Where to draw the line

[--->>405<<---]

well this is a little similar to the thread about social activities but also a bit different. i have been on this quest for a certain body that i still do not have since september of 2011.. initially i was 26.6%bf and wanted to simply get sub 12% (my original goal)..

once i got there it wasnt good enuff. then i wanted sub 10%.. ok i got there still not good enuff. since then it has become 6-7% but in the process i am beginning to wonder.. is it really worth it!?

lets think about this: im lean now, my wife doesnt give a shit if im 25% or 8% she still loves me. now i know she likes looking at me now more than before but u know what im saying.. id also like to note this is more of a brainstorm/rant/contemplative thing..

for the last month ive been only able to eat well 1 out of every 3 days. the rest of the time im freaking hungry all the time and the pay off doesnt come but every 3rd day and its gone as soon as it gets here. not to mention im spending 90mins per day doing cardio! i look at myself in the mirror and think "ok u look good but ur still not there"..

so when is it good enuff? sometimes i fantasize about what itd be like to be able to just eat whatever the fvck i want and not give a crap if i gain some fat.. and were just talking about the lean aspect right now we havent even gotten into the LBM gaining side or the AAS side or the other chemicals ive used and the risks that get taken.. i know the food i eat every day is good for me but sometimes i find myself wondering if the way i manipulate my intake is good to do? sometimes my gut instinct tells me a lot of the things i do are not good for me.

i guess im just wondering does anyone else ever feel like this? i can tell u i havent had so many crazy thoughts and emotions run thru my head as i have since starting this hard cut 4 weeks ago. the hunger is a freaking bitch sometimes. when i eat i can stuff myself and still feel hungry. its like the constant deprivation is cumulative and so one meal simply will not cure my hunger.

ive considered quitting the cut just because im tired of being deprived all the time. not to mention the progress seems to be slowing down and i dang sure dont wanna reduce cals even further. my wife says im grumpy enuff already!

anyways figured id put this out there to see if anyone else ever goes thru this type of thing? i tend to be an extremist with everything i do. but since im just a regular guy who is married and not chasing girls and not competing and not doing anything that requires me to be in any type of shape am beginning to think maybe this goal that seems to constantly be just out of reach is never gonna get here and maybe i need to chill out a little and actually enjoy taking part in some things again as opposed to always wishing i could..

[BUTTERYGOODNESS]

I say jump into the bulk/mass man. And when u need to cut off the excess. U know u already can. And jut stay as lean as possible. I say shoot the moon and get huge lol

[BUTTERYGOODNESS]

But I get what ur saying I went trough a phase for a few months where I couldn't make up my mind in which direction to go.

[Capebuffalo]

I say jump into the bulk/mass man. And when u need to cut off the excess. U know u already can. And jut stay as lean as possible. I say shoot the moon and get huge lol

Agree.

[Tron3219]

All I can really say is you have to weigh out if ur happy or not. If ur truly not happy, so something about it. Gain some lean mass, go on a lean bulk. At ur body comp you will still b sub 12 when it's all said and done, you've had your break. You've added muscle mass, get back on a cut to ur 6-7%, but now with more lbm. Rome wasn't built in a day fella. And ur never gonna get to that 405 bench on a cal deficit!!

-TroN-

[Lunk1]

First your wife is right...you are a grump fuker!

My wife and I have had this exact convo sooo many times. As both of us have gotten alot healthier and into what we look like over the last 6-7 years! We continue to agree on a healthy balance. Looking good yet still being able to live a life where we don't feel deprived. Where we can go out for steaks and beer...yet continue working hard to at least maintain bodies that MOST of the ppl we know do not have. We find each other physicaly attractive and work hard to get better but not to the degree where we sacrifice happiness!

Life is best when you find the perfect middle ground. Unfortunatly for you..it would seem as if your compulsive attitude refuses to let you find that happy medium. Thats why I have never said I want single digit BF...I realize the sacrifise that would have to be made. I'm willing to sacrifice enough to hopefully get to 12-15 and still be able to enjoy myself AND life from time to time!

I have little guilt if I miss a day or 2 at the gym..or if I have a bad meal or hell...a bad day. Just get on track again...over and over!

[--->>405<<---]

i guess what im wondering is do any of yall ever get sick and tired of looking at urself in the mirror and never being completely satisfied or is it just me?

[--->>405<<---]

i think right now my biggest problem is im tired of being hungry dammit! LOL.. i dont like it!

[BUTTERYGOODNESS]

i guess what im wondering is do any of yall ever get sick and tired of looking at urself in the mirror and never being completely satisfied or is it just me?

I have a love hate relationship with my appearance. 99 percent of te time I NEED more. Wanting more stopped a while ago. One percent of the time I'll look and smile cuz I'm proud of how far I've come. But I know I will always strive for more. Staying where I am or any less is not an option. So ur not crazy man. More ppl then u think feel the same way.

