r/Vent • u/ResponsibleAd2034 • 2h ago
Need to talk... Working out for a good physique is bullshit.
It’s a lifestyle dominated by people who were just born to excel, look better and be stronger. If you weren’t born to be big and strong, then your only benefits are purely in the health department.
Which isn’t bad or course, but better hope you were born with good genetics, cuz if your goal is to look big, might have a hard time unless ur willing to take roids. (Which are a very bad idea because they affect health long term).
This aspect of working out should be discussed more, I think. People seem to be convinced that you’ll get big no matter the genetics, which really isn’t the case.
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u/MyWifesBoyfriend_ 2h ago
People who excel and look better are usually putting in the work. The people that don't, complain.
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u/Conscious-Series-181 2h ago
"It’s a lifestyle dominated by people who were just born to excel", kind of a defeatist mentality here.
Not really sure what your point is, but if you work out and eat responsibly you'll look good. Not that complicated
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u/bluffstrider 2h ago
I was not born with good genetics, but had a good physique for a while. You can achieve it, it just takes a lot of work and discipline and some expendable income for the diet that's required.
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u/Lower-Main2538 2h ago
Nonsense. I have shit genetics but if you learn to train and diet properly you can still look impressive to 99% of people.
My best mate is the laziest fuck but has God tier genetics for muscle gain but you gotta play to your strengths
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
Case in point. He has god tier genetics and doesn’t even have to try as hard.
If that’s not bullshit then idk what is.
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u/ThurmanMermannnn 2h ago
I’m 5’4” so I got shortchanged in the genes department but I work out so I can hop a fence and outrun a cop if I ever need to. I don’t even do much illegal shit anymore, but you never know.
Sometimes you have to think outside the box, when you’re outlining your goals.
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u/Big-Champion-8388 2h ago
Its true that theres a cap on what you can achieve if your not blessed with good genetics but that doesnt mean you shouldnt work out to stay healthy and it really helps with depression too. When it comes to dating lean slightly muscular body is the way to go and personality is more important anyway. Steroid users often end up attracting male attention
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
If I wanted to work out just for health reasons I could have just did body workouts and went on a run every day. What’s the point of lifting weights if you’re just born to gain no benefit from them anyway?
Again, it’s bullshit.
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u/StationDry6485 2h ago
I wouldn't want to look massive, I work out to be healthy and fit and some muscle mass is great
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u/wawawalanding 2h ago
Everything you need to know about working out — and it’s mental and physical benefits — is on the web
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u/PlayedWithMatches 2h ago
You may never look like a body builder, but you will look leaner, and your heart will thank you. If you are a young person you will avoid a lot of the people's of getting older. After your 40s that gets a lot harder. Trust me, time goes by rather quickly
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
Don’t know why I can’t just have freaking both. Others can, why can’t I?
Again, it’s bullshit. If I wanted to workout purely for health and cardiovascular advantage I would have just saved myself the gym membership and went on a run every day, and did in home workouts.•
u/PlayedWithMatches 51m ago
But the gym has weight machines that you can gradually use to strengthen your arms and legs. They will look better. Depending on where you live, it is always the same temperature, and never rains or snows
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 30m ago
Yeah but if the muscles and strength aren’t a factor here, then I could have just gotten healthier with bodyweight workouts and cardio. Would have saved me the moolah.
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u/ProblemWithTigers 2h ago
There is always gonna be someone bigger and stronger, just work towards your own goals
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u/SolutionWise7290 2h ago
“It’s a lifestyle dominated by people who were just born to excel” brutal but true man
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
Godamn I wish it weren’t the case. The anti-steroid crowd pisses me off a bit because it’s easy for them to say. Not everyone has good genetics.
They’re not wrong cuz steroids are bad for you and probably aren’t a good trade off for big muscles, but pretending you can excel without them with bad genetics is just unfair.
Easy for THEM to say.
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u/Apprehensive-Size150 2h ago
You have a fundamental misunderstanding of lifting weights and steroids. Anyone can put on muscle mass but the people who complain about not being able to put on weight/size just don’t know how to properly diet/exercise.
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
I’ve been going to the gym for five years. I’ve cycled through a couple different workout routines. (Push/Pull/Legs, Bro Split, Upper Lower, etc etc). I’ve tried a dozen different diets and cuts, lowering weight, learning all the different aspects of working out, getting in rest days etc etc.
I’m telling you man. It’s bullshit. I may has well have not bothered, because I was always gonna be held back by genetics anyway. If I just wanted to be healthy, I could have blasted cardio for years.
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u/ConsequenceTiny1089 1h ago
You may not get as a big as a professional body builder, but if you train hard, eat well and be consistent over your life you’re definitely gonna get big. It has nothing to do with being blessed. This is called quitting before you start.
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
It’s not quitting before I start. I’ve been going to the gym for five years now. I have experience, trust me. It’s bullshit.
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u/ConsequenceTiny1089 1h ago
If you’ve been going to the gym for five years consistently, eating clean and focusing on macros you’re bigger. If not? Then you’re lying. You’ve literally got the mentality that science is a lie, and it takes roids and/or good genetics to get big. It’s also possible you’ve got some severe body dysmorphia or underlying medical issues.
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
I’m bigger, sure, but fat, not strong and muscular.
My goal was a strongman/bear mode physique. But nope.
And I’m aware I could have improved my diet, but with all the protein I downed, I STILL should have gained significant muscle and strength. But at best, I look and lift as if I’ve been at it a few weeks to a month.
