dont know if this legal, this is what got me off my butt.

[catman2005]

My little brother ran accross this a few months ago. we dont know the author, so maybe the meds wont let it stay here. its GREAT inspiration.. ENJOY

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"So, what are you doing for a living these days?" Bob asked me. We're sitting on the couch at one of those tedious holiday get-togethers, you know, the ones where you're supposed to be nice to family members you never see except during major holidays and funerals. I think Bob is my wife's brother-in-law's second cousin or something.

"I'm the assistant editor for Testosterone magazine," I say. Bob looks at me with a blank expression on his face.

"It's a bodybuilding magazine," I say.


"Oh," Bob finally says, "I heard you were, like, one of those bodybuilder guys or something. So, what's that like, you know, working out every day and stuff? I just don't have time to lift weights all day, but I have been meaning to get rid of this beer belly." He takes another sip of beer. "What do you suggest?"

At first I was a little offended. I wanted to grab him up and say, "You can't tell I'm a bodybuilder?! Look at my ass! Now, if that's not a nice round squat-built piece of sirloin, I don't know what is! You think that comes naturally? I can crack walnuts with this puppy! Wanna see? Huh, punk?
Then I realize this just might cause a scene and could cost me several Christmas presents. I was planning on returning any presents I got and using the money to buy a power rack, so I didn't want to jeopardize this gift getting opportunity. I also realized that old Bob probably had a certain preconceived image of a bodybuilder and I just didn't fit that image. I'm not gorilla huge; I weigh about 205 at 5'11" right now. (When I first started lifting I was a pudgy 159, so that's not too shabby.) Also, I wasn't wearing clown pants, a fluorescent string tank top, a hanky on my head and one of those little fanny packs.

Bob continued to sit there drinking his Natural Light, smoking a cigarette and waiting for an answer, oblivious to the fact that he'd come this close to seeing some serious walnut- crunching ass power. I tried to figure out how I could explain to the average guy what the typical T-Man does and why he does it. How could I get him to understand what it is we do, how we feel, how we live? So I took a deep breath and told him something like this:

"Well, Bob, I guess you could use the term bodybuilder if you really need a label for what it is we do. Most of us actually don't stand on stage and compete, though. We lift weights and manipulate our diets so that we'll look good naked. Sure, it's healthy too, and we'll probably live a longer and more productive life than the average guy, but mostly it's about the naked thing. Truthfully, it goes beyond even that.

"Let's be honest here. We do it because of people like you, Bob. We look at you sitting there with your gut hanging over your belt and we watch you grunt and groan just getting out of a chair. Guys like you are our inspiration, Bob. You're better than Anthony Robbins, Bill Phillips, Deepak Chopra, and Zig ****ing Ziglar all wrapped up into one. We love it when guys like you talk about not having time to exercise. Every time we see you munching on a bag of potato chips, you inspire us. You're my shot in the arm, Bob, my living and breathing wake-up call, my own personal success coach.

"You want to know what it is we do? We overcome. We're too busy to train, too, but we overcome. We're too busy to prepare healthy meals and eat them five or six times a day, but we overcome. We can't always afford supplements, our genetics aren't perfect, and we don't always feel like going to the gym. Some of us used to be just like you, Bob, but guess what? We've overcome.

"We like to watch 'normal' people like you tell us about how they can't get in shape. We smile and nod sympathetically like we feel your pain, but actually, we're thinking that you're a pathetic piece of **** that needs to grow a spine and join a gym. You smile and say that you just can't stay motivated and just can't stand that feeling of being sore. (For some reason you think that admitting your weaknesses somehow justifies them.) We listen to you bitch. We watch you look for the easy way out. Because of people like you, Bob, we never miss a workout.

"You ask us for advice about diet and training and usually we politely offer some guidance, but deep inside we know you won't take our advice. You know that too. We smile and say, 'Hope that helps. Good luck,' but actually we're thinking, 'Boy, it would suck to be you.' We know that 99% of people won't listen to us. Once they hear that it takes hard work, sacrifice and discipline, they stop listening and tune us out.

"We know they wanted us to say that building a great body is easy, but it just isn't. This did not take five minutes a day on a TorsoTrack. We did not get this way in 12 short weeks using a Bowflex and the Suzanne Somers' 'Get Skinny' diet. A good body does not cost five easy payments of $39.95.

"We like it that while you're eating a candy bar and drinking Mountain Dew, we're sucking down a protein shake. You see, that makes it taste even better to us. While you're asleep we're either getting up early or staying up late, hitting the iron, pushing ourselves, learning, succeeding and failing and rising above the norm with every rep. Can you feel that, Bob? Can you relate? No? Good. This wouldn't be half as fun if you could.

"We do it because we absolutely and totally get off on it. We do it because people like you, Bob, either can't or won't. We do it because what we do in the gym transfers over into the rest of our lives and changes us, physically, mentally, maybe even spiritually. We do it because it beats watching fishing and golf on TV. By the way, do you know what it's like to turn the head of a beautiful woman because of the way you're built? It feels good, Bob. Damned good.

"When we're in the gym, we're in this indescribable euphoria zone. It's a feeling of being on, of being completely alive and aware. If you haven't been there, then it's like trying to describe color to a person who's been blind since birth. Within this haze of pleasure and pain, there's knowledge and power, self-discipline and self-reliance. If you do it long enough, Bob, there's even enlightenment. Sometimes, the answers to questions you didn't even know you had are sitting there on those rubber mats, wrapped up in a neat package of iron plates and bars.

