WEEK SIXTY-ONE :: How Did You Begin Bodybuilding? [Archive]

reflexions

01-27-2006, 04:34 AM

From an early age, iv always been obsessed about standing out. I found the best way to stand out was to literally bulk out. At the age of 15, I had my own weight set. I would just sit in my room doing countless reps, on barbell curls & shoulder press. I did this everyday. I had a feeling that I was doing something wrong, so I purchased my first bodybuilding book, ‘The Masters Blasters, book of bodybuilding’ written by Joe Weider. I have to say this was the thing that sparked my passion for bodybuilding, looking through the book & seeing that every page was flooded with pictures of these champions, these pictures of Arnold, Lee Haney, Rich Gaspari, Boye Coe inspired me, I knew my life had to change, I had to be like these legends one day. So I applied for a membership at my local gym where I followed, Joe weiders workouts down to the ‘T’, knowing that my journey to become massive had begun.

My only regret is, that I wished I had started lifting weights earlier than late 15. I always look at it as, “im this big & strong now, imagine how big I would have been if I started at 13 or 14”. Really thinking about it now, even if I had started at 13 or 14 yrs old, I would still be kicking myself, saying the same thing. In my family, weight lifting wasn’t a priority. I had to find it myself. This is what makes me think it was meant to be. I wasn’t pushed into it, it was my destiny.

Two people that have influenced me in my life. Firstly my brother, he would urge me on, when other people would turn their back, he would help me remember that i was unique, not like the average boy my age, sitting around doing nothing. secondly, it has to be the great mike mentzer. If theres one thing iv learnt from him, is that, forget what you read in all these magazines, books & remember not everything works for everyone. Ever since i have adapted the 'heavy duty' principles in my life, I have seen a radical change in my body & even my lifestyle. Only one thing has inspired me, & thats myself.

BigNorwegian

01-27-2006, 09:37 AM

Yea, I'll be writting this one.

mivi320

01-27-2006, 08:56 PM

How Did You Begin Bodybuilding?

Intro

Not many of us woke up one random morning and decided to start living the bodybuilding lifestyle. At some point and some time, something inspired you to start bodybuilding.

Maybe it was the physiques of the bodybuilders from "The Golden Era of Bodybuilding" that inspired you. Maybe it was the infamous squatting scene in "Pumping Iron." Maybe it was your decision to get healthy and fit - and achieve better health and wellness.

Whatever it was, it changed your lifestyle. Everbody has a story to tell - this is mine.

My Story - How I began Bodybuilding

Rewind about four years ago.

I was 13 years old and a weak 87 pounds at a height of 5'4 - struggling with anorexia nervosa, family problems, anxiety, and a disease known as anemia, a common blood disorder that occurs when the number of healthy
red blood cells decreases in the body. I desperately needed to get healthy - both mentally and physically.

Things didn't seem to get better no matter how much I tried. My health continued to plummet, and depression took over my mind and body. Everyday was truly a struggle.

I can recall the doctors telling me if I didn't take the initiative to improve my health, my internal organs would most likely shut down - leading to death. I was absolutely terrified when I heard this, and was ready to get healthy.

The Turning Point

The doctors said that gaining weight would solve many of my health problems - as I was severely malnourished. That was obviously my priority at that time. The anemia, depression, and anxiety problems would all be resolved if I was to gain some weight.

I began meeting with a counselor and a nutritionist 2-3 times a week. Nobody was going to force me to eat - I had to take the iniative to feed and nourish my body. I had all the assistance, but the matter was in my hands.

But my anorexia nervosa got the best of me. I simply couldn't eat more calories because I was afraid I would get "fat" due to the fact that I wasn't very active.

The winter holidays went by - my health still declining. I made some realizations and pondered over quite a bit during those holidays. I was tired of being skinny, malnourished, depressed, and picked on at school by the bigger guys. I was ready to get healthy.

A New Year, New Aspirations

I can remember it was the week before New Year's Day, January 1st. I was scheduled for an appointment with my doctor to discuss my failing health.

I told my doctor that I just couldn't manage to eat a large surplus of calories because I was afraid I would just get "fat" because I was the least bit active.

She then made the biggest decision that affected my lifestyle. She recommended that I take up weight training on top of my nutrition program and weekly counseling. Now I had never touched a weight in my life before, so I was a little skeptical of the idea - but I was desperate at this point, and agreed with the decision.

January 1st, the beginning of a new year, arrived shortly after that. I was determined to take matter into my own hands this time. I was ready to improve my health. And honestly, the thought of having some newly acquired muscle mass made me anxious to start weight training and eating right!

Working Out and Eating Right

I began going to the gym three times a week. I didn't follow a set routine like Max-OT, HST, or HIT - but I simply trained upper body twice a week and lower once per week. I was so sore that first week of lifting weights for the very first time in my life. It was so painful!

I began increasing my calories and protein intake, as my nutritionist recommended. Within the first week of doing so, my mood and feeling of well being improved tremendously!

After about 4 weeks of weight training and eating right, I began to notice some nice definition in my chest, shoulders, and arms! My weight went up a total of 8 pounds within a total of 4 weeks - all of it muscle!

The reason I gained so much muscle mass in such a short period of time was based on a few reasons. One of them being "newbie gains" - as I never touched a weight before.

The other reason was simply because I was in a malnourished state for so long, my body was "shocked" when I increased the calories - holding onto every nutrient I consumed desperately. Couple this with weight training, and you got yourself an arsenal for muscle mass!

I continued to workout and eat right week after week, and was impressed with the amazing gains I was getting. For once, I had control over my body.

I then found Bodybuilding.com while I was online one day, and read all that I possibly could. I recall reading articles by Derek Charlebois, Shane Giese, and other inspirational teen bodybuilder writers - and that obviously motivated me more!

Right before the summer of that year, I was weighing 120 pounds at 5'5! I was no longer depressed, my blood disease was non existent, my family problems had straightened out, and I was no longer getting bullied at school by the bigger guys.

Fast Forward

Fast forward to present day.

I'm now 5'7 and 162 pounds solid, preparing for my very first bodybuilding competition in May 2007.

I now have an extremely positive outlook on life because of bodybuilding. Bodybuilding has taught me determination and discipline,, boosted my self-esteem and confidence, and has greatly improved my health - both mentally and physically.

I sometimes think back to when I was sick. What if my doctor hadn't recommended that I should take up weight lifting? Where would I be today?

Bodybuilding truly turned my life around.

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

As I mentioned earlier, I was 13 years old when I began bodybuilding. I don't wish I could have started earlier because then I wouldn't have gotten those "newbie gains" I did when I first began weight training and eating right. Besides, starting bodybuilding at an age under 13 years old is probably not a good idea - as most kids around that age don't have the right mindset to start out on a bodybuilding quest.

Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

My nutritionist and friend, Jon.

He helped me through those difficult times in my early teen years by always motivating me and encouraging me to nourish my body and "feed the muscle." Jon has always been there for me - not just as a nutritionist, but as a friend as well.

Over the summer, I interned at the gym he owns. It was a great experience for me, as I have aspirations to someday own and operate my own gym someday.

Jon has taught me so much about the human body, and I feed off all his knowledge and carry it over to bodybuilding. You can bet that Jon will be there to help prepare for my very first bodybuilding competition come May 2007!

Strive for nothing but the best and never give up!

Mike

Nevel

01-27-2006, 09:19 PM

How/Why:
I was introduced to "weight training" at the end of my 8th grade year of high school. One of my junior high football coaches got a bunch of us together that summer and took us to the gym to work out to build our strength for football. The program that he gave us was more of an aerobic weight training program that had echoes of maybe an advanced training program at a senior center. It did serve the good of introducing us to the atmosphere of a gym and some exercises. After that year, I was the only player to stick with the weight training. I grew from a "husky" 200 pound center to a 290 pound tackle by the time I was a senior (80% of that gain probably being fat). If you would have asked me about my training, I would have told you I was a hardcore lifter with all the answers. I might have even told you that I was a bodybuilder, little did I know that the only thing that I had in common was that I had seen the inside of a gym.

After high school graduation, I got a summer job at a major university as a mover. I thought that I would enter that place and be the greatest and strongest thing they had ever seen. So I showed up the first day and strutted into the shop where everyone met and received their assignments for the day. I was sizing everyone up, feeling rather confident, when in walked the biggest, most muscular guy that I had ever seen in person, Sean. He was around 6'4" tall with huge muscles and one of the leanest bodies ever. I immediately knew that I was nothing. So I made it my plan for the rest of the summer to bond with this guy, who was around 27 at the time, and get to know as much as I could about his training.

