Bodybuilding not taken seriously

[Jannes]

I have largely outgrown my gymrat phase but somehow this stayed with me as it just flashed my memory. 

This is an interesting intersection. Ego meets non ego. Masculinity integrates femininity. Survival meets non survival. Mind meets artistic expression from the heart. 

 

Edit -- same vibe:

Edited Sunday at 04:27 PM by Jannes

[Ramasta9]

When i was 17 - 21 I was caught up in this phase, following my friends, it almost killed me, then I had major awakening and quit all animal products, processed foods, gyms, powders, and almost everything from my old life. The only things I still play with from that era are psychedelics.

Its basically a death trap, all my friends my age mid 30s, who continue that path have a head full of grey hair and aged like they look 40 - 50.

Their bodies fall apart when they stop training, especially those who took steroids, luckily i was always afraid of needles.

But then again all those shakes, and powders and pre-workouts full of toxic chemicals are not much different.

I actually knew zyss and his group, they had the biggest ego's of all, and several of them died of heart-attack.

Bodybuilding is literally like the inflamed-ego in physical form / manifestation.

As deformed as they look, as inflamed the ego.

 

[Jannes]

19 minutes ago, Ramasta9 said:

When i was 17 - 21 I was caught up in this phase, following my friends, it almost killed me, then I had major awakening and quit all animal products, processed foods, gyms, powders, and almost everything from my old life. The only things I still play with from that era are psychedelics.

Its basically a death trap, all my friends my age mid 30s, who continue that path have a head full of grey hair and aged like they look 40 - 50.

Their bodies fall apart when they stop training, especially those who took steroids, luckily i was always afraid of needles.

But then again all those shakes, and powders and pre-workouts full of toxic chemicals are not much different.

Mmmh you can do it in a healthy way which makes you age more gracefully. You need to really overtrain and take stupid shit to fuck your body up I feel like. 

I want to be that grandpa who can still squat, imagine the extra life quality. 

19 minutes ago, Ramasta9 said:

I actually knew zyss and his group, they had the biggest ego's of all, and several of them died of heart-attack.

Whoa, you mind sharing some stories?

[Ramasta9]

27 minutes ago, Jannes said:

Mmmh you can do it in a healthy way which makes you age more gracefully. You need to really overtrain and take stupid shit to fuck your body up I feel like. 

I want to be that grandpa who can still squat, imagine the extra life quality. 

Whoa, you mind sharing some stories?

Yeah I am in more alignment with what this guy shares and have been for some years now. I just do simple things, pushups, squats, abs, running, rebounding, dancing randomly throughout the day. Just to keep some activity when I am living at home, its amazing how less = more.

Its all about play for me, always has been, as soon as its no longer fun and playful, i drop it.

And yeah well I didn't know them too well personally, but they mostly did steroids, took viagra, basically were in competition mode with themselves and their own ego's and others just to go to stereosonic and music festivals to show off and pick up chicks. That all they focused on.

Looks, photoshoots, girls, drugs, parties - the short lived life

[AION]

I never focused on looking buffed since I'm into martial arts and big muscles are a disadvantage. Those buffed up dudes are the easiest to defeat since they are training themselves to lift shit. I mean if you are construction worker. Those muscles can come in handy but for most use cases they are useless and make you age faster too.

[Natasha Tori Maru]

There is serious work and dedication going on with these guys. The drugs give them the edge. I think most people just claim the PEDs are responsible but there is WORK.

I used to have a free membership to Doherty's Gym and met Ashley Kultwasser, Janet Layug, Phil Heath, Brendan Curry & Shawn Rhoden (RIP). The men were mutant monsters and the women were so muscular - the images of them do not do them justice. So freaky in real life. I met them in Sydney and Melbourne on different occasions.

It is VERY unhealthy, obsessive and I would almost say borderline eating disorder/body dysmorphia territory. But there is a fine line between those issues and single minded crazy dedication. I wouldn't want to be them. 

The olympia boys in particular - it's just a freakshow to see how big and ripped the human body can go. They were abusing insuline HGH and all sorts of PEDs. 

