milestone

[claygrant]

Well folks, today I wore a tanktop to the gym for the first time. It probably doesn't sound like much of a milestone to you guys who wear tanks all the time, but for me it's a major realization that I've become bigger. Before I started working out, I never would have dreamed of wearing a tank in a gym. About six months ago I finally got the nerve to wear sleeveless shirts and I loved how I could see all of my bis and tris working as I pounded out the sets. But back then, wearing a tank still seemed too ball-sy for me. I have this stupid myth in my mind that only built guys should wear tanktops. If a guy has a tank on, he's showing off as much muscle as he can in the gym (shirts-on rule). So I feel that if I'm gonna wear a tank, I better have the goods!! Despite my reasoning, there are a ton of non-built guys wearing tanks in my gym... why is that!? Anyway to wrap this up, I'm saying I survived the ordeal today and loved watching my delts (did shoulders today). Not only that, none of the huge guys I've seen before came in, so I was probably one of the best built guys in the gym at that time. I can't believe I just said that.

[omelissokomos]

Congratulations clay! Great to see all your hard work paying off. What I find so cool is how you've mentally accepted that you were finally big enough to wear a tanktop.

Now... post some pics, dammit!

[optimusx]

<Bowwing to the brave one>

Hey CG, you've worked hard and why shouldn't you be glad to show it off? You've got the build and the right to wear whatever works for you in the gym. You've got to wear what works best for your workout! If you're wearing a shirt that impeads you doing a workout then you need to switch to non-restrictive clothing (which is where a tank lies... it's probably the most non-restrictive shirt you could wear in a gym).

Anyways, congrats on finally being brave enough to show off your hard work in a gym with a tank!

Scott

[James35]

How does it feel now Clay to be one of the big boys, strutting around in a tight tank top with muscles bulging and rippling for all to see? Awesome, eh?
I went through the exact same thing myself. I can even remember the day, month and year that I wore a tank top into the gym for the first time. I wasn't very big, but finally felt that I had enough muscle development to wear that tank. I'm sure no one else was paying attention to me, but I'll never forget it.
Congrats man!

James

[claygrant]

Originally Posted by James35

How does it feel now Clay to be one of the big boys, strutting around in a tight tank top with muscles bulging and rippling for all to see? Awesome, eh?

Thanks guys, and O - a pic should be coming soon. And James, if you can't remember how long ago you first wore that tank, you must BE a tank by now!! After today's workout, I didn't feel like one of the big boys... leave it to the Monday after-work rush to bring out the built guys. And I wouldn't say I "strutted" either, rather I casually sauntered and hoped I didn't trip on something.

[not2bright]

Way to go, clay! That's great.

Maybe someday I'll get enough courage to wear short-sleeve shirts at the gym!

[Lucas88]

Hey, Claygrant!

"ball-sy" is GOOD! From the picks you posted in September, you should feel very comfortable in a tanktop. Even without being a real TANK (yet! ), tanktops look great on guys with good shoulders for their size...you've got 'em and absolutely NOTHING to be ashamed of! Think of all those non-built guys you wondered about...you're definitely not one of them.

You saw how motivating it is to watch the muscles in your shoulders and arms work and pump up during your workout. Just remember...as nice to look at (and as sometimes intimidating) as all the muscle you might see in tanktops around the gym may be, in the end you're only in competition with yourself and packing on muscle is as much mind over matter as it is muscle over matter...take advantage of whatever motivation you can.

You'll be that TANK in a tanktop yet!!!

Later!

[brent]

ClayG,
congratulations! You've worked hard, and you've earned the right to wear a tank. I think it makes you focus on having to grow more when you start to wear sleeveless shirts.

[Notbigenuff]

Let me add my congrats to this growing list Claygrant! So, I bet you're motivated now to move from the plain old tank top to a "string" tank soon, eh? Keep up the good work--can't wait to hear about your next milestone.

[ottomun6]

Darn I almost missed this thread, so I'll also say congrats on the transformation CG. Hope you keep surprising yourself with gains.

Originally Posted by Lucas88

...You'll be that TANK in a tanktop yet!!!...

Lucas88, I just HAD to say that was just plain cool

[Lucas88]

Originally Posted by ottomun6

Lucas88, I just HAD to say that was just plain cool

Thanx, ottomun6. The good stuff tends to come out when I'm working on 3 hours sleep in as many days and all the walls have come crashing down.

BUT...

What's really cool is the level of CONSISTENT support all you guys show on this site! I just pop in and out between business trips but I always try to catch up on the threads in this forum. It's great that guys have a place to "talk" about reaching a goal or a milestone like CG has and get the positive feedback that they do. There's no BS here. The important thing is for us all to remember is to set small, ACHIEVABLE milestones along the way to becoming the muscle monsters we all seem to want to be. Every success really does build the confidence and the motivation to reach that ultimate goal of TANKdom. (Okay...I'm on 5 hours sleep in 4 days...cut me some slack)

Back pats to all you present and future TANKS for being such a supportive group!!!

And CG...keep reaching, guy...you're doing great!

Lucas

[glammaman2000]

...i once saw a TANK waiting for a BUS!

[claygrant]

Originally Posted by omelissokomos

Now... post some pics, dammit!

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement!! I'm posting a flexing pic because I look disappointingly small in unflexed photos. My room's lighting isn't good for this kind of photography.

And Lucas, you're right. I'm glad we have this site to share our experiences and lives together. And notbigenuff, the "string" tanks will have to wait for a LONG while...

The pic will be posted in the "Post your pics" section, since that requires you to login. Can't let just anyone see these pre-musclemonster pics.

[MAZIVKAROLY]

Good work, Clay. At 59 I'm still liftin'and aerobicizing regularly. Gaining definition and flexibility. Keep on keepin'on!