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You're back! Good! Thanks for coming along on my journey with me!
Yesterday was Friday. My day to meet with Dave, my coach, for our weekly workout. I travel about 60 miles to Tacoma, from Bothell, to meet with him. Exactly 1 hour each way if I go the speed limit, 50 minutes otherwise...I usually make it in 50 minutes (Brad Craig, if you are reading this don't send me any tickets!). Why would I travel so far, you ask? Well, because Dave's just that good! If you don't know Dave, you are missing out! I'll refer to him many times during my blogging, so I'll give you a little info about him now, so you can get to "know" him through me. Dave is my "main man"! He's a personal trainer that has his own business, PTS, in Tacoma, WA. Look him up on Facebook...he's one good lookin', buff dude! He's not just any personal trainer, but THE personal trainer to go to if you want to present your best physique onstage! I would venture to guess he has helped carve out exceptional physiques of thousands, if not more, of winning competitors. Anyway, enough about him and back to me! This is all about me, right? Ha Ha.
So yesterday was leg day. I knew driving down to Dave's gym that I was in for some serious pain ahead. Sometimes I psych myself out, thinking how hard it's gonna be, before I even get to his doorstep. I'm working on changing my thinking. So much of bodybuilding is mental. That's right, MENTAL! Whatever you think about, the body believes it. So, if I'm thinking I can't do this, well, guess what, the body responds accordingly. Half way through my workout during a set of heavy squats, Dave stopped me. My head wasn't in the game. I was thinking the weight was too heavy, I can't squat down all the way or I'll never be able to press it up, etc. I knew in my head that Dave is standing right there behind me and he's got my back, but I wasn't trusting myself. I was doubting. I lacked the confidence...whatever you want to call it...I was not squatting to my full potential, and therefore wouldn't get optimal results. After I put my head back into the game I had a great workout, the best workout I've ever had by far, but mentally it was a challenging day for me. After a set of heavy leg extensions, the burn was so intense that I almost had a "liquid drop of weakness" leave my body from one of my tear ducts. In other words, I almost started to cry like a baby! Dave didn't realize it...as I was "walking off the burn". I could feel the tears well up inside me. I was thinking that I can't do this. It's too heavy. It hurts. Then I had a little reality check with myself. Yep, it's heavy. Yep, it does hurt. What are my choices? Lift it...or quit. Hmmm. I could quit, but that won't get me the body I've dreamed about for so long. I was starting to feel sorry for myself that I had to endure so much pain, then I told myself...this is your CHOICE. No one is forcing this on you. Others have gone through this pain and survived. I will survive this, and I'll be stronger both physically and mentally because of it. I told myself to suck it up, get my game on, and go show the weights who's boss!" It's all about your mental attitude. Think strong, be strong.
I know after a leg workout I'm gonna hurt the next day. This workout was different. I was in "uncharted territory". Yesterday, while I was finishing up with hack squats, my legs started to shake uncontrollably as I was pressing the weight. I've never had that happen before. Let me tell you a bit about my workout so you can imagine how tired my legs were by my final set. My workout consisted of leg extensions, followed by squats, then onto lying leg curls, immediately to leg press and finally hack squats. This was all done with as little rest as I could possibly handle between sets. I don't even know how many sets I did. I didn't care at that point. I just wanted to be done with it! Let's just say I had a glow to my face...I was perspiring a bit. Ha! I'll tell it like it is, sweat was dripping off my face so much, I felt like I was standing outside in the rain! When I got to my final set on the hack machine...that's when my legs started a shakin'. I remember looking down at them, thinking what is going on here? Dave explained the reason for it. I was recruiting muscle fibers that hadn't been called into play before. Those muscle fibers were just sitting around...not doing anything, just hanging out. 2nd string players just waiting to be called into the game! Well, they got called into play alright! The rest of the afternoon, my muscles were talking to me. Yep, I heard them loud and clear. They were saying "feed me..NOW!" The body talks to us, we just have to listen. My legs were aching! A deep ache. The kind of ache that wakes me up early every Saturday morning, the day after a leg workout. It's a good feeling. I know I worked them hard. I'm forcing my muscles to grow. So next time when my legs start shaking, I'll know that my 2nd string players are coming in to help me out!
Today was another exceptional day for me. I challenged "The Beast" and won! The Beast is my nickname for the Step Mill, a never ending staircase to nowhere! It's by far the best piece of cardio equipment for me...you have to keep up the pace or you go flying off of it! Anyway, I did my personal best...45 min on it. Now the challenge is 1 hour. Piece of cake!
I gotta admit, I feel tired, I feel sore, but most of all I feel good. There is nothing better than accomplishing a goal you've set for yourself. 45 min on The Beast seemed impossible a few short months ago, when all I could manage was 5 minutes on it. Now I run up my stairs in my house and don't even get winded. I discovered that today while going upstairs to my second story. I actually turned around at the top of the staircase, walked back down the stairs, and ran back up them to see if I even got slightly out of breath. Nope! Now that's a great feeling!
Think on it
Happy are those who dream dreams, and are willing to pay the price to make them come true
(Leon Suenens, a clergyman)
Bren
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