10.25.2007

The Strong Survive

This is a short essay I came across a few years ago. I don't know who its original writer was, but I really felt what he was saying and saved it. Hope it inspires some of you as much as it inspired me!


There are a lot of issues and conditions in life over which we have little control. There are many other elements of life where we have some control. However, there are damn few places where you can and must command your will and body to make an accomplishment.

In bodybuilding, your enemy, your competition is your own self and there is only one way to overcome the side of yourself that wants to sit and live on wishes about tomorrow. You are letting the loser side of your nature determine your presence in this world. Bodybuilding is a battle with yourself for that ass-sitting not to happen. All bodybuilders undertake the battle. We are defeating the self that others let control their unhealthy and weak bodies.

This is a lonely sport. No one is going to miss you at the gym. No one is going to whip you for a cheat meal. Nobody's going to say something when you let two months go by without a workout. Your either bring yourself before your own control or you let shit pass you by. Bodybuilding is all about you.

Everyone can see the outcome of your work if you work hard enough. But, there are many other rewards in bodybuilding. Every time you lift a weight, do a rep and do a set, you are changing your bodily chemistry. You can feel it in every burning/aching muscle. This is really our, bodybuilders, reality. We live in this moment. We have the power to do this to our bodies.

Every time you do a leg press or a bicep curl, you are actualizing the potential in you body. In that very moment when you feel your body screaming from a workout, you are in charge of a series of changes that cannot be encompassed in words. Your circulation, your blood pressure, blood sugar, cellular muscle activity, hormonal release, digestive processes and so much more are being changed for the betterment of your body.

This is a damn miracle. You determine this process and by doing so and how you look or how you don't look, is all determined by the action of your will.

There is no other activity that physically develops and sculpts every muscle in your body. Other sports require certain muscle development only appropriate to that sport. But, bodybuilding is about your entire body being actualized into reality from its potential. By focusing on your body's changes during each movement, you are conducting the power.

It is phenomenal. You want to stand up with pride when you go out.

Get into this process of bodybuilding. It's one of the greatest and most effective gifts that exist in human beings. Remember, it's not in the result; it's not in the outcome or all the stares and compliments. It is about the moments within yourself in the gym. If that's not enough to keep you going, you may be on the path to be like the rest of society: embracing a slow death.

Many will come and go. Only the strong survive.

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8.07.2007

Wanna know what I did in my political science class? ;o)




Sooo many of you have asked to see my drawings after reading that I enjoy to draw...well, here ya go!

As you can see, I am by no means a world class artist. Drawing isn't anything I'd ever invested much time in; more of an "I'm bored to death...someone get me out of this class" type of hobby. =-D

Getting messy with charcoal has always been something I'd do for fun. Not much time for it these days, though I sometimes still get the urge to start doodling on a piece of paper.


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7.12.2007

Idol Worship


One of my Figure idols who has inspired me to take up this lifestyle is the great Pauline Nordin. Beautiful, intelligent, really really sweet and not to mention super strong =0)

I really enjoyed this little piece she wrote and I hope you do as well.

(taken from Pauline Nordin's website)
Pauline Nordin's approach


"Little do I care about what is scientifically proven to be the best way to work out, to eat, to sleep, to feel, to be. When I meet up at the beach with the rising sun as my only companion I make myself run, run and run until my heart tells me to slow down. Then I ask my heart 'would you stop if the one you love was dying and you had to run for his life?' I then keep on running, my lungs feel like exploding, I'm on a high.

Every day I go to the gym I'm there to outperform myself. I cannot let myself have doubts. What I ask from my body my body gives back. It doesn't know the word no because I don't recognize the word no when I'm training.
There are no too heavy weights, I just need to keep on trying to lift them. I put my fear aside and get into machine-mode. It's just weights, they won't kill me, they are easy if I want them to be. My muscles and joints cannot see them, they are all blind, so I promise them they can take the load because there is no other way.



Every time I give myself an ultimatum: If I really want to succeed I must lift it, perform the reps I have set up for myself to complete. No way I will give in, I don't like failure. I'm here to win.

