Transformations - Transformation Of The Week - Charles D'Angelo!

[webmaster]

Up to this point my life has been very negative. My weight was always an issue and made school an unbearable activity. Well it it was high time to change that. Here is my story...

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/trans26.htm

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Great transformation.
The doctor who got you out of PE class did you a disservice though. You needed to be exercising. You may have dealt with your problem sooner.
You don't have any loose skin problems?

[chickeneater]

dude, get in touch w/ "SUBWAY" quick. you could be worth thousands. Jared don't got no abs! or tan. He's pudgy and pale. They need a newer ripped spokesperson like Charles here. And screw Clay Henry!

[Blackout]

Hey, its like they put Louis Dorman and Jared together! Good for him though. But the model shots are queer, bad idea.

Quote:
"The doctor who got you out of PE class did you a disservice though. You needed to be exercising. You may have dealt with your problem sooner."


If high school PE classes were actually *about* physical education, and they actually *taught* kids how to eat right, exercise, and achieve goals, that might be true. But when I was in school, PE class was only a showcase for guys that were already jocks to show off their physical prowess and mock anyone who was weaker or out of shape. I mean, really, was there *ever* an overweight or out of shape kid who had their life altered in a positive way from their experiences in gym class? For kids like that, its just a daily exercise in humiliation, and until coaches/PE teachers realize this and change the focus of these classes, they will continue to rob these kids of their last shreds of self-esteem, making it highly unlikely that they will recieve any type of positive benefit from it.

I do agree with the point that this guy could have benefited from some help. I just highly doubt he would have recieved it from a PE class.


Anyway, awesome transformation. Congratulations! Hopefully your transformation will inspire others in your former position.

Oh, and to the guy saying his "model" shots are "queer". That's exactly the kind of "jock/macho" attitude I was talking about in public school PE classes. And you're a personal trainer, who's supposed to inspire people and make them feel more confident about themselves??? Yeah, that's real inspring. Dude, grow up.

[chickeneater]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Quote:
"The doctor who got you out of PE class did you a disservice though. You needed to be exercising. You may have dealt with your problem sooner."


If high school PE classes were actually *about* physical education, and they actually *taught* kids how to eat right, exercise, and achieve goals, that might be true. But when I was in school, PE class was only a showcase for guys that were already jocks to show off their physical prowess and mock anyone who was weaker or out of shape. I mean, really, was there *ever* an overweight or out of shape kid who had their life altered in a positive way from their experiences in gym class? For kids like that, its just a daily exercise in humiliation, and until coaches/PE teachers realize this and change the focus of these classes, they will continue to rob these kids of their last shreds of self-esteem, making it highly unlikely that they will recieve any type of positive benefit from it.

I do agree with the point that this guy could have benefited from some help. I just highly doubt he would have recieved it from a PE class.


Anyway, awesome transformation. Congratulations! Hopefully your transformation will inspire others in your former position.

Oh, and to the guy saying his "model" shots are "queer". That's exactly the kind of "jock/macho" attitude I was talking about in public school PE classes. And you're a personal trainer, who's supposed to inspire people and make them feel more confident about themselves??? Yeah, that's real inspring. Dude, grow up.

Pent up anger ya think?..Obviously high school was unkind to you. It was unkind to Charles too. But at some point he decided to stop playing the victim and turn his life around. It sounds as if you need to stop looking for others to take responsibility to inspire you, and take responsibility for yourself, I think you'll be more happy that way.

oh yeah...I agree as far as the personal trainer goes, the last thing you want is him or her to be honest w/ you.

"Pent up anger ya think?.."

Lol! Okay. Fair enough. I didn't mean to come off quite as angry as it reads.

"Obviously high school was unkind to you."

Yes, it was. But...boo hoo, it was unkind to a lot of people. I'm not trying to garner sympathy. It was a long time ago. (shrugs)

"It was unkind to Charles too. But at some point he decided to stop playing the victim and turn his life around."

Agreed, and kudos.


"It sounds as if you need to stop looking for others to take responsibility to inspire you, and take responsibility for yourself, I think you'll be more happy that way."

