I began weight-training in freshman high school PE class. I vividly remember the bench press -- barbell and plates -- and our coach's words: "Keep breathing. Don't hold your breath, or you'll pass out." Outside of PE class, 5 days a week, I didn't have much time for sports, except a little intramural baseball, because music was -- and still is -- my main passion.
Out of school, I started weight-training on my own at the local YMCA -- a basic training course of 6 weeks. To date, I've had five personal trainers. Two were competitive bodybuilders, one of them being a former Mr. Michigan titleholder.
By 1992, I was serious about training for competition -- and possibly modeling; but by 1994, other demands on my time, mostly work related, had crowded out this ambition. No regrets, though. I may not have the name recognition, but I still pursue my goals of being the best I can be and looking my best.
For me, this sport has a good balance between individual work and teamwork. I don't use a training partner, because I get more done alone at my own pace; but when someone at the gym calls on me to spot, I take it seriously. I know from experience that a good spotter can enhance a workout, while a poor spotter can ruin it.
I majored in music. Violin, my major instrument, is quite un-ergonomic, as anyone else here who plays it should know. Ditto for viola. During practice, I pause frequently to stretch both arms straight out, then down. These and other precautions I learned regarding posture, form, warming up, and stretching have clear parallels in weight-training. And the disciplines in music study carry over well to athletics: 1) goal-setting; 2) time management; 3) balance between hard work and rest; 4) avoidance of over-practicing/over-training.
In any pursuit, there's always room for improvement. A lot of credit goes to my parents and teachers, who taught me early to stay away from alcohol, nicotine, street drugs, caffeine, and performance-enhancing drugs. Longevity isn't my goal. I don't care to add years to my life. I'm more interested in adding life to my years.
On April 27, 2017, I finished adding 15 Progress Photos I selected from about 120 shots I had made at home March 28-30 and April 20. They show some promise here and there, but they're also sharp reminders to me of how far I have to go to get back to the size and definition I had in the 1990s. Stay tuned -- I plan to add new series of progress pics at about 3-month intervals.