After receiving my first paycheck, I went to a nearby Barnes & Noble and decided to browse the sports section. After looking for a while, I came upon a huge black book with white letters that was calling to me from the shelf. It said "Arnold Schwarzenegger The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding". I thought that this book may hold the key to being as huge as my new idol from work. I bought the book, took it home, and started reading it immediately. This was when I became introduced to the true world of bodybuilding. This is when I became a bodybuilder, at the late blooming age of 18.

Reading through the book, I saw tons of exercises and muscle groups that I had never known of before. Besides the exercises, I also noticed that there were sections on Nutrition, systems of training, mental toughness, and posing. It was then that I realized that if I wanted to look like a bodybuilder, I had to focus on more than just my exercises. So I changed my workout plan and eating habits to imitate the ones that the encyclopedia had shown me. The lunches I packed for work became more about protein and less about taste, my meals started to include whey protein and glutamine which were foreign substances to everyone I knew. My time in the gym was spent seeing how hard I could push myself and what I could uncover under the layers of fat.

I became a sponge, soaking up any bodybuilding info that I could get my hands on. I bought out half the bookstore's shelf of bodybuilding books. I spent hours on the internet looking through articles on nutrition and training. I spent every lunch break at work picking Sean's brain, hoping to pick up any bits of knowledge that would fall out of his mouth.

The Schwarzenegger book got me going on nutrition, but bodybuilding.com put the finishing touches on it and made me understand the science behind it, specifically the articles written by Christopher Mohr. I had a new vocabulary that included names of exercises, muscles, supplements, and diets. By the end of summer, I had emerged from my sluggish 290 pound cocoon, a slimmer, happier, healthier 240 pound maniac with iron on my mind. Now I wasn't doing it to look like some guy I saw at work or in a magazine, I was doing it because I loved it.

Age:
Although I think that the age of 18 was maybe 2 or 3 years later than what I wish I could have started at, I am happy that I ever started at all. Bodybuilding was and still is an unknown concept in the small, mining town that I come from. But if I could go back in time, I would have introduced bodybuilding to myself about a year after I entered the gym started weight training. This would make it around the age of 15 or 16, although I question if I would have been mentally tough enough back then to push myself and stay with a strict plan like I can now. This is why when I am home during summers, I work with kids I see in the gym and introduce them to the great sport that I have come to love.

Bonus:
The person who has had the most influence on my bodybuilding career is Dave Draper. When I first started, like a lot of people, I was all about Arnold. I bought all his books, the Pumping Iron DVD, and studied his physique. As time went by, I started reading up on the history of bodybuilding and looking at many old photos of others from Arnold's time. This introduced me to an array of characters unknown to be before. For a small time, I shifted my focus to Franco Columbu, reading his book on nutrition, which inspired me to change my college major from computer programming to sports nutrition.

Right after I changed my major, I discovered the book "Brother Iron, Sister Steel" by Dave Draper. I was in awe of his deep philosophies and poetic use of words in his writings about bodybuilding. It made me see that the sport is not something that I should do to be better than everyone else around me and laugh at the weak, but I should do it for the love of it and welcome anyone who shows interest. I started to see my lifting routine change once again to run parallel with the Blonde Bomber's. I saw more results using his principles than I had ever seen before. Since then I have read his weekly newsletter religiously and used them as inspiration to keep going and never quit.

I find it funny that the person who had the biggest influence on me is someone who I have never talked to or seen in person. I hope that some day I can inspire and influence people whom I have never met.

Stay Strong,
Nevel

Goofxta

01-28-2006, 07:13 PM

I was sitting in the loungeroom one day and my step-mum walked in and goes 'you want to join gym?' and I was like 'yer'

no_strain_no_ga

01-28-2006, 10:06 PM

How did you begin bodybuilding?
I first starting lifting weeks after 8th grade. I was watching WWE and saw the wrestler that were huge and muscular, Like Brock Lesnar and HHH, and was like " Why don't I try to get that big?". I found some of my dad's weights and started lifting with them. I started to love the pump I got from it and then went into the world of bodybuilding.

I began bodybuilding after 6 months of lifting weights. I was getting used to increasing my strength and mass and decided to go further. I asked my parents if they would support me and they said yes and would help me out in any way. I first went to a YMCA gym and worked out there and 3 weeks later, I found some guy that looked like he bodybuild. So I went over and asked and he said yes. Told him I was a neb and needed some help with the basics. He said he would like to help me and told me that he had some equipment at his house that I could have. He brought it over and set it up and then helped me with a routine and diet.That was the beginning.

After 5 months of bodybuilding he introduced me to the world of supplements. We went on the web and looked at all of the kinds. Me going all crazy at the time, I was picking testesterone boosters and HGH. He stopped me right year and told me that it wasn't the time to experiment them on my body and told me I should stick with protein powder and multi-vitamins. I tried them and first was like "egghhh this taste weird", but shortly I got used to the taste and found I was highly favorable of strawberry and bought that flavor.

I got very serious when I went to see a bodybuilding contest in Tampa. Walking around and seeing guys with goliath biceps and vein burst quads, I was in AWE. I couldn't stop imagining myself one day on stage like that. Talking to them and saying that they wished they started younger, like my age, said that maybe I could be bigger than them. So that is what I'm doing, trying to get bigger than them.

I got very motivated to bodybuild after watching "Pumping Iron". Watching Arnold lifting the weights and seeing his freakishly physique, I just said" I'm totally f***ing going to do this for my life". Arnold is basically one of the bodybuilders that got me into bodybuilding.

Why did you start bodybuilding

I started just to get bigger. When I first starting lifting weights, I noticed slightly more mass building on and thought to myself that I could keep on adding more mass and strength, by focusing on getting bigger. I went on here and saw the guys in the "Post Your Pics" forum and said " that is what I would love to look like". I put my mind on that body and said that I can't give up. Seeing them physiques just push me harder to bodybuild.

Okay, I won't lie, another reason I started bodybuilding is for girls. But who else wouldn't like girls asking to feel your biceps or rub your chest and abs? Living by the beach, I can take off my shirt and notice that girls were walking by and noticing my abs and chest. It brings my self-esteem up as well, and that keeps my bodybuilding as well.

Another reason I started to bodybuild, is because I was trying to think what I would do in my life. I was watching WWE and said that looks awesome, look good and get paid for it. So I said whatever I end up doing, if I go into the WWE, I'll be ready and huge. If I don't end up going into the WWE, I'll still be huge.

The last reason was for health. My family traits were shown to have obesity and early heart attacks. I didn't want that to happen to me. I couldn't end my life just because I was unhealthy. I decided that I would never smoke or do any drugs, helping me to live a better life.

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

When I first staring to bodybuild, I was 14 years old, about 2 years ago. I don't think I could have started any earlier. It is also dangerous and unsafe to lift heavy weights, like squates and deadlifts before the age of 13. I'm happy that I started at 14.

************************BONUS********************* ********

Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

Most influential people in my life:

!)Chris Rogers(AKA= YMCA guy)- If I never had met him, I wouldn't have survived bodybuilding. I would still be sitting on the couch watching tv and saying " I wished I could look like that". He's a great man. Very helpful and motivational.

2)Arnold(AKA Governator)- Watching him in "Pumping Iron" and seeing him in magazines and books, made me want to hit those weights. He made me what I am, and I thank hi for that. Just thinking what would Happen if there was no Arnold brings a horror to my face.

3)Parents- I couldn't have done it without them the most. They supported me every second. They helped me when I needed supps or food or when I needed new weights. I love them for everything. Greatest parents ever.

4) The Bodybuilding.com community- Yes, you guys. You all helped me when I had a questioned. You gave me support when I needed it. You made me laugh, cry from laughter, pissed me off or whatever you did. Thanks.

Well I think I'm through. I answered all your questions and gave you my thoughts. Bodybuilding has change my life in so many ways and I don't regret it. Bodybuilding is awesome.

Thanks

Mike Kramer

LIVE STRONG

Naatrons

01-29-2006, 07:06 AM

I started off like most other "bodybuilders" by playing high school sports.... football and track/field. I was an offense and defense of lineman at only 5'8",and a healthy 185lbs. I was pounding weights since I was 14 trying to get "big" for football. I was one of the strongest guys on our team, even at my size, and was 1 of only 3 to get over 1000lbs in the 3 combined lifts (300lb bench, 265 power clean, 450lb squat). Anyway, high school ended and I went to college (Division 3) and threw javelin and hammer for 1 year.... and hated it. So, at a "fluffy" 200 lbs, I decided to lean up and work on overall condition and fitness. 1 month, and 35lbs leaner, I came back to college after Christmas a changed man.

