Whats in your bag / cooler?

You are invited to a friends party (birthday, housewarming, whatever) for a bring and braai or something similar. You are also on cycle. What do u take a long? What's in the bag / cooler? Do u stick to your diet or within your calorie range and face the possible snide remarks or do u join the masses?

I join the masses. Past that stage of bodybuilding controlling my life. Its a hobby and past time now. So I basically try to eat as clean as possible at work and kick back a bit on the weekend.

Well i'm on a full on bulk atm so it wouldn't be a big deal

Depends on how important your diet and training is to you.
Personally I think I would stick to my diet I'm past giving a shit about other peoples opinions on how I live my life!
Also those snide remarks are usually out of jealousy!

If you're bulking, it doesn't matter. If you're cutting depends on why you're cutting and how much time you have left. Was my sis's bday on monday and I'm dieting, chocolate cake was on the menu so there was only ever gonna be one winner

In your case since you're in keto, bring your meat, whey powder, coke zero and biltong. You can avoid the snacks and just have salad with everyone else

I don't see the point in going balls to the wall in the week just to slack over the weekend. Also an all out bulk doesn't mean u can eat whatever, u still want to eat as clean as possible to avoid unnecessary fat gain.

So I guess the true question is where to draw the line between dedication and working towards a specific goal, reality and obsession?

The punisher wrote: Depends on how important your diet and training is to you.
Personally I think I would stick to my diet I'm past giving a shit about other peoples opinions on how I live my life!
Also those snide remarks are usually out of jealousy!

yip i agree. dont care about peoples remarks. if you have buddys dissing you over your diet and not helping you you have kak buddies.

we are all adults here and people need to get the picture that you have to live your own live.

MCJ wrote: I don't see the point in going balls to the wall in the week just to slack over the weekend. Also an all out bulk doesn't mean u can eat whatever, u still want to eat as clean as possible to avoid unnecessary fat gain.

So I guess the true question is where to draw the line between dedication and working towards a specific goal, reality and obsession?

Yeah you're right but most of us are just recreational lifters (as dedicated as we are), why adopt a professional attitude when you're not training to be a pro in anything? I'm not saying to do whatever you like because in BB what you put in is what you get and the quality of your dedication will show in your physique, just dont be afraid to live a little

I think its more of a question how often you break your diet.If you break it once or twice a week if your a recreational lifter it would be acceptable.But if your serious there is now time for slacking.

I'm not referring to anyone in particular. Interested on the forum members views. I think a lot can be read into the various replies and its possible to see how serious bodybuilding is for each individual. Bodybuilding becomes a lifestyle. And if we are going to submit our bodies to all kinds of chemicals and hormones it must surely be of some importance how we choose to relax or socialize. If that makes sense?

Thanks for the keto advice DG. Lol. But like I said above I just meant in general.

I agree with Punisher and Gab. People know I love bodybuilding and eat only certain foods prepared certain ways. So I don't care what people say anymore. I'm past the stage having to explain myself and my choices to people, people who are generally unwilling to understand.

I'm not saying you can't go out, or don't have fun or anything. You can still enjoy your life and have a good time without neglecting ur passion. At the end of the day it comes down to priorities, what's important to you and what makes YOU happy.

To answer my own question my bag will have: Coke Zero, a thick juicy rump, nuts, biltong and whey shake. I really don't care standing next to a guy with a klippies and coke and me sipping on my whey. If its a prob, then don't invite me. I'd prob eat the salads, depending on the dressings.

In my bag i would take:
400g steak
2 chicken breats
Biltong
Coke light / Water

Ok interesting.... Recreational bodybuilders...

To me there is a difference between "recreational" lifters, Pro's and those of us who strive to be the best we possibly can.

Pro's....well they are pro's what's more to be said?

Recreational to me means you are doing it just for fun. Just as a hobby. Nothing too serious. If that's the case then why bother taking steroids in the first place? Is the health risks and hormone imbalances etc really worth a little meaningless fun? In my opinion then rather stick to over the counter supplements and test boosters etc and don't punish yourself with strict diets.

