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A Plastic Weight Set For A Troubled Youth
By: Dan Church
The small span of time from when I was 14 to 15 years old would prove to be the toughest period of my life. I was going through life like a worm that had been partially amputated, sliding my way around the world with no direction. In the span of this year my town’s gym teacher murdered my neighbors (and committed suicide himself), 2 friends of mine decided to take the plunge into suicide, my grandmother, uncle, and aunt all died, and then to top it off my parents got divorced. My adolescence had taken abrupt fall into hell. I was constantly losing ground in my life.
Growing up in Alaska I was accustomed to suffering, being at mercy with the wills of nature and feeling the pains of living in an isolated island community. But nothing prepared me for the suffering I would face that year. After my parents divorced I found myself in an even smaller town in Montana staying with my mom. I was alone and a stranger in a community which was hostile to me. I needed something to occupy my time, so I decided to start lifting weights. I saved up my money, and started how so many other young lifters did; with a plastic weight set. I immersed myself into lifting the plastic weights every chance I got until it became second nature to me. I would sometimes workout for 4 or more hours and have no idea where the time had gone. Lifting became my anti-depressant and way of dealing with pain and strife. The ghosts of my past looked onward at me as I pushed each weight up, increasing my repetitions with each workout. I continued to lift weights and found my release in them as I stuck with it everyday for the next 5 years. I ended up building a strong Herculean body from all my mental demons and suffering. The more my workouts progressed, the more my life improved. I stopped drinking, I found myself in less violent situations, and I studied hard in school. I didn’t need any distractions from my weight lifting obsession. Luckily for me it payed off and I graduated 2nd in my class and with a physique that no other 18 year old in my state possessed.
In the current climate of America kids are unusually soft and feminine expecting everything to be given to them. They do not understand work ethic, dedication, or suffering in the least. But the ones that do suffer are the poor, neglected, and demoralized. And to these kids I offer this salvation: a hard life will build you a hard body, and it is very hard to beat a young man’s spirit who has already been through hell. Instead of giving kids prescriptions I often ponder if giving them a gym membership will help them out more in the long run. I believe that many of the youth of this nation are only one workout away from completely changing their life. Sometimes all it takes is some gold ol’ fashioned suffering to build a body that no one can take away from you.
Why I Love It:
I love working out because it teaches so many valuable lessons about life. We learn about patience, setting & accomplish goals, and even personal sacrifice to an extent. I like the feeling that I am constantly building something that is uniquely mine; a body all to my own.
How I Stay Motivated:
I think of what I can accomplish in this sport in the future, and how can I use my talents to benefit myself and my family.
BB Accomplishments:
*I took 4th place in the 2007 NPC Junior California in the collegiate division.( It was my first show, messed up the contest prep, but learned alot)
* 334-0 in the ALaskan Grizzly Bear Fighting Circuit (333 KOS). Im the "south paw" killa
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Last Updated: Sep 5, 2007 5:40pm
Progress Pictures
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Very often someone will ask me "Dan, how did you get that big?" or more importantly "Dan... Why are you so angry?" The answer can be found in two words: "estrogen dragons". Now before you start razzling and dazzling me, asking what the hell an estrogen dragon is.. let me explain. An...
I totally feel you. I've done a lot of volunteer work with homeless kids. Some of the stuff they go through is so insane.
So howre you??
Hows training??
Wow dood!! I read your profile again, more carefully. Its such an inspiration. And your totally righ, kids need a gym membership or a positive hobby. Not a prescription.
one of the best ive seen on here.you have the ability and genetics to get your pro card in my opinion.i gotta go find some goat whey!lol.best of luck,b
hey man Thanks being willing to help. feel free to PM me or email at doobzkhq@gmail.com any thoughts on supplements . I am thinking about trying BSN, ADVOCARE MUSCLEPHARM CONTROLLED LABS and Mellenium maybe gaspari (one at a time .. right now I need a good N.O. post pre workout and during and I need a kick butt fat burner. I have a multi a nd protein to use up before I figure those out ) Trying to try to find a line that works well ... any thought which one to try first ?
Hey man sounds like uve been through some rough times but theyve made u stronger, Yea, im really into boxing as well as grappling.Keep up the great training!
I'm startin to bulk. Wanna gain solid lean muscle. With school and being a dad it gets hard to devote enough time to achieving my goal physique. You bulk and cut?
Hey man
I just added new progress pics and thread.pics are after 1 month of moderate training with 80% success with diet and routines my posture is off because my legs are rehabbing. posture will come in time No supplements yet .looking for help on that
I really have poor body image I know that outside opinion will help me see both what is good about my physique and what isnt
specifics advice critique all welcome
Thanks
Marc