[Capebuffalo]

i guess what im wondering is do any of yall ever get sick and tired of looking at urself in the mirror and never being completely satisfied or is it just me?

If you or I ever look in the mirror and don't see something to change we are dead. That's our life continued improvement. I like how I look but don't love it. Each day I see something. But it doesn't consume me. It's a long race not a sprint.

[BUTTERYGOODNESS]

i think right now my biggest problem is im tired of being hungry dammit! LOL.. i dont like it!

Lol just to clarify, ate u maintaining or still cutting?

[GirlyGymRat]

405. U been on this journey for over a year. Ur wife loves regardless so why you push so hard when u looked great b4 this cut.

Why don't u give maintenance a try? Plus your body is telling u that it needs a break too.

You look great but I kinda hope u don't go back to the mid twenties for health reasons.

[dan991]

You don't need to do "bulk" then "cut" cycles... its too much bullshit to deal with and becomes overbearing sooner or later. You can easily get to where you want to be and maintain it. I'll post a thread about it (like ab thread) one day when I feel like writing another book, lol.

[GirlyGymRat]

You don't need to do "bulk" then "cut" cycles... its too much bullshit to deal with and becomes overbearing sooner or later. You can easily get to where you want to be and maintain it. I'll post a thread about it (like ab thread) one day when I feel like writing another book, lol.

Dan. That would be nice bc I hate maintenance. Hate it.

[Lunk1]

I'm going to be honest with you here my FRIEND..and I mean this in all seriousness but with love! You have a problem that is not physical....if you cant find peace on your own, consider getting some help finding peace!

You are making yourself suffer and I'm betting others around you are suffering some as well....and for what? Abs, 2%BF? Is this what is the MOST important thing to you?

[Back In Black]

i guess what im wondering is do any of yall ever get sick and tired of looking at urself in the mirror and never being completely satisfied or is it just me?

That is why we continue to do what we do.

Mate, why don't you go with the plan we discussed via PM. Then you get best of both worlds?

[dan991]

Ya'll just need to start reading Kinesiology books instead Flex Magazine.... lots of good info in those books. For some though it might be tough because there are a lot of big words

[BUTTERYGOODNESS]

Ya'll just need to start reading Kinesiology books instead Flex Magazine.... lots of good info in those books. For some though it might be tough because there are a lot of big words

I have a few from college I haven't finished. Might give em a look lol

[--->>405<<---]

If you or I ever look in the mirror and don't see something to change we are dead. That's our life continued improvement. I like how I look but don't love it. Each day I see something. But it doesn't consume me. It's a long race not a sprint.

balance is the key here cape..

Lol just to clarify, ate u maintaining or still cutting?

cutting

405. U been on this journey for over a year. Ur wife loves regardless so why you push so hard when u looked great b4 this cut.

Why don't u give maintenance a try? Plus your body is telling u that it needs a break too.

You look great but I kinda hope u don't go back to the mid twenties for health reasons.

not going back to 20s GGR!

You don't need to do "bulk" then "cut" cycles... its too much bullshit to deal with and becomes overbearing sooner or later. You can easily get to where you want to be and maintain it. I'll post a thread about it (like ab thread) one day when I feel like writing another book, lol.

hey he actually may contribute something positive for a change!

I'm going to be honest with you here my FRIEND..and I mean this in all seriousness but with love! You have a problem that is not physical....if you cant find peace on your own, consider getting some help finding peace!

You are making yourself suffer and I'm betting others around you are suffering some as well....and for what? Abs, 2%BF? Is this what is the MOST important thing to you?

LOL.. getting all serious on me huh pal!?

[--->>405<<---]

That is why we continue to do what we do.

Mate, why don't you go with the plan we discussed via PM. Then you get best of both worlds?

i plan to just waiting on the damn steroids !!!!! LOL

[--->>405<<---]

Ya'll just need to start reading Kinesiology books instead Flex Magazine.... lots of good info in those books. For some though it might be tough because there are a lot of big words

i dont read flex magazine.. ill have to google thi kinesiology and see what it is..

[dan991]

Look, this is what you do... you learn, you train, and then you adjust to the "happy medium". You know where you are, you know that if you get fat for 6 months you can go back to where you were before, and you move on. I had this same type of problem and I settled for what makes me happy. Perfect example is McRibs- I know they are cat shit covered in BBQ sauce but I still like them and every year when they come out I go on break. I also got so big at one point that I had to start buying new clothes for work which got really expensive really quick. I was content with spend $300 per shit on dress shirts and $3K on new suits; but then I outgrew both and had an "oh shit" moment. So.. I go to the gym and when my work clothes get tight- I back off. My point isn't that I have expensive suits and all that jazz... the suits are a realization that enough is enough or pay the consequences. Am I willing to buy all new clothes; no . I already have a closet of clothes that I have a hard time fitting into. Some shirts are too small, some are too big- it depends which "cycle" I was on when I bought them (i.e. bulk vs. cut). What is your breaking point? Seriously... find the happy medium and maintain it.

