Subject: Inspirational story From: biceps21@juno.com (LARRY D ANDERSON) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 20:52:30 -0800 I started lifting at a very early age. I have always been very big and muscular. In college, I did powerlifting. Steroids were not illegal at that time. The coaches gave them to us. I weighed over 320#. Late in 1989, I was on my way home from work. I always wore my seat belt. This time I did not. I was on the highway when a 21 year old drunk female pulled out in front of me. She was driving a Ford Bronco, I was in a Subaru Justy. I hit her while traveling at 60 mph. My knees went through the dash, which was metal. The turn signal lever went up into my left hand between my ring and little fingers. The steering column crushed my lower stomach as my head went out the windshield. I guess it was a good thing I went out the windshield, the engine came into the passenger compartment. When the highway patrolman arrived, I was up walking around and checking on the occupants of the other vehicle. Naturally, she was unhurt. By the time the ambulance arrived, I was in bad shape. In the emergency room I overheard, "He should be dead"; another stated," I don't know how he survived"; and finally,"if he weren't so muscular, he would be dead". I was taken to surgery. The next thing I remember is the dr. telling me that I might never walk again. He said, "and you can forget ever lifting weights again". I went through 2 back surgeries. I was bedfast during 1990, except for the few minutes per day that I was taken to physical therapy. During that year, My body weight dropped to 220#. It was all fat. I had fat rolls everywhere. But I learned to walk. When my neurosurgeon released me in 1991, he asked what physical activities I enjoyed. I responded that Lifting was the ONLY thing I had ever done and the only thing I wanted to do. He said DO IT. I asked about restrictions. He said if it hurts, don't do it. I went back to the gym. For six months, it was all I could do to lift light weights and that was all on machines. 1998. I weigh 290#, 10%bf. The day I busted 60 inches on my chest, not only did I leap and shout for joy, I cried. I can bench 495 for 5 reps. AND I do squats on a weekly basis. Every morning when I swing my legs out of bed so I can go to the gym, I say a little THANK YOU GOD. Believe me, it is a real priviledge to be able to get out of bed and go to the gym, even at 5am. Hang in there.... Larry Subject: Muscle God Speaks Part II From: biceps21@juno.com (LARRY D ANDERSON) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 21:47:14 -0800 Jayson, I have thought at lot about your letter the past 2 days. The more I think about it, the more angry I become. I am 6'1"tall, 10%bf, 20"arms, 60"chest, and I could wear a 36" Wrangler jean, but they will not go over my thighs. I can do 2 reps with 495 on the bench press. Now let me tell you at what cost...... I hate to admit this, but in June I will be 47 years old. I have been an insulin dependent diabetic for over 20 years. I have to carry insulin and a glucose monitor to the gym with me. I have to monitor my sugar levels while I workout. I have to stop, check my blood, and sometimes take more insulin or drink a carbo drink just to finish my routine. Do you want to try working out under these conditions? I have also raised a son that is mentally retarded. I have had to deal with all his problems. Special training, special needs, special conditions, special schools, etc. Do you still think you have a problem? About 10 years ago, another one of my sons died. I had to bury him. I had to take my flesh, place it in a coffin, watch as it was lowered into the ground, and watch as they covered my flesh with dirt. Have you done that? Are you getting the message? About 2 years after Derrick's death, I was in a near fatal car wreck. All because some 21 year old female wanted to go out and party, and get drunk, then drive. She almost killed an innocent man that was just getting off work and trying to get home to his family. Jayson, how do you feel? I endured 2 major back surgeries. Countless minor surgeries on various parts of my body. I was told by the dr's that I would probably never walk again, much less lift weights. I was bedfast for a year. I watched as my muscular physique turned into a weak mass of fat. I had to learn to walk again at the age of almost 40. I have endured 9 years of physical therapy twice per week. Feeling better? Some mornings, when the alarm goes off at 4am, I have to literally pick my legs up with my arms and pull them out of bed and place them on the floor. I scream at them, " In the name of Jesus, you will work. I will walk!" You can see me every morning at 5am at the gym doing my workout. I fight. Everyday I fight, "I feel old", I fight, "I hurt", I fight, "I do not feel like doing this", I fight, "What's the use", I fight depression, I fight pain, I fight fear....I fight, I fight, I fight......Get the picture? Someday I may lose the battle, BUT BY GOD, I am going down fighting and with the shout and song of VICTORY on my lips!!!! You expect me to motivate YOU?!?!?!? I wish I didn't care about you, but the fact is, I DO! I care about every one of God's creations. And whether you believe it or not, you are one of His creations. You said that you have an above average body. What are you doing with it? Can't you get up, WALK downstairs, and exercise? Do you want to trade places with me? Get up off your lazy ass