When others notice ...

[rockhard]

One of the young trainers told me this week that he was impressed with my progress and that I was looking good. It always makes feel stoked when I hear that from a 28 year old.

[stronguns]

During his workout, one of the younger guys in my gym dropped a dumbbell on the t-shirt he had just taken off and when he pulled on it, it tore. He looked at me and says, you're about my size, could I borrow one of yours? I have to go meet some friends and don't want to look a mess with a ripped t-shirt. No problem. I said here take this one, I was just about to put it on, but it's too tight on me so you can keep it. I had to laugh. Maybe the biggest he wore was a medium, so his comment about me being about his size was comical. Anyway, it was so loose on him it hung off his shoulders and the sleeves were loose and hung past his elbows. God man he says, what do you mean this is too tight? I said here, give it to me. I put it on and sure enough it fit me like a glove. I flexed my arm and the seam split up about an inch. Jeesh man how big ARE you? I'll see if someone has one closer to my size. I just laughed.

[GTlifter]

Exactly how big are you Stronguns?

[stronguns]

Originally Posted by GTlifter

Exactly how big are you Stronguns?

I'm 6' 1" about 245. Arms just under 21 when flexed so not hard to find a shirt that I can rip. Hence the name Stronguns that my friends gave me. Plus the fact I can bench 550 gives me somewhat of a strength advantage over most other guys.

[GTlifter]

Originally Posted by stronguns

I'm 6' 1" about 245. Arms just under 21 when flexed so not hard to find a shirt that I can rip. Hence the name Stronguns that my friends gave me. Plus the fact I can bench 550 gives me somewhat of a strength advantage over most other guys.

Damn man that is amazing keep up the good work

[inm]

to steal a line, pictures, dammit.. pictures!!

Me, I say you can't tear a sleeve that isnt there, so I train in tanktops or sleeveless.. but you have 3 inches on me in the arm dept.. and a ton-and-half in the bench dept.

[bbgonnabe]

Originally Posted by stronguns

I always wonder about the suggested sizes on those machines and why they don't make them bigger. My forearms are over 14 inches so I can't begin to fit my arm in one. I bought my own blood pressure cuff many years ago and had to take it back because it was only meant for arms up to 14". Tried using it but it pops open as soon I try to inflate it.

I ended up buying an electronic one that just wraps around one's wrist.

[spokenthunder]

Well, I don't know if these really count, but I wanted to share them.

A friend/coworker of mine hadn't seen me in awhile and a couple of months ago, we ended up working together. I was wearing a new button-down shirt that only looked alright if I tucked it in, so I did so. When I was at work, my friend/coworker looked at me and said, "When did you become a bodybuilder?" It made me blush, mainly because I don't think of myself as one by any means.

The other thing, too, was this summer, at home, I was wearing a fitted shirt and they're kind of tight around my arms. My mom noticed and she pointed to them, saying, "They're not going to get any bigger, are they?" I got quiet and told her that I didn't know. She grimaced, saying, "Because I don't want you to ruin that nice shirt, or we'll have to get you a new one."

That's all. They're little moments, but they made me feel good about the progress that I've been making.

[arpeejay]

On thanksgiving day @ the Philly. Airport: When I went thru security. the TSA agent said "nice pecs!" when I went thru the scanner -- made my day!

[Eager Muscle]

Recently I was told by a guy at the gym that everybody probably wanted to be me. THAT blew my mind.

[irish muscle]

I recently attended a birthday party for a friend of a friend. Someone remarked at the end of the night that I "clearly had the best gym trained body in the building?
It brought a smile to my face, there were some big dudes there I thought, it's nice to be standing out.

[luvyalots]

The other day, the 250-pound mass monster at my gym commenting to me in the locker room how much bigger I've been looking...sitting at 194, trying to get to 210...felt good...

[The Magus]

I'm kinda shy in general, but I wanted to share this. I just had a great skype conversation with an acquantance of mine who likes muscle, and we were talking about my goals and encouragement and stuff, and he just asked me to flex for him a bit, so I did.

Well, it turned into a bit of a show, he had me flex my arms, grope and touch my biceps, lick them, really get into it. I'm only at the beginning, but I've put in some hard work over the last few months, and even I could see in the little skype window that I'm getting some good shape and mass. What was supposed to be just a little flex turned into a 15-minute show of me just flexing and him talking about how awesome it'll be to see me grow over time. It really fuelled my engines to get bigger, and now I'm more excited to get back into the gym tomorrow than ever.

Like, to the really big guys: does knowing you're helping to grow muscle make you hot when you're just preparing a healthy supper or getting ready for a good night's sleep? Because right now thinking about getting some quality Zs and eating some chicken breast have me hard in my jock.

