Parent's attitudes towards bodybuilding

peskypaul · 06-21-2009, 03:50 PM

This has been annoying me for some time.
As I am only 16 and do not work at the moment due to exams and time schedules I have to rely on my parents for financial and emotional support.
They are both influenced by the media's portrayal of bodybuilding and seriously doubt my dedication due to previous sports failures.
I was wondering if anyone else has/had this problem and how to get round it/convince my parents into giving me more support instead of laughing at my proposals of dietry plans and the purchase of certain foods/books.
Thanks in advance

GeorgeT · 06-21-2009, 04:09 PM

just ignore it, eventually when they see your results they'll change their opinions on it, when i first got into bb'ing i told my parents i was going to do a comp, they laughed at me, i told them last week that im doing a comp in about 10 months they said okay ill help however i can.

Dragunov · 06-22-2009, 06:16 PM

I had same problem with my mother she told me i will have bad liver etc from suplements. I told her that its my liver not u'rs she was mad on me for a few weeks but later we have a talk about that and for now its alrigh.

I mean just talk to them don't be mad or something talk to them something like "give me a chance if u dont se results ok i will stop dieting or something" just think

**chrispghmuscle** · 06-22-2009, 06:41 PM

Some parents understand, most don't. Talking to them is the best thing you can to. Reassure them nothing harmfull will happen.

Schit, my son is lucky as hell...LOL

Dragunov · 06-22-2009, 06:51 PM

hehe i bet he is jelous hehe

**chrispghmuscle** · 06-22-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragunov

hehe i bet he is jelous hehe

naw my son is 8years old..... he is showing a lot of interest in training..

Tony94 · 06-22-2009, 07:29 PM

My ma's an RN, so medically she knew I'd be ok, but supportive wise her and my stepdad were never there. Tune em out my friend. Even today, I feel I have a failry good physique, they give me ****. There very slowly starting to be supportive. takes time. I think once you show how dedicated you are regardless if you have their support or not they will start to come around.

Addicted2Liftin · 06-23-2009, 01:30 AM

When i started out i was a freshman in college...i came home after fall semester for thanksgiving 35lbs heavier and really did look like a different person...My mom thought it was a phase..and dad just said to keep it up...but now 6yrs later they think i went way overboard with it...In the end its your life and your body

-A2L

bigjohn510 · 06-23-2009, 01:39 AM

my parents think all supplements are drugs and can kill you and my dad says im crazy and need to stop eating and he says fat people wish they were skinny so why am i trying to gain mass (im on a bulk) but i ignore him and he does get proud when i hit a new bench record

msummers26 · 06-23-2009, 09:28 AM

It's usually difficult for most parents to understand since information and media cannot be relied on and often gives a bad image.

Talking to them and reassuring them that you did your homework, research, and is prepared going into it. Let them know you can be taking it slowly so they can see the results as well.

Don't give wise-ass answers that can piss your parents off. Understand they are just trying to look out for you and you should be able to convince them.

-Mike

**chrispghmuscle** · 06-23-2009, 10:18 AM

I'm so thankfull I'm a parent that believes in Bodybuilding at a young age......

Dragunov · 06-23-2009, 10:25 AM

Than u're super parent

**chrispghmuscle** · 06-23-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragunov

Than u're super parent

LOL... I'd like to be known as a Brolic Parent... I have a better understanding of everything.. Knowing more, will help me teach my son or daughter the correct way...Getting a good start right from the gate is essential... I have everything I need right here.....Everyone does..

Navy4life · 06-23-2009, 10:38 AM

Haha my grandmother saw my N.O. explode and said I'm on steriods.

Dragunov · 06-23-2009, 10:52 AM

hehe chris for me comeparing u to my father u're a myth hehe i'm just joking but for real u're best father u're son or daughter can get in our day's when BB is black listed in most eye's of our's society

**MikeNYY420** · 06-23-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peskypaul

This has been annoying me for some time.
As I am only 16 and do not work at the moment due to exams and time schedules I have to rely on my parents for financial and emotional support.
They are both influenced by the media's portrayal of bodybuilding and seriously doubt my dedication due to previous sports failures.
I was wondering if anyone else has/had this problem and how to get round it/convince my parents into giving me more support instead of laughing at my proposals of dietry plans and the purchase of certain foods/books.
Thanks in advance

Don't listen to them. I'd be extremely mad at my parents if they didn't support me. It should drive you even more to show what you're able to do. If they really laugh at you, go balls to the wall for a month and get some great gains and then show them what you can do in the weight room.

