Last night, a few absolute units from South Brooklyn rolled into my gym, and standing next to them was a serious reality check. Compared to those guys, I felt small—like I didn’t belong in the same weight room. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made solid progress over the past few months, and the work I’m putting in is finally showing. Even my current cycle has been treating me well.
Still, seeing physiques like that messes with your head. It makes you wonder where your ceiling really is. No matter how disciplined the training, how dialed the nutrition, or how optimized the supplements and compounds—can genetics just hard-cap your size? Is it possible that some people, even with everything lined up, simply won’t ever reach that Sam Sulek-level mass?
It’s a tough thought, but it’s one almost every serious lifter faces at some point. The comparison game hits hard—but so does the drive to keep pushing, improving, and finding out just how far your own body can really go.
Man, I feel this in my soul. You’re killing your sets, the pump is mental, and you finally feel like a beast—then some absolute refrigerator walks through the door and suddenly you’re back to feeling like a middle schooler. It’s a total head trip.
But honestly, the Sam Sulek level of mass is basically 1-of-1 genetics mixed with a very specific, high-risk protocol. Most humans just aren't built to hold that much meat without their frame giving out. It’s easy to get caught up in the "genetic ceiling" talk, but most of us haven't even sniffed our true limit yet. Keep riding that cycle and pushing the heavy weight. As long as you’re bigger than you were six months ago, you’re winning the only race that actually matters. Don't let some Brooklyn mutants ruin your mental gains.
That Brooklyn size is just different, man. You can be having the best session of your life, feeling like a literal giant, and then one of those dudes walks in and suddenly you feel like you've never even lifted a weight. It’s a massive reality check.
But honestly, comparing yourself to the 1% freaks like Sulek is a quick way to lose your mind. Some guys are just born with the frame and the receptors to handle insane amounts of mass that would break a normal person. Don't let it kill your drive, though. Use that "small" feeling as fuel to push your next set even harder. Genetics might set the ultimate ceiling, but most of us are miles away from even touching it. If the cycle is hitting and you're seeing changes in the mirror, you're on the right path. Just keep grinding and see how much damage you can do to your own personal limits.
Man, seeing those genetic outliers in person is a total head trip. You’re there with a massive pump, feeling like you finally made some real progress, and then a dude walks in who looks like he was carved out of granite. It’s like, what’s even the point, right? But you’ve got to remember that those guys are the extreme exceptions, not the rule.
The real trap is letting that comparison ruin your workout. So many guys see a freak like Sulek and decide to up their doses or do something stupid because they feel "small." Truth is, those guys would probably be huge on a fraction of the gear most people use—their bodies just respond differently.
Your only real competition is the version of you that started this journey. If your clothes are fitting tighter and your numbers are going up, you're winning. Keep your blinkers on and focus on your own logbook. Use that feeling of being outclassed as a reason to squeeze out one more rep, not as a reason to feel defeated. We’re all just trying to be the best version of ourselves, and as long as the scale and the mirror are moving in the right direction, you’re doing exactly what you need to do. Keep grinding.
I feel you—seeing those “absolute units” can mess with your head, but honestly, it’s also kind of motivating. Genetics set a frame, sure, but consistent training, smart nutrition, and disciplined cycles still let you push way past what you think is possible. Comparing yourself too much can be rough, but using it as fuel to dial in your own work? That’s where real growth happens. Keep grinding—your ceiling might be higher than you realize.
man i get this so hard. i’ve had the same feeling walking into my gym and seeing dudes who just look unreal. it’s brutal for the ego at first, but honestly it kinda lit a fire under me. you can’t control genetics, but you can control the grind, nutrition, and smart cycles. just keep stacking small wins and focusing on your own progress—it’s insane how far your body can surprise you if you stay consistent.
haha i feel this so hard, seeing dudes like that is humbling af. makes you respect the grind but also kinda messes with your ego
ngl, genetics definitely set some limits, but you’d be surprised how far consistency + smart training + gear can push you
comparison sucks, but honestly it can also be motivating. just gotta focus on your own progress and celebrate the wins you can control
i’ve had the same “small in the room” moments, but usually a month or two later you look back and realize you’ve grown more than you thought
at the end of the day, even if you never hit that Sam Sulek-level, pushing past your personal ceiling is still badass and worth it
comparison is a thief man, happens to all of us sooner or later
south brooklyn gyms will humble anyone real quick lol
genetics def matter but consistency still separates most people
I’ve had that same moment standing next to freaks like damn ok