I do one-reps or two-reps because I love to lift loaded barbells and heavy dumbbells. I don't care the science says you don't build the most muscle mass that way. I do what I love. I don't need a set schedule, a perfect plan or to count sets. I don't need to feel the burn or isolate any muscle group. Even though I knew it would lead to a better physique I wouldn't change my approach since I have a passion for what I do and how I do it.

I do deadlifts because they mean power to me. I don't listen to those who believe it makes your waist thick. That's bullshit to me. When I squat I get veins popping out of my forehead and I know I'm not beautiful at that time. Could I care less? I'm not there to be beautiful. To me, if I did think about how I look when working out, it would mean I worked out like a sizzy. I'm only concerned with beating my personal best and to show the weights they don't scare me.

I don't follow any diet approaches, I have my own. I never do low-carb or high-fat or no-fat or whatever. I do what I believe in. I don't believe in six meals a day, I believe in starving at some time of the day and enjoy big eats at other times of the day. I will keep on eating extremely large servings of vegetables, take too many different protein blends, amino acids, fish oil capsules, minerals and vitamins that I believe in.
I see myself as a warrior, a fighter. I do what I have to do, what I want to do. I love the need to be disciplined. I love being in charge of my feelings instead of letting them be in charge of me.

I follow my heart, it knows in what direction I must go. I have no plan, only my drive. That and only that is what keeps me going. Pauline

Text by: Pauline Nordin 2006. "

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7.03.2007

Need Inspiration? No Excuses


Let NOTHING stop you from your dreams and goals!

http://www.fitnessunarmed.com/

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6.28.2007

Tips to Get You Moving!

Here are some tips and ideas to get you inspired & on your way to the gym!

~VISUALIZE! Picture yourself 20, 30, 40 lbs lighter...or with 20, 30, 40 lbs more muscle mass on you! Is a six pack your goal? Envision yourself with one! You'll have lots more desire to get to work once your goal feels more within your reach, and visualization will most definitely do that for you!

~Anytime you come across reading material that interests you (magazine articles, books...), save it for when you're on the treadmill! It'll make time fly by--and if it's interesting enough, will actually make you want to get to that cardio!

~Get into the habit of training/doing cardio with your significant other. You two can hold each other accountable, and spending time at a gym can turn into true "quality time" together!

~Is there a way to reverse your age? YES! It's called exercise! And it's the only way (along with diet) to literally reverse your body's aging process! Your chronological age won't matter as long as you feel AND look half your years!

~Keep a journal. Include your goals, and your accomplishments in it. It'll help you stay focused on your goals and hold yourself accountable.

~Get a TRAINER! A good trainer will know how to get you motivated to stay on track and make your workouts challenging/interesting enough to keep you coming back for more.

~Think about the way you feel after your workouts. Full of energy, less stressed...a sense of accomplishment. Don't you deserve to feel that way AT LEAST once a day?!

~NOT ENOUGH TIME? I don't buy that FOR A MINUTE! There are 24hrs in a day...MAKE TIME! You can find ONE hour a day (remember, there are TWENTY FOUR!) to make a time investment in the ONLY body you will ever get.

~Interact with people for whom fitness and a healthy lifestyle is important. You'll learn a lot from them, and their enthusiasm will rub off on you. None in your area? That's the beauty of internet, with hundreds of its forums and online communities created for people with common interests.

TAKE CHARGE! Create the body and health you've been dreaming of. Stop waiting, and start doing--do it for yourself, and your loved ones.

Do it because YOU deserve it!

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6.26.2007

Can you reach your goals within a year?


YES! ABSOLUTELY!!

How do I know? I've DONE it!

And if I could do it...you know YOU can, too! ;o)

My goal was to gain muscle mass, and I did--all 30lbs in a year!

Whatever YOUR goal is, it's within your reach, so stop procrastinating and just get to it!

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6.23.2007

Rise Above


Had a bad workout? See no results after a few weeks of dieting?

Guess what? This isn't a "try & give up" type of gig. You either DO IT, or you DON'T!

If you've started on your way...don't even THINK of giving up. Keep at it, and you'll get to wherever you're headed! Doesn't this apply to everything in life?

PERSISTANCE is KEY!


Visit my AMAZING sponsors at Iron Asylum, for more awesome inspiration!

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