The 'big guys' don't motivate me after all...

[gbrice75]

I just completed my first week of working out in the evening after almost 2.5 years of working out at 5:30am.

I was really excited, because I knew the more hardcore people worked out in the evening and I was hoping it would motivate me and I could catapult myself into the next level. I'm in better shape than 99% of the people that workout there in the morning, which isn't saying much when you see these people. I'm talking every gimp, cripple, and yawning zombie trudging their tired asses all over the gym. I've never seen more grey hair under one roof. It was getting nauseating and depressing, destroying my motivation.

Well, the opposite has happened. I got in there at night and feel COMPLETELY out of place. These guys are big, in shape, and I feel like a sniveling little scrawny rat scampering around the gym, trying not to be 'spotted in the light'. Instead of motivational, it almost makes me want to quit when I look at these guys, because i'm like "fvck it, it'll take me years to look like that". I really do feel like a little worm when I catch myself in the mirror and i'm next to one of these dudes. It's downright embarrassing. I won't dare wear a tank top at night. Wore one all the time in the morning.

Just wondering if anybody else has had this type of experience?

[Flier]

Hehe....go back to mornings.

I work out when there are the least amount of people in the gym...between 11am and 3 pm.
I definitely look the best at that time, and I enjoy it... :-)

[LatissimusaurousRex]

Sure, there's always gonna be someone bigger or in better shape than you, but it's not a contest just do your own thing. As far as you tank top goes... just stick to modest clothing anyway, there's virtue in not strutting around as a walking hard on.

[dec11]

i couldnt give a toss who's there when i am, i just get on with my training. i will say im thinking of going back to early morning though, less imbeciles with no etiquette around at that time

[FireGuy]

I just completed my first week of working out in the evening after almost 2.5 years of working out at 5:30am.

I was really excited, because I knew the more hardcore people worked out in the evening and I was hoping it would motivate me and I could catapult myself into the next level. I'm in better shape than 99% of the people that workout there in the morning, which isn't saying much when you see these people. I'm talking every gimp, cripple, and yawning zombie trudging their tired asses all over the gym. I've never seen more grey hair under one roof. It was getting nauseating and depressing, destroying my motivation.

Well, the opposite has happened. I got in there at night and feel COMPLETELY out of place. These guys are big, in shape, and I feel like a sniveling little scrawny rat scampering around the gym, trying not to be 'spotted in the light'. Instead of motivational, it almost makes me want to quit when I look at these guys, because i'm like "fvck it, it'll take me years to look like that". And you can bet it took all of them years to look like that as well I really do feel like a little worm when I catch myself in the mirror and i'm next to one of these dudes. It's downright embarrassing. I won't dare wear a tank top at night. Wore one all the time in the morning. If you are comfortable in a tank then wear one, I promise you people are not looking at you or judging you to nearly the degree you may feel. We all have a bad habit of overestimating our own presence.

Just wondering if anybody else has had this type of experience?

We all becomes products of our environment. You want to have more money, start hanging out with rich people. Hang around people who use a lot of profanity or have an accent and see watch how soon your own speech pattern begins to change. Want to train harder and make physical improvements, same goes, surround yourself with people doing the same thing. What is the intensity level of the "night" guys compared to the "day cripples" you refer to? Do you see how your own workout begins to pattern itself from those you are subjected to?

[stack_it]

I work out in the evening and there are some monsters in there. I just do my best to keep up with them. It was kind of depressing in the beginning seeing them warm up with what I rep lol but my strength gains have gone up by trying to catch up and and now it's a motivation.

[Bigd89]

This is why I have a home gym.

[Flier]

We all becomes products of our environment. You want to have more money, start hanging out with rich people. Hang around people who use a lot of profanity or have an accent and see watch how soon your own speech pattern begins to change. Want to train harder and make physical improvements, same goes, surround yourself with people doing the same thing. What is the intensity level of the "night" guys compared to the "day cripples" you refer to? Do you see how your own workout begins to pattern itself from those you are subjected to?

This is so true. Psychology 1/1, in every walks of life. Love it, and it works!

[Flier]

This is why I have a home gym.

Who´s the best looking guy there?

[Bigd89]

Me, of course! Hehe

[kelevra]

I'm in the fat department and feel an opposite similarity. I'm close to 290, but still on the fat side I'll add again. I will lean up one day, and i really focus on how clean i eat to be careful of gaining no more fat. Honestly I'm at the point i can probably put on little more clean muscle without leaning up and going at it again.
My point being, I look at all the guys ripped up that weigh between 180 -200 and think shite, I haven't seen one of my own abdominals in years. LOL
I can't were a tank top either damnit

[MBMETC]

fvck em i wear a tube top and a thong and i know im the biggest..

[MBMETC]

but seriousely in everyday society these monsters don't fit in and may look at us smaller guys and think why couldn't just be normal. we all want what others have

[BigFrankUK]

i always find training in the evening is when i am most comfortable, i tried early morning and it felt just weird and was not motivating.
plus the gym was empty...

