Old timers, if you could do one thing over

[Dakota]

So now we have lots..... and LOTS of perspective in some cases. We look back at our lives and we are the few that are still cranking iron even though it has wrecked our backs, wrists, knees, elbows.... name it. I wouldn't change a thing about that. My morning agony is still a badge of pride. Plus I look good!

My son saw a class picture from from my reunion and asked "if that is your class, why are you so much younger than everybody?" Nice!

Back to the point. If you could have a redo in your BBing PLing career, what would you do differently? Would you avoid the heavy weights that haunt you today? Been more serious? PLed if you are a BBer or BB if you are a PLer? Add a marathon or triathlon to your list of accomplishments? Physically what would you do differently.

For me I look back with little regret but I do wish I would have competed more. Not really for the pride, ego thing but just for myself. I would have liked to know what I could have accomplished if I would have taking BBing to the next level. I competed just once as a natural novice and placed 2nd. It was a regional with just a couple of handfuls of competitors.

When I started using some gear it was ultra conservative. I still made great gains but I wasn't enough to get huge. I didn't reach my top weight and condition until I was in my mid to late 30s. I was a little over 220 but struggled with that much mass.

I would like to know what would have happened if I would have used my late 20s to really go all in and become a "real" BBer. My genetics don't promise a pro card but I would have liked to see a snap shot of my life as an all out balls to the walls BBer for 5 years, focused on competing rather than just looking like a BBer.

I guess maybe that's why I briefly flirted with competing once more at this ripe old age. But when I got my head back on straight I thought of my all in or all out personality and I could not do that to my wife. To get married and then abandon the marriage for an all consuming lifestyle would not be fair. That on top of increasing my gear and risking health to get there, just didn't seem worth it.

Let's hear it. Magic wands are allowed.

[Dawgpound_Hank]

I wish I would have tried gear much younger - around 21 - to see how I could have fared in bb. Might be in worse shape now bcoz if it though, so a 2 edge sword. I'd still do it though.

[j8296]

So now we have lots..... and LOTS of perspective in some cases. We look back at our lives and we are the few that are still cranking iron even though it has wrecked our backs, wrists, knees, elbows.... name it. I wouldn't change a thing about that. My morning agony is still a badge of pride. Plus I look good!

My son saw a class picture from from my reunion and asked "if that is your class, why are you so much younger than everybody?" Nice!

Back to the point. If you could have a redo in your BBing PLing career, what would you do differently? Would you avoid the heavy weights that haunt you today? Been more serious? PLed if you are a BBer or BB if you are a PLer? Add a marathon or triathlon to your list of accomplishments? Physically what would you do differently.

For me I look back with little regret but I do wish I would have competed more. Not really for the pride, ego thing but just for myself. I would have liked to know what I could have accomplished if I would have taking BBing to the next level. I competed just once as a natural novice and placed 2nd. It was a regional with just a couple of handfuls of competitors.

When I started using some gear it was ultra conservative. I still made great gains but I wasn't enough to get huge. I didn't reach my top weight and condition until I was in my mid to late 30s. I was a little over 220 but struggled with that much mass.

I would like to know what would have happened if I would have used my late 20s to really go all in and become a "real" BBer. My genetics don't promise a pro card but I would have liked to see a snap shot of my life as an all out balls to the walls BBer for 5 years, focused on competing rather than just looking like a BBer.

I guess maybe that's why I briefly flirted with competing once more at this ripe old age. But when I got my head back on straight I thought of my all in or all out personality and I could not do that to my wife. To get married and then abandon the marriage for an all consuming lifestyle would not be fair. That on top of increasing my gear and risking health to get there, just didn't seem worth it.

Let's hear it. Magic wands are allowed.

I like this topic. I’m a young man (early 20’s) so I can easily learn a few things from the experiences you’ve shared along with others.

[j8296]

I wish I would have tried gear much younger - around 21 - to see how I could have fared in bb. Might be in worse shape now bcoz if it though, so a 2 edge sword. I'd still do it though.

Hmmmm... Makes me wonder.

[Dawgpound_Hank]

Hmmmm... Makes me wonder.

Hey don't let me sway you haha! I was hitting the iron since 14, got big af, won a few shows natty as a teen & early 20's. But back then I was told gear was taboo by too many guys, so avoided it. Hence, couldn't go but so far natty. Didn't venture to the dark side until 40, so yeah.

[j8296]

Hey don't let me sway you haha! I was hitting the iron since 14, got big af, won a few shows natty as a teen & early 20's. But back then I was told gear was taboo by too many guys, so avoided it. Hence, couldn't go but so far natty. Didn't venture to the dark side until 40, so yeah.