[Bear89]

Originally Posted by The Magus

Like, to the really big guys: does knowing you're helping to grow muscle make you hot when you're just preparing a healthy supper or getting ready for a good night's sleep? Because right now thinking about getting some quality Zs and eating some chicken breast have me hard in my jock.

Yes! Actually I was discussing with a guy about how he gets turned on everytime I just talk about eating, because he know's it's just going to make me bigger. Every little thing starts to turn you on, sleeping to grow, eating to grow, and of course flexing for an appreciator is always the best.

Glad you got to show off for you friend, you'll be hooked.

[BigLittleTim]

Originally Posted by Eager Muscle

Recently I was told by a guy at the gym that everybody probably wanted to be me. THAT blew my mind.

Jealousy trumps lust every time for me. I would much rather hear a guy wants to BE me than wants to HAVE me.

[BigLittleTim]

Originally Posted by spokenthunder

... I was wearing a fitted shirt and they're kind of tight around my arms. My mom noticed and she pointed to them, saying, "They're not going to get any bigger, are they?" I got quiet and told her that I didn't know. She grimaced, saying, "Because I don't want you to ruin that nice shirt, or we'll have to get you a new one."

What is it with Moms and their irrational objection to their sons getting "too big" for their clothes. I WANT to be too big to find anything that fits me, Mom!

[bulkybud]

Helping a neighbor move a snowblower and had to get the snowblower, unpowered, into a small lawn tractor trailer. Thought a moment and then angled the movable trailer back end down on the ground and rolled the snowblower up onto the trailer with the wheels still on the ground.
My neighbor, older than I am, offered to help push and I waved her back and went around to the front of the trailer, grabbed the blades and hauled the snowblower up on the trailer until the weight was forward enough to let the trailer bed level out and lock into place.
My neighbor commented on how strong I was and I said that if I tried to push I would have hurt my all-too-sensitive rotator cuff, but doing it this way was just like doing seated cable rows in the gym.
And I was glad I've been doing them.

[reborndragon]

Two holiday experiences...

First, I mentioned to my mom I wanted some shirts for Christmas and she said she'd probably do gift cards because she claims "my arms have gotten so built up she's not sure about my size any more." Considering I wear a hoodie 90% of the time I was flattered.

Second, my grandmother sent me some Angry Birds pajama bottoms for Christmas, and when I tried them on my sister said "you look like a gamer nerd that suddenly turned weightlifter from the waist up" Wasn't sure whether to be flattered or offended on that one...

[bulkybud]

Was in the gym today, a sparsely populated place on a Sunday morning, when a friend came in. He's not a real hard worker at the gym and is losing the battle with his steadily growing belly, but is a really nice guy and pretty funny.

He saw me and other friend lifting and said, "Great, just great. The only ones here are hard cores."

"Hard core." Never been called that before.

[FRNKPBDY]

While getting gas today following the big blizzard, someone--a stupid teenager--slid into the guard rail near the gas tank and got seriously stuck! The people in the store were helping with sand, salt and shovels. Meanwhile, the driver and his passenger were trying to move the car. The driver was trying to show how tough he was. Mind you, he was driving a Beetle, but he wedged himself in a little too tight--banged up the side of the car and got hooked on the curb. Try as he might, he couldn't move the car. I went over to him and told him to get in his car, I'd "help." "What the f*** do you think you can do?" I "helped" him get in his car--wanted to pick the little shit off the ground--but I didn't. I told him to wait till I got his car off the curb and then try to steer away from the rail and off the curb. I get to the back of the car and one quick yank later the little dork was free. "Holy f***, you're strong!" "You're welcome--try to drive safely from here on in--JERK! The store clerks were pretty happy and thanked me. Didn't get any free gas though!!!

[reborndragon]

Maybe they didn't give you free gas because they fully expected you to just leap to your next destination

[FRNKPBDY]

Hey reborn--thanks for that post! Don't think I could leap that far though. :-)

[ottomun6]

Ok, so I have been back on the bodybuilding path for several months now. Joined a real gym about 3 months ago and got serious about protein, supplements and eating a lot of chicken and rice. I really focus on my workout, play my ipod and tune out the world around me.
My goal is to stay off the scale, tape measures checking directly in mirrors for at least a year (maybe more) then when I'm ready, I will "surprise"
myself check out the new bod. It's funny, I still see a bit of myself in gym mirrors and think "Wow!, was that my chest and shoulders?" Then I try to look above the image to avoid the direct view.
I guess the workouts are really showing results, because I can tell the XL t- shirts seem to be filling out a lot more than I remember. And some people seem to be "orbiting" me.

[bulkybud]

I guess my new training regimen is paying off based on comments from Christmas vacation with family...


Brother-in-law:
?You?ve bulked up your chest, back, and shoulders.?
?We can?t get any closer together for this picture- his shoulders are too wide.?


