BuckSpin - A Year Of Change

One of the 1st things I learned about bodybuilding is that, to me, the physical aspect (training) is by far the easiest aspect. Its the mental & spiritual that are by far the hardest on one’s self. That muscle between your ears & the inner energy/force residing in that one beating in your chest are, regardless of how you train, worked to failure over & over & over & over, day after day after day.

I am currently running on fumes spiritually. It happens from time to time. I often think of myself as an inspirational junkie, running from stories to movies to tunes, etc, to get a quick "fix" to get me thru that day’s training, that week’s efforts, etc. And, just like any other stimulant, you start to get acclimated to it & need bigger, stronger "doses", if you will.

So, what do you do to replenish the inner batteries, to keep the mind sharp & spirit soaring, to break a "plateau" of inspiration?

I debated over adding this to my online Workout Journal. But a good BB friend told me to “be myself”. This is me. If you are looking for reps, weights & sets, skip reading this.

I’m a very private person. I keep to myself. But every now & then something happens that I feel warrants sharing.

Last Saturday, after my 3rd training session in a row, I was driving to work afterwards. I had already awoken much earlier than I usually do on a Saturday to get everything done that was going to need to get done in order to allow me to train, clean up & change, eat & get to work by 9:30am.

I had just finished a huge Back Day. After 2 rough sessions I was still able to set a new PR for a weight lifted. I was physically beat up & tired, mentally worn down, sore all over, hungry & a lil’ anxious to keep ahead of the clock as I drove off.

I’m not sure if you believe in a higher presence, a guiding force, etc, or for that matter in angels. Not necessarily the halo/winged kind, but someone/something watching over you. I have come to, and whomever/whatever they are/were, they knew I needed a lil’ help at that moment.

Not a few seconds on the road this song came on. I channel flip a lot. The odds of my hitting this song just as it started at that moment….who knows.

But it hit me like a tidal wave. Time stood still. The lyrics just overwhelmed me. They summed up the past year of my life so eloquently, so deeply, so painfully. The beginning of the weight loss, all the effort, shame, hard work, sweat, it all came back. The rebirth, the start of a new life, the even harder work, focusing toward a goal of trading over 3 years of my life for 120 seconds on a stage.

I don’t remember the drive to work at all. All I know is that I got there & the song was over and I was a different person than I was a few minutes earlier.

These are the lyrics. I am sure he was singing about something other that what I went thru & what I am doing, but it summed up my journey so well:

Then the rainstorm came over me
And I felt my spirit break
I had lost all of my belief you see
And realize my mistake
But time threw a prayer to me
And all around me became still

Through the rainstorm came sanctuary
And I felt my spirit fly
I had found all of my reality
I realize what it takes  

Here is the official video. I can’t find it on YouTube.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/seal/33701/loves-divine.jhtml

Today was a big day for me. Did something that I literally have not done in a quarter century.

I did Back Squats.

I’ll type r-e-a-l s-l-o-w now to allow that to sink in (or give you time to wipe the spewed coffee off your monitor).

To put this in perspective, the last time I had a BB on my shoulders:
- M*A*S*H aired its final episode
- The song of the year was "Rosana" by Toto
- North Carolina State shocked the "Phi Slamma Jamma" Houston Cougars for the NCAA basketball championship
- Nintendo was brand new
- The FCC gave Motorola the OK to start testing these things called cell phones

I am now working with an online coach to help me get "da wheelz". Short n’ sweet, if you want the wheelz you gotta pay the band. I’ve been doing Front & Zerchers, Hacks & Leg Press. But today I started what I will call "Dime A Dance"  . In short, I replaced my current squat selection with these. The plan is to add a dime every session as long as I can move that load in GOOD form. It is the same routine my coach used, and if I can get the same results….

The load was very light, but that is by design. Learn good, controlled form, then up the tonnage.

Now, today gets even better. You may remember my mentioning previously that I found out that world class (and BP record holder at his weight & age) powerlifter Tony Petrino trains at the same fitness center I do.

He was there this AM. He’s NEVER there then! What are the odds that on the first day in 25 years I’m gonna do Back Squats a guy who can squat 900lbs is there????

So, I got a one on one training session with him.   He spotted me on my 2nd working set, critiqued my form (caught a mistake on knee flare which I fixed on the 3rd set), gave me a great 5-10 minute mini-clinic and then watched me do the entire 3rd set with more feedback. He saw immediately that my form suffered slightly around rep 7 or 8, and even in my uber-noobness I felt it & agreed 100%. Priceless. This will really help me a lot!

I’ll have to say a novenna to the patron saint of squats this evening. Someone was watching over me today.

Cool day….