What is your proudest accomplishment to date?

[jacshelb]

I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way. But, I just wanted to relate an experience I had this afternoon in my little shop. It really put things in perspective for me in a way and I wanted to share it.

A guy came in that I had the unfortunate experience of meeting before at a buck-skinner rendezvous. (Old timey get together where people sell various old timey stuff...) He is a knife maker, which is cool, but every time I've seen him he goes on and on and on about all the things he knows. Where he trained etc etc. Waaay over the top. He seems to forget who I am each time he sees me and I have to stop him at some point and explain that I too have forged knives etc.

Well, today he comes into my shop and not only brags about his knives, but launches into all the books he's writing. And, I kid you not, tells me how he's picking up where Einstein left off... Sigh. I put up with it as much as I could and politely thanked him for stopping by. Thank God he left after 20 minutes...

A few minutes later a dude comes in who used to talk lifting with me. He looked like he's lost some weight, not been training etc. We talked for awhile. I showed him my weight equipment in the back of the shop, told him about a few places to get good deals on protein etc etc. We had a pleasant conversation.

After he left, the contrast in personalities hit me- the contrast between myself and "the knife maker." I felt good about myself because, though I had some information/experience to offer someone I was able to do it in a reasonable way. I used to be a bit like that first, arrogant guy because I felt so small, so insecure. It was good to realize I had grown out of that (for the most part, right? ).

Anyhow, a bit long and probably boring post I know. But, the proudest moment thread thing got me thinking. Perhaps that's my greatest bodybuilding accomplishment- growing up a bit and feeling better about myself. Not having to "puff myself up" to feel good about who I am.

[Ripjaws]

benching 250 for 4 reps...but that was a loooooooooong time ago.now i can hardly bench 176 lbs.i used to use heavy weights,but that didn't worked for me.

[ZacharyKane]

Not having to "puff myself up" to feel good about who I am.

This right here is something that I think really comes with the territory of doing what we do...a sort of confidence that we, as bodybuilders, don't need to feel a need to tell tall tales in order to feel like we've accomplished something. The mere act of improving our bodies is an accomplishment in itself.

[Foreman Rules eats White Dog poo]

Raw benching 365x18 then the next set 405x12 and the last set 505x3.

[gman]

Pulling a 405 deadlift for one rep in January.

Now that I have done it, I will probably never try it again.

I want to look strong, not be strong. lol

[ebfitness]

Pulling a 405 deadlift for one rep in January.

Now that I have done it, I will probably never try it again.

I want to look strong, not be strong. lol

And WHO had you pull that weight? Ungrateful bastard!

[Stavman]

Mine would be deadlifting 405 for one rep. I felt like a king.

Second would be seeing veins in my arms for the first time.

[Triple-H_2005]

Won my weight class at a National Qualifier.
Deadlifted 655 @ 252.

[Canuck_Muscle]

Awesome stuff guys. Keep up the great work and here is to reaching your next set of goals!

[MrDiamondCalves]

Did a 220kg deadlift the other day. Had a couple guys stop and watch. Great feeling...

[Big Al]

535lbs deadlift, 405lbs bench press and 1200lbs leg press for 4 reps.

[Rico MacTaco]

back in high school squatting 550lbs. for 1 rep. at 170lbs. it felt really good to know that no one else on the football team had stronger legs than me. I've never been really strong, I have just found that even someone like me with limited genetics can reach goals simply by out working everyone else.

[dusty hanshaw]

For me doing a photo shoot with the great Kevin Horton behind the camera was amazing. Here is the guy who shot the famous black and whites of Dorain that are easily some of the most amazing shots ever taking shots of me. He was a true professional and a class act.

I will never forget the shoot because not only was it a complete honor to shoot with him but he also treated me like I imagine he treats the true greats of the sport. It says a lot to me when an expert such as Horton treats a guy that nobody has ever heard of the same way he treats the best in the game.

As with almost all of my success in this sport I have Dante (DC) to thanks for this great experience.

[MAYOR OF BODYBUILDING]

At 43 years old and with two kids,one who is in autusm spectrum,and working 16 hour days. Im proud im in good shape and still train and do cardio on a daily basis.

[tammyp]

making it as far as i have nationally. i never would think i would be competing and doing well at this level. i was a scrawny 100lber a few years ago.

winning overall at jr usas 07.