and get to work..... The Strong One has spoken. Larry Subject: Inspirational Stories From: Ironjock98 Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 23:10:12 -0800 Friends, One thing bodybuilders seem to have in common is tremendous inner strength. Maybe we're just trying to match the outside with the inside? After a heart attack just short of my 40th birthday, I began a walking and lifting program. In less than a year I'd dropped 80 pounds from my 5' 4" frame and turned the rest of me into hard muscle. I was feeling great, totally committed to redefining myself. All systems looked good, then, two weeks from the one year anniversary of my angioplasty, I had a second attack. This time, with no warning, a clot attached itself to a tiny peice of plaque (once you've got it, you've got it). I was so close to gone that I started to leave my body in the trauma room. They used a clotbuster drug and kept me going long enough for a second angio. All of the cardiologists said that I never would have made it if I weren't in such great shape to begin with. After the first one, the "counselors" on the Cardiac Care unit took great pains to tell me that my life would never be the same. That I'd have to take it easy. For several weeks after my discharge all I did was lay in bed, scared to do anything. Finally, I thought to myself - "If you're going to act like you died - you might as well have!" I chucked all of the cautionary victim books, hit the road and the iron. Courage saved my life, not caution. They were right, my life did change - for the better! Sure, there are times when I worry, when I listen to my heart pounding in my ears after a heavy workout and wonder. But, I know that I'm doing everything that I can to be in the best shape possible. If it happens again, it's fate, not because I was too lazy to take control. If I die in the gym, at least I will have gone out fighting. It's nearly three years now. So far, so good. The time I spend with the iron is the best part of my day - I leave everything behind, rebuild body AND mind. Nothing bothers me more than people who sit arround whinning about how bad they feel, how awful they look, yet they do nothing to change things. It took a crisis to wake me up, they don't have to wait for one. They need to listen to people that have turned things around and believe in themselves enough to try. But, how do you convey that? Sure it's hard. Much harder than sitting in front of the T.V. munching Cheetos. But, it's even harder to die young. I work with people with disabilities everyday - these folks can teach us a lot about facing challenges - I've met very few that feel sorry for themselves. Keep sharing your success stories. If just one person is motivated to improve themselves, that's the silver lining to your own ordeal. Best, Mark Subject: Inspirational Stories From: Nic Oliver Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 00:07:56 -0800 In June three years ago I was playing soccer with my son when I felt an accute pain in my right side, mid abdominal level. I put it down to indigestion as we had eaten not long before playing. Things got worse overnight and I was sick several times. The pain during the next day got gradually worse until I could stand no more and went to the doctor. I was immediately rushed into hospital with suspected appendicitis. As a result of an almost 24 hour delay at the hospital, during which time my body temperature went up to 105 at one stage, when they came to operate, the appendix had already burst and what I am told is usually a 30 minute operation took 3 and a half hours. They had to leave the wound open for a further 72 hours to check that all of the poisoned tissue had been removed. Anyway, to the bits I love. My first memory on regaining consciousness is of being in the recovery room and being told that it was a good job that I was so fit before the op, or the consequences could have been more severe. The op took place on a Friday - on the Sunday, the senior consultant came round and asked if I minded him bringing in some students to examine me and discuss my case. I said sure, I wasn't planning on going anywhere! The students arived and one of them was asked to examine me and my notes . The student did so and expressed surprise that I was recovering so quickly. One of the others ventured that it must be because I was 'fit for my age'. The consultant rounded on the unfortunate young man and said that I was probably fitter that any of them (I was 38 at the time and they in their early 20s), was remarkably well conditioned for any age and that if more people took as much care of themselves, hospitals would have far fewer cases to deal with. He thanked me and ushered the group away. I loved it when a shocked looking nurse came up to me afterwards and said that the consultant was never positive about anyone and that that was a first for their ward. The thing I loved most, however, was the look on my wife and children's faces when, having been told previously that I would be in for at least a week, they were told when they visited on Sunday evening that I was being released next day. The body had recovered much more quickly than expected, thanks again to years of weight training. It made the hours in the gym feel worth it. Recovery took a while as the body took a bit of a battering and three years on I still can't get flat abs as a result of the scar! But I'm well on my way to 500 lbs squat and deadlift and 350 lbs bench, having