[--->>405<<---]

yes.. the happy medium..

i think im partially frustrated because its becoming apparent the happy medium for me is NOT 7%bf 200lbs and its NEVER gonna be!

[dan991]

yes.. the happy medium..

i think im partially frustrated because its becoming apparent the happy medium for me is NOT 7%bf 200lbs and its NEVER gonna be!

Would you rather be 7% 200lbs and your wife won't blow you because she thinks your a grumpy asshole.... or would you rather be 13% with a happy wife?

[--->>405<<---]

Would you rather be 7% 200lbs and your wife won't blow you because she thinks your a grumpy asshole.... or would you rather be 13% with a happy wife?

LOL... hmmm................. ..................... LOL..

[dan991]

i dont read flex magazine.. ill have to google thi kinesiology and see what it is..

Science. Its all about how muscles work, how your body works, and all kinds of good dork stuff. Its where the ab routine came from. I read all about abs and created the routine based off what I learnt. Example: http://www.exrx.net/Kinesiology/AnglePull.html

[kelkel]

i guess what im wondering is do any of yall ever get sick and tired of looking at urself in the mirror and never being completely satisfied or is it just me?

If you're satisfied then you've given up. Just pick which area you choose to attack! IMHO you look great, are by far lean enough. Time to concentrate on putting more muscle on your frame. Obsess over that for a while and lets see if you can bring that same determination to the table as you did over BF%. If so, you'll do great.

kel

[twitz]

405 - You have certainly accomplished your goal, learned a lot during the process and helped a lot of people along the way. I think you should be super proud, get lot's of photos so you can remember the way you look and find that happy place. I think with this experience, and knowing all you do, you will stay fairly lean and be able to eat well everyday

[kelkel]

You don't need to do "bulk" then "cut" cycles... its too much bullshit to deal with and becomes overbearing sooner or later. You can easily get to where you want to be and maintain it. I'll post a thread about it (like ab thread) one day when I feel like writing another book, lol.

Totally agree. I never felt you needed to get fat basically to put on muscle like so many do...

[--->>405<<---]

If you're satisfied then you've given up. Just pick which area you choose to attack! IMHO you look great, are by far lean enough. Time to concentrate on putting more muscle on your frame. Obsess over that for a while and lets see if you can bring that same determination to the table as you did over BF%. If so, you'll do great.

kel

thx kel that is the plan.. add muscle.. hence why i plan on running my first cycle in june.. looking forward to it as well!

[kelkel]

thx kel that is the plan.. add muscle.. hence why i plan on running my first cycle in june.. looking forward to it as well!

Then stop the fasting crap and start eating, dammit. Just eat clean, alot!

[Capebuffalo]

Then stop the fasting crap and start eating, dammit. Just eat clean, alot!

Eat a hamburger damn it. With fries

[--->>405<<---]

well i have to run maintenance for a month or so to establish this bf% as well as allow all the hormonal changes associated with eating at a caloric deficit to diminish and return to homeostasis before going into a surplus otherwise i will gain more fat than i would otherwise! but i get where ur coming from and intend to.. my cut ends today!

[songdog]

Like they said bro enough your there.Start building there is no sense in mind fuking this thing.Put some food in you diet and start building.NOW!

[Tron3219]

Eat a hamburger damn it. With fries

Don't forget the milkshake!

-TroN-

[Lunk1]

Don't forget the milkshake!

-TroN-

PP blizzard

[--->>405<<---]

PP blizzard

PP? i like reeses + butterfinger!

[--->>405<<---]

i can tell u one thing im gonna eat one hell of a big meal when i get home tonight!

[Lunk1]

i can tell u one thing im gonna eat one hell of a big meal when i get home tonight!

Maybe you should take your patient bride OUT for a big meal!!!!

[Sgt. Hartman]

I didn't read all the other responses but it seems like we all have unachievable goals, and by that I don't mean we set the bar too high, we're constantly changing our goals as we go. That's the great thing but also the terrible thing about this is that as our physique changes so does our idea of what the ideal body looks like and so our goals slowly change as well whether we realize it at the time or not.

I honestly enjoy the majority of this lifestyle - if I didn't and it made me miserable then I wouldn't do it. You'll never reach the end destination of looking in the mirror and thinking "YES I've finally done it this is the absolute best I can ever or have ever wanted to look" - so you might as well try and enjoy the challenge, and if you don't.....then change what you're doing.