I have to agree that anyone who obsesses about their bodybuilding lifestyle to the point that it prevents them from enjoying life seriously needs to re-evaluate their approach.
Unless you are actively preparing for a contest, there is never any need to stick 100% to a diet. I’ve always done my best to ensure that I eat every few hours, and always look out to get at least some quality nutrition in whatever I’m getting (protein wise), but damned if I go crazy trying to watch every little thing I eat. Life’s too short, and there’s too much tasty stuff out there -lol.
I think it was in an old Berardi article where I first hear of the “90% rule”. Basically as long as you’re doing well 90% of the time, the other 10% isn’t enough to derail you and inhibit progress. Again, I’d apply this to non-contest prep periods, because anyone who has ever competed knows that less than 100% is the same as 0%.
Even contest time, I want to stress that I’ve never been one to make a big deal out of what I’m doing. I have a real job, friends that don’t work out, and responsibilities that have no reliance on my competition success. Also, as I know I’ve said countless times over the years:
Being on a contest diet is never an excuse to be rude, irresponsible, or an ass to people. YOU are choosing to do this, and the bottom line is that no one else really cares, nor do they want to hear you talk about it incessantly.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to sneak off during some public event and eat something outside, or in a bathroom just to not invite questions, stares, or even rude comments. Yes, I’m very lucky that my wife understood this side of me when we first started dating, but man did I do my best to hide it. I would cook for her all the time because unbeknownst to her, I had already calculated the #s of everything I was planning on eating! (I didn’t let her know this of course)
For the really hardcore trainers out there, yes, it does take a bit of commitment and preparation to reach the upper levels of your potential, but it’s not nearly as horrible and isolating as some people make it out to be. If you find that you can’t live a mostly normal life because you’re trying to get huge and ripped, chances are you’re not doing it right
S