This Is What I Wanted To Look Like Two Years Ago
Lifting is something that I always suspected that I would enjoy but for a myriad of reasons I never made a real attempt to do it. I let fear hold me back for so long. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of what I assumed would be a hostile environment, etc. One of the best thing I’ve learned in the last two years is nothing feels greater to look one of your fears in the eye and not only facing it, but squashing it.
I remember watching an episode of Battlestar Galactica (frakking LOVE that show) where Apollo (Jamie Bamber) gets interviewed by a reporter when he had just exited the showers and was only wearing a towel. I remember that watching that seriously pissed me off. I was mad because that is exactly what I wanted to look like but I never made a real attempt to try and do it. I was mad because I thought I might have missed my chance to get into the shape that I wanted. I was 35 and everyone I knew who is that age was woefully out of shape. Who the hell starts training at that age? Now I know that it’s lots of people but I didn’t realize that then. There comes a point when you realize that you can continue to wallow in doubt and unhappiness or you can start doing something about it. I didn’t know if I could make the changes I wanted but I said "Screw it" and decided to try my damnedest anyway. I am so happy that I did.
Jamie Bamber on the left. My progress on the right.
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October 29, 2009 at 8:41 am
Stress … I have been watching Battle Star Galatica myself for the last few weeks [all the seasons are available on Netflix - very cool!], and I know the exact scene you are talking about. Funny thing, in season 3 Apollo packs on the pounds! I am waiting for the reaction of StarBuck to his new shape in the episodes I am watching at current.
Sometimes it is only with a bit of maturity, something that comes as one gets into their 30s-40s that one realizes. There is an e-book that you should think about getting that I am reading now that is pretty amazing. This guy wrote it and has a link to it on his bodyspace page.
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/zekesdad/
He talks a length about people thinking that they have gotten too "old" to undertake a transformation, but he easily unravels that line of thought and gives a load of reasons other than the usual "vanity" motivation to stay in shape and create some distance between one’s biological and chronological age.
You keep going … and count yourself fortunate that you chose a path different from those around you.
Continue to be relentless.
Brian
October 29, 2009 at 9:12 am
Eh, he has more bicep and delt definition (could be lighting), but overall you have more developed and thicker muscles.
October 29, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Well you can now go to Hollywood and apply for a job !
One thing I’ve learnt over the years …procrastination is very detrimental and once you actually do the thing you dreaded you’ll kick yourself and ask why you didn’t do it earlier
October 29, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Wow! Great post!
October 29, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Pulgas, very good point. I’m not sure how successful I would have been in my 20’s. I definitely have a much better head on my shoulders.
broad.stance, thanks. I’m not there yet but I’ll get there!
oldbutfit, very very true! I’ve kicked myself before. Now I just appreciate the fact that I even started.
Zing, thanks!
October 29, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I think you look better than the other guy, and your traps are huge compared to his! Count me in as another one who started very late (over 40!) and am kicking myself for not getting serious sooner, but the maturity thing factors into that as well. Like you, I don’t know how successful I would have been at this in my 20s or even early 30s. The important thing is, though, that we DID start, and are keeping at it.