I wish that was the way it went from then on!! But, not going to happen!! I fell in love with running, and decided it was time to push my limits. I trained to run a marathon... and dropped to a fragile 130lbs within 5 months I was weak, I was malnourished because I did not compensate for the incredible amount of calories I was burning. I could run like a horse. But I couldn't pick up a weight to save my soul. I looked, and felt, like COMPELTE CRAP. This ended me in the hospital with Exercise Induced Bradycardia (with a Heart Rate barely over 30-40bpm). I knew I had to make a change to better my life, and the life of my family in the future. I saw a nutrional counselor who helped me get back on track with my diet (and my life!!).

I read up on bodybuilding: Life, diet, everything. I emersed myself in the culture. I bought every magazine I could afford and spent (and do spend!) hours reading about every bodybuilder. I love Flex Wheeler and Lee Priest because they tell it how they see it, and have put themselves on the line, even when others would not have. Plus, it helps to see "shorter guys" with incredible detail make it amongst the MASS MONSTERS. This was when I was 21. It's been 4 years since I "STARTED BODYBUILDING".

Jump ahead to now. I am in my 3rd year of medical school. I am an Officer in the US Navy and will serving my country as a doctor in 1 year. I have made my health and fitness a lifestyle! I hit the gym hard, still love to run but not excessively, and strive push other people to acheive health and wellness, not by words but by example. I have trained with the II MEF, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. These men and women, who put their lives on the line, inspire me to keep going. I need to be at my best 100% of the time to keep them healthy, and able to fight for our country. I don't agree with war, and I would have a hard time doing what they do, but I love and support them with everything in my heart. I had to make changes to my routine to account for the 24-36 hour shift I have to do as a doctor/student sometimes, but its all worth it.

NOW = 152lbs, 5'8" and about 4-5% bodyfat almost all the time. I get asked about 6x a week "what's your bodyfat". All I say is.... "I don't know, I just love to workout." Stay humble, treat other people in the gym with respect and help if you can, regardless of the weight on the bar, or on their figure.

So, why did I start bodybuilding? To save myself, to set an example for my family, and to be the best damn doctor I can for the finest fighting force in the world.

bigkdogsmith

01-29-2006, 08:34 AM

How did you begin Bodybuilding ?

For years I've read bodybuilding magazines wishing I could look like the guys
in them.I didn't have a weight set so all I did was push ups and chins.I would get a great pump doing these excercises and i loved the way "the pump"felt.
I eventually bought some 25 lb dumbells and curled alot with them but was never serious about. I didn'tgain any weight . (Iweighed 150lbs at 6ft!!!!!)At 22 years of age.

WHY DID I BEGIN BODYBUILDING?

I began bodybuilding because I use to take pictures of myself with my shirt off flexing and when I really started looking at the pictures I realized that I was very very skinny and I was ashamed. So I bought a weight set which included a bench, squat rack, and a lat pulldown station. I used it for 2 weeks and I quit it sat up for a year before I used it again.My turning point was when I got dumped by my girlfriend,for a guy that was pretty muscular(at least I thought was muscular I got him beat hands down now).So I decided that I was going to get very big and muscular and next time my ex girfriend saw me she would be in awe.So the bodybuilding began.I started lifting weights 4 times a week and eating good within 6 months I went from 155lbs to 190lbs and it was all muscle. Needless to say when my ex saw me she was in shock and she wanted me back but I let her go on her way.Now I'm up to 230lbs and getting ready for my first show.

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

I was 22 when I started> Ifeel like that was a good age for me because then I was able to afford all the food and supplements needed to pack on mass.

Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

I would have to say my friends and family they really support what i do and what I won't to do. They always tell me that I inspire them to pursue ther dreams in life. With bodybuilding as well as anything else in life you have to know what you want and go after it as if your life depends on it."Keep your eyes on the prize" is what they always tell me.

stay focused
Ken

Big Hook

01-29-2006, 09:42 AM

i was 14 years old when my mom and i went to the grocery store, this is when i first saw (or noticed) a flex magazine, it had ronnie coleman on the front. i thought that it was amazing how huge he was, i practically read the hole thing while my mom was shoping. we didnt have enough money to get a weight bench so i filled up a bunch of laundry detergent jugs with sand and used those as weights. it was pretty tought to do presses with them, but i wanted to lift so bad that it didnt matter, ive been lifting ever since!!

kmk251145

01-29-2006, 10:04 AM

Although I am a frequent “lurker” of this forum, this topic of the week has provoked me to provide my story. It is with utmost respect that I dedicate this story to the person who has been the most influential person to me in bodybuilding, Steve, a mentor, a coach and a friend whose time in this world was ended well before his time.

I first met Steve when I was in first grade. By day, he was a corrections officer. By night, along with his wife, he was a gymnastics coach. Regardless of what hat he was wearing, he was always a competitive bodybuilder to the core who proudly displayed his trophies over his desk at the gym.

Despite sounding really young, I think that I really started bodybuilding when I was in fourth grade. Steve realized and told me that I had amazing potential as a gymnast. I was small, flexible and extremely agile. However, to enhance my skills and increase my level of competitiveness, I needed more muscle mass and strength. He began taking me to the local fitness center and started training me using the same workouts he using for his bodybuilding.

It is hard to think about bodybuilding and gymnastics going hand in hand, but the logic behind his training was simple. The more muscle I could put on, the more strength I would have when I was competing on the various apparatuses. Simply put, bodybuilding resulted in me being able to perform more aggressive and powerful routines. However, Steve also realized that for my needs and goals, I needed to find the balance between muscle mass and my stature; I was extremely short for my age. On the days that were dedicated to weight training, Steve would take me to the fitness center and would guide me through what I remember as extremely intense workouts designed not only to add mass and strength, but retain symmetry and flexibility. He would always preach about those two concepts, symmetry and flexibility. He taught me to retain symmetry between the upper and lower body, between the left and right side and to retain flexibility in all of my muscles and joints. The end result for me was an increase in overall body mass that was well balanced for my stature while retaining a highly degree of flexibility. In all the competitions I competed in after that, I never placed below first and was told on several occasions that I was competing at levels too low for me. Was this age too young to start weight training and bodybuilding? Perhaps, but I don’t think so. I had a great guide to make sure everything I was doing was correct for me and my goals. Should I have started earlier? Absolutely not because I think that if I had started earlier, I would not have had the same amount of responsiveness to weight training as I did.

Although many things have changed over the years, we were always friends and workout partners. As a teenager, after a growth spurt which effectively ended my gymnastics career, Steve continued to put me through intense workout session designed to keep my physique in the best state it could be. In high school I was one of the few people to consistently have the coveted 6-pack abs. During college, I would come home on the weekends to continue to work out with him. It was during this stage of my life that the bodybuilding workouts we were doing produced impressive results in my physical appearance.

Steve was in a fatal motorcycle accident several years ago, but even today as an adult, I have never forgotten his instruction on bodybuilding and weight lifting. The principles he taught me I still live by today. Every time I am in the gym now I look around to all of the people who could have benefited from knowing Steve.

dcarmickle

01-30-2006, 07:39 AM

-------------------------------------------------------------

Not many of us just woke up one day and decided to start working out. Something possessed us to start pumping iron. Maybe it was 'Punping Iron', Arnold's first movie. Something had a major impact on us, so major it changed our lifestyle.

How did you begin bodybuilding?

How did I begin in bodybuilding? Well honestly, it was an accident, as is fairly typical of me, I stumbled into bodybuilding and fell for it. See I had no intentions of adding muscle or shaping my body (well if you can call it that, still a work in progress you see). I just didnt want to be so fat anymore. With that thought in hand I wandered aimlessly into our local Gold's Gym and got my cookie cutter workout and started losing weight. Well I had done that before and after about 6 weeks or so, I got bored and quit. Well this time was no different, with one exception, I was still bored but instead of quitting I utilized my online skills and stumbled on this wonderful wealth of information in which we are now writing. Yep good ole www.bodybuilding.com, and to be honest I was amazed by the content. So armed with my new found knowledge I headed back into my gym with a new fire and drive that still fuels me to this day...

Why did you begin bodybuilding?