switched interests recently to powerlifting.all without belts, wraps, suits, or steroids. Hope I haven't bored anyone, -- Regards, Nic Oliver Subject: What I Love From: WATrainer@aol.com Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 07:40:16 -0800 What i love about bodybuilding and working out.. In 1986 after going through an awful personal life experience i was on the verge of doing some nasty things to myself. having been a lifelong manic depressive coupled with these 1986 events all kinds of therapy was diagnosed. Nothing helped..Not a long stay in the mental ward of a hospital.. Not shock treatment... Not every kind of medication under the sun. I was at wits end. A wonderful psychiatrist said to me "We have exhausted every possible treatment for you, the last suggestion I have for you is get yourself to a gym" The rest is history. To make a very long story short The gym saved my life. 12 years and 65 pounds later! I am now a 9 year Certified Personal Trainer veteran. Loving every minute of my life. Not a single depressive episode in 10 years! Looking great is a wonderful benefit but having a mind at peace is a benefit that cannot ever be bought. Subject: gary hanson/Re: Why did you start training? From: sheilah Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 08:14:12 -0700 Gary: I came upon this post as I was cleaning up my 'InBox File'; and was curious as to how you are progressing. Sheilah gary hanson wrote: > My story: > > Christmas, 1998. Totally unexpectedly, my wife gave me a treadmill and > a Total Gym. She'd made a few remarks about me looking "pregnant," but > I had no idea that she was serious about it. I was a 42 year old, 6 > foot, 246 pound 'mouse-potato'(like a couch potato, but staring at > computer screens instead of the TV) with thirtysomething percent body > fat. I didn't really do any exercising, and knew a bit about healthy > diets but didn't follow one. > > I knew nothing about weights or weight loss, but figured I'd learn > about it and have a serious go at getting into shape. I read almost > everything I could find on the net about diet, weight loss, weights, > exercise, etc, while applying it as best I could. As you're no doubt > aware, much of the information out there is contradictory or flat-out > wrong, so I've had to try what's available and figure out what seems to > work for me. > > I'm not nearly ready for my 'after' picture (are any of us, really?) > (And, BTW, I'm not doing any of those contests; 12 weeks is a crock, > even if you're allowed to go longer, which quite a few people do. I'm > taking a slow, steady incremental approach to the task.) I'm making > good progress; today I'm at 212 pounds with about 19% BF. I'd like to > get below 200 lbs, how far below depends on when I start losing too > much muscle, then work on adding some LBM. A few weeks ago, I did my > first bodyweight lift ever, SLDL with 220 for 3 sets of 4, just to try > it. In a few months, I should be able to do bodyweight full squats; > benching my bodyweight is definitely in the 'lifetime goal' category at > the moment, I'm not even close. > > A few random observations: > My wife's purchase of both cardio and weight equipment was an amazingly > astute one; she arrived at it intuitively, without knowing that you > really need both. She's in reasonable shape, and doesn't work out. > > I'd conditionally recommend the Total Gym. You WILL need 'real' weights > eventually though. > > Losing _weight_ is easy. Losing _fat_ is trickier. > > I wish I knew what I was doing at the beginning, and about beginner > gains; I might have tried harder back then :-) > > Long-term submaintenance calories and/or ECA can be a bit stressful. > [Yes, I could do a zigzag thing instead of longterm 'dieting,' but I'm > still trying to get my calories and macronutrients sorted out before > any radical departures from what I've been doing.] > > Having muscles (however small) and veins appear from under the blubber > is very motivating! > > --Gary Hanson Subject: Re [Me]: Progress From: gary hanson Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 09:08:35 -0800 Sheilah sez: > I...was curious as to how you are progressing. Eek! Did you mean to send that to the list? Nonetheless, since you asked on the list, the reply goes here too. First, a quick recap: Jan '99: 246 lbs, ~30% BF (74 lbs blubber, 172 lbs lbm) (bodyfat number is a semi-educated guess) 18-Aug-99: 212 lbs, 19% BF (40 lbs blubber, 172 lbs lbm) (bodyfat via Tanita, now known inaccurate, probably too high) 29-Nov-99: 202 lbs, 11.3% BF (23 lbs blubber, 179 lbs lbm) (bodyfat via calipers, should be reasonably accurate) So, overall, I've managed to sustain an average of 1 lb per week weight loss, while appearing to keep lbm relatively constant. The older bf numbers are likely not correct though; I'm sure I'm losing some lbm. Now that I have the calipers, I'm able to track things better. I slacked off for awhile after an injury a few weeks ago (fell down stairs, not training-related) and am now getting a bit more diligent again. I also haven't always dropped enough calories as the weight has fallen. My 'before' picture shows me as an enormous tub of lard, and is fantatically motivating. It's also great to see the startled reactions of people who haven't seen me for awhile. I'll take my 'after' picture before the end of the year; I'm getting close. I suppose that the after-diet photo could also be the before-muscle photo, but building muscle is