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

Constantly improving ones strength is a good thing, it is one of the very few realistic and healthy avenues of self improvement left. Going to the gym for it is kind of unnecessary and kinda gay tho imho, since you can lift stuff in the comfort of your home - and gay cause mostly dudes are going to the gym, doesn't mean you're literaly gay but actions can be considered gay imo

 

[Jannes]

25 minutes ago, NewKidOnTheBlock said:

and gay cause mostly dudes are going to the gym, doesn't mean you're literaly gay but actions can be considered gay imo

 

[Jannes]

3 hours ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

I used to have a free membership to Doherty's Gym and met Ashley Kultwasser, Janet Layug, Phil Heath, Brendan Curry & Shawn Rhoden (RIP). The men were mutant monsters and the women were so muscular - the images of them do not do them justice. So freaky in real life. I met them in Sydney and Melbourne on different occasions.

Damn thats crazy. Would also be interested to see one of them in real life, its always different in person. 

3 hours ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

It is VERY unhealthy, obsessive and I would almost say borderline eating disorder/body dysmorphia territory. But there is a fine line between those issues and single minded crazy dedication. I wouldn't want to be them. 

The olympia boys in particular - it's just a freakshow to see how big and ripped the human body can go. They were abusing insuline HGH and all sorts of PEDs. 

Yeah body dismorphia is widespread and you also unlearn intuitive eating from all the regiment. There is really nothing healthy about it at the high level. And even if you want to archieve being as jacked as possible, thats such an immature goal, like fundamentally nothing is accomplished there I feel like. Although you can say that about most sports. 

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

21 minutes ago, Jannes said:

Don't say you've never thought about the gayness of the gym😂 with dudes walking around naked in the dressing room and shit😂

[Jannes]

3 minutes ago, NewKidOnTheBlock said:

Don't say you've never thought about the gayness of the gym😂 with dudes walking around naked in the dressing room and shit😂

Well yeah, you are in the midst of other well trained, somewhat naked, sweaty dudes. So in a sense you enter some kind of intimacy. 

But its generally handled in a sort of brotherhoody way, that sort of intimacy isnt connected to sexual thoughts I think. 

And this wouldnt be unique to BB, think of the soccer team taking a shower after a game or some naked people withing close with nature, is that all gay?

I think its homophobia in some sense. Either

A: you arent gay, so why would you care to long at another guys schlong. 

B: you are gay, so good for you. 

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

29 minutes ago, Jannes said:

Well yeah, you are in the midst of other well trained, somewhat naked, sweaty dudes. So in a sense you enter some kind of intimacy. 

But its generally handled in a sort of brotherhoody way, that sort of intimacy isnt connected to sexual thoughts I think. 

And this wouldnt be unique to BB, think of the soccer team taking a shower after a game or some naked people withing close with nature, is that all gay?

I think its homophobia in some sense. Either

A: you arent gay, so why would you care to long at another guys schlong. 

B: you are gay, so good for you. 

I think there is a third option for people like me, there is a lot of things that I am sensitive to - in a negative way that is, this being one of them. Yall can keep your brotherhood😂 I'm good

[Jannes]

25 minutes ago, NewKidOnTheBlock said:

I think there is a third option for people like me, there is a lot of things that I am sensitive to - in a negative way that is, this being one of them. Yall can keep your brotherhood😂 I'm good

[Jannes]

I liked Kai Greens posing back in the day as well. Not sure if this is more or less ego. 

 

[Natasha Tori Maru]

22 hours ago, Jannes said:

I liked Kai Greens posing back in the day as well. Not sure if this is more or less ego. 

 

When he and Phil Heath had that fake competitiveness going - cringe. The movie that came out about him was feral as well lol...

But Kai had a lot of creative flair with his posing - in particular, his transitions were always so fluid and animated!

On 14/12/2025 at 2:22 AM, Jannes said:

 

Also just saw this - man Mike has a terrible physique for BB and really bad genetics. I dislike a lot of his stuff as I feel it is laced with pathological body dysmorphia. Which is really terrible for young blokes mental health. I can admire he has put in the work, but yeah. Really unfortunate looking in terms of balance, proportion and tie ins.

[Jannes]

3 hours ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

When he and Phil Heath had that fake competitiveness going - cringe. The movie that came out about him was feral as well lol...

But Kai had a lot of creative flair with his posing - in particular, his transitions were always so fluid and animated!