Nephew?s girlfriend:
?When I first saw you get out of the car in that tee-shirt with the shaved head, and the muscles, I thought, 'Wow! I don't want to mess with him', and then I saw it was you.?
(When we thought there was a wasp in our cabin) ?Don?t let that thing sting me, my arms would blow up as big as his.?


Needless to say, I'm home and I?ve barely unpacked the car and I?m off to the gym.


Anyone get comments over the holidays?


bulkybud

[FRNKPBDY]

I got, "Don't feed him anything else. He doesn't need to get any bigger!" and "Hey someone else might want a helping or 2 of that!"

[Mdlftr]

Originally Posted by bulkybud

I guess my new training regimen is paying off based on comments from Christmas vacation with family...


Anyone get comments over the holidays?


bulkybud

My father: "I'm trying to get a grip on your arm and it's very big and hard."

My kids, "Whoa, Dad! Your arms are huge!"

Later, when watching the dvd of "Journey to the Center of the Earth - the Mysterious Island", Duane "the Rock" Johnson does the "pec dance of death".

I did the same dance for my kids, bouncing my pecs. My kids: "WHOAH, DAD! Cool!"

Great Christmas week!!

You bet I'll be back in the gym!

Mdlftr

[Jethro]

Originally Posted by bulkybud

I guess my new training regimen is paying off based on comments from Christmas vacation with family...


Brother-in-law:
?You?ve bulked up your chest, back, and shoulders.?
?We can?t get any closer together for this picture- his shoulders are too wide.?


Nephew?s girlfriend:
?When I first saw you get out of the car in that tee-shirt with the shaved head, and the muscles, I thought, 'Wow! I don't want to mess with him', and then I saw it was you.?
(When we thought there was a wasp in our cabin) ?Don?t let that thing sting me, my arms would blow up as big as his.?


Needless to say, I'm home and I?ve barely unpacked the car and I?m off to the gym.


Anyone get comments over the holidays?


bulkybud

Leaving a New Year's Eve dinner last night, I gave a hug goodbye to a charming elderly gent, who held on to my delts and exclaimed to everyone around, "Look at the set of shoulders on this guy!" Made my New Year!

And earlier in the week, buying a suit on sale at Brooks Brothers, the tailor trying to bring in the waist on the pants, threw up his hands in exasperation and said to others in the alterations room, "These bodybuilders -- with their huge shoulders and narrow waists -- make my life hell. Look at you! How do you expect to fit into a normal man's suit?" Everyone looked over at me and I just shrugged my oversized shoulders, secretly pleased at a problem I never imagined I'd have.

[arpeejay]

Originally Posted by Jethro

Leaving a New Year's Eve dinner last night, I gave a hug goodbye to a charming elderly gent, who held on to my delts and exclaimed to everyone around, "Look at the set of shoulders on this guy!" Made my New Year!

And earlier in the week, buying a suit on sale at Brooks Brothers, the tailor trying to bring in the waist on the pants, threw up his hands in exasperation and said to others in the alterations room, "These bodybuilders -- with their huge shoulders and narrow waists -- make my life hell. Look at you! How do you expect to fit into a normal man's suit?" Everyone looked over at me and I just shrugged my oversized shoulders, secretly pleased at a problem I never imagined I'd have.

OK, Mr. Bodine, you know the drill:

Pix, dammit, pix!

Stats, dammit, stats!

xoxo

Richard

[BigLittleTim]

Had the sleeves on a new black t-shirt hemmed 3 1/2" by a tailor downtown. When I walked in his eyes bugged out and he exclaimed, "Mister, you are HUGE. I mean, you are muscular; a BEAST!"

He was very busy, but he moved my shirt to the front of the queue and had it done for me within the hour. Love it when tradesmen notice your muscles, and give you special treatment because of your manly stature.

BIG TIM

[hulkoutlvr]

It must be awesome to have a "manly" stature that affords you such social advantages. I was recently reading some articles that address society's tendency to automatically defer to tall and muscular men. It's strange that in the enlightened society we live in that so many primitive and primal aspects of human nature still remain.

[arpeejay]

Originally Posted by hulkoutlvr

It must be awesome to have a "manly" stature that affords you such social advantages. I was recently reading some articles that address society's tendency to automatically defer to tall and muscular men. It's strange that in the enlightened society we live in that so many primitive and primal aspects of human nature still remain.

Inasmuch as Tim is 5'7, I think the "manly stature" crack may have had at least a vaguely tongue-in-cheek quality to it.

Just a thought...

xoxo

Richard

[hulkoutlvr]

I didn't mean to seem oversensitive. I just recently was measured by my doctor (and why he felt the need to do that when I'm almost 39 years old, unless it was because he considers me, at 5'1, to be a medical oddity), and he said I might possibly be shrinking. Not something I needed to hear, considering my height is already a sore subject with me. I've just always wondered what it must be like to not be poked fun at, and have people automatically defer to you because of your size.