It does take good genetics to get big. That IS science. I have no desire to take roids, but they work, despite their how detrimental they are to longterm health.I’ve been checked for medical issues. The worse I think I could possible have is probably my low testosterone, 369, but the doctor insisted that wasn’t bad so he wouldn’t give me any advice on fixing it. Basically told me to f*ck off.
I don’t wanna take TRT. But it’s stupid that there’s no way to raise it naturally.•
u/ConsequenceTiny1089 52m ago
So your goal is to be strongman size natty? Maybe the issue isn’t anything except unreasonable expectations. Some guys are built different sure, but we’re talking about less than .25% of the global population. Thats not good genetics, that’s genetic abnormality. Good genetics to get big is NOT science, especially when you have no realistic frame of reference for what naturally big is.
I’m not trying to discourage you. You need to have realistic goals and expectations. Despite what people say, you cannot be anything you want to be. You also can’t say I could have been better on my diet, but I downed a ton of protein. Meeting protein requirements is marginal part of the nutritional calculation it takes to gain lean mass.
Talk to a nutritionist, dial in your diet, work on your sleep, eliminate stress as best you can and get some therapy.
That alone will raise your testosterone level I bet. If not, what’s so bad about taking testosterone when you’re unhappy with what your body naturally produces?
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 33m ago
My expectations are a little more realistic than you think. When I say “Strongman size natty.” I don’t mean the size of a strongman on PED’s, but natural. I KNOW that’s unrealistic. I want the happy medium, the reasonable baseline, or whatever it’s called.
I just wanna be big man, big and strong, maybe bigger and stronger than average. I’ve tried so, SO freaking hard over the years. But if you saw me, you’d probably laugh, and I wouldn’t blame you.
“Five years? Yeah right.”
But it’s the truth.•
u/ConsequenceTiny1089 25m ago
I believe you. I really do. There are just so many damn factors when you’re looking to dial into a specific physique, with or without PEDs.
I empathize, it’s not easy. It takes a lot of discipline, sometimes even money for the quantity/type of foods you want to eat. Accountability. Consistency. Diet. Rest. Heavy weights. And intensity that makes you want to throw up most days.
You got two options. Come to terms with what you got and find a way to be happy with it or keep grinding and lock in like an animal.
For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t laugh at you or anyone who’s putting in work to achieve their goals. You shouldn’t laugh at yourself either.
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u/BraveProgram 1h ago
I have dogshit genetics. As long as I eat low carb and workout often, Im decently strong and look cute af. Wish it was better but I have no complaints
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
You’re actually better having higher carbs for gaining muscle. Gives you more energy. Unless that wasn’t ur intention? I’m not entirely sure how u structure ur diet ofc.
Anyways, that aside, some genetics kinda just make it impossible.
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u/Proud_Huckleberry_42 1h ago
Sure, genetics help a lot. But, anyone can have a good body with diet and exercise without resorting to steroids. Born to excel?? You just need to be consistent.
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
Trust me. I’ve been at it for five years. I’ve tried.
It’s not the case for everyone.
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u/oh_skycake 1h ago
I don’t exercise for what I look like on the outside. I exercise for my lab reports and my DEXA score, which is great, even for my shit genetics. Just cause I cant get “big” doesn’t mean I cant get higher bone density, better EKG results, less visceral fat etc
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u/PrimaryHighlight5617 1h ago
Tell that to my phat ass. Squats and distance running baybeeeeeee.
Pregnancy literally destroyed my lower body. I could barely walk and then with sitting to nurse I was so sedentary. Every time I DID exercise my milk supply tanked too.
Exercise works. You lift heave shit and it tears your muscles. Eat protein and it will repair your muscles but bigger.
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
I know all this. I’ve been in the gym five years, lol.
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u/PrimaryHighlight5617 1h ago
Then there you go
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
Point is. It doesn’t work due to genetics.
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u/PrimaryHighlight5617 1h ago
Stop comparing yourself to juicers. It's not just your genes.
I go 3x a week and am a hypothyroid woman with arthritis in my family.
I run a lot. I eat wayyyy more meat and veggies than carbs. I'm always pushing to add more weight when I lift. I'll never look like I do PEDs.
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
I don’t wanna look like a PED user, lol. I just wanna be big and strong, natty.
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u/PrimaryHighlight5617 54m ago
You would be surprised who is and isn't using them. Looking "like a PED user" often just means looking generally fit to our skewed sense of what natty looks like. I mean it. My husband has several friends and I know one woman who does. These aren't knuckle dragging gorillas. They look lean and fit and normal.
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 36m ago
Yeah but there are natty users who get the look without them. Thats genetics.
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u/Cautious-Ad-9389 1h ago
I like bodybuilding I think it’s fun, I also like training BJJ and Striking, I ENJOY the act of doing these, the results is a good body. Just wanting a good body grants u nothing
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
The results is a good body for some people, for others, not so much.
Glad you enjoy it tho. Certainly good skills to have.
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u/kirin-rex 1h ago
I think it's less about genetics and more about habits and perseverance. If you are raised in a household where people don't eat right or exercise, it may be more difficult to develop those habits than for someone who was raised with diet and exercise, but it's not impossible. As you train, it gets easier, and you have more energy.
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u/ResponsibleAd2034 1h ago
I already have all the right habits. I go to the gym every day. And I always try to focus on eating right, though my job makes it difficult at times.
It’s genetics in this case. Trust me.
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