Dealing with Doubters

[bulkybud]

How do folks out there deal with negative comments about gym gains?

I've been back at it pretty hard, watching my nutrition, and have been making good gains, for me. Shirts are fitting differently, lifts are going up, getting more comments at the gym than before. I'm feeling pretty good about finally achieving some long-anticipated goals.

And then you get the 'hater' comments, many from well-intending friends and family:
"Why are you doing this?" "I don't understand you doing all this weight-lifting." "You're getting too big." "You're starting to look freakish."

Most of these folks don't really 'hate' me, but it can be a bit depressing hearing this from people that normally support you. It hasn't stopped me, I'm so looking forward to my next workout and I plan on keeping this bulking streak going.

I was just wondering how some of you others deal with what you consider success that doesn't appeared to be shared by those around you.

Thanks,
bulkbud

[musclstud]

Yea, I've gotten the same from people. They don't understand why I love working out or why I want to get bigger. I don't really think about it really. When I do respond, generally, I use something like "Well, you are into (insert an interest of theirs), and I'm not but I don't discourage you from it."

People just have a habit of forgetting that we are all different and enjoy different things.

[Ragetiger]

my family takes it one step further. "You should start skipping meals"

[stronguns]

With so many of the guys in my family weightlifting it's more like we get criticized by a family member if we're not growing. With me being the biggest and strongest the comment they get is usually along the lines of, come on, Mike's already twice your size, better get bigger so you won't look so thin when you're next to him...

However this past summer we rented a house at the shore for a week. With 6 muscular guys on the porch or sitting on the beach we got some interesting comments from people walking by. One lady says to her husband... "disgusting. Guess they don't have anything better to do but lift heavy things, and then laughs." Poor guy looked like he was ready to take off running when I looked at them. My favorite was when a group of skinny college guys told us to lay off the roids... There were 2 of us and 5 of them that day... My brother says.... you 5 wanna see if you can take the 2 of us....? Thought they were going to puke. They got pale and said hey we don't want no trouble and headed down the road. I was sort of disappointed... would have been fun to see them try....

[toby182]

don't you think you get big so you can crush people like that?

[bigdave]

You have to believe in yourself and what you are doing and aiming for. We are in a niche sport and it is inevitable that some people won't understand. Also, a lot of people just don't know how to look at, understand or appreciate a bodybuilder's physique. That's their problem. We know that size and muscle are beautiful and laudable goals. So go for it. Sometimes we have to look for support and encouragement elsewhere than our families. That's what the forum is for maybe.

[Bear89]

Honestly, you gotta live for those comments. Even though the statement is intended to be negative, it actually validates you're doing your job.

[LeatherGryphon]

Originally Posted by bigdave

... We are in a niche sport and it is inevitable that some people won't understand. Also, a lot of people just don't know how to look at, understand or appreciate a bodybuilder's physique. That's their problem. ...

Yeah, my jaw drops whenever I see some newspaper or TV commentator showing off "guy with big muscles" and it turns out to be one of those Synthol freaks with oil balloons instead of muscle under their skin. The casual person can't see the difference because the TV commentator gives it legitimacy. No wonder we have a f'ed up populace.

[BIGJOEY]

99% of the world do what we do and a pro is even rarer. So my point is we are different because we are wired that way. we are the exception in the normal world but we live abnormal lives. so the comments are just their lack of understanding and immaturity.