Okay I am gonna stretch this one a bit and provide a little background so you understand why I am bodybuilding. See stretching back about 8 years you find me at 19, as a description I was a very good athlete who was overweight. I was constantly hearing man he was fast for a big guy, etc... You know the polite way to say, he is good but he would be better if he lost those extra pounds. I wasnt tremendously overweight but at 5'11" and 240lbs (I have a massive bone structure as well) I was not in shape either. Anyhow, I had a bomb dropped on me that really sent me spiralling into the realms of the overly obese, or at least the crutch I used to justify my obesity. I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Type Lymphoma (a type of cancer). During the period of my treatment, I went from a fairly active person, to a total couch potato. In all fairness I did feel like crap, however when treatment was over I was still a couch potato. In a period of 9 months I ballooned up to 280lbs and over the next several years I gained more and more until last January I weighed in at 340lbs...in other words FAT. Well not only was I fat, I had developed type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and had high cholesterol. According to my doctor I was heading toward a heart attack before I was 30. At that point I knew I had to change, hence the wandering aimlessly into Gold's Gym. That was round about mid February early March as best I can recollect...So now you know the past, now as to the why. First and formost on my list is the fact that I have 4 beautiful children and I wanted to be around to see them grow up and somehow I didnt think having a heat attack before I was thirty would have been a good way to start that. Not to mention I wanted to set a positive example for them when it came to health in general. It doesnt hurt that my oldest is a beautiful athletic blonde who always looks like she stepped off the beach, and knowing she is going to be the first one to date, I thought the intimidation factor would be helpful in keeping the boys in check. Beyond that I also hated the fact that when my wife introduced me to old friends, they looked at me like why would she marry him...she is so beautiful and he is so FAT...But my health is really what I wanted, and bodybuilders are the epitome of health in my eyes...and I want that. And so far so good...I am back to 240...but now I am only about 18.5% bodyfat...still a long way to go but that is part of the fun.

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

I started training when I was 27 years old. I most definitly wish I had started a long time ago. I absolutly love the feeling, the challenge and the results I am seeing. However had I started earlier I dont know if I would have appreciated what I was doing, at least not to the same level that I appreciate bodybuilding today.

Bonus Question: Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

This is a really simple answer on the surface, the most influencial to me is JoAnn, Baylee, Riley, Piper and Anakin Carmickle...in other words my wife and children...Everytime I consider slacking off all I need to do is look at them for inspiration. As far as professionals that influence me, I would have to say I am most influenced by Jay Cutler...his physique is impressive and I love that fact that he never backs off he has finished 2nd so often in Olympia, but he doesnt let it get him to down...he just works harder and comes back stronger...he deserves a win soon.

Dallas68

01-30-2006, 11:31 AM

:)

TOPIC: How Did You Begin Bodybuilding?

-------------------------------------------------------------

Not many of us just woke up one day and decided to start working red out. Something possessed us to start pumping iron. Maybe it was 'Pumping Iron', Arnold's first movie. Something had a major impact on us, so major it, changed our lifestyle.

Possession is a strong word and lends itself to many spiritually disturbing entities.
Luckily we shall not be dueling or casting incantations in this article.

Yet I can perhaps thank the spirits or whatever you want to refer to, for helping me along the way.

Instead we shall look at how exactly we as human beings, decided to improve our physiques on a very long and lonely road.

This is my story

************************************************** *****************

There are stories all over the world about people with serious disabilities or diseases, and how some overcome them through sheer will power and sometimes using weight training.

People change but it mostly due to something that seriously alters their lifestyles. We will deal with this issue in regards to bodybuilding.

Some were destined to be stars on the Olympia stage.
Such as “The Oak” Arnold Swarchenegger, he had big plans and they catapulted him beyond the comprehension of most.

How did you begin bodybuilding?

“The lean machine”

No I am not talking about the latest protein mixer made by some health store. I am talking about my older middle brother.

He sparked the fuse to my current and future destiny.

He is a good 5 years older than me, and had finished his final schooling year as I hit high school.
He always is eating healthily and shedding the fat on a daily basis.

He has abdominals that could cut a diamond in half, as well as veins to match any top competitor on the pro circuits of the bodybuilding world.
He said I should get into lifting weights; I of course started doing it in our backroom. This had a simple bench press from my cousin, along with free weights and a machine by Trojan.

(I started lifting in about 9th grade fooling around and the like.)

Slowly and surely I began to enjoy it more and more, the bodybuilding bug beginning to chew away at me.

I ate moderately clean. I did have a load of tuna; I realize now that was probably why I was so mental in the gym.
However I was always very keen to workout due to the tuna’s effects.
I do not eat as much tuna anymore due to the risks of the side effects.

My performance became better on the field, yet I started to not enjoy the school sports as much anymore. I wanted to be Bigger, Stronger, and better in the bodybuilding aspect.

The next huge step for me, was finding BODYBUILDING.COM I am not sure on which fateful day I clicked into the site, but I know it was an awesome beginning of knowledge.

The past year I have dedicated myself 100% to learn and discuss. Find those who follow what I follow.
Everyday I read new articles on

Nutrition
The mind
Training
And so on.

On May 2005 I joined the illustrious BB Forum. This was another sub chapter to opening up an entire world to me. I had professional bodybuilders, nutritionists, power lifters and fellow teen bodybuilder’s right there for me to question!

I have learned a load about discipline and courtesy from key members in the forum.

Now a year later, I can firmly plant my feet on the ground and say with confidence I have finally grown up and am happy with myself 100%.

I am well known in my grade to be the guy to talk to, for all things bodybuilding. I have various nicknames and I am sure they are shared with all of us Meat-Heads.

I have no shortage of compliments from those around me. I try stay modest as I do not want to have a big ego. Yet I always have a smile on my face since I know im doing something which is good to do.

Dallas68

01-30-2006, 11:34 AM

Why did you begin bodybuilding?

I did discuss the spark (my brother) who decided my fate, yet you must understand my background. To know what events led me to become part of a worldwide family of iron maniacs I must delve into the recesses of my mind.

Me, myself, I, thee, Uno, I decided one un-remarkable day to body build and to lift that crushing iron.

It sadly is partly a blur, sometimes an individual seems to forget parts of the past. For what I do remember, the previous years of me, creates a vivid tale for which was a tough time in my own world, in my mind.

My personal Sanitarium no one else’s it was and still is all mine to keep, no one understood and still do not at all.

I was born on the 6 September, at 6:00 exactly in the morning, in 1989.

Growing up I was a thin and flexible young character. I did gymnastics and ran non stop around the garden. Of course this was when I was at least 6+ years old.

AS I neared standard 3 and 4 I did not have the same vigor as I did when I was younger. The gymnastics moved away, I started piling my stomach with packets of chocolate and other disgusting foods. This of course multiplied the fat cells to create a partially distended belly.

I would play television games that had no meaning for hours on end. No physical activity led to extra fat gains.

I had become an overweight bully. Yes unfortunately I was partly a bully, because I was so angry and frustrated by my appearance I hated it with a passion. Therefore I directed it unto others.

*Now many people out there believe that kids at about 11 or 13 years of age still don’t see or feel the evils of the world they are wrong.
I felt rage everyday not the kind you get in the average work place, but a deep internal rage.
I literally would feed on it and invoke others in it. It was terrible; I would enjoy providing sheer harm to others.
The more tortured they felt, the more I smiled and laughed.
I would go home and punch the wall repeatedly.
I hated my life, absolutely hated it. I couldn’t tell anyone, I didn’t know how so I kept it inside.*

My mom tried helping me by making me run around the block but that did not help too much as I had no intention of carrying on with anything that made me sore in my sides. I did feel good but I was like many other overweight people, I had no hope and could not see the bigger picture.

In P.T or Physical Torture as I called it, I could not even run 400 meters without tiring myself out.

Yes I was that bad and out of shape at such a young age.

In Standard 5 or when I was about 12 or 13 years old. I started growing a little taller and finally had a bit of shape in my body. I still had a gut, but I was hardly who I was in previous years.

I had more friends, girls were talking to me and I generally was 70% happy about life. I had changed a lot I was not nearly as much of a bully as I used to be and I was a nice guy, which is what people told me.

However all things come to a point where the abyss decides to tip you too far over the edge.
In my final year at my primary school, I yes me nobody else just myself, wanted to jump off the three story building of my school.

Now that was no simple threat to anyone, I was at the third story, crying yes I admit it, with my feet on the inside ledge ready to climb over.

I somehow still felt everything was not right on that day; my academics were not good, I felt alone, although my family gives me all the love I have ever wanted daily.

My friends were there by me, I am not sure if they were there the whole time or found me by myself.

They talked to me calmly and said that if I were to do this, I would break my family’s hearts, as well as end my life before I have done what I am here for.

Obviously it worked and I am here today. I can say I am truly blessed to have those kinds of people as my friends.

Now off to High School.

Let us fast forward to my high school career. We were made to do two sports a year which I have no problem with and in the winter months I started playing rugby.

