Mr. Aries’s BodyBlog

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Training has changed me. It taught me I can indeed go against the grain and still stand up and stand tall. Training taught me that dues can and should be paid. Training taught me that dreams, however implausible, are always within reach. Training showed me though perfection is impossible, the journey towards it should never stray. Training taught me that starting at the bottom of the bottom doesn’t exclude the possibility of finishing at the top of the top. In the last 27 years, training has been the catalyst. It is the reason why I’m better today than yesterday. It’s the reason why tomorrow will be better yet. Because of training, hope will never die.

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I’ve gone to the gym when I’m sick. I’ve worked out on 2 hours of sleep. I’ve even trained through injuries. I know damn well that the physical effects of training are greatly diminished, if not outright canceled, when I train under these conditions. I still do it. Progress comes in different forms, and favorable response from my body isn’t the only kind I’m after. Training during times of adversity improves the strength of my mind, because even with the prospect of making no training progress cannot prevent me from pushing through another workout. Training sick, injured, or tired makes training hard and recovery harder, but I end up a better man for it.

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I want to be remembered. I will never be perfect because I’m perfectly human, but I will keep trying to be one step closer. I will continue to evolve. I need to change me so I can change the world. There are a million John Lee’s out there, so it’s a foregone conclusion that I will not be remembered because of the uniqueness of my name. On my death bed decades from now, I need to know that I left the world a better place…………………………………
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People always want to know how I find time to stay in the gym 3 hours straight. I don’t have the time, I make it. I have the same 24 hours as everyone else, I just give up a few more things than what people are usually willing to part with.

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I’ve been doing this at a high level with little break for the last 8 years. People want to know where I find the motivation. Truth is, even if I don’t put another centimeter on my arms, even if I don’t bench press one lb more, even if I don’t look one iota better, I would still do this for the rest of my life. I never demanded success from working out or dieting. Instead, I demand success in life. One more training session means I’ve held onto my discipline for 24 more hours, one more denial of temptations means I’ve denied "the easy way out" one more day.

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I love martial arts. It’s always between me and the bag. As soon as I see Everlast, I smile from ear to ear. Everlast huh? It’s time to put your name to the test.

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Leg days bring special meaning to "frustration"… I think I may even wake up mad on leg days.. It’s been 6 months since I’ve hurt them, and STILL they come up short of 100% healed. I’ve never said a word, it makes no sense to cry over spilt milk. Even if the world knew, what happened would not be undone.

90% is all i’ve got today out of my knees. It was cold outside and my knees hurt with the weather. At least they stopped hurting my walking, that is finally a good sign. Today would be the day I attempt some leg exercises. It’s been so long.

I felt funny walking up to an empty squat rack. I think everyone else found it funny too. It must have been a while since a guy squated THE BAR, with no weight on it. A lot of people stopped to look, some had questions… A friend asked me if I was stretching, I laughed.. 20 reps later, I thought my legs were on fire.. I could barely breathe, people seem amused.. Another set of 20, I’m sweating my butt off. At least the knees weren’t burning today.

My legs weren’t the only things hurting, because everytime I breathed hard my pride took a shot in the gut. I didn’t mind though. It’s true I’m back to square one, but having walked the path once already, I know it’s just matter of time. Years ago I would have walked out in disgust. This time I traded my stubborness with newfound maturity.