The Outdoor Muscle Show: On the Move (Episode 8) – Why I Stopped Bodybuilding
When I was a kid, I was painfully thin — and I got made fun of for it. One day, a girl I liked commented on how skinny my arms were. That afternoon, I walked into the school’s weight room and started lifting. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I kept showing up.
Eventually, I met an older student — a competitive bodybuilder — who took me under his wing. He showed me how to train, handed me Muscle & Fitness magazines, and introduced me to a world I quickly became obsessed with: bodybuilding.
Table of Contents
The Bodybuilding Obsession
The problem was, I wasn’t built for it. I’m a textbook ectomorph with thin bone structure, small joints, and someone who doesn’t put on muscle easily. Still, I lived my life around the goal of getting bigger.
Looking back at college photos, I probably carried extra weight, but all I saw was that skinny 14-year-old in the mirror. I was dealing with body dysmorphia, though I didn’t know the term at the time.
On top of that, my health was declining. My triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood pressure were sky-high. I had digestive issues. And mentally, I was stuck in a cycle of self-criticism, flexing constantly, and tearing myself down for not looking the way I wanted to.
The Turning Point
A mud run changed everything. I joined with my wife and some roommates, and while I had fun, I was embarrassingly slow. I finished in second to last place. Around the same time, I was biking to work and struggling to ride even five miles.
That experience shifted my focus. I started training less for aesthetics and more for performance in endurance sports — mud runs, obstacle course racing, cycling, hiking, kayaking, climbing. My passion for outdoor, adventure sports grew, and so did my education.
I earned my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, along with certifications in personal training, running, and cycling coaching. My training programs shifted from bodybuilding splits to strength and conditioning designed for performance, adventure, and longevity.
The Benefits of Shifting to Endurance and Outdoor Training
Once I stopped chasing aesthetics and started training for strength and endurance, everything improved:
- My health: Bloodwork returned to normal, and my body functioned better.
- My mindset: I stopped obsessing over the mirror and started appreciating what my body could do.
- My nutrition: I fueled for performance instead of force-feeding for mass.
- My happiness: Training outdoors — running trails, rucking, kayaking, biking — gave me joy I never found in bodybuilding.
Ironically, once I stopped bodybuilding, I actually looked more like an athlete. People noticed. But by then, their opinions no longer controlled me.
Why I Built Outdoor Muscle
That’s the foundation of Outdoor Muscle. Too many fitness influencers push aesthetics alone. I wanted to build a resource for people who, like me, wanted something different: a focus on strength, endurance, and outdoor performance.
It’s not about bashing bodybuilding — it gave me discipline and strength. But if your only focus is aesthetics, the risks to physical and mental health are often neglected. My goal is to help people train in a way that builds lasting health, a body capable of adventure, and confidence — not obsession.
Why I Stopped Bodybuilding Conclusion
If you’re stuck in the same loop I was — frustrated with the mirror, burnt out from bodybuilding, or simply craving a new challenge — try training for performance. Explore endurance sports, trail running, rucking, or adventure fitness. See how it changes your relationship with your body, your health, and your mindset.
And if you want help, I offer free resources here on my blog and YouTube channel, as well as personalized coaching to help you reach your goals.
Because when you stop training only for how your muscles look — and start training for what they can do — you’ll discover a whole new level of strength, endurance, and freedom.
What to Read Next
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Wear What You Want: Your Gear Doesn’t Define You – On the Move
How to Not Get Old: A Famous Actor’s Advice is Perfect for Endurance Athletes – On the Move
You’re Lying to Yourself About What You Can Achieve – On the Move
Endurance News, How to Stay Motivated, Q&A – On the Move
Buck is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT), & UESCA Run Coach. He is the founder of Outdoor Muscle, a veteran-owned company dedicated to providing endurance athletes and adventure seekers the resources they need to achieve their fitness goals.