Now the guy who wants to be the best he possibly can be....He knows he isn't a pro and it takes a lot to get there, but that doesn't stop him from trying. He is just as dedicated and focused as the pro because he too is working to a specific goal. To push himself to the limit, do adopt a lifestyle that helps him reach his goal. He eats right, trains right, sleeps enough, always does research and wants to learn. This guy takes gear to get him towards his goal of being the best he can be and maybe have a shot a pro someday. If it doesn't happen then fine but at least he gave his best and he did what he loved.

Well it was my BDay on Friday and all family were over, there was cake and all sorts. Everyone now sees my dedication and discipline and respects that even my Dad. They were willing to forgo the cake however I insisted and even bought most of the goodies and was not phased in the least by it.
I love Bodybuilding and DJ and I have worked to hard to just throw it away over sweets and cakes. Sacrifice and discipline yield its benefits in due course, bodybuilding is my passion.

There is a time and place for everything, I have the Off season to have cheat days so I enjoy them then. Precontest only happens 12-24 weeks of the year depending on how often you compete.
My goodie bag would be similair to yours MCJ with the exception of Basmati Rice

By "recreational lifter" I didn't mean your typical weekend warrior, meant more as in lifting to better yourself and not to compete in any sports

I don't think recreational necessarily means not serious

Juice wrote: I don't think recreational necessarily means not serious

Its called recreational for a reason. Serious and Recreational are at the opposites. If it was serious it wouldn't be called recreational...

Koe007 wrote: Well it was my BDay on Friday and all family were over, there was cake and all sorts. Everyone now sees my dedication and discipline and respects that even my Dad. They were willing to forgo the cake however I insisted and even bought most of the goodies and was not phased in the least by it.
I love Bodybuilding and DJ and I have worked to hard to just throw it away over sweets and cakes. Sacrifice and discipline yield its benefits in due course, bodybuilding is my passion.

There is a time and place for everything, I have the Off season to have cheat days so I enjoy them then. Precontest only happens 12-24 weeks of the year depending on how often you compete.
My goodie bag would be similair to yours MCJ with the exception of Basmati Rice

That's great Koe! I know u had probs with ur family accepting your decisions regarding to bodybuilding. Good news indeed

dont be so harsh i still give u cheat meals pre comp depending on how far out u are :evil:

I used to go to shin digs with BB'ers back before I got the bug. I remember they used to come with their own meat and green tea and what what and I was like why are they putting themselves through this! It's mad... They should just ease up and enjoy life. Have a beer or twenty. I made a few comments and cracked a few jokes.

Now I diet as strictly as the next oke, I bring my own food if I have to, and I get the odd comment here and there, the odd joke made at me if there are guys there I don't know. But I'm happy, I consider myself laid back, and I enjoy life Most people I know actually go out of there way to ask me what I would like, and make an additional meal for me!

It really is amazing the stigma associated with BB! But once it becomes a part of your life you stop caring what others think, and they stop giving a shit too. You may even convert a few...

If i go to a braai, ill take a lot of chicken breasts so i can cook them for the next few days , sweet potatoes roast them on the braai.

Ill just try eat stuff that i think is gonna benefit me in terms of muscle gain and staying healthy.

Too much braai food is not good for keeping healthy. Increases cancer risk. So just take a few kg's to cook for flavour Snokums

The bigger you get the less kak the people give you Im not there but assume so :whistle:

Ill take:

Those round breads with like 4g carbs each
Cottage cheese
Biltong
Almonds
Pumpkin seeds
Tab / Coke Zero
Fillet steak

well this depends... If i was precontest then it'd be strict, whatever fits in with my diet... Prob chicken breasts.

But at the moment, well im bulking, always bulking, so as long as i get in enough protein and carbs then its all good. Cooler will contain 400g rump or maybe some chicken breasts, some rolls (yes, white bread!! Horror) and even a few Castle lights

VonD wrote: In my bag i would take:
400g steak
2 chicken breats
Biltong
Coke light / Water

Before steroids we would stop at Mac Donalds for burgers, then at steers for ice cream, then at the liquor store for Jamaican Rum and some Marlboro's. I can wait until VonD gets off cycle so we can go drinking again.