How popular is lifting and bodybuilding around the world?

[LiftSpotter205]

I live on the west coast and see a lot of people bodybuilding and lifting through college and beyond. It's very popular to lift with the 20+ crowd, to the point where I'm surprised when I go to a club or a bar, expecially in a college town, to see guys out who aern't lifting. And yeah I notice other guys muscles so what ya wanna fight about it?

What I'm wondering is how popular lifting is in other parts of the US, and in other countries.

Someday I want to vacation to Europe (Germany and Italy hopefully), Brazil, maybe Thailand for some training. I'd feel more confortable knowing I'd be one of the big guys around, something of an odity. Being Californian and yoked might be pretty enticing to the local female talent. Hello nude beaches. I'd always figured lifting and bodybuilding was far more popular in California than say Europe but its not something I know for sure.

Figured you guys might know.
I posted a few weeks back asking what it was like to walk around real big, how it feels and how people react.
I'm halfway through my first cycle, and up from 190 to 210 at almost the same level of body fat. I've got lots of work ahead of me but I've always wanted to be big and always wanted to stand out. With my military and martial arts background I already have an attitude that stands out.

Looking forward to responses from ya'll professionals who have been where I have not.

[stack_it]

Lifting is popular just about anywhere you go. Even the poorest people in countries like Afghanistan compete in bodybuilding. Unless you go to a town or tribe disconnected from the rest of the world you'll be hard pressed not to run into guys and gals in moderate to great shape.

[Times Roman]

One of our security team leads went on vacation, so this Bulgarian Moose is filling in for him... about 6'3" and weighs about 260. We were talking a little bit about fitness (no one here knows I pin), and this guy blew my mind with some of his stories. They started him on aas at 13, where he was in a pool of potential candidates bound for the olympics... judo, wrestling, weight training were all part of his normal day. He also said his size is about average, with many hitting 6'6" and beyond at over 300 lbs. Yes they do hgh, and peptides, and all the various forms of test. I asked him about the sides (testes, liver, etc.) and he just rambled off all the things necessary (hcg, etc.) that is necessary to protect the testes, and they have other forms of "stuff" that is designed to protect the liver. I mentioned if aas use made him sterile and he started laughing pullling out photos of his kids. he said all the doctors over there are very familiar with aas and prescribe regularly. He continued that the doctors there (his story) are probably more advanced in technique, and chemistry (aas) than anywhere else in the world. he started rambling off some aas that he's used, and i'm like huh? Stuff i've never heard of before. He said they've been improving technique, procedure and chemical since the 60's. In fact, once he got to a certain age, they pumped him up with stuff (pins and orals) he had no idea what it was. He said he was over 300lbs (he said it in kilos), and was bound for the olympics but got in a motorcycle accident and destroyed his shoulder. at this point, he pulled down his shirt and showed us these massive scars.

If what he said is true, and I have no reason to disbelieve him, cuz he really sounded like he knew what he was talking about, then compared to Bulgaria, the US is far behind in the science, administration, and chemical of aas. And they use it regularly in healing situations, whether burns or muscle damage, or sports. Aas is a part of their culture. He said there's all kinds of sh1t he can show me, so we'll see.....??

[Times Roman]

We were sitting at the dinner table again tonight,and the subject of hgh came up... he rattled off a half a dozen varieties, telling me that the chinese jintropin is crap, and on and on... so I asked him about peptides. Again, he had a lot to offer.... so I told him i may be getting some for my knees to help them heal, so he goes yes, that will help you immensely... so now I find I'm asking him how to pin the peptides in my knee, whether still subQ or deep in the joint like hyuarlan is. He said when i get it, he will show me.....? i'm thinking where the fuk did this dude come from?

[BgMc31]

I live on the west coast and see a lot of people bodybuilding and lifting through college and beyond. It's very popular to lift with the 20+ crowd, to the point where I'm surprised when I go to a club or a bar, expecially in a college town, to see guys out who aern't lifting. And yeah I notice other guys muscles so what ya wanna fight about it?

What I'm wondering is how popular lifting is in other parts of the US, and in other countries.

Someday I want to vacation to Europe (Germany and Italy hopefully), Brazil, maybe Thailand for some training. I'd feel more confortable knowing I'd be one of the big guys around, something of an odity. Being Californian and yoked might be pretty enticing to the local female talent. Hello nude beaches. I'd always figured lifting and bodybuilding was far more popular in California than say Europe but its not something I know for sure.

Figured you guys might know.
I posted a few weeks back asking what it was like to walk around real big, how it feels and how people react.
I'm halfway through my first cycle, and up from 190 to 210 at almost the same level of body fat. I've got lots of work ahead of me but I've always wanted to be big and always wanted to stand out. With my military and martial arts background I already have an attitude that stands out.

Looking forward to responses from ya'll professionals who have been where I have not.

Here we go with another guy who wants to be a tough guy. When I read things like this it tells me that you are lifting for the wrong reasons. Seems to me that the OP is looking to prove something.

But back to the original question. I compete against guys from all over the world in strongman and powerlifting. Massive cats from every country you can think of, including parts of Africa (mostly S. Africa and some from Nigeria...most NFL players from Africa are from Nigeria). In the vast majority of these countries, they have much bigger things to worry about than AAS. And usually only a select few can afford them. These large guys are the 'football' players of their countries as their really isn't a sport around for big guys like we have here in the US. Most of these guys are huge celebrities in their countries, while in the US, they barely get noticed.

[Times Roman]

^ I chose to ignore that part

[LiftSpotter205]

There is no such thing as a wrong reason to lift. I started lifting so that people would stop whooping my ass in high school, then got more serious when my thai boxing instructors told me it was necessary to get stronger if I wanted to be a serious martial artist. Now I lift because I love being there in the gym. I want to be big because it is what I feel I should always have been, what will be most natural for me to walk around at.
What I am asking is how popular is lifting elsewhere, not just a few people lifting for whatever reason, there are bound to be hardcore people everywhere. Bulgaria sounds pretty damn hardcore though. I didn't really expect much out of this post I don't think people travel enough to get a great view of how popular lifting is.

[stack_it]

There is no such thing as a wrong reason to lift. I started lifting so that people would stop whooping my ass in high school, then got more serious when my thai boxing instructors told me it was necessary to get stronger if I wanted to be a serious martial artist. Now I lift because I love being there in the gym. I want to be big because it is what I feel I should always have been, what will be most natural for me to walk around at.
What I am asking is how popular is lifting elsewhere, not just a few people lifting for whatever reason, there are bound to be hardcore people everywhere. Bulgaria sounds pretty damn hardcore though. I didn't really expect much out of this post I don't think people travel enough to get a great view of how popular lifting is.

You don't really need to travel to see it with the Internet. Just look around on here and you'll see how broad the locations of the members are.

[auslifta]

[CrocodileMick79]

its more popular than the media like to admit

but it has a nasty stigma attached to it ie a/s

ano i would rather watch the mr olympia on tv rather than a group of puffs playing wendy ball (ie football/soccer)

[Times Roman]

sorry. edit on the above. The bloke I've been talking to is from Bosnia, not Bulgaria. My bad.

and to be honest, I'm not really into watching men flex their muscles. I'm glad they got what they got, they friggin worked their assses off for many yiears to get that way. But if I'm going to look at a lot of skin, I'm sorry gentlemen, but I WILL be looking at women, not men (on TV).