This sport totally changed my outlook on everything, my physique changed and most importantly my cardiovascular health went through the roof.

The previous question is answered mainly in my high school career.

Dallas68

01-30-2006, 11:38 AM

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

I was around 15 years of age when I started doing it a little more focused.

I wish a load of things but that is not one of them. I say this contrasting answer due to a simple thought.

If it were any different would I be where I am now?
Would I be eating boring food for fuel instead of food for pleasure?
Would I put weight on my back repeatedly and squat it for reps? I cannot answer that.

I am glad for what has happened, it could not be any better; I know where I am going and I say bugger-off to anyone who states differently.

I can simply only help those around me young or old to better themselves physically and mentally, like I did.

Bonus Question: Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

My brother, Dexter Jackson and Ronnie Coleman are guys who stand out in my head.

Firstly you know about my brother and the influence he put on me and my whole life.

Then there is Dexter Jackson or “The Blade” as he is called. He recently came to visit my country. He had a question and answer session, signing session and a posing routine. It was awesome.

No matter how you feel, as I went to get my shirt signed and so on, I trembled as I talked to him. Here is a guy I truly admire talking to me one on one.

It’s incredible, he said to me that he used to look like me around my age and that I looked pretty good for my age.

Talk about a confidence booster.

He looks the part of a true bodybuilder with hardly any flaws. And from what I read in local bodybuilding magazines from his tour in South Africa. He is a true Gentleman and a great leader of this sport.

Ronnie Coleman, the 8 Sandow’s winner. He came the year before Dexter did, to my country for partly the same routine of signing and so on.
I did not have an opportunity to speak to him as the queue was way too long.

But he did pose and talk about his life and all of that. He is an incredible man and is equally MASSIVE.

YOU think the magazines show his true size?? He is completely and totally ridiculously huge in real life; it’s actually so intense you cannot truly realize his mass for the first ten minutes.

Just to know how he pushes himself and the kind of person he is at heart makes me admire him so much.

My brother who helped me so much has his own idol. Lance Armstrong and I also think he is an absolutely amazing individual. To have all the deadly health issues he had, and basically to fight back, then go on to win the Tour De France?

That’s true courage.

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY LIFE AND ALL THOSE WHO SURROUND IT FROM MY FAMILY TO MY FRIENDS TO THE PEOPLE ON THE BB FORUMS I CAN NEVER THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH…

and no i cant send protein shakes via E-mail ;)

Jelowe

01-30-2006, 04:32 PM

I began bodybuilding as I transitioned out of lifting for specific sports. After high school I gave up school sports to focus on my studies. This is when I began bodybuilding. My dad had Muscle & Fitness magazines laying around and I began reading the training articles and learning how bodybuilders trained versus training for sports specific activities. I joined a gym right out of high school and began bodybuilding from that point.

I decided to begin bodybuilding for several reasons. I wasn't very gifted for sports. I was slow, small, couldn't jump very high, or kick a ball worth a crap. I played football and did well because I liked to hit and had good technique. It wasn't because I was physically gifted. Eventually everybody hit puberty and passed me by.

I also liked that bodybuilding was such a mind game in the sense that you always have your mind telling you to quit, to put the weight down, to stay in bed. I liked pushing myself and seeing what I could accomplish. I think this mental challenge is what motivates me the most to keep bodybuilding.

I think the biggest reason for starting initially was that I was good at it. For having a small frame I could put on muscle easier than most. I was also very strong. I could outlift most of the lineman back when I played football.

I don't necessarily wish I would have started earlier. I started when I started. I'm not going to worry anybody on a national level or higher on stage.
I do it for me and love the challenge it provides.

I don't have a most influential person in my bodybuilding experience. I have people and places along the way that have brought me to where I am. Certain workouts in certain places with certain people that I'll always remember. Squat Saturdays with the powerlifters in the late 80's. Watching Billy Bob Poston squat 920lbs like nothing. Gary Hansen benching 620lbs. like nothing. Doing workouts that you know during and after were special. Those are what influences me to keep going. To make more of those special workouts you'll never forget. Only a fellow lifter would ever understand.

colombianofreak

01-30-2006, 04:37 PM

I looked at Ronnie Coleman and my jaw dropped to the floor. Upon hours of gazing and taking in the whole bodybuilding world I instantly knew that it was in my future! BB for life!

steve--69

01-30-2006, 06:27 PM

i began bodybuilding after my drug addiction problem. i was 15 years old and was kicked out of my house for doing all sorts of drugs like they were going out of style. After my parents decided too give my a second chance i decided to clean up and try to keep myself busy. i walked by the gym one day and I took off from there.

as i first started not having a clue i did what thousands of teens are doing as u are reading this, chest and arms every day because you know no better. once i started reading and looking up on it i discovered that there was more body parts then chest and arms. I seen all these huge guys and i fell in love with the sport, and had no desire what so ever to touch any drugs again. All i wanted was to get big. IN a way i believe that the gym has saved my life i have friends now that i used to hang with that are hooked on crack, sniffing coke daily and popping E all the time., even using intervenus drugs and i think i would have been right there with them.

I was 15 years old at the time when i started to hit the gym, I do wish i would have started earlier cause then i would have not hurt my parents as much as i have in the past and not have gotton so many friends into drugs that I once did. I am responsible for where a lot of my friends are today because i was the first to enter the drug scene and pulled many of my friends into it

All the huge guys in the magazines have been very infuential, they make me want to be huge soooo bad. especially Jay cutler he is my god. I also train for competitions and i see pictures of the guys im goin up against whick inspires me to keep going. I come from a small town which means I train in a small town gym which i work at as well. My boss is the sweetest lady in the whole world besides my mother of course who gave me so much support and taught me so much and has always been there for me , almost like a second mother. Right now i am the happiest i could ever be my life revolves around the gym i am getting stronger and bigger than ever and loving it. Drugs are not cool remember that. I am now 17 yrs old, squat 315, for reps, 300 bench, 455 deadlift , and thats my story

rayteresa4

01-31-2006, 07:26 PM

How did you begin bodybuilding? Very good question to think about indeed. I suppose I began bodybuilding just by adding more and more weight to my lifting routines, and partnering up with my husband in the gym. I have always worked out, but over the last six years my husband and I have really hit it hard, and pushed eachother each week harder and harder.

I began bodybuilding seriously for competition about a year ago when a trainer at the gym I belong to and another friend there competed in the local Ironman competition. The trainer won 3rd in Fitness and Figure, and my other friend won 1st overall for Novice Women. Both of them being older than myself, I thought if they can do it, then so can I. I have always had an athletic body, and it is shaping up real nice. The more I train, and head to competition date, the more I am excited to even step foot on the stage...what an accomplishment to get even that far.

When I began seriously bodybuilding I was 30 years old, now 31. As I said above, I have always workedout with weights and lifted and was on swim team for many years through high school, but never seriously considered bodybuilding until the last year. I do not necessarily wish I could have started earlier as it might not have been the right time in my life for such an activity. I feel everything happens for a reason and at the right time...now is that time for me.

The most influential person, rather people in my bodybuilding career have been my husband, and children. My husband as he drags me out of bed when I don't want to get out and go workout, he is the conscience sitting on my shoulder telling me you really don't need that martini, or that extra serving of some really good pasta or pizza. He is my all and everything, he directs me and pushes me to lift harder and more weight. My children have been influential as they are 10 and 11, and they tell me that I am the prettiest mom they know, that their friends say they have a really pretty mom, and that they are excited to see what I look like when I am ready to compete. My husband and children are very supportive and encouraging. The best influences I could ever have.

ooi33

01-31-2006, 07:52 PM

When I am at the age of 17, I am 5'9 and 190 lbs and my waist is about 38...... After I finish my high school, I think I should working out myself since I am out of shape badly. Since my dad learn kickboxing before, so he instruct me some basic kickboxing. Eventually I get hooked to body build when I am doing conditioning for kickboxing, I feel energetic and confident whenever I lift weight. Just about a year time, I lose about 30 lbs!!! And I gain some muscle, although I didnt get some 6pack abs, I manage to get 4! Now, whenever I participate in what game, I feel I've got the advantage. Now I am 19 year-old, 5'10 and 155lbs and my waist is just 32! ( Targetting to train my harmstring and quadriceps now) I really wish I could start earlier because I also love to play basketball, and squat and lunges indeed increase my vertical jump for a little ( I am not using very heavy weight).
The most influential person to my bodybuilding will definetly be my dad, he is 57 this year, but he is still very strong and punch the bag like he was 20! Furthermore, all my weight lifting bought by him :P

since1984

01-31-2006, 09:05 PM

How and why did you begin bodybuilding?
I started lifting weights about 5 years ago. I played soccer for my high school and new coache wanted all soccer players to participate in weight lifting with football players. First day was chest day and all the football players were doing bench press. Every football players were using least 45 plates on each side and warming up. I thought i was pretty strong so i put on 45 on each side and told my friend to lift it off the rack. When my friend let the bar go, I could not control the weights and droped it on my chest. Also i did not use any safety clip so when weight tilted to the left side, 45 pound plate fell off. after that you know what happens lol. Fortunately it was not too much weight so my chest was fine and nobody next to me got heart from the bar swinging around. I was really embarassed because everybody in the gym was looking at me kind of weird. I got mad at myself and realized that I am not that strong. I wanted to get stronger and prove to my peers that I am stronger. Since than I studied about work out everyday and lifted weight like crazy. I was into weight training so much i quit soccer and played football my junior and senior year. At the end of my senior year in high school, i was top 10 strongest person in my high school(Bench+Squad+power clean). Motivation to get stronger than my peers made me work out harder and get into bodybuilding.