Like Chris said knowledge is power. Teach your parents and make them understand that society as a whole is uneducated about bodybuilding. Society's also fat though, not a crowd I aspire to fit into.

I was fortunate that my dad was and still is a bodybuilder so not only am I "allowed" to do it, I'm encouraged by healthy meals year round, supplements and gym memberships handed to me. Hopefully as your parents become more understanding of your new lifestyle they'll start to modify their diets as well. Lead by example.

**islander** · 06-23-2009, 12:19 PM

Sounds like you just need to prove it to them. If they gave you support and mabey funding to send you to sports camps or buy equipment and have gave up repeatedly you cant really blame them for having there doubts. The only thing that will change there mind is seeing you stick to it.

**A-Ron21** · 06-23-2009, 02:03 PM

I haven't actually paid any attention to this thread because I was too busy staring at Chris's new avatar. Whos parents? what??

**chrispghmuscle** · 06-23-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Ron21

I haven't actually paid any attention to this thread because I was too busy staring at Chris's new avatar. Whos parents? what??

ahahahahahhahahahahhahhahahahahahah...reps for making my laugh Hysterically...A Ron

**A-Ron21** · 06-23-2009, 02:29 PM

Paul, show your parents this post:

Dear Paul's parents:

Hi guys, I am a senior bio/biomedical student at a university in Pennsylvania. I'd like chip in my opinion on this situation.
So, obviously there is a huge media influence on the general public's perception of drug use for athletic enhancement and its connection to bodybuilding. Part of whats out there in the media IS true, and part of it, like many things in the news, are blown out of proportion.

I think that there is a significant difference between a teenager starting to lift weights to gain muscle and look good, and a 25 year old competitive bodybuilder who is injecting testosterone in order to get bigger muscles for a competition. Or, a football or baseball player taking testosterone to get stronger.

I've been weight lifting since I started at undergrad, and progressed from 124lbs to (currently) 203lbs. I am all natural. I lift weights because I enjoy it, I enjoy the challenge, the routine, everything about it. No, I don't plan on competing in bodybuilding competitions, and no, I don't plan on using steroid hormones to enhance my performance. They're really just not needed. I have just as much of a passion for this as anyone else, but it doesn't mean I am going to use performance enhancing drugs. In fact, we have a couple different discussions on this forum about why teenagers should not be using steroids or any kind of hormonal performance enhancers. I wrote one of the articles we have posted in the supplement section.

I tried soccer, baseball, volleyball, football, and lacrosse, and failed at every one of those until I started playing paintball and lifting weights. I am very good at both of those, and in fact played paintball professionally for a short period of time.
Weight lifting has kept me out of drinking, smoking, and pretty much any detrimental activity you can think of in the past 5 years. Its whats responsible for my desire to be an endocrinologist.
I think that you should support paul in his decision to follow a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise. There are many, many dedicated weight lifters who are not using drugs.

I'll tell you what - I look a hell of a lot better at age 22 near the end of my undergrad session that MANY of the guys that I know who drink and smoke every week. Do I eat a little differently than most people? Yes, but it doesn't mean I eat chicken and oatmeal for every meal. It just means that I don't eat ho-ho's and soda pop every day.

With everything, there is a happy medium, and there are extremes. The trick is to keep yourself in balance, and not fall into the extreme lifestyle that accompanies so many kinds of recreational activities.

Hope this helps!

Aaron

Dragunov · 06-23-2009, 02:57 PM

chris u're avatar is great who's boobies are there?

houbobodybuilder · 06-23-2009, 05:43 PM

all i ever hear is get off steroids lol

tigeraj2 · 06-25-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Ron21

Paul, show your parents this post:

Dear Paul's parents:

Hi guys, I am a senior bio/biomedical student at a university in Pennsylvania. I'd like chip in my opinion on this situation.
So, obviously there is a huge media influence on the general public's perception of drug use for athletic enhancement and its connection to bodybuilding. Part of whats out there in the media IS true, and part of it, like many things in the news, are blown out of proportion.

I think that there is a significant difference between a teenager starting to lift weights to gain muscle and look good, and a 25 year old competitive bodybuilder who is injecting testosterone in order to get bigger muscles for a competition. Or, a football or baseball player taking testosterone to get stronger.

