Is the plan to stay at 148? If so, do you think it would be tough to keep your weight down with all the extra vitamins?
It may or may not be tough--I honestly have no clue, and I have to do a lot of asking around first. My body would prefer to be bigger than it currently is, but I have goals at 148 that I haven't set yet. If the choice were between supplementation and my weight class, I would choose to hold off for a few more years at least and continue to be a 148.
I guess, if it was just a question of speeding up your progress to a level you were going to reach anyway, I would have reservations. After all, you are young and lifters can have long careers. If it was a question of reaching levels that were otherwise unreachable, e.g. if this a way to get to the top of the sport and it could not otherwise be done, I would say it makes sense as long as you think that whatever risks are acceptable given the reward.
As a general rule, one is always going to have a higher ceiling if they choose this path, so yes, it will push me above my "natural" ceiling. I don't think I've hit my natural ceiling though, and so this isn't absolutely necessary at this time. I imagine most everyone starts before they even come close to said ceiling, but I don't want to let that make my decision.
I think you know best what is best for yourself. You seem like the kind of guy who really inspects the boat before jumping in it. Good luck, Keo! #TeamKeo
Thanks, man. I will make a careful and informed decision.
1) Respect for being upfront about your thoughts on your supplement regime.
2) Jaunty has a point in that you are still fairly young and, as long as you can still progress, even if at a slow rate, you've still yet to reach your peak.
3) I'd think it safe to assume the vast majority of the lifters at your level (your "direct opposition") is already supplementing (be that sporadically or regularly). In all likelihood you are the exception here.
4) I actually find the idea of supplementing less unappealing than the idea of competing in a wrapped division (true story). As a matter of fact, assuming you aren't one of those dickheads who are on vitamins and go ahead and actively advertise how they've always been natural, I don't find it objectionable at all.
1.) You're welcome. I want to be up front about everything. There are obvious legal reasons as to why I don't want to be terribly specific, but I think it's important to note any "changes"--or even the possibility of a change--before they occur, as I've previously been very open about my non-use.
2.) You're right. I've been going through a tough stretch in training, and I have RUM in February, and I DO NOT want to be prisoner of the moment and make an impassioned decision. If the desire is still there come November, I might make this choice, but it is also entirely possible that you hear me say I'm going to hold off for the time being.
3.) Likely true.
4.) I understand your rationale. For the record, competing wrapped and drug-free is almost as silly as competing multi-ply and drug-free in this country. You get the stigma attached to the class (using wraps), and you effectively remove yourself from the big raw-raw competitions (USAPL), and you end up competing against a lot of guys who are on. Long-term, my best choices would probably be to do unwrapped/no-sups or wrapped/sups.
this isnt the best first post for me to make in your thread, but since you've asked for comments, positive & negative . . .
I'm not sure what part competition, and your success in it plays in your work/income, but if supplementing could realistically greatly improve my way of life, I'd have to give it serious consideration.
+1 for being up front and honest about it, as I know many are not.
Right now, I'm just a grad assistant, and so I do not yet have a "career" to worry about. Obviously, when my situation changes, so too will my level of transparency, though I don't want to do anything that forces me to lie to anyone.
I was not expecting that! Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Will it change how often you compete and where you compete? (not drug tested meets)
Thanks. This really hasn't been in my mind for longer than a few months, and it only very recently has intensified. I think that's another reason to "wait it out" and see if the desire is still there in a while.
It won't change how often I compete, but it will change where I compete. Even if I go on and off, I won't ever do a drug-tested meet. I'm not going to become one of those guys who tries to "beat" a test or who has this in his past but competes in a drug-free fed anyway. Thankfully for me, most American feds are non-tested anyway.
