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How far would you go (or have you gone) to get to Nationals & beyond?

Mike_RN

Mike_RN

Senior Moderators
Staff Member
Aug 13, 2013
2,644
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I sat for lunch with a buddy today who is leaving his family for the 2nd time to pursue his IFBB Pro card. Of my local bros who compete, he probably has the most legitimate shot of doing it but.....

...he is walking out the door on two kids and a loving wife to pursue a dream which doesn't pay much, is only relevant to a niche population and has a tendency to be a fleeting glory. For every Ronnie there's a lot of Toms Dicks and Harrys you'll never know or ever miss. I have tried to tell him this but he says he has never wanted anything more in his entire life.

Part of me gets it.
I'm old and small and don't kid myself about my own prospects. My wife on the other hand has the drive, genetics and coachabilty to go far in the sport. She made Nationals in 4 shows (2 Figure flops and 2 Physique successes) and got 2 x 1st Callouts at her National debut. All of this happened in the 3yrs since our daughter was born. I could have handed my wife's Prep and Diet over to a Pro/Guru/Coach and she might have already won her card in July. My ego and desire to make her a Pro without any expert assistance did get her 4th in the Open and 5th in Masters but I also know that she might have come in better at the hands of a Shelby Starnes or Fakhri Mubarak.

The father in me wants to slap the shit out of him and tell him he's got his head up his ass. I also know that somebody's gonna win the show and he's got the right amount of freaky that seems to win on the East Coast.

Anyway...back to the topic, How far would you go (or have you gone)?
 
jhotsauce7

jhotsauce7

TID Board Of Directors
Jan 18, 2011
2,805
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The way I see it, bodybuilding shows they come and go, but your family is so much more important... And to neglect them for something is simply selfish... I get it too, but even if I had the genetics, youth, money that would never be me.... I need my family just as much as they need me...
 
1bigun11

1bigun11

MuscleHead
Oct 23, 2010
2,142
1,832
Apart from freaky genetics, the conundrum for most of us is that if you are not willing to sacrifice everything standing in your way to be number one, then you probably lack the drive and focus necessary to be the best. On the other hand even if you do sacrifice everything to be the best, chances are still highly likely you will fail--and thus wind up having sacrificed everything for nothing.

Thankfully I have no illusions of ever being anything more than a big old son of a bitch who occasionally competes for the fun of it. I do supplements and get grouchy and short tempered with people close to me before a
show, but there is no way I would consider leaving them for it. If anything I am surprised that they have not left me.

I think at my level of ability and stage in life having people around you who know and love you has more positives than negatives.
 
HGH

HGH

MuscleHead
Jan 11, 2013
1,215
185
As a person who is gay, and thus cannot have a family as easily as other dudes, it blows my mind that anyone would walk out on their children for any reason whatsoever.

I don't make commitments I can't keep. Dude shoulda pulled out.
 
Bullmuscle7

Bullmuscle7

MuscleHead
Jun 11, 2014
8,847
2,439
I can understand bodybuilding making a person insane and selfish. I am. But I get hold of myself and slap myself back to reality.
And I'm lucky my family puts up with me.
But I've learned to make this work and it's turning out good for our whole family.
 
5.0

5.0

VIP Member
Nov 3, 2012
5,245
1,696
No way, not a posibility that i could leave my family. Everyone is raised differently and had different family experiences, that may be part of it.
 
gotclen

gotclen

VIP Member
Oct 20, 2011
1,098
409
Mike do all you can to wake your friend the F$&k up.
He can still go for his dream but he needs to be adult
about it. For a guy with all that "potential" he is being a fool.

I tell guys that will listen to please keep balance in their life.
You know what day comes after Saturday? Sunday right? Then what back to the real world called work.
Monday with or without a plastic trophy.

How many of you guys know john meadows. Been going for
His dream for shit 25 years. Meanwhile he was a
banker. Then started his online biz.
Very very successful. Beautiful wife and kids.

Point being only a ver few get pro cards. A ver very tiny % make any money.
You have to be a business man, a father a husband to be
Complete and a success in life.

The promotors and the NPC love guys like him.
Ok I'm on my phone and can't really see much.

I have been to master national twice win my class and got 3rd
Another time. Been to North Americans placed in the open and the masters division. Guess what
I went back to work on Monday. Didn't run off my wife . Didn't cheat with some hot
Fitness chic. Still the same dude. I was just a few points from that 2nd card at masters.
Did I turn my world upside down the next year. Nope I didn't compete again for 5 years.
Ok I'm just weird I guess. The sport tries to drive you to the brink.
I take the good with the bad and go on with life.
Sorry for all the running on sentences .
Gc
 
Last edited:
FLEXjs

FLEXjs

MuscleHead
Apr 23, 2012
4,421
1,573
I don't understand why he needs to leave his family to do this?

Mrs Flex is my biggest supporter and I couldn't even think of taking on a major life challenge without her.

So I'm confused....
 
Rottenrogue

Rottenrogue

Strongwoman
Jan 26, 2011
6,595
1,882
Agreed flex . Hubby supports me. He doesn't lift but he still supports me.
 
Turbolag

Turbolag

TID's Official Donut Tester
Oct 14, 2012
7,400
1,255
Sorry, double post. I'm an idiot.
 
Turbolag

Turbolag

TID's Official Donut Tester
Oct 14, 2012
7,400
1,255
I want to follow my goals, I stay single. I don't want any outside influence on my decisions.

I would feel selfish if I had family responsibilities. To me, it's best to stay single if you want to chase your goals. It's hard to have both.
 
FLEXjs

FLEXjs

MuscleHead
Apr 23, 2012
4,421
1,573
Agreed flex . Hubby supports me. He doesn't lift but he still supports me.

Lisa lifts, but not as serious as me. If I didn't she wouldn't. But she comes to the gym with me when she can, spots me, buys me lifting gear, cooks for me, cleans my clothes, and she has come to my comps and taken vids of all my lifts.

IMHO there's no need to be a lone wolf in order to compete.
 
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