I've been weight lifting since I started at undergrad, and progressed from 124lbs to (currently) 203lbs. I am all natural. I lift weights because I enjoy it, I enjoy the challenge, the routine, everything about it. No, I don't plan on competing in bodybuilding competitions, and no, I don't plan on using steroid hormones to enhance my performance. They're really just not needed. I have just as much of a passion for this as anyone else, but it doesn't mean I am going to use performance enhancing drugs. In fact, we have a couple different discussions on this forum about why teenagers should not be using steroids or any kind of hormonal performance enhancers. I wrote one of the articles we have posted in the supplement section.

I tried soccer, baseball, volleyball, football, and lacrosse, and failed at every one of those until I started playing paintball and lifting weights. I am very good at both of those, and in fact played paintball professionally for a short period of time.
Weight lifting has kept me out of drinking, smoking, and pretty much any detrimental activity you can think of in the past 5 years. Its whats responsible for my desire to be an endocrinologist.
I think that you should support paul in his decision to follow a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise. There are many, many dedicated weight lifters who are not using drugs.

I'll tell you what - I look a hell of a lot better at age 22 near the end of my undergrad session that MANY of the guys that I know who drink and smoke every week. Do I eat a little differently than most people? Yes, but it doesn't mean I eat chicken and oatmeal for every meal. It just means that I don't eat ho-ho's and soda pop every day.

With everything, there is a happy medium, and there are extremes. The trick is to keep yourself in balance, and not fall into the extreme lifestyle that accompanies so many kinds of recreational activities.

Hope this helps!

Aaron

great post

**MikeNYY420** · 06-26-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houbobodybuilder

all i ever hear is get off steroids lol

Yeah there's a lot of people that don't know that the human body actually produces testosterone. WHAT? Yes that's right steroids aren't required to gain muscle. No way!... Yup.

Power12 · 06-26-2009, 01:37 PM

What is it with some parents insistence that everything you do has to be the geekiest sh*t that will turn you into a complete nerd, and you aren't allowed to do anything that might result in getting laid, getting strong, being able to hold your own in a fight or anything cool. I have parents like this. They did not want me to lift weights, play guitar, play in a band, go out to parties, do any martial arts. I basically did all this stuff anyway and just got in huge fights with them all the time.

I think now as a result I refuse to do anything that resembles a normal lifestyle.

**chrispghmuscle** · 06-26-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power12

What is it with some parents insistence that everything you do has to be the geekiest sh*t that will turn you into a complete nerd, and you aren't allowed to do anything that might result in getting laid, getting strong, being able to hold your own in a fight or anything cool. I have parents like this. They did not want me to lift weights, play guitar, play in a band, go out to parties, do any martial arts. I basically did all this stuff anyway and just got in huge fights with them all the time.

I think now as a result I refuse to do anything that resembles a normal lifestyle.

Your parent's are protective an only want the best for you....

Power12 · 06-26-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispghmuscle

Your parent's are protective an only want the best for you....

I get your point that they probably don't mean any harm or anything maliciously. But I don't understand your argument of being "Protective". Against what?? None of the things I listed are actually dangerous.

**chrispghmuscle** · 06-26-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power12

I get your point that they probably don't mean any harm or anything maliciously. But I don't understand your argument of being "Protective". Against what?? None of the things I listed are actually dangerous.

Going to parties, doing martial arts.. They don't want you to get hurt...or in trouble...Sorry it's the parent in me talking..Any and all caring parents look beyond the normal.. We see things that may happen and want to prevent it from happening..and that causes issues between parents an there kids..

Tony94 · 06-26-2009, 07:56 PM

just remember at the end of the day be glad thaat you do have parents that look after you and are so concerned that they give you **** for these things. That means that they love you and they care immensely for you. Some people are not even close to that lucky and would give anything in the world for that. So i know it can be rough and fustrating, but remember its usually the way parents show their love.

**A-Ron21** · 06-27-2009, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony94

just remember at the end of the day be glad thaat you do have parents that look after you and are so concerned that they give you **** for these things. That means that they love you and they care immensely for you. Some people are not even close to that lucky and would give anything in the world for that. So i know it can be rough and fustrating, but remember its usually the way parents show their love.

Exactly. Excellent.