[quote]anthropocentric wrote:
At first, I had friends asking why I was taking weight gainer. I said, “to get bigger.” Again, they ask why? and I reply, “to be stronger.”
Later on, people would jokingly ask if I worked out. I would say, “Oh yea, here and there,” for a laugh.
I’ve gotten the steroid comment only a handful of times – especially after the baseball Mitchel report came out. I just go along with it…“Yup, for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner!”
Now that I’m on a co-rec intramural softball team, every time I go up to bat the girls make some comment about my muscles. On Friday, I went up to bat – they said something about my muscle – so I proceeded to flex and squeeze every muscle in my body. Judging by the tones in their voices, they were a little shocked…probably from the flexed glutes. Anyway, the point is that I crushed the ball for the hardest, fastest line drive I’ve ever hit in my life and scored a home run. Thats functional muscle IMO.
Even when flirting, they bring up the muscles. In a coy, playful voice I tell her, “Hey Mel, I’m getting tired of your attitude.” She says, “Hey just because you have big muscles doesn’t mean you can bully me!”
But most of all, nothing can really compare to the instant respect from guys. They look at me with envy and admiration even though I’m not that big. This has really boosted my leadership ability, which is very important to me.
If I could sum up weightlifting in one word with regard to society, it would be: Empowering.[/quote]
Weightlifting embodies the word “empowering”. I’ve gained 70 lbs rather rapidly (within 8 months, going from 180 to 250), and to most peoples’ surprise, 50 of it is muscle. That really threw up a lot of steroid comments and accusations. I like the fact that they think I am big, but I do not like how they think I’m on steroids.
Today really surprised me. I was going to breakfast and I see 3 of my friends (and some guy I didn’t know) walk in, so I sat with them for breakfast. At the end of breakfast, I introduce myself to the guy I didn’t know and he says “I know who you are. They tell me about your crazy bodybuilding antics and habits.”
It turns out my friends tell stories about me to other people. People are always asking me when I’m going to start cutting and telling me they can’t wait for next summer to see me. I don’t think that the things I do to become bigger are that strange and “out there”, but apparently society does.