I think building a foundation like you did is crucial first before touching gear. I’m glad I build a solid base of strength and muscle before I started using. Otherwise, it’s never really known what can truly be achieved without assistance. Plus, I think it helps to learn which forms of training work best. I haven’t really went balls to the walls on a cycle yet though. I’ve done a number, but nothing really high dosed yet. How many times did you compete in total? I really don’t want to ever come off now though since I’ve started. Seeing improvements and keeping a condition oneself has never achieved before becomes addicting.

[j8296]

Hey don't let me sway you haha! I was hitting the iron since 14, got big af, won a few shows natty as a teen & early 20's. But back then I was told gear was taboo by too many guys, so avoided it. Hence, couldn't go but so far natty. Didn't venture to the dark side until 40, so yeah.

You’ve paid your dues before using the ole “ace card,” as I’ve seen Dave Tate call it.

[Dawgpound_Hank]

I think building a foundation like you did is crucial first before touching gear. I’m glad I build a solid base of strength and muscle before I started using. Otherwise, it’s never really known what can truly be achieved without assistance. Plus, I think it helps to learn which forms of training work best. I haven’t really went balls to the walls on a cycle yet though. I’ve done a number, but nothing really high dosed yet. How many times did you compete in total? I really don’t want to ever come off now though since I’ve started. Seeing improvements and keeping a condition oneself has never achieved before becomes addicting.

Man everything is relative. Are you seriously built with a talent for bb or whatever sport you are in? If so, that's one thing. If NOT, and no offense, it is stupid to stay on being in your early 20's. Fukk yeah it's addicting amigo - NOBODY wants to come off, but it's a matter of being realistic and responsible with your own health. Too many damn gym bros wanna stay on all the time. It's a risk vs reward thing man, if you got what it takes to be elite in a field then at least ya have a reason ya know. Gotta be real youngblood.

[j8296]

[QUOTE=JerKy;359134]Man everything is relative. Are you seriously built with a talent for bb or whatever sport you are in? If so, that's one thing. If NOT, and no offense, it is stupid to stay on being in your early 20's. Fukk yeah it's addicting amigo - NOBODY wants to come off, but it's a matter of being realistic and responsible with your own health. Too many damn gym bros wanna stay on all the time. It's a risk vs reward thing man, if you got what it takes to be elite in a field then at least ya have a reason ya know. Gotta be real youngblood. [/QUOTE
I’ve been told I have what it takes by a few longtime recreational and competitive bodybuilders. One of my issues is I keep trying to compare myself to the likes of top IFBB professionals who have been doing this for longer than I have, genetically are superior to myself, and have mostly everything else dialed in. Yes, everything is relative. No offense taken: I’m totally with you on trying to live a long and healthy life. I need to get my ass moving and actually compete so I can know what to expect. It’s a fact my lats and traps need some improvement before I step on stage. One of these days I’ll have to post a few pictures in the member photos section for a bit of feedback. Thanks for your guidance.

[Glycomann]

Probably I would have stayed natural. I think they accelerated my joint issues. I also lost my hair, got some gyno, had bouts of sexual dysfunction and now I am stuck with TRT and still doing mini cycles in my late 50s in the lat spring and summer months. Now when on AAS my stamina sucks. When off it gets better so I have to chose so if I want to be more athletic its off and hypogonadal or low TRT or on some mini cycle and put on 20 lbs and be jacked. If I stayed natural I would most likely not have to deal with any of that or at least a lot less of the negative BS. Plus people calling me out for steroids in public bothers me. My last cycle I was on 400-450 mg. That's 100 mg test and 300-350 mg of an anabolic and I was being called out. Frankl, I just look like a muscular guy at 5'8" 210 lbs. If I had stayed natural I probably would have been 195 - 200 lbs lean. That's where I was after being off for 10 years. Lucky then my system recovered. Stupid me, when I started feeling the middle age at 47 I went back to AAS and added in other stuff.

[Roughrydr]

Maybe not what you're asking but my only regret is not being at home to raise my sons and to have impacted their lives more. I was always either in the gym, out taking care of business, or in prison.
As far as specifics about PL/BBing, I would have wrapped my knees, wrists and elbows instead of going completely raw.
But over all my body as far as looks and strength is way below my age and better than most 20 or 30 year olds I see in the gym.
I cant do anything about the grey hair.