You think it was all fake? Sure some of it was for sure to built up a following but I feel like some of the emotions were real. Like the conflict at the press conference where Phil wanted to honor his next Olympia win he didnt got yet to his passed dad or when Kai was about to punch Phil on stage?

Havent watched the film about Kai, is it worth it to watch?

3 hours ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

Also just saw this - man Mike has a terrible physique for BB and really bad genetics. I dislike a lot of his stuff as I feel it is laced with pathological body dysmorphia. Which is really terrible for young blokes mental health. I can admire he has put in the work, but yeah. Really unfortunate looking in terms of balance, proportion and tie ins.

I think Dr Mike has good genetics actually in that he can put on all of this size. His muscles dont look good but its still a lot of muscle. 

[Natasha Tori Maru]

9 minutes ago, Jannes said:

You think it was all fake? Sure some of it was for sure to built up a following but I feel like some of the emotions were real. Like the conflict at the press conference where Phil wanted to honor his next Olympia win he didnt got yet to his passed dad or when Kai was about to punch Phil on stage? 

I think  some of it was real - but it (just my opinion) it was definitely inflated for the views  

9 minutes ago, Jannes said:

Havent watched the film about Kai, is it worth it to watch?

Yeah, just for fun. Especially as you are into it! But for the layperson I wouldn't think they would be so interested. Kai is definitely more an artist with his approach. And such a contrasting physique to Phil - equally as freaky in his own right.

9 minutes ago, Jannes said:

I think Dr Mike has good genetics actually in that he can put on all of this size. His muscles dont look good but its still a lot of muscle. 

Ah I think yes for putting on size - but the rest of his physique ie muscle bellies, conditioning, skin, tie ins, and overall balance are hardcore lacking.

Noting that my assessment is in comparison to the guys with their pro cards. Olympia, 212 etc 

I used to be really into it, heavily into weight lifting. I had a LOT of muscle for a chick. I couldn't keep up with the food. I just... got so sick of eating! I never looked muscular though (normally that is - flexing I was pretty big + legs and arse had crazy size), just really fit feminine. 2015 ish was when I was hardcore at Doherties Gym.

Edited yesterday at 02:40 AM by Natasha Tori Maru

[Jannes]

There are few BB physiques that I actually like in terms of flow, proporitons etc. but I always was a fan of Kai and pretty much only Kai. The low lats, the proportion and shape of his lower body, the bicep peaks and symmetrical abs, it just looks better then all the other physiques imo. 

10 minutes ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

Ah I think yes for putting on size - but the rest of his physique ie muscle bellies, conditioning, skin, tie ins, and overall balance are hardcore lacking.

Noting that my assessment is in comparison to the guys with their pro cards. Olympia, 212 etc 

Oh yeah on that level he is like in the buttom 10% I think. 

10 minutes ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

I used to be really into it, heavily into weight lifting. I had a LOT of muscle for a chick. I couldn't keep up with the food. I just... got so sick of eating! I never looked muscular though, just really fit feminine. 2015 ish was when I was hardcore at Doherties Gym.

Women with a gym rat phase always fascinate me, they seem to be into the grind just as much as men. Its so reatable. 

I was really into it as well but never got really muscular, just pretty fit. When I went to the gym less and just maintained my muscle I appreciated my gains more and more though. 

[Natasha Tori Maru]

52 minutes ago, Jannes said:

There are few BB physiques that I actually like in terms of flow, proporitons etc. but I always was a fan of Kai and pretty much only Kai. The low lats, the proportion and shape of his lower body, the bicep peaks and symmetrical abs, it just looks better then all the other physiques imo. 

Yeah I actually prefer Kai to Phil, but I think Phil has more of that 'blowup doll' standard proportions the judges look for.

Kai's back double bi shits on Phil though - but Phil's arms shit on Kai... both very different.

54 minutes ago, Jannes said:

Women with a gym rat phase always fascinate me, they seem to be into the grind just as much as men. Its so reatable. 

I was hard arsed with the grind. Never went PEDs but was squatting 70kg regularly (I am sub 50kg). My partner at the time was heavily into bodybuilding (he was a part time model so it was for that also) and got me into it. So I almost had a personal trainer when I started as he showed me the ropes. Was so strange being in that scene as a goth/emo sort of chick. I met a lot of the big name bodybuilders around that time