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Growing up I pretty much would have been in the running for the title of “Least Athletic Person Alive”. I never played any sports whatsoever, was always the last person picked in PE, smallest in my class, etc. I was a whopping 113 pounds when I graduated high school. During my last year of college a buddy of mine (also out of shape) talked me into going to the school's weight room with him. The two of us fumbled around not having a clue what we were doing. He dropped out after a few weeks and I stuck with it. When I graduated I moved to another town, but I began using the exercise equipment provided by my apartment complex. When I look back now I see I was pretty much doing everything wrong. I wasn't lifting enough weight, wasn't doing it often enough, was doing the same exercises over and over again, wasn't eating enough, and didn't get enough sleep. Other than that I was golden! :-)
I wanted to join a gym but I fell back into a mindset of fear where I just couldn't do it. I thought a scrawny, clueless punk like me would stick out like a sore thumb and be a laughingstock. For way too many years I just kept myself on a cycle of maintaining the modest gains I had made on my own. I wasn't getting overweight like many of my friends did over the years, but I also certainly wasn't gaining any muscle.
Finally I decided that I wasn't getting any younger and I needed to face my fears. I forced myself to join a local gym and hired a personal trainer to teach me what the heck I should be doing. I'm starting this way later than most people but I'm really happy with the progress I've made so far (even though I've got a long, long way to go).
Why I Love It:
I love that it's hard. I love that I'm able to do it. I love how it makes me feel and makes me look. I love no longer wondering what it would be like to be in shape. I love not feeling mad at myself for not trying to get in shape. I love feeling better than I did when I was in my twenties. I love no longer having the baggage that comes with being unhappy with a skinny body. Should I go on? :)
How I Stay Motivated:
Weightlifting makes me feel good mentally and look good physically. I don't need motivation to keep doing something that has those benefits. The pump and the compliments don't hurt either!
I can't say I always love the idea of going to the gym. Everyone has days where they would rather be doing something else. I just remember that I always love how it makes me feel. Any stress or problems that are bothering me just melt away for an hour while I'm working out. Going when you don't feel like it is one of the things that shows whether you really want it or not. The feeling of accomplishment every week from working hard makes me feel great also.
I've noticed a few people say that when they started noticing results they got hooked and there was no going back. That's pretty much me.
BB Accomplishments:
I was at a Christmas party and saw someone I hadn't seen in a long time. She came up to me and grabbed my arm to say hello. She got a really confused look on her face and asked “Have you been working out?” :-)
My picture is on the wall at my gym as one of my trainer's "success stories".
Forum Signature:
There will come a day when I tire of listening to 80's music. That day is not today.
StressMonkey is an inspiration to xedx. Reason: "SM is awesome! I can relate to some many things on his profile...like once being 113 lbs, the challenges of gaining weight/muscle, and of co... " - 7:16 am - Comment
I still haven't accepted the fact that I'm closer to 40 than I am 30. HOWEVER, when I do reach that dreaded age my long term goal is to look like my friends on here that are already near that age who are tearing it up. They really inspire me.
I'm done gaining my newbie weight. :( I'd like to get to 160 pounds eventually.
Up through high school I had a huge hangup about my height. I hate, hate, H-A-T-E-D how short I was. My buddies that I hung out with were almost all at least six feet tall. They all just towered over me and it drove me nuts. As I got older I found that life has a way of teaching you what is...
Yea I hear ya, it's good to set goals like that, but I am like you in that once I reach a certain milestone, I can't help but want more. Keep growing if it makes you feel good my friend.
I've added what I call monkey presses (In your honor) as a finishing movement to my chest routine. That's presses on the hammer strength machine. Hammer strength equipment is pretty good stuff by and large.
i was 146 for show - so 20 pounds more now ... i am gonna have a chest like yours for this upcoming one :)... like to come in 150 for this one too - better conditioning....never happy i guess-LOL
Wow. You didn't blur out your chin. Are you going to keep exposing more and more of your face until it's like...Ta-dah! Here I am folks!(?) Maybe just bits and pieces and the more ambitious of us can drag it to our desktops and put it all together in photoshop? What tricks do you have up your sleeve?
OMG i am at 167 -- i weigh more then you now ?????????????????????????.. I feel this 20 pounds too- i do not wanna gain any more, will be too tuff to loose for show
Thanks, man. It's crazy to see that I'm or I've been an inspiration to people. It's just so flattering and encouraging. Look at ya now... you've reached that goal! Yeah, buddy!!!
you sure you did not shop in the boys dept and pick up a size 14-16 that is a Large -LOL nice work though man, what is your wait up to? 167 here - feel like a fata$$
Yeah it hasn't been easy. I think part of the reason I didn't go super crazy and eat everything in sight is the fact that I've been pretty strict consistently for almost 3 yrs now. The contest prep was definitely the most strict I've been though and for so long! Yeah, I've heard of dudes gaining like 25 lbs in like a week. I'm glad I didn't do anything like that!!!