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?
I was 16. I kind of wish started earlier. However, I had to go through the incident and made me more motivated so I do not regret it at all.

Bonus Question: Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?
Girls lol. and my football coach for help me learn basic work outs. AND teaching me about the importance of nutritients

XXLRDL

02-01-2006, 09:27 AM

I had just gotten a second shift job which required NO activity at all. I was sleeping till 11:00, going to work at 1:00, comming home, eating a late dinner and going to bed. I was getting lazy and out of shape. I started going to a local gym in the morinings just to get my a$$ outta bed earlier.

The gym was owned by a competitive bodybuilder named George - I'll leave his last name out. He took me under his wing and taught me about technique and nutrition. Within a month, I started seeing changes. I was 24 years old. I'm 39 now and have been addicted ever since.

When I started, I was 180 lbs at 6' 3". Within a year I got up to 220 lbs. Now, at age 39, I weigh 290 lbs and am a competitive powerlifter. My best bench press is 480 lbs. I'm looking to get my bench over 600. I'll be posting in the training forum soon with my progress and to look for any tips I can get. Keep an eye out for that.

Dallas68

02-01-2006, 10:16 AM

Squat_lt

02-01-2006, 05:34 PM

How did you begin bodybuilding? / Why did you begin bodybuilding?

The beginning

As I remember myself, I’ve always been very week kid. My immune system was terrible and I ought to be sick very often. I was one of weakest pupils in my class. I was very shy and unconfident, probably mostly because of how I looked. I was typical small and skinny guy. I was almost 14 years old, my height was 5’5 and I weighted 110Lbs. I’ve always hated PE class. Especially all power exercises like push-ups and chin-ups. I was struggling at all other sports as well. I knew that I must do something to become stronger and put on some weight.

I could consider spring 2002 as my rebirth. My friend invited me to train at local gym. I was hesitating for few days, but finally I realized that it’s my chance. I fell in love with bodybuilding from my first days at gym. Even when all my muscles were terribly sore I had will to train again. Later I was surprised how quickly I’ve improved my health and strength. I’ve gained a few pounds in my first weeks. I loved atmosphere at gym and I was feeling that I will train for long. I was really impressed with my newbie gains.

I’ve started from casual 2 days split workout. I was using very low weights, high sets and reps but I progressed quickly. I remember that I’ve started bench press with empty barbell. However summer came and I had to make few months break. When I came back to gym at autumn I’ve realized that I lost almost everything that I gained in those few months. I started again, and I was training till summer 2003. I’ve made some nice strength gains, but it was very difficult to gain mass. At that time I knew little about nutrition and I didn’t use any supplements. I was typical hardgainer and my body type is mostly ectomorphic. But I was happy with my progress anyway and I had hopes to get big in future.

Warm up

It was autumn of 2003. I’ve changed my living location, so I’ve changed my gym as well. Only then I’ve understood how one gym differs from the other. When I’ve entered second gym of my life, I was same skinny kid as one year ago. I made second summer break, and again I’ve lost a lot. I remember that moment even today. I was standing at entrance, week and tired from long summer holidays. At that time I weighted 132Lbs. on my 5’6 scrawny frame. But I was not disappointed, I knew that everything waits in future. I was prepared for next level of my training. I was prepared for serious training.

When I started training again, I was introduced to all basics of bodybuilding and powerlifting. Even when I was training for more than one year, I hardly knew how to do all exercises properly. I met great trainers and I’m very thankful to them. I started to learn doing all exercises in correct way. Finally I’ve understood importance of nutrition in bodybuilding.

Now I’ve wanted to pack some serious mass. I was so paranoid about nutrition that I started to eat various food in great portions. I ate a lot… I started to do some basic compound movements like squats and deadlifts. I was struggling at beginning but after some time I’ve got the point. I was very motivated and I had plenty of will to change my appearance. I was dedicated to sport every week, every day, every workout, every set and every rep… My gains were not quick, but I was progressing steadily.

I’ve also tried some supplements. It was like miracle for me. I was waiting for something incredible. But later, after some disappointment, I’ve realized that it’s only addition to food. Supplements can’t substitute proper diet. However I believe that supplements helped me a lot. First I’ve tried some calorie dense weight gainers, later some creatine. I bought some multivitamins as well. At that time my health improved tremendously. I haven’t caught any illness in 1 year time. That was huge surprise for me, my parents and my relatives. I felt bigger and stronger every day… But it was only a start of my transformation…

First Challenge

As I continued to train with my new trainers, I progressed quickly and they saw my dedication to sport. One day, when I was doing my casual chest workout, one of my trainers came to have a chat with me. He offered his personal training for free and he proposed that I should try going to powerlifting competition. I was surprised of his offer. I hesitated for a few moments but I accepted my new challenge. I knew that I will have to train hard, I knew that I will have to push myself to a limit and I was fearless.

Start of preparation was tough. I’ve started to do full and deep barbell squats for first time in my life. And that was biggest barrier to successful competition. I’ve started doing them with 80Lbs. I was struggling with my technique, all movement was strange and awkward. My lower back was week and it was failing completely when I tried to put more weight. I was very nervous about it. I knew that competition is after two months and I need to do something quick. Only my trainer helped me to stay confident. He was calm and sure that everything will be all right.

As I continued my training everything was getting better. I was following typical low rep strength program and progress didn’t go through. My squats improved tremendously. Now I was working with 175Lbs. It was still low weight, but it was something for 15 years old kid, who recently struggled with empty barbell. I felt that I’ve made big progress and I loved it. My legs blew like balloons. I gained much size ant my lower body. I was always genetically gifted with it, I just didn’t realize my true potential. However when I was focusing on my back and legs, my chest was left neglected. Only few weeks to the contest I’ve realized that it’s my most lagging body part now. Things got even worse when I hit a terrible plateau. I just couldn’t progress any more. I’ve felt very depressed again. I was afraid of failing that competition and finishing dead last. But my trainer kept my on hold again.

The competition was closer and closer. I was doing only finishing touches to my training. I was still far from great, but I was optimistic. Last day before competition I knew that I did everything I could do. I was training very hard for all 3 months and now I need to show to myself what I’ve achieved. Only last step left… the competition…

Competition day

I remember that day perfectly. It was probably most important event in my life at that time. Competition started at early morning. I got up early, I was trying to stay calm, but I was nervous. It was first true challenge in my life. It was rainy day. I went to gym for weight checking. The scale showed exactly 155Lbs. I looked around gym, I felt tightness in the air. Everybody was serious and concentrated. I didn’t spend too much time in there and I went home. I had a light meal and I started concentrating to my goal. Finally time has come. I left my home…

I came to gym a little too late. Everyone was already warmed up. I quickly did a quick warm up and competition started.

It was strange, but now I felt strong and confident. And my name was called… I slowly stood up and proceeded to my first lift. The bench press. All my attempts were successful. My best was 180Lbs.

It was a slow break and we all proceeded to next lift – Squats… I knew that I have some difficulties with this exercise, but I remained calm. Finaly it was my turn. I gathered all strength and proceeded to squat rack. All my lifts were successful again. Best one was 275Lbs. I was happy enough with my result. Now I felt completely calm. I knew that hardest part is over…

Finally the deadlifts… I was confident and I finished my last lift proudly. I hit 280Lbs. Now I completely went to ecstasies. I knew that I did my best. I’ve achieved what I could…

Awards… I was youngest participant in that contest and I took 3rd place. I was only 15. Actually I was proud of myself, my trainer and my parents were proud as well. Now I’ve realized how much a person can change if he has strong will and dedication…

Squat_lt

02-01-2006, 05:37 PM

Training at my A level

I made a small break after my competition and I continued to train. It was summer of 2004. I knew that I can’t afford to take all summer break. Finally I was learning from my mistakes. I continued to train even when my friends were enjoying holidays and having fun. Training was most important thing to me.

