This is an insightful thread. Thank you, AboveAvgAries.
Like yourself AboveAvgAries, I too have a background in bodybuilding. I was really hardcore into bodybuilding from age 16 to 21. My 5' 10" frame went from 180 pounds to 230 in 5 years and I maintained a low body fat percentage. Now I just train my body to maintain a healthy and strong heart.
Anyway, back to your post. My approach to PE is deeply informed by what I learned in bodybuilding. I see more similarities than differences between the two. From my point of view, PE is a kind of bodybuilding, because the goal is largely aesthetic. People who are into bodybuilding and people who do PE both want to build mass and sculpt their body in a way that is pleasing to the eyes. I mean, no one really needs to look like Dorian Yates or Arnold Schwarzenegger in their prime or to have a schlong as big as Mike Salvini's, but some guys do want to look like one or the other or both and are wiling to train their body to come as close as they can to achieving that ideal. I am here on this forum to learn from Mike and others, because I hope to grow my schlong to 10.5 x 6.5.
My experience in bodybuilding has taught me that technique, intensity, dedication, diet, sleep, rest, and having self-confidence in one's ability to grow and to reach and pass goals are the keys to success. I carry over this set of beliefs and practices to my work in PE. And so far it is paying off.
I want to end with a sound practice that you write about: rest. Rest is when the body rebuilds and grows; this occurs during sleep and during the day when we are not putting physical stress on our bodies. I do not believe that rest is valued as much as it should be valued in the field of PE. My advice is to listen to your body. Don't train if you're still sore. Your body needs time to repair the tissue that has been damaged during training. The soreness is a
sign that your body is repairing the tissue. Once the soreness has gone away, then get back to training.