Obession vs Dedication

[da_Fonz]

I am constantly being told that my dedication is an obsession from friends and family when it comes to my bodybuilding lifestyle I lead. It seems that my fiance is the only one who understands and thats b/c shes a national level competitor.

I will admit I cant miss my training routines without becoming an asshole and dont let me miss meals or have to eat something other than what I have written out or I'll bite your head off. I wouldnt say I'm obsessed with lifting b/c I realize there are many other things that are more important in my life like my family and of course my wife to be. She is above everything and everyone. I personally think an obsession is all comsuming where you make no time for anyone or anything else.

I def make time for fam and friends but dont get me wrong I will always schedule time for training.

I think if most people who dont understand this lifestyle view us as obsessed with it. I know myself and my fiance are more dedicated than alot but you have to be to compete.

What do you consider yourself; Obsessed with the lifestyle or are you just dedicated???

 

[mcgaret]

If your competing you gotta be like that. I havent in a long time. Most people
cant understand it because it isn't important to them. Like I said in other posts,
I have been doing this for a long time. I used to be just like you, but now, for
example, if I miss a workout to take care of something for my kids I dont beat
myself up (to much). I keep reminding myself of my priorities and the gym will
be there tomorow. (I used to be a huge asshole if I missed a workout). thats
dedication - if your competing you have to be obbsesed.

 

[giantkilr]

definetly dedicated! i compete so i have to be that way...my fiance competes as well so she totally understands...everyone that knows me has gotten used to what i do & they somewhat semi-understands so it has gotten alot better than it was when i first started bodybuilding/competing about 2 1/2yrs ago now...i havent been at it that long as others but i love it & wouldnt want to do anything else...

sometimes i wish i could find the dedication with other things like i do with bodybuilding!

 

[saudades]

Now this is an interesting discussion. My wife continually tells me I'm obsessed with building my body. I go to the gym three days a week for maybe a little over an hour. Many guys I know there go five-six times a week. I'm obsessed?--Please. I'd say I'm dedicated. I like to look good and stay fit. If I was truly obsessed, I'd be in the gym a lot more than I am now. I don't like to let things intrude on the workouts that I do get, but if I did, I'd never build anything.

 

[mcgaret]

Three days a week and she says your obsessed? When I first started dating my
wife (I've been married 15 years) I layed down the rule. I worked - and I had
a gym routine that I did. (I think it was 4 or 5 days a week back then) Those
two things wern't a option to change. We could see each other the rest of the time.
A couple of times she tried to pull the "power play" - she was more important then
the gym. (that is all it is - a power play) I held my ground and told her she knew
the terms coming in. Also remind her it's the gym - wouldn't she rather have you
there then screwing around on her. Now, to her, it is just what I do.
Hold your ground bro. Even agree w/her that it is a obsession but hold that ground.
She will appreciate the results when you are older and most of the men that age
are fat pigs.

 

[dreww]

yea, everyone says its an obsession. but your girl loves the way you look and knows she cant get it anywhere else (why else would she put up with all your crap?) and your friends that criticize you really just wish they were in the shape you were.

I think it also has to do with dedication.....everyone sees how determined you are as this trait tends to runover in other aspects of your life (how many of you aren't organized, are late all the time, etc. ) Probably very few of you. The discipline required in this lifestyle is something to ahh at.

 

[saturn1]

The problem is society is being brainwashed into calling dedication "Obsesive compulsive" Due to the swarm of anti-obsesive drugs being marketed.

Someone once told me " I take zoloft. You should try it and maybe you'll be regular".lol

I think we are all dedicated winners and thats something the average joe envies.

 

[giantkilr]

I think we are all dedicated winners and thats something the average joe envies.

good point! everyone has their .02cents to put in about how "obsessive" we are but honestly in the end everyone wishes they had the willpower that we do in the gym & diet...

 

[Crazymank]

I went to a physiologist for about a year. (not to long ago). He said I had a problem with OCD. Obsessive compulsive disorder. Basically one of the hightlights, was my obsession with the gym. I didn’t tell him I was on gear, I think he knew it thought. He was just referencing the amount of time spent in the gym.

 

[gypsymoth]

heres the question? Whats your goal? Your goals have to be realistic. Just like your routine your body adjusts to different things from experiences. Your muscle has memory so you have to change things to make them work. To achieve your goals. You have to keep it real. What the goal can become an obsession depending on the reality of your goal. Its good to have the goal to motivate but it has to have the existance of the goal you cant force an idea to make it a goal. Then your going against the norm and when you stop its going to return to the same structure it has to come from a gradual changes not a drastic change.

 

[gypsymoth]

dedication is just being aware of your boundries and loyalties to goal. That doesnt make your goal right just because you keep working at it.then its an obsession. the goal has to be realistic. You cant force your goals on other people to accomplish something thats not realistic.

 

[saudades]

She will appreciate the results when you are older and most of the men that age are fat pigs.

Thanks for the support, bro.

This is the exact point I keep reminding her about. I turn 38 in a few days. I look much younger than that. If it weren't for the gray hair coming in, I'd look like I was in my mid twenties. When I get in the forties, I'll still probably look like I'm in the thirties.

 

[doctorwill]

I lift four times a week for about 40 minutes and do 20-30 minutes of cardio on three of those days and try to do 50 minutes on one. One of the MAIN reasons I do it is it improves my mood and energy level. And it is good for my health. I think that is a winning argument to use.

However at the gym I go to, maybe half of the folks go more often than i do. But they look normal and paunchy. I am 41 and I probably look better than basically everyone who I have seen there. So folks wouldn't really notice or comment about the paunchy dude, but they would assume that I am OCD about the gym.