifting. Maybe you don't win your meet but if you beat your old numbers then you still win.

That's my take on it anyway.

[Spacebound]

some of have to be realistic and realise that we arent going win. thus we do it for ourselves

 

 

i aint guna beat someone in a comp who has been lifting for 5-10+ years and is on gear when im just over a year into lifting and natty.

[Leeroid]

I compete to win and be the best

[maccaz]

i compete because its fun but ideaely one day i would like to win, otherwise pb at home just as good as comp pb imo

 

also pl is good because the result is a firm number so can see clearly like if i total 20kg more than last comp then thats a clear 20kg improvement.

[Rebel101]

Interesting topic bringing up alot of concepts all of them real and relevant.

All of us who train in a gym like to think we are improving and after spending months, years in the gym training what way to there to assess your results than by competing in a body building competition (for those of us who are not committed to another sport).

There are very few of us that will win every competition we will ever go in, but I suspect that we would all like that. The reality is however that everyone has something that can and needs to be improved on. For some it may be shape, others density, others preparation and the list goes on.

Personally, yes , I like to win. If I can not win then I need to know how I can do better next time. The power to improve and do better always comes from within because that in reality is all we have power over. Someone with better something can always come in on the day and beat you so no avoiding that but if you have bought everything to the stage that you can then in all reality you have achieved all you can for that competition.

As a judge I can say that the people who improve from show to show are the ones who make the biggest impact in the long run.

What I found disturbing was the number of competitors who would say they lost because of this or that which was so completely incorrect, the places are always about the best and most complete package on the day on the stage. If a competitor misses the core understanding that there was something they as an individual could have done better then they will never achieve their full potential.

As for the new bikini, shape, boardshort competitons that another conversation altogether.

[Realtalk]

some of have to be realistic and realise that we arent going win. thus we do it for ourselves

i aint guna beat someone in a comp who has been lifting for 5-10+ years and is on gear when im just over a year into lifting and natty.

Yes but you can catch them though mate.

(I'm sorry I always talk aboit powerlifting but I'm using it as an example but it applies to everything)

Ok so we have GPC Australia and GPC NZ. The top aus lifters are about 50-100kg above our top lifters, the exact numbers don't really matter. So there will be a time when we catch up maybe 2 years, maybe 3. We catch up to them faster than they will get better. This is called the law of diminishing returns and you can apply to all facets of lifting and even life, iv talked about it on here before. So basically the better you get the harder you have to work and slower the results come. It's a simple principle to understand.

Of course there is genetic limits and all that but that's why there is weight classes it makes it as even as possible. So you can catch whoever you want to and try to win one day. It's not an unrealistic idea but it does take hard work and dedication.

[HarryB]

I agree in proper sports like powerlifting and strong man. You can work your ass off and constantly improve and get your numbers up to where you are competitive. I don't agree in relation to bodybuilding because whilst you can always improve your physique, you may just not have what it takes to beat someone who's just got better muscle bellies and structure. You can be a better version of yourself but you can't change your structure and shape to any great degree. It's like a beauty pageant and beauty pageants aren't a sport either

[Realtalk]

I think at the highest level that is true. But I think in nz bodybuilding having more muscle and being leaner which you can better achieve over time (and catch the people at the top). Puts you in good steed to win. of course this doesn't take into account freaks like the ortons which realistically nz bodybuilders just aren't going to catch, he is a one in a million or 4 million lol.

But at an amatuer comp I don't often see it won on shape its muscle mass and conditioning. If course shape is important but at nz amatuer level although we don't like to admit it we all pretty much the same. Obviously not as black and white or simple as a sport where you are measured off numbers or times. But none the less I just think it applies at some level.

[Spacebound]

Yes but you can catch them though mate.

(I'm sorry I always talk aboit powerlifting but I'm using it as an example but it applies to everything)

Ok so we have GPC Australia and GPC NZ. The top aus lifters are about 50-100kg above our top lifters, the exact numbers don't really matter. So there will be a time when we catch up maybe 2 years, maybe 3. We catch up to them faster than they will get better. This is called the law of diminishing returns and you can apply to all facets of lifting and even life, iv talked about it on here before. So basically the better you get the harder you have to work and slower the results come. It's a simple principle to understand.

Of course there is genetic limits and all that but that's why there is weight classes it makes it as even as possible. So you can catch whoever you want to and try to win one day. It's not an unrealistic idea but it does take hard work and dedication.

 

agreed, id love to win, but its going to take time, probably 5+ years for maybe a regional meet. Even then, you dont know who else is out there. At this stage im happy just beating my previous bests and not coming last haha.

[maccaz]

agreed, id love to win, but its going to take time, probably 5+ years for maybe a regional meet. Even then, you dont know who else is out there. At this stage im happy just beating my previous bests and not coming last haha.

hard, i reckon 5+ years for me too, my priority is to stay rounded eg dont get too caught up on hitting a certain dead/bench/squat but keep making gradual increases to all 3 without getting injured. its never ending though used to think 200dead be mean then hit that and its average so 220 but now thats average and now i want 250 haha keeps me motivated though

[Leeroid]

When I say that I compete to win, it doesn't mean that I'm not going to compete unless I know I can win, it just means that you're always going to compare yourself and be compared to others so saying you only compete for yourself is a bit of a paradox, I think. Why compete at all then, that's the whole point of competition, to see how you line up against others. Knowing that there are people that are better than you is a great motivation to never get complacent or think that you are good enough. Maybe I will never be the absolute best but doesn't mean I won't try.

[maccaz]

When I say that I compete to win, it doesn't mean that I'm not going to compete unless I know I can win, it just means that you're always going to compare yourself and be compared to others so saying you only compete for yourself is a bit of a paradox, I think. Why compete at all then, that's the whole point of competition, to see how you line up against others. Knowing that there are people that are better than you is a great motivation to never get complacent or think that you are good enough. Maybe I will never be the absolute best but doesn't mean I won't try.

exactly my point u worded it better

a comp pb where u dont compare to what someone else did on the day is no different to a gym pb

[HarryB]

Sometimes competition is just to set a goal. Give yourself a time frame to achieve something.

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

Sometimes competition is just to set a goal. Give yourself a time frame to achieve something.

that's just it for me! it would be great to win the comp but that's just icing on the cake, for me it's all about the journey. set a goal for comp, get a program which leads up to it and go hard for the deadline! i find the date being set to deliver a 110% effort gives a lot of clarity / motivation, makes for some very good sessions compared to just going gym and getting lost in the motions.

[Pseudonym]

This is true. Whatever your reasons for competing, there's nothing like the looming deadline of getting onstage in your undies to make you up your game.

[majorflavazz]

yep i compete to try win aswell

[Pseudonym]

yep i compete to try win aswell

 

Just fixed that for you, mate. Or more precisely...

 

yep i compete to try win aswell