I think you may have misunderstood. I'm not in the same position as Charles was. I don't have a great deal of weight to lose (I only weigh 138lbs at 5'4") so I'm not looking for him to inspire me, though I do feel he could very well inspire people who *are* a good deal overweight.

Though I may have come off a bit more angry than I intended, I feel my main point is still valid. How do high school PE classes help kids that aren't already athletic? In my school, the jocks all hung together in a clique, and were allowed to do so in team sports units in PE class as well. Imagine putting all the smallest kids and the heaviest out-of-shape kids on one team, and pitting them against the most athletic guys in high school. On a daily basis. This only sets kids up to fail, again and again. I'm not saying that a high school PE class *can't* teach kids about fitness. I'm not even saying that there might not be some good ones out there. I'm just saying that I've yet to hear of one formerly unathletic kid to come out of high school saying their high school PE class helped them embrace a world of fitness. From what I've seen, it only celebrates those that are already naturally athletic.

"oh yeah...I agree as far as the personal trainer goes, the last thing you want is him or her to be honest w/ you."

Okay, I'm lost on this one. I suspect sarcasm (which, hey, I respect). But if that's the case, I don't get it. I mean, yes, of course you want your personal trainer to be honest with you in terms of things that pertain to your training. But their personal feelings about non-training related topics should remain their own, particularly if they're going to attempt to project their own personal predjudices (homophobic much?) on to their clients. Maybe I came off a bit more harshly than I intended, but I feel it was a personal observation on his part that really wasn't necessary.

Anyway, chickeneater...you made some good points about personal responsibility and forgetting about the past and focussing on the present. Good post.

[chickeneater]

cool dude. I didnt think you'd respond like that. You've been holding in steam for a long time it looks like. you just exploded. Venting is cool. did'nt mean to go all Dr. Phil on ya, but I was hoping to pass along what I too learned the hardway. Only wished I realized it sooner. Anyways, at the end of the day, the local gym teacher is usually just average Joe like me and you and wants to back to his family at the end of the day w/ the least amount of stress as we all do..There will always be jocks and non jocks, and it's not his job to have a pep rally for every student that's not into gym class. For that matter I agree gym would have done him no good, but don't hold in anger for your gym teacher or high school the rest of your life. Now if your point is to change to paradigm of gym class into a fitness routine then I think your on to something. (probably never happen though because gym and the arts are always first to go in budget cuts) Until then, it's just like any other class, most teachers are not gonna twist your arm or give ya candy to study. The "A" is only there for those who want it. No secret or medical procedure gave Charles abs, he researched because he strove for it and got it. Ok sermon done.

yeah that was sarcasm on the PT comment. Look, if I'm doing something that looks queer, I want my buddy to pipe up some honesty quick. American Idol isn't a success because Simon Cowell pats everyone on the back.

I agree that some of the posed after shots look pretty gay.

Um, the model shots are not gay-- they are f*cking inspiring! If you think they look gay, you are insecure and have some issues to settle about your sexual orientation.

Look at the difference, people! He went from a relatively unattractive, out of shape nerd with bad skin to freakin James Dean! His confidence soared, and it is very apparent when contrasting the pictures.

If you dropped 120 lbs, put on muscle, and turned your life around 180 degrees, wouldn't you feel proud of yourself and want to show it off? I applaud him, because he is actually proud of himself and his body now (with good reason), and that's something that he did NOT have for the majority of his life. And yet some of you mock him for it. Grow up.

And every PE class I've ever taken has been pretty much what the guy above me said. It's a joke. I wasn't taught about nutrition or exercise in my PE class. The only "educational" material we got centered around steroids and why they are bad. The rest of the time, the buff guys would form their little cliques and play basketball while the out of shape people got the other side of the court, with the two occasionally intermingling.

However, I can't totally discredit my school, because their summer weightlifting program was ALL about nutrition, health, and exercise. Thing is, it was directed to athletes-- all athletes were required to take it. I didn't play a sport, but I volunteered to take part anyway, and I'm glad I did.

I guess schools figure that the committed will make the extra step and everyone else is satisfied being medicore. *shrugs*