Some time passed. I was training like before. I was progressing but it seemed to be slower and slower. I started to think what I could do to get in track again. I’ve tried various training programs, some new supplements, but nothing worked. I've reached huge plateau. I understood that something is wrong but I was not sure what. Suddenly my plans changed and I put sport to second place in my life. I was approaching my junior exams and I knew that studies are more important thing. I didn’t stop training but it was in second plan.

When I passed all exams I started to thing about sport again. It was summer of 2005. I knew that I need to do something more advanced to progress again. I've started a research in internet and I’ve discovered bodybuilding.com . It was huge discovery for me. I found dozen things that I need to emphasize in my training. I was reading a lot. I was reading about everything. From supplements to training. I tried to know everything. Later I found bodybuilding.com forum. It was another great source of knowledge for me. I spent hours in front of computer, reading all stuff that I didn’t know before.

I’ve made a lot improvement in my training. I switched to heavy compound movements. Later I’ve found MAX-OT training program and I loved it. My strength went through the roof. I was surprised how quickly I overcame all plateaus and started to progress again.

Next step that I’ve radically changed was my nutrition. I carefully created a nutrition program and I started counting calories. I threw out all junk food out of my regimen. I followed high protein, moderate carbs diet. After a few weeks I was shocked. I’ve gained nearly 10Lbs. in one month. My intensity and strength increased even more. I started to drink more water. I’ve realized that I was always dehydrated before. My lustiness increased tremendously. Only now I’ve understood that good nutrition is core part of your training program.

Another important thing I understood more was supplements. This forum changed my views dramatically. Finally I’ve chosen supplements that suit me best. I’ve also learned a lot about proper use of them.

Finally I carry my 180Lbs. frame with a confident walk. I’m not a skinny, weak child anymore. I’ve achieved something but all greatness is not yet accomplished. I’m training for more than 3 years, but I’m starting to understand my body only now. I look forward in my life and I see bright future. Bodybuilding is like science. More you understand – more it gets confusing. You won’t achieve anything in one day. But you can certainly make a huge transformation over a period of time if you really want …

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

When I’ve started bodybuilding I was 14. Did I wish that I could have started earlier? Maybe… Actually I wish I have started some other sport way earlier in my life. I would have been too young for bodybuilding if I would have started earlier. I think I would be much stronger now if I would have started something earlier. Bodybuilding was my first sport. When I’ve started to train, my body was very week and not used to any kind of physical activity.

In my opinion it’s very good to start something from your early days and move to heavier sports like bodybuilding or powerlifting later. But if you didn’t start anything in your early days – it’s never too late. Whenever what you start and when you start – it’s never too late…

Bonus Question: Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

It would be very hard to name a single person who has been most influential in my career. Many people had a really big influence in my sport. First of all I would need to name my mother. She encouraged me to start training and she always supported my ideas. She would always say a nice word if I’m feeling depressed.

Later on I would include my trainers. When I saw big friendly guys with big knowledge, I knew that one day I want to be like them. They always pushed me to train harder, I’ve learned bodybuilding basics from them and I’m pretty sure that I won’t be achieved as much today if I wouldn’t listen to great advices from my trainers.

All people that I’ve trained with also made a big impact in my career. You can get a good push from your training partner and he can be best opponent of you. Also when you see stronger guys training along with you, somewhere deeply in your mind, you want to be better. Be stronger, lift more than others do…

This list wouldn’t be complete if I would skip all great bodybuilders. When I entered to gym first time in my life, I saw these posters of amazing legend bodybuilders like Shawn Ray, Dorian Yates, Serge Nubret and Lee Haney… They certainly boosted my motivation to train. Also movies like “Pumping Iron” or “The Cost of Redemption” really elevates you to reach new heights…

Kill_yourself

02-01-2006, 08:04 PM

How Did You Begin Bodybuilding?

Bodybuilding to me is not just about going to the gym and showing people about how much I can squat and bench. To me bodybuilding is a center stage for me to showcase how far I have come from the humble beginnings of a 90lbs frame.

How did you begin bodybuilding?

Bodybuilding has been exactly been a bed of roses for me. I have been training for close to 15 years up to date and you can be sure I had my fair shares of moments where I just want to give up. I could still remember my parents were strongly discouraging me from bodybuilding. It was like a “fact” that if you do bodybuilding, I would not be able to grow and develop like a normal child. Although these concepts were completely groundless and out of this world, it is a fact what I had to deal with from my family.

But I also had taken a liking towards sports. But genetically I was not exactly the gifted kind that the gym class teacher would be proud of. I was the back marker in everything I did. I was slower, lighter and weaker than most kids. I was 90lbs of bones with a 5’10 frame. So just imagine for a second what that would look like. Not very nice actually, even a slight breeze would send me flying.

So one day I decided that I was going to take control of my life. I was going to be the master of my destiny and I was going to do whatever it told to get in shape. So I was eager start working out. I had no idea of what to do or anything like that so I had to start reading up on my own. Like most people, I started with the magazines. I was buying the magazines and reading it more than I was reading my textbook. And because my parents were very hostile towards me taking up bodybuilding, I would not be allowed to read magazines like these at home. So everytime I bought a magazine, I would have to read it while I was out and not in the comfort of the room. And I would make sure that I would read every single line of nutrition and training advice written on there. So because I could not bring it home I had to take down notes and bring the notes home and pass the magazine to a friend for same keeping. It was as if I was doing something illegal.

After school I would go to the school gym to workout. The first week was absolutely torturous for me. I would see these really buff guys pressing and squat plate after plate and sometimes they were not very nice either. They will take their own sweet time to use it and I could only start to touch the weights only after most of the crowd has cleared. Soon I made a schedule of the peak hours and so fore and I would try to avoid it. I was very determined to get my body in check. But your determination can only go so far without proper guidance. I didn’t have anyone to teach me the real ways to do things. The only guide I had was from the magazines and so I followed its methods.

4 months later I was starting to see some shape in my body, not much but at least I can see the humble beginnings of a chest forming and a decent bicep peak. But considering what I had to go through, that was absolutely nothing. I was in the gym 5 times a week and I was eating like a pig and still that was all I got. I had to step up my game. And at the same time, my parents were noticing my slight change of body size. So I had to always wear loose clothing or put on a jacket. Every time they suspected I was doing bodybuilding, I would definitely get a good 1 hour lecture at least.

So another 3 months went by and I was starting to see no improvements in my body size. I didn’t know what I was doing that didn’t gain size. I considered that fact that maybe it was just my genetics. Maybe I was just cursed to have a small body for life and if I wanted to change that. I would have to buy and use steroids. I was obsessed! I had no sense of logic or reasoning.

This was the beginning of a dark part of my life. I was starting to work very hard to save enough money to get some steroids. Although I knew the full consequences of my actions, I had no choice. I felt that as long as I could get strong. I will sacrifice anything for it. So after another 1 month of working, I had saved enough money and gained a stable part time job to supply my potential drug abuse.

I bought Dianabol, Deca-Durabolin, Sustanon 250 and Nolvadex. And I was told by the dealer on how to use it. And obviously this was not a regular dealer, he also sold other kinds of drugs. Like weed, cocaine, heroin and stuff like that. So I was tempted to buy some too just to try it for fun. I bought a pack of ecstasy. So bringing my new found miracle home, I was delighted and eager to use it. At this time I was careful that I kept everything secret but I was using the steroids and ecstasy on a regular basis. I would use these drugs in my bathroom and made very sure I left no wrappings around the house.

After just 3 weeks, I seen some amazing results in my body and I was happy and satisfied. By this time, my parents knew that I was doing bodybuilding so they took away my allowance. But with my part time job, I didn’t really care. I had to pay for my own food, my membership fees, my transport and my drugs. For the first few weeks I was still able to support my way of living, because of the money I had saved. But soon enough I was starting to run into a dead end. It was sad moment for me because my parents were threatening to kick me out of the house and I was not earning enough to live by myself. At that same time I was beginning to have an addiction towards the steroids and the ecstasy.

This was when I met this guy called john. He was one of the instructors at the gym and I got to know him through a mutual friend and I told him about my situation. He immediately gave me a list of things to do. Like, how to slowly get rid of the addiction, what medication should I get, where can I find help. So I was taken under his wing and he slowly and gradually took me off my addition towards drugs.

