DILEMMA

[Pharm Animal]

okay, here's the deal.

i am going to possibly be involved in a career which will limit the amount of size i can get and time and energy i can put into the gym and diet. i plan on competing when i can, but don't expect to come in at my very best. but i still want to compete. if you guys were in a similar situation, would you still compete? DREXX, you don't count...you're a crazy mf'er...LOL

i'll post more details later.

take care,
PA

[gopro]

Wow this is a tough one pharm!What is more important to you...winning titles or this career move?Is being a pro bodybuilder a possibility or even a desire for you?I'm sure you have what it takes to do both successfully,but we both know that the highest levels of bodybuilding can only be reached with enormous sacrifice.Give me more info when you can.Either way,youv'e got MY support! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

wspwst

[Platz]

I sorta solve that problem by competing every other year. I'm going to work my way to the state show next year, but probably not ever go national. I don't think I want to do what it takes to get to that point, but it would be cool to win the state show. (already won class at the city show)

[DREXX]

My decision would be to compete only if you know you can be better than last show.

I was better at this show than my first...but I also know I could have been better had I done more cardio and practiced my posing more in the last month instead of packing and all the other stuff I had to do.

Next show I won't compete unless I can give 100% focus to the competition. I really want a top 3 finish and I know it's acheiveable if I just work hard enough.

If it's not hard it's not worth doing...

[ontariowrestler]

If you enjoy doing it, do it! I think your biggest problem is not going to be training, but diet. How you can do that if you are on exercise, I don't know. If you can solve that problem, then you can always improvise for training.
Physiologically you keep muscle strength for about 6 weeks with inactivity, muscle endurance is affected within two weeks. So even with irregular workouts, you can maintain/increase your strength, only volume will suffer.
You could always consider talking to the "boss" about it as sometimes they like the PR, as it is fitness related.

[ontariowrestler]

One other thought occurred to me. Realizing that if you competed, you would have a difficult time being in your best shape because of the circumstances, you could consider it a time to experiment with pre-contest preparation. It would give you a chance to evaluate how your body responds to different methods/techniques without the fear or ruining your contest results. Then, when you have the available time to train and diet to be in your best shape, you would have perfected your pre-contest prep. You could document it all and write a book.....Pharm Animal, The Experimental Years. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Seriously, I think people would find it beneficial.

[DREXX]

Good idea Ontario!

If it's not hard it's not worth doing...