"Want to lose that beer belly, Bob? I have a nutty idea. Put down the ****ing beer. I'll tell you what, Bob. Christmas morning I'm getting up real early and hitting the iron. I want to watch my daughter open her presents and spend the whole day with her, so this is the only time I have to train. so I'm going out in my garage to workout. You be at my house at six in the morning, okay? I'll be glad to help you get started on a weight training program. It'll be cold in there, so dress warm.

"But let me tell you something, Bob. If you don't show up, don't bother asking me again. And don't you ever sit there and let me hear you bitch about your beer belly again. This is your chance, your big opportunity to break out of that rut. If you don't show up, Bob, you've learned a very important lesson about yourself, haven't you? You won't like that lesson.

"You won't like that feeling in the pit of your stomach either or that taste in your mouth. It will taste worse than defeat, Bob. Defeat tastes pretty goddamned nasty, but what you'll be experiencing will be much worse. It will be the knowledge that you're weak, mentally and physically. What's worse is that you'll have accepted that feeling. The feeling will always be with you. In the happiest moments of your life, it'll be there, lying under the surface like a malignant tumor. Ignore it at your own peril, Bob.

This just may be the best Christmas present you'll get this year. Next Christmas, Bob, when I see you again, I'm going to be a little bigger, a little stronger, and a little leaner. What will you be? Will you still be making excuses? This is a gift, Bob, from me to you. I'm giving you the chance to look fate in those pretty eyes of hers and say, 'Step off, bitch. This is my party and you're not invited.' What do you say, Bob? Monday, Christmas morning, 6am, my house.

Okay, so maybe that's not the exact words I used with Bob, but you get the picture. Will Bob show up Monday? I don't know, In fact, Bob will probably take me off his Christmas card list. He probably thinks I've got "too much Testosterone," like that's a bad thing. I think Bob is just stuck in a rut, and as the saying goes, the only difference between a rut and a grave is depth.

The way out of the rut is to make major changes in your life, most of which won't be too pleasant in the beginning. The opportunity to make those changes seldom comes as bluntly as I put it to Bob. Most of the time, that opportunity knocks very softly. What I did was basically give Bob a verbal slap in the face. You can react two ways to a slap. You can get angry at the person doing the slapping, or you can realize that he was just trying to get you to wake up and focus on what you really want and, more importantly, what it'll take to get it.





That's what separates us from guys like Bob.

Regards,


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regards,

[body2big]

Longest post I read in awhile but it was good. I think I'l print it and hand it to a few people. LOL


Shawn

[SoMdHunter]

Reps to ya Catman! Love it!

[lovemytrx]

That was great, tells it like it is.



Success is the progressive realization of a worthwhile dream.

[Minotaur]

It's from T-Nation, formerly Testosterone Magazine. It was in the Atomic Dog column by Chris Shugart. http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do...itan?id=460615

[UKTony]

A great opening post.

Very motivating.

[Rocket]

Great Post! Thank you!

[rsw1]

Awesome Cat,

I've alreadly cut/pasted it and sent on to many others!!!

[Minotaur]

It's from T-Nation, formerly Testosterone Magazine. It was in the Atomic Dog column by Chris Shugart. http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do...itan?id=460615

And btw, yes, it's a classic.

[Lovemuscle999]

Very motivating. Im off down the gym!!

[Pump-n-stuff]

Hell yea!!!!! I have a few people I could insert their name in Bob's place and give it to them. Great post, reps to ya.

[RaSP]

Gotta love it! Reps to you!

*R*

[wannagetbig2001]

excellent POST!!!

Describes my feelings to a T! Thanks for finding it!

Keith

[badrymz]

Great post

[forgot password]

ya i read that here awhile back, still a good post.

[lemonic]

its a great inspirational post, but im the kind of guy that keeps thoughts like those to himself, and remains polite while thinking "im better than you"... no need to say it.

[rnicholes]

that was a great read-just noticed it was from 2005

[ironwill2008]

Based on OP's post history after posting this thread, he and "Bob" may have more in common than he once thought.

[Mayze]

Sounds like the author needs to go to anger management. The percentage of people who actually care enough to change their lifestyle to train everyday for the rest of their life is very small. No matter how much you preach to them. They have to want it. Why be angry.

And to think anybody is "better" because they have a better physique is very narrow minded. Better at what? Lifting heavy objects?

[VIsland]

I think I'm going to FB that baby! Thanks a million.

[jayb0922]

Great Post, reps

[Kraken]

This is an oldie but a goodie. I remember reading this year ago, but now that Christmas is approaching, it's time once again to post up this article for people.

Speaking of which, my family thinks I am crazy for wanting to hit the gym on Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, my gym is closed, but I was just thinking how great it would be to hit the gym hard, then go have a thanksgiving feast and grow!

BTW, I am pretty sure this was a T-nation article, Don't know the author though.

Edit* Found it...

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_...est_atomic_dog

[Tommy W.]

I think your rep count is about to go ballistic...here, have some more.

[elementaltoad]

Working a 16hr day, I was pissed I'd have to miss chest/back. I don't think I will now, to hell with it, if I have to hit the gym at 1am, so be it.

[Old School]

Come on, Bob sounds like a perfectly nice fellow enjoying a beer at a family get together at christmas...I'm pretty sure I would be having one with him, and tell him to just do whatever he can to get active if he asked how to get rid of his beer belly, no need for the harshness (we all know 99% of those type of people will never do what it takes, and are not really that interested anyway). But I did enjoy most of the description of the bodybuilding/lifting lifestyle, I love the lifestyle, just can't stand the preaching or putting someone down because they don't.