Originally Posted by arpeejay

Inasmuch as Tim is 5'7, I think the "manly stature" crack may have had at least a vaguely tongue-in-cheek quality to it.

Just a thought...

xoxo

Richard

[The Magus]

A friend who hasn't seen me in a few months was over last night and she kept saying how great I look. She even used the word "svelte" - several times. It was a perfect cap to yesterday, as I had my weigh in with my personal trainer and saw that since December I've lost about 4% bodyfat. (down to 29% now....when I started in 2011 I was about 40% or more)

I've always been a big guy, so it's gonna be hard getting used to being "skinny" before I start trying to add lean muscle to my frame. I'm 226 now, planning to cut down until I'm in the teens for bodyfat (hopefully I won't go under 200lbs!), and then start to grow again until I reach my original weight of 265. :P

[arpeejay]

Originally Posted by hulkoutlvr

I didn't mean to seem oversensitive. I just recently was measured by my doctor (and why he felt the need to do that when I'm almost 39 years old, unless it was because he considers me, at 5'1, to be a medical oddity), and he said I might possibly be shrinking. Not something I needed to hear, considering my height is already a sore subject with me. I've just always wondered what it must be like to not be poked fun at, and have people automatically defer to you because of your size.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm 54 years old and I still get measured at the doctor's office. And, yes, if it's anything less than 5'10 1/2" (or 179 cm) I get cranky. Some of those nurses are m-e-a-n!

xoxo

Richard

[BigLittleTim]

Originally Posted by The Magus

A friend who hasn't seen me in a few months was over last night and she kept saying how great I look. She even used the word "svelte" - several times. It was a perfect cap to yesterday, as I had my weigh in with my personal trainer and saw that since December I've lost about 4% bodyfat. (down to 29% now....when I started in 2011 I was about 40% P

Great work, Magus. It is so hard to drop weight; hard physically and mentally. Everything in you wants to be BIGGER, but you know you need to get your body fat % down first. Even though the mirror, and your friends, are telling you that you look amazing, it's sometimes heartbreaking to see the scale weight dropping. Dropping from 40% to 29% bodyfat is INCREDIBLE. The transformation, from soft fat to hard muscle, when you're done, will be fantastic to see. Hope you're keeping a good photo record of your work.

Big hugs,
BIG TIM

[BigLittleTim]

Originally Posted by hulkoutlvr

It must be awesome to have a "manly" stature that affords you such social advantages. I was recently reading some articles that address society's tendency to automatically defer to tall and muscular men. It's strange that in the enlightened society we live in that so many primitive and primal aspects of human nature still remain.

Sorry that sounded cocky, Hulkoutlvr. I am the last person to believe his own hype, believe me. Irony, sarcasm, and most subtle shades of humor are untranslatable by e-mail, hence the development of the awful emoticon and the "LOL"s that make on-line reading such a gruesome endeavor.

BIG TIM (LOL)

[hulkoutlvr]

Big Tim, by now you know how I feel about your friendship. I made that comment not because of jealousy but because I am in AWE. As a little guy, I have always wondered what it would be like, for just one day, to be 'big', and have all of the social advantages that goes with it.

Originally Posted by BigLittleTim

Sorry that sounded cocky, Hulkoutlvr. I am the last person to believe his own hype, believe me. Irony, sarcasm, and most subtle shades of humor are untranslatable by e-mail, hence the development of the awful emoticon and the "LOL"s that make on-line reading such a gruesome endeavor.

BIG TIM (LOL)

[ottomun6]

Dear "Abs" :
Today I chuckled all the way home after my chest workout because at least 6 people were visibly gawking at my new "bumps". I am finally getting the mind to muscle contact in my pecs after years of pushing heavy weights with minor results. Then after the workout in the locker room I just barely over heard 2 guys whispering "..I know that can't be natural.."
I love it, somebody thinks I'm on something!

[The Magus]

Originally Posted by ottomun6

Dear "Abs" :
Today I chuckled all the way home after my chest workout because at least 6 people were visibly gawking at my new "bumps". I am finally getting the mind to muscle contact in my pecs after years of pushing heavy weights with minor results. Then after the workout in the locker room I just barely over heard 2 guys whispering "..I know that can't be natural.."
I love it, somebody thinks I'm on something!

Aw, now I want to write a letter to my abs!

Dear Abs,

I know you're in there! Come out, come out whereever you are! I promise to keep my diet in check, honest!

[arpeejay]

Originally Posted by The Magus

Aw, now I want to write a letter to my abs!

Dear Abs,

I know you're in there! Come out, come out whereever you are! I promise to keep my diet in check, honest!

Honest Ab was the Father of Our Country, wasn't he?

xoxo

Richard

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