Stepping out of your own shadow.
Hey, I don’t know how times I hear a "so-called" bodybuilder or your average workout Joe say, "I used to yoked, I used to be jacked, back in the day I was a monster." Then when I said it myself, there was a certain clarity about the situation. Most of the guys that say that were never really that "yoked or jacked" but I was and I had proof: the contest pictures, first place trophies, and friends who remember to prove it. I lost a good protion of my overall develpoment but I had a serious motor vehicle accident as the culprit. Another funny thing I used to hear was, "you should have seem what I looked like before my accident." Now, with me actually being in a life-alterating accident that nearly claimed my life, I’m trying to get past my previous achievements and give people something current to talk about. I hate it when one of my friends say, "this guy here was a monster back in the day." They talk as if I’m not even standing next to them. I went from being almost paralyzed to being bound in a wheelchair for over 6 months, to using a walker for 1 month, and finally a cane for about 7-8 months. I was out of work for a year with a broken neck, ribs, shoulder, wrist, pelvis, totally torn left knee and three damaged disks in my back. I was told I probably wouldn’t walk properly again but now I walking and working out. Yeah, my knee was re-constructed with the LCL repair and I can’t run or bend it much but I’m working around it and I’m making descent progress in the gym. I won’t be a strong as I used to be but I think I’m making great quality muscle gains and maybe I’ll even step back on stage one day. So far, so good. I’m slowly making quality gains and even getting a good portion of my strength back. So wish me well and let’s see if I can step out of the shadows of my previous achievements and make new ones to be proud of.
Zag
September 28, 2007 at 5:04 am
You are going to do great. You have the right attitude. Mindset is the key. Tell your friend to focus on the future. Good luck and keep pushing.
September 28, 2007 at 5:17 am
Man that is awesome u are an inspiration i hope u do do comps again and win. I had my share of injuries as a youngster and every time the doc said i probably wouldn’t b able 2 do certain stuff again it made me more determained. keep up the attitude man u r a role model 2 any1 who might be doubting themselves.
October 6, 2007 at 9:42 am
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.