Bodybuilding has been around for decades and yet it still remains a sport perceived by the general public as a tiny sub-culture. If Arnold Schwarzenegger (who is larger than life himself) couldn’t get the general public to view bodybuilding as a substantive mainstream sport, then I don't know who or what will. I know there are many athletes who would like for bodybuilding to go mainstream and that would be so cool, but in my opinion that’s probably unrealistic. I’m not trying to be a “downer” but let’s face it, sporting Speedos, brown tanner and rubbing shiny oil on your body while you’re on stage hitting some most muscular poses isn’t the most exciting thing to watch. The average Joe would much rather see a fast paced NFL or NBA game than cheer for a nearly naked man hitting a front double biceps.

I mean bodybuilding is really no different than poker or collecting coins, because while the general public views it as boring and unpopular, for the individuals involved it’s quite compelling.

They Just Don’t Understand
I don’t expect the general public to fully understand why I put on a pair of posing trunks that barely cover up my bum or why I post a physique photo or a workout video now and then. I know it can come across in their eyes as boastful or maybe a bit weird. I mean everybody is probably guilty at times of being judgmental about others who talk openly about themselves or their interests. You see this all the time on Facebook: people posting how many points they get on a certain Facebook game, places they check in at, pictures they post, their random thoughts, etc. Whatever the interest or post, it can be viewed by others as arrogant, attention-seeking or conceited. As a bodybuilder, it’s very difficult not to be labeled as arrogant. I get it, we get up on stage and essentially say out loud, "look at my muscles." If I was an artist, I would display my paintings at an art show and say, “look at my paintings” and no one would even raise an eyebrow. In my opinion, there really is no difference, but yet a bodybuilder is frowned upon for developing and showcasing their hard work because it has to do with the human body. 
  
For me, developing my body really has nothing to do with being egotistical or seeking attention. It’s simply enjoying something I love doing and having some pride in accomplishing a goal that very few can. The general public may find that difficult to comprehend, but the majority of the bodybuilding community totally gets it.

Bodybuilding Pictures: A Crime???
I’m well aware that people who don't truly know me will in all likelihood have certain perceptions of me based solely on what I post in my bodybuilding blog or on my Facebook page. I share what I want to share, sometimes it’s just strictly bodybuilding or maybe a fun workout video or a physique photo or maybe some family stuff. The bottom line is that I only post what I want to openly express and convey. My bodybuilding posts at times probably have been viewed by some individuals with ill feelings. Maybe this is because they don't understand where I‘m coming from? Even some of my own family members have had negative judgments against me, so I’m really not expecting any different from the general public. I know putting myself out there opens a huge door for people’s opinions and that surely leaves me vulnerable to any harsh criticism. I totally understand that and whatever people want to insinuate about me, I know deep down in my heart that I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in this sport. I’ve built a good physique and I feel posting blogs out of pride doesn’t mean I’m some sort of criminal as some would like to think. Look at pro football players for example, at times they really magnify their end zone celebrations and because of that everyone is quick to persecute these guys like they just robbed a bank. They are simply enjoying themselves after working so hard to cross the goal line.

At times, maybe the celebrations are a bit much and can be looked upon as boasting or lacking some humility, but you cannot deny they are truly enjoying their craft. It’s really no different than a bodybuilder who is thrilled with a great workout or who has added some new muscle. Posting a blog of these accomplishments is equivalent to spiking a football and celebrating with an end zone dance. That action doesn’t determine their character as a human being, it just means they're enjoying what they've accomplished.

Even the President himself lets loose every once in a while!

Coming Out of My Shell
I know some people may be thinking, “Why even blog at all Jeff?” I simply write a blog because I’m having a good time expressing a little bit about myself. I take joy in the interaction with others and fulfillment in knowing my blog has inspired and helped others. Most of my life I’ve been an introvert by nature and I’ve pretty much kept to myself. During my 20’s, I perceived extroverts as egotistical people and I judged them simply because they were not like me. At times, I did this unfairly and before allowing myself to truly learn their character. During that time, I most likely would have raised an eyebrow to my very own blogs. “Why are you talking about yourself and why are you posting photos of yourself?” My train of thought back then was that I was above it all. Blogging and being in the public eye appeared to me as utter nonsense, a lack of humility or integrity maybe. I’m surely not proud that I was so narrow minded during that time in my life, but I’ve matured immensely since then. Looking back on it, I have come to realize that the reason for my judgmental attitude was due to my inability to come out of my shell and express myself with confidence. A couple of weeks back, I was discussing with my stepfather on the phone how 3DMJ had really grown and had become a successful venture since its inception in ‘09. He went on to tell me how proud he was of me, and that truly felt great to hear since I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. It was some nice assurance that I needed to hear. I know here at 3DMJ we work tirelessly to help others become better natural bodybuilders and athletes, so to hear something positive is really quite refreshing. As a confident person and successful businessman, my stepfather knew I needed to finally come out of my shell and find my voice so I could do the things in life that truly make me happy.

After 25 years in the gym I'm still loving this sport more than ever.

Now I’m still a quiet person by nature, but I’m now much more comfortable in my own skin and a lot more confident in expressing myself. This is why you may see me post an occasional photo or fun video (I put ketchup on my ketchup LOL). If others choose to unsympathetically judge me based solely on what I post as a bodybuilder, maybe they too are in a place I was 10 or so years ago. What honestly matters to me now is how I view myself in the mirror and what I see looking back is all an around genuine, helpful and loving person who simply is having a good time in this sport.

The Reality of It All

As far as the general public accepting bodybuilding as a mainstream sport, I still have hopes. But, I accepted long time ago that it’s just our small community of bodybuilders who really understand what this sport is all about. My goal has never been, and more than likely will never be, to change the general public’s view of our sport. My goal is simply to enjoy myself and to assist the athletes involved in building better physiques and helping them receive the recognition they deserve within the community itself.

Until my next blog keep training hard, smart and naturally!