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Opinion

Is There A Curse To Being Shredded?

Avatar photoby Dylan Wolf Published on Feb 1, 2024

curse of being shredded
This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

Looking like a Greek God might not be all it is cracked up to be

It’s something that no bodybuilder can avoid, an inevitability that every athlete looking to pack on muscle must face. Dropping your body fat and getting shredded. Now, that may sound foolish, you may even argue isn’t that pretty much the point of bodybuilding in the first place? Put on as much muscle mass as you can and then cut down all of the body fat to step on stage? Well, yes it is. But every athlete who chooses this endeavor must come to grips with the fact that once you hit a ceiling there’s no going back to the way things were. Getting shredded to that point will change the way you look at things forever.

Many people do not realize that being ripped comes with a heavy price. No longer are you just an average joe six pack and some muscle mass to make you look good on the beach. You stand apart from all the other beings who choose to get into the gym and lift weights to get bigger and stronger. As one of the shredded you have a responsibility to yourself to ensure that you’ll remain that way for as long as humanly possible. Sure, you could start eating like crap, stop working out, and just become just another average couch potato, but at your core you know that’s not possible. Once you’ve attained a certain level of fitness and physical superiority, there’s no way that you’d want to give that up.

Let’s take a look at what the actual curse of being shredded entails.

The Curse of Being Shredded

Read This To Get A Shredded Midriff In A Week

Truth is that once you enter the gym and decide to lift that first weight you’ve made a pact, a deal that’s not easily broken. The curse of the shredded ensures that you’ll be lifting weights for the rest of your life because you understand what it means to work hard and achieve greatness, and this applies to every aspect of your life. Once you have, there’s no turning back. The word “normal” no longer applies to you. If anything, all you can do is look forward and continue to try and improve on your physical form.

But hey, things could be worse. You could be completely out of shape with no ambition to improve your well being. Despite that, the curse of the shredded can truly be daunting. The way you approach your diet, training, sleep, and so on will forever be changed. Let’s take a look at how those things will actually be impacted.

Diet

One of the biggest parts of the curse of being shredded is diet. Chances are when you diet down to be incredibly ripped, you aren’t going to want to go back from the way you came. When you diet down and shed off that body fat, you notice muscles that you never have before. For example, not only will your abs be more visible, but you will also have your shoulders looking more capped than ever, muscles in your legs that make them look incredible, and triceps so cut it looks like you have horseshoes on your arms.

DASH Diet

These are only to name a few things that come along with beings shredded, but the way that you look when you are that cut is something that can become addicting. When it comes time to bulk up again, it may be hard to come to terms that you are going to be a bit fluffier than you would when you are shredded. This is part of the curse, not being able to come to terms with how you look.

Sleep

This part of the curse of being shredded happens when you are in the process of shedding fat, and that is sleep. When you are getting cut, you will have a decrease in energy levels and want to sleep all the time. No pre-workout or energy drink can save you, and it is just something you have to deal with. It is definitely not pleasant, but it is part of the curse.

Training

Your training is another thing that will fall victim to the curse of being shredded, as you do not have the extra cushioning and strength to really move heavy weights like you would when you are bulked up. Your big compound lifts like the bench press and your squat will take a bit of a hit, and those barbells may feel like they have more weight on them when you are cutting down and looking like a Greek God. Now, this is normal to lose strength, and while it is unfortunate, it is all part of the curse of being shredded.

How to Cut Weight and Minimize the Curse

Now, you may be wondering why you would even cut weight if the curse is inevitable? Well, there are certainly some steps to take to minimize the effects of the curse of being shredded. Here are some things you can do:

  • Get 8 hours of sleep every night
  • Diet down slowly, not all at once
  • Use supplements to get in the proper nutrients, retain muscle, and maintain physical and mental strength

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Wrap Up

Overall, the curse of being shredded is something that is pretty much going to get you in one way, shape, or form while you are cutting weight. It is a grueling process to look like a Greek God, but in reality it is something that most bodybuilders will go through. That being said, there are ways to mitigate the effects of this curse, keep them in mind when it comes time for the summer shreds.

Once you’re shredded would you ever choose to go back to normal? Let us know in the comments and forums. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Avatar photo

About Dylan Wolf

I work mainly in content writing, focusing my free time on bodybuilding and strength sports. I was introduced to fitness in high school and after watching Generation Iron movies. I love to train. I have competed multiple times, even winning a junior title in classic physique. I have a bachelor's in criminal justice and business obtained through Alvernia University. When I am not focused on work or training, I enjoy watching films or reading about anything and everything.

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