[j8296]

Probably I would have stayed natural. I think they accelerated my joint issues. I also lost my hair, got some gyno, had bouts of sexual dysfunction and now I am stuck with TRT and still doing mini cycles in my late 50s in the lat spring and summer months. Now when on AAS my stamina sucks. When off it gets better so I have to chose so if I want to be more athletic its off and hypogonadal or low TRT or on some mini cycle and put on 20 lbs and be jacked. If I stayed natural I would most likely not have to deal with any of that or at least a lot less of the negative BS. Plus people calling me out for steroids in public bothers me. My last cycle I was on 400-450 mg. That's 100 mg test and 300-350 mg of an anabolic and I was being called out. Frankl, I just look like a muscular guy at 5'8" 210 lbs. If I had stayed natural I probably would have been 195 - 200 lbs lean. That's where I was after being off for 10 years. Lucky then my system recovered. Stupid me, when I started feeling the middle age at 47 I went back to AAS and added in other stuff.

How young did you start? Yeah, I already have the gyno issue. It’s been reduced, but I feel as if it’s irreversible at this point. That’s my fault, though. My first ever cycle I stacked D-Bol and Test without an AI. You could say I didn’t do enough research at this point. I’ve always kept my test around 200-250 per cycle, until now (600). Do you like running test around a high TRT point such as 100 and allow other compounds to be the main builders? Yeah, getting called out in public sucks. My union rep said I was “all juiced up” while getting ready for a meeting. “All juiced up on coffee, of course.” happened to be his added statement. Right now I’m 5’6” and weighing 195. I’m probably the leanest I’ve been now. My arms and shoulders are well developed, but I’m lacking within traps, legs, and lats. Sorry, this is all over the place, but I have dealt with the ED issues at one point. My doctor ended up prescribing Viagra. Do you know how embarrassing it is to ask for sildenafil citrate 100mg tabs at the pharmacy, while being 22? I don’t really need them most times, but they’re nice to have on hand.

[j8296]

Maybe not what you're asking but my only regret is not being at home to raise my sons and to have impacted their lives more. I was always either in the gym, out taking care of business, or in prison.
As far as specifics about PL/BBing, I would have wrapped my knees, wrists and elbows instead of going completely raw.
But over all my body as far as looks and strength is way below my age and better than most 20 or 30 year olds I see in the gym.
I cant do anything about the grey hair.

It still applies to the thread’s question, I’m sure. Do you have a relationship with your kids nowadays? They say hindsight is 20/20. I wish I would’ve never partied at a super young age myself. The grey hair just shows you’ve been there and done that. Hahaha. Do you have joint issues from your years of powerlifting?

[j8296]

One thing I wish I would’ve done when I first started training at age 16 is actually practice healthy eating habits. I allowed myself to get brainwashed into the whole “more calories is better” bulking shit where oneself treats most days like all you can eat buffet of processed foods.

[Glycomann]

How young did you start? Yeah, I already have the gyno issue. It’s been reduced, but I feel as if it’s irreversible at this point. That’s my fault, though. My first ever cycle I stacked D-Bol and Test without an AI. You could say I didn’t do enough research at this point. I’ve always kept my test around 200-250 per cycle, until now (600). Do you like running test around a high TRT point such as 100 and allow other compounds to be the main builders? Yeah, getting called out in public sucks. My union rep said I was “all juiced up” while getting ready for a meeting. “All juiced up on coffee, of course.” happened to be his added statement. Right now I’m 5’6” and weighing 195. I’m probably the leanest I’ve been now. My arms and shoulders are well developed, but I’m lacking within traps, legs, and lats. Sorry, this is all over the place, but I have dealt with the ED issues at one point. My doctor ended up prescribing Viagra. Do you know how embarrassing it is to ask for sildenafil citrate 100mg tabs at the pharmacy, while being 22? I don’t really need them most times, but they’re nice to have on hand.

I started lifting on my 12th birthday and stayed natural until 27. I always took at least 3 months or more off between cycles until well into my 50s. I've taken long periods off AAS.. 1.5 years, 3 years and 10 years but never stopped working out. A lot of guys, or most of the guys, from my era that stayed on for a long time eventually had to come off for health reasons. AS time progressed more guys just stayed on and some of those guys died from heart or kidney disease. You might last longer if you go off and PCT between cycles with a good 3 months on 3 months off cycle. Otherwise, chances are, if you blast and cruise at your age you will never have a recoverable HPTA and possibly after 5-10 years have some health issues.

The guys I knew over the years that had the genetics for national level or pro bodybuilding grew like crazy naturally and or responded to AAS so dramatically that they had 19-20 inch arms within a year or so and had most body parts to match not long after. Unless you're like that, in my opinion, PED use should be pretty mild to moderate. We all got or get carried away sometimes with PEDs. It' the nature of the beast but the ones that last catch themselves before all the damage gets done.. mostly. I think we lost close to 1/2 a dozen somewhat known BBErs in the last month, mostly heart related.