[SlimmerMe]

Why at night? Does this help bulk more? What is the reason behind this? Or simply when people get off work? Curious.

[Times Roman]

I'm a morning workout guy myself, but I think it is due to when people get off work. Nothing to do with physiology or ability to bulk.

[JasonCFT]

cant do evenings, way to tired and run down. I run at 4AM then hit my gym for an hour or so. I feel im at my strongest in the mornings (after my coffee of course)

[Flagg]

Shouldn't it tell you though, that if they can get that big, then it stands to reason you can as well?

[stack_it]

Why at night? Does this help bulk more? What is the reason behind this? Or simply when people get off work? Curious.

I've seen studies that show slightly better gains from evening workouts over mornings. My theory behind it would be that it's because you have more time to get essential nutrients into your body to give you energy through out your workout and help with recovery afterwards.

[marcus300]

Become the bigger guy, problem solved

[The Toad]

Years ago a friend of mine was into powerlifting and talked me into going with him to workout. He belonged to a hardcore powerlifting gym. I thought I was pretty strong until I got there, there were guys warming up with weights that I couldn't even max.... very intimidating to say the least. But I kept going back and got to know some of the guys and was very surprised at how helpful and supportive they were. With them it was all about PR's. I made the best gains in the time a trained there... I wish I still lived there and could go back.

[SlimmerMe]

hey gbrice. If it means anything to you: I was flipping thru channels and came across Tarzan and his Mate.
Johnny W was soft looking and had a lot more BF than you plus you are bigger than he is. So.....AHEEEAHHHEeeeeeeAyaaEeeeeeeeyaaaaaaahheeeeo oooooooo

[vishus]

i have always worked out in the evenings just so i could be seen around the bigger dudes, ever since i was 18 i did that, now im 21 and i am one of the bigger guys lol (with a little medicated help of course) but thats besides the fact. i know most of them are in there just to be seen in a tank and could care less about their training

[scotty51312]

I like working out with the bigger guys are in the gym. Kinda motivates me to throw another plate on so I don't feel as weak. I have noticed that a lot of those "Big dudes" can't do more than one or two pullups. Kinda wondering wtf is up with that, Id think it would be embarrasing to have a 400lb+ bench and not to a set of pullups. Anyway enough off topic ranting

[BG]

Why at night? Does this help bulk more? What is the reason behind this? Or simply when people get off work? Curious.

I can train much harder at nite, even compared to 2pm. I cant get a good workout in unless I have 6 good meals in me. My wife and I train on saturday mornings, I use that for shaping and doubling up on lagging parts.

[BgMc31]

Before I moved to Vegas, I always lifted with guys bigger and stronger than me. That's the only way to get bigger and stronger, IMO. These guys were all older than me with much more experience, it was no shame lifting with some of the strongest guys on the planet. Now that I work in a home gym with my sons and other high school athletes, I am able to pass on what those mass monsters and strength freaks passed on to me. But if I found a good strongman or powerlifting crew in Vegas with guys stronger than me, I'd have no problem working with them.

[kelevra]

Why at night? Does this help bulk more? What is the reason behind this? Or simply when people get off work? Curious.

it is the most convenient for me however i don't mind lifting all parts accept legs in the am.

[kelevra]

Become the bigger guy, problem solved

a philosopher as well & much agreed

[YoungMan]

You got all the big dudes in there... call up ronnie coleman pay a couple dollers make all the big boys look like big girls

[calgarian]

meh doesnt affect me. I go in there to work out who is in there doesnt bother me unless they are in my way

[BG]

I'm lb for lb the strongest guy in my gym and the " biggest" and get bigger. It's all in your head, no matter where you are training you should be going 100%. If you can't motivate yourself somethings wrong.

[Knockout_Power]

Become the bigger guy, problem solved

hard to argue with this...

I cant get out of bed in the morning so it would never work for me.

[dec11]

Why at night? Does this help bulk more? What is the reason behind this? Or simply when people get off work? Curious.

given a 9-5 lifestyle, most ppl will be at their best strength potential late a'noon/early evening having loaded up on carbs etc throughout the day

[dec11]

im not the biggest but they all stand with their mouths open when im dlifting lol

[dec11]

Become the bigger guy, problem solved

just cos you hogged all the good EQ

[DSM4Life]

Become the bigger guy, problem solved

Your avatar is my wallpaper on my iPhone. I look at it before I deadlift.

[Bigd89]

Your avatar is my wallpaper on my iPhone. I look at it before I deadlift.

Lmao

[dec11]

Your avatar is my wallpaper on my iPhone. I look at it before I deadlift.

and then knock one out lol

[GirlyGymRat]

get those ear buds on and focus on your workout. they weren't always that big!

[jbm]

We all becomes products of our environment. You want to have more money, start hanging out with rich people. Hang around people who use a lot of profanity or have an accent and see watch how soon your own speech pattern begins to change. Want to train harder and make physical improvements, same goes, surround yourself with people doing the same thing. What is the intensity level of the "night" guys compared to the "day cripples" you refer to? Do you see how your own workout begins to pattern itself from those you are subjected to?

agreed!