Ups and Downs
Looking back at what i’ve done and put my body through makes me realize how lucky I am to be here.Years back when i decided to get serious again and this time stick to my plan i knew it wouldn’t be easy,but i had no idea what i was in for.Everything was going good for a while and i had made some solid progress when all of the sudden my world came crashing down.I had run into an old friend who was also into working out,he gave some advice on how to increase my bench press numbers.So the next day i got under the bar and repped it out,i was on my third set around rep six when suddenly i heard a strange sound.It was the sound of a piece of elastic bieng overstretched,only it wasn’t a piece of elastic it was my left pec that made that sound.Adrenaline kicked in and i was able to rack the weight(I’ve always trained alone with no spotters).It didn’t hurt at first but i could hardly use my left arm.I knew then that it was a pec tear i just didn’t know how severe it was.What caused it was the change in grip distance instead of using the standard shoulder width form i went wide as possible(advice given to me by a friend)I took a week off hoping it would "go away".Next week i was back in the gym but i couldn’t even do a push-up.I realized right there things would never be the same,I had two choices lose everything i had worked so hard to accomplish ,walk out and never look back,or find a way through this.Quitting seemed the logical thing to do,why not?I had quit and walked out from many things in my life before so this would be another easy way out.No one supported me anyway,everyone would try and get me to go back to drinking,partying,and go back to life i had swore to leave behind,but bad habits die hard.I went into a state of depression,but there was a fire still burning inside me.I bought every single Bodybuilding mag i could find and read each book front to back.My passion to build a better body was still there and as the days went by i knew i had to get my ass back into the gym.First i went to see a doctor who said it was a partial pec tear and told me bench pressing again would probably not be a good idea.A few days later i found the strength and courage to return to the gym.I vowed never to be a quitter again,that time had passed and i was tired of bieng one of those who sits back while those with ambition take eveything and leave nothing for those who hesitate.No longer would i be the guy who walks up to people and tells the story about how"i used to work out" Slowly but surely i regained my strength and even surpassed myself(although i don’t do bench presses anymore)That small fire that was kept alive in my time of darkness has now become a full blown fire and has kept me going through the years.I will never quit again,no matter what obstacles i may face, i know i can overcome anything.I can do anything through Him who gives me Strength.
January 4, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Inspiring story. So many people would have given up, you should be very proud of yourself. Lesson is that injuries happen, there are always ways of dealing with them and still building a terrific body. Too many lifters are obcessed with the bench press anyway.
September 6, 2008 at 10:53 am
Dude! I have been there! The sport of strongman is so hard on your body, and I didn’t start power lifting until I was 36 years old.
But what is awesome about getting older is that you get smarter. Unfortunately, you get smarter from making stupid mistakes. (I have made plenty). I have had two surgeries and I don’t want anymore.
You should feel good that you are learning important lessons now! And yes, you are correct to give thanks to your heavenly father.
Keep up the good work! You are huge and have your best growing years ahead of you! I got stronger and bigger in my late 30’s!