a very long-term task, and I'm not really looking to get hyoooge, just more balanced. --Gary Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 20:49:36 -0800 From: Jason Burnell Subject: Strength_List: Motivation comes from the strangest places..... Today, I got some serious motivation from the last place ANY of us might expect....a bodybuilder. I ordered Skip LaCours Mass Machine Tape. I saw on his web site that he lift some outrageous weights that most powerlifters would be proud of like 100 lb laterals and 100 lb db curls etc. I ordered the tape mainly to see if this guy was for real or full of crap. When the tape arrived, Skip wrote a note" I'm sure you are NOT going to like my squats! They certainly are not "DEEP SQUATS" Well, he was right, they were body builder squats but he is a bodybuilder. Some of the exercises he did cheat on BUT for the most part he was always in control and his cheating movements were a bit different that the cheating we see the other "bodybuilders" in our gyms do. So, why was I impressed. The tape reminded me of something that should be obvious...just shut up and add 10 more lbs to the damn bar. I know that sometimes I think about things too much. Trying to find just the right exercise or tweak the routine etc. when just getting a buttload stronger on whatever I'm doing would probably work. Dave Tate, Ed Coan, Chris Taylor and Rickey Crain all use different approaches to get the results they do but they don't jump around as much as the rest of us do. They stick with the program they believe in and just keep plugging away and adding another 10 lbs. That is the secret and it's so simple that I think sometimes while searching for "that exercise that will put me over the top" I forget that 50 more lbs on a lift is probably a whole lot better than finding just the right angle on the bench or whatever. I'm not going to start oiling and posing after every set but I did DB curls with more weight than I've ever used and did calves with 50 lbs more than I've ever used - neither was that hard but I think seeing someone doing this made my "well, if he can, why can't I" mode kick in. For me, that was worth the price of admission. Your mileage may vary but it worked for me..... - -- Jason W. Burnell STRENGTH ONLINE: http://www.deepsquatter.com/strength/ Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2000 13:31:28 PST From: "JASON ARBOGAST" Subject: Strength_List: shawn re fubar forever dont give up, those three words led me to be the man i am now. i was shot with a 12 guage five years ago and had my right leg amputated below the knee, i was depressed as hell, had no ambition what so ever, until 3 years ago when i picked up boxing and lead my way to my first and only fight, i lost, but you know what,i never gave up. i was getting my ass kicked and almost got knocked out until i told my self there was know way i am going out like that.i havent put my gloves up yet but i put it on hold to powerlift. since then i have had my leg cut off another half inch and was in a bad car wreck that took the life of my best friend down in vegas. i am here lifting better than ever and i am know pulling up my new pr in the deadlift of 400lbs. my point is dont ever say you cant or you wont because you can and the only thing in your way is that attitude of i cant do it. well you can, so rest, get better and get after it. jason arbogast pasco, wa Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 07:29:12 EST From: Mcsiff@aol.com Subject: Strength_List: SYMPATHY & QUITTING All this recent talk about injuries, aspirations, quitting from competition and some alleged divine role in the whole saga leaves me rather cold. My wife, Lisa, is a high paraplegic who was once a figure skating professional until a clot in her spine suddenly paralysed and nearly killed her. Even though I miraculously survived a massive heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery not so long ago, then managed to return to competitive lifting, I cannot vaguely imagine having that happen to me and cope with it as well as she does. She manages exceptionally well, is a very happy soul and an inspiration to all. She now lives in constant pain and has to spend hours every day undertaking even the most mundane activities that we all take for granted, like pulling on pair of pants, using a bathroom or trying to take a shower. Far from giving up, she devised a unique seated fitness system to music which is extremely challenging and interesting and even produced a professional video workout to help anyone who may be compelled to spend much of their lives sitting due to injury, disease, accident or age. When she came to S Africa after our marriage, she was determined to meet President Mandela and have him work with her on sports camps for disadvantaged kids, but everyone said that she would not even gain an audience with arguably the most visible President of that time. Well, you guessed it! She not only met Mr Mandela, but started the first junior wheelchair sports camps in S Africa, obtained sponsorship of tens of thousands from major companies, often appeared on SA television (and frequently in the Press) and had Pres Mandela become patron of her entire scheme. In addition to that, she lectured to my mechanical engineering students on ergonomics of wheelchair design and accessibility of buildings, as well as teaching a certificated seated fitness course for the Centre for Continuing Education at my university. She has