He started to give me a real tough workout to follow but I was unable to keep up because of the lack of my drugs. But still through his encouragements I was able to pull through to train 6 times a week with 4 times of cardio too in improve my cardiovascular levels.

After just 5 months after that, I achieved a decent natural body that I could be proud of without the use of drugs. I was very lucky that I met him before I had grown any serious addiction for drugs. From then on, I am proud to say that till this day, I have never touched a single pill of drug. Because I know that although it is a choice whether or not to use it, I CHOOSE not to use it!

Kill_yourself

02-01-2006, 08:06 PM

Why did you begin bodybuilding?

So after 15 years of bodybuilding, I look back at the time I started and think about why I even wanted to get a good body. Because as a kid, I was a small kid made up of bones and skin, I was embarrassed to talk to people and I had very little friends. But the main reason was because I was getting bullied. As a kid, I was a very weak person and I was bullied by a group of guys on quite a regular basis. I would get pushed around in the hallway and I was not able to fend for myself. Living in quite a rough neighborhood, I had no choice but to tolerate this abuse day after day.

There were many times where these bullies would make a fool out of me in front of the other school mates. Some of the things they did would be to hold me on each leg and turn me upside down and shake me till everything in my pockets would fall out. I was not only embarrassed and I had gained a reputation of being the “loser”. So after high school, I was determined that I was not going to take this kind of abuse during my collage years. So that was when I was inspired to get stronger and bigger. Because I know that no matter who’s the bully, anyone would definitely think twice when it come to picking on the guy with the 19 inch bicep because it would definitely provide some form of intimidation for the people around.

Although I had tolerate this abuse since I was 15, it never actually got to a point where I thought I had to do something about it. So I didn’t actually think that bodybuilding was worth my time since it was just a random kind of bullying. It was in my final year that things really started to get out of hand and also around the same time when I really had a desire to do something about it by getting stronger and bigger.

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

I was 16 when I started bodybuilding. And sometimes I wish and pray that I could have started earlier so that I would not be made such a fool in my high school. I hoped that I had someone to guide me through so that I was able to steer my life away from the path of drugs. But fortunately being late is better than never. So although I wished that I had started earlier, I knew that I can’t turn back time and as long as I continue to strive in physical and mental perfection, I will not have wasted the many years that I have conquered.

So I would advise anyone out that that wants to achieve a better body to start as soon as possible. Because unless you are willing to put in the hard work, you can never actually get what you by looking and staring at magazines photo shoots of jay cutler and Ronnie Coleman.

Bonus Question: Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

In my life, there has only been one person that was the most inspirational to me as a bodybuilder. It has to be John; the guy that got me off my drugs and started to train me the right way. John was not just some regular old instructor in the gym, he was a massive freak of nature that was natural and didn’t use steroids.

While others may say their inspiration comes from Ronnie Coleman and Jay cutler, I would have to be down to earth and say it comes from my personal mentor, John. Through the many years of knowing him, I have found out that he is not a character that loves to brag and talk. He is someone that shows things can be done by doing it for you to see. There were many times when I wanted to quit and just screw the my training and diet and just go out and party. But it was john that actually showed me by example that I was not even close to coming to the edge because he would show me where the edge was.

I could still remember many years ago where he was down with a fever and just finish a knee surgery about 1 month ago. So I was also a little relaxed because we always trained together, so I had the thinking that if one of us was down and out, the other could rest. That was my excuse for being lazy. I thought I would be able to rest for at least a few months. But no; as soon as john was out of the hospital, within one week, he would drag me out to the park at 5 am in the morning to do a cardio workout. And because he was able to do it with one good leg and one recovering one, I had not reason to perform worst than him. But in the end, he still was better than me in every area. So on that week itself, he made me train with him throughout his gym workout. And it was intense as ever, he was doing his usual 220lbs shoulder press and 400lbs bench presses!

Seeing him push through his limits within such a short time after his injury I was greatly inspired by him. So 4 weeks has passed since his surgery and his leg was starting to heel up. So one fine day he said he was going to do his legs. I was quite shocked but I was thinking that maybe he was just going to go light to just get started again, because he was running a flu , a fever and a weak knee all at the same time. But no! That was not the case.

He made sure he wrapped up his knees really tight and he was squatting 650lbs full reps for 5 sets averaging 10 reps per set. He did the weights till my jaw would drop in amazement and he made sure that I did the best I could too. So by seeing that some with such disadvantage could spring back and do a feat like that it was no reason for me to perform any lesser. Right now I provide a source of inspiration for the people around me and I still continue to train with the man that changed my life. Thank you John Manson.

Shinobi101

02-02-2006, 09:00 AM

How did you begin bodybuilding?

I began bodybuilding by lifting weights that i made.. since at our country having a weight set is difficult or much more of a luxury.. i made my own weight set.. that is i put cement in a can but a bar between the cans and voila!! instant dumbell.. and i was only doing what most of beginners love to do.. bicep curls.. i remember doing curls while scrubbing the floor... so thats how it began.. now i go to a gym, have an excercise program and improving.. hehehe..

Why did you begin bodybuilding?

I was fat when i was a kid.. my brothers used to tease me.. i tried dieting.. i lost some fat but i dont like the way my body looked.. i looked drained and my arms were like skeletal arms but my body was still fat.. so i tried lifting weights.. i just wanna look and feel great about my body... i want to be more energetic and stronger.. i wanna take off my shirt anytime i feel like it.. i want all of those things that's why i began bodybuilding.. :D

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

i lifted those cemented weights when i was 15 yrs old.. i tried a weight program on a gym once when i was 18 but i did not continue.. i really got serious on bodybuilding when i was 21.. which is my age now.. bwahahahaha.. i know im still i beginner but im gonna stick with bodybuilding coz ive seen great improvements on my body with only 4 mnths of consistent weight training.. now imagine if i keep it up for a year.. i would be bigger than most guys...

I wished i could've continued lifting weights when i was 18.. i would've been a lot bigger and stronger now... tsk3x...

Bonus Question: Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

I dont have a bodybuilidng career yet.. ive not yet entered any contest.. maybe soon.. bwahahaha.. but the most influential person why i started lifting weights was myself.. i just want to improve myself.. nobody influenced me.. thats all i could say.. ehehehehehe..

ccashatt

02-02-2006, 12:38 PM

How did you begin bodybuilding?

Bodybuilding has been a facination of mine since I was a teenager! I would read comic books and magazines and would be in awe of the amazing physiques that were presented. For years I would wonder to myself, "Why can't I look like that?"

My family wasn't the most supportive of bodybuilding at all. We lived a lifestyle of eating good food, or whatever food we could eat on the limited budget that we had. My entire family has always been lean. I come from a family of "hypertrophy challenged" individuals as I've come to learn. Genetically, I was always put at a disadvantage. I was called many names in high school including toothpick and skinny. I tried to workout in high school, but never saw any results in gym class.

As life continued into college and the "real world", my life's challanges would change. My priorities were on my career and happiness, working all the time at my jobs. I still managed to workout once in a while, but nothing serious.

It wouldn't be until last year that I started working out smarter and harder! That's when I found Bodybuilding.com! I found some articles and the forum! I found a couple of good gaining articles as well as a template for my workouts. I bought a home gym with plenty of weights to start out with.

Why did you begin bodybuilding?

I was sick of it all. About 2 years ago, I started to train maybe once or twice a week. I weighted a skinny 137 lbs back then and that would contiune throughout that first year. I would make some gains in definition, but never in size. It wouldn't be until about a year ago that I finally said that I wanted to grow, get bigger, have more muscles, just plain look good! Since then, I've found that I do have the dedication and the means. I've gained over 10 lbs of muscle and my definition is definately much more that when I started.

How old were you? Did you wish you could have started earlier?

I really didn't start "bodybuilding" until about a year ago. I was 25, back in school for my nursing degree (which I'm still pursuing), and ready for a change in my life! Sadly, I still weighed around 140. But I got back into things, started eating right and exercising regularly. Now, at 26, I weigh 152 lbs with a much more solid base and WAY more definition than I thought. My goals for the future include adding more muscle and weight, possibly competition.

Would I have started earlier? Absolutely! If I'd had my chance to do it all over again, I would have started in my early teens when my interest was at it's truest form. Now I feel like I'm so far behind in my muscular development compared to younger people. But that just fuels me to work harder and push farther.

Bonus Question: Who has been the most influential in your bodybuilding career?

That's hard. Everyone likes to say Arnold or Ronnie. I personally think that the users of the Bodybuilding.com Forums have been the most influential. I get constant feedback from many people that helps me to focus on what I really need to work on. Thanks to all of you!