also put on workshops at several major fitness and strength workshops, including NSCA, IDEA and IRSA, plus others in S Africa and the UK. Those members of this group who have attended the Strength Camps at our facility will have experienced her workouts and can offer their own feedback on my remarkable wife. Now, SHE has something to complain about, like many others in her unenviable position, but she does not moan and groan, but goes out there, motivates others in need and gives her best to others. That is what life and real religion is really about! Dr Mel C Siff Denver, USA mcsiff@aol.com Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 10:57:11 EST From: mortal13@aol.com My story is pretty amusing. Most have probably heard it. I was an Iron Worker for 12 years. Certain aspects of this job encourage an "attitude" of sorts. I was a connector(the guy bolting up the beams the crane brings up) and I was good at it. One day I show up for work and this short stocky bald guy has been added to our deck crew. I introduced myself and had a short chat. He mentioned in passing that he was an Elite Powerlifter. I then proceeded to ask how much he could clean and jerk.................hey! I didn't know powerlifter from body builder from olympic lifter! He kind of chuckled and told me about the big 3 lifts. I told him I couldn't put on weight and I was doomed to be skinny all my life. He told me he owned a gym and I was welcome to come and work out anytime I wanted. Being the tough guy iron worker I was I figured hey, if this guy could do it, I could. I weighed about 170 and I was 6' 2". He told me to show up on a wednesday night and I did. He coached me in the gym for over a year sending my bodyweight skyrocketing to 200lbs!!!!!!! I got to watch guys like Chuck Vohglpol and Matt Dimel and women like Amy Weisberger train. I fell in love with Powerlifting and never looked back. I owe it all to Lou Simmons who not only taught me the physical aspects of training but the mental and scientific. I consider myself lucky to be able to say he's not just an acquaintance but a friend. Jim Williams Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2001 16:46:10 -0500 From: frralbany@isoa.net Subject: Re: Unlisted Training Secrets I agree whole-heartedly that my life experiences have greatly impacted my training. Some major stressors that I would include in this list are: moving across the country (twice!), miscarriage of a child (twice!), the death of our daughter at age two weeks, my wife's depression, major career change and it's impact on my income (much less $!). Some lesser stressors that had an impact on my training included: having a jerk for a boss (and the negative attitude that caused), feeling a loss of control over certain aspects of my life due to actions of others, pressures put on me by others and a feeling that I had to meet those expectations, being up all night with sick kids, not to mention being a bit of a perfectionist and not progressing at the "right rate" as projected by my training plan. However, sometimes stress comes when we are expected to be very happy and upbeat. For example, getting married (having to change my routine to accomodate my wife's feelings and expectations), after the birth of any of our children (having to compensate around the house for my wife's need for rest), going into business for myself (increased responsibility and no more "buck-passing!"), etc. Just feeling bad about not appreciating the "goodness" of these situations can cause a lot of stress. This is just the short list and it might seem like a lot of adversity, but I really don't think that I have had more hardship than the average person. I really think that most people have a lot more to deal with in thier lives than they realize. I can't really say that I have always "dealt" with these issues, sometimes I've tried to ignore them, sometimes I've used my training to "vent" my feelings, and sometimes I've been overcome by the situation and had to take a break from working out (which is a major stressor in itself!) What comes to mind most often, though, is something that George Hechtor said to me once, "It's not what you do one day or one workout to the next that counts. It's the consistency over time that makes the difference." For myself, working out is a must. It helps me keep a positive outlook and feel physically good. However, even though, I would like to stay on my routine regardless of anything that might be going on in my life, as long as I can do some type of lifting, I am OK. Even if it's just a very short session (only one main set, speed recovery, no assistance, ect.) it makes a difference. I do skip from time to time. Just recently I have missed all my work outs this past week due to my wife recovering from a miscarriage/minor surgery. Emotionally, I feel like crap, but if I can just get in a short workout and throw a little weight around, I know I will feel better! I know I can't expect to get a full workout in for a while, but I can accept that. As long as I feel that there is an end to the tunnel and I can make even a very little bit of progress. The positive thing that has come out of all of it is that at least I am doing something. I keep doing what I can, and I am making gains, although they are not as much as I would ideally want. there are no real secrets, just determination and continued effort. Now if I can just make it without missing any more workouts for a while. Jeff DeMott Albany, GA