Why I Love Bodybuilding
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Monday, July 11, 2005 1:32 PM
The following four essays written by DB.com members were the winning entries in the Old Navy Writing Contest, "Why I Love Bodybuilding."
FIRST PRIZE
Why I Love Bodybuilding
By No Quarter - Jesse
Bodybuilding can uniquely be described as opaque, because from an outside view looking in, bodybuilding appears different from what it truly is. Bodybuilders and weight lifters are stereotypically perceived as slow-witted, short-tempered, and obsessive. However, through trying it for myself I have found quite the contrary. Instead of slow-witted morons, I found knowledgeable and well-informed people. These were people with a deep understanding of a human's most valuable asset, his body. Luckily, these people were willing to share their wealth of knowledge with beginners like me. They set us on the right track by preventing silly mistakes that could lead to a waste of time, or even hurting ourselves. Instead of going to the gym and finding short-tempered and self-absorbed madmen, I met patient and friendly people. I'm sure we've all met these kinds of people, the ones who let you know if you're using poor form, or spot you, etc.
Obsessive? Well, that's what outsiders declare when they don't understand the degree of dedication and discipline a bodybuilder must have to succeed. It's hardly an obsession, it's simply a passion. Bodybuilding has given me a chance to excel, something productive to dedicate myself to when I had nothing else. Friends may not always understand why we eat tuna straight out of the can, buy big buckets of whey protein, or hit the gym while they go watch television.
But every now and then, they get an insight into what drives all of our devotion. I'm talking about those moments at the beach when a gorgeous girl comes up to you, rests her hand on your arm and compliments you, or when a bully backs down when you step up to see what his problem is, or even just beating your buddy in an arm wrestle. I live for those moments when a friend just stops and says "Whoa, that was amazing, I really need to start working out."
SECOND PRIZE
Why I Love Bodybuilding
By RUS - Ruslan
Bodybuilding is a passion, it’s a long game, in which you either succeed or fail. If you push yourself far enough, and give it every thing you have, you will succeed. Bodybuilding is a game in which you are the judge, an athlete and a score keeper. It’s a life in which you push it to the limits, and if you do, it will push you to the top. And the top is not when you’re the top dog, its not when you can bench the most, or the biggest guy, but the top is when you’re satisfied with what you have reached, when you keep working on your goal, and you say to your self "I have two more days to do it, and I will do it. Winners are people who don’t give up and keep trying."
Bodybuilding is a challenge that takes over your life, and it gives back what no other has. It’s a challenge that takes away the way you eat, makes you do more cardio than you would ever done, it makes you work hard in the gym mentally and physically, and teaches you a great responsibility.
And when you lift, when you do that last st, that last one repetition, and you can feel your muscle giving up on you, that little voice in your head is saying "its enough", but you keep trying, you fight with your own body. And that’s why I love bodybuilding, like my teacher once said "your body is your temple, you have only one, treat it right."
THIRD PRIZE (TIE)
Why I Love Bodybuilding
By Blitzseth - Clive
“My Body, From Humility to Utility”
Our bodies are the vehicles in which our minds travel. Just like a car, the look of one’s body determines the attention and personal satisfaction one receives. At the age of twelve, a plump, short boy, neighbors’ attitudes towards my body were not very pleasant. At that time, I would rise only 5 feet and 4 inches from the floor, hold two chins, and strap a whole 38 inches of flab around my abdominal trunk area.
Grade eleven. A friend approaches me inquiring, “Clive why don’t you come workout after school?” This was when I was introduced to the art of bodybuilding. Soon I started to read about bodybuilding – magazines, websites, everything. I saw pictures; I saw what I want to be.
By the age of eighteen, I have learned a lot about exercise, diet and supplements. Now my once fat filled skin, wraps around muscle fibers and veins connecting and throbbing blood to all parts of my body. I look in the mirror. A young man, about 5 feet 7 inches tall with dark brown hair and eyes stands before me. A jaw that is defined and not overtaken my more than one chin. And something else - muscles. Muscles! They stick out everywhere, almost like the diagrams in my kinesiology textbook. The chest is well formed; you can see lines stretching across the horizontal. Abs, just four of them, but four nonetheless! A “V” shaped back slides down to a toned muscular waist. I am stronger, I am faster, I am discipline. This is my new ride. This is the power of Bodybuilding.
THIRD PRIZE
Why I Love Bodybuilding
By 3Days2Glory - Roz
I don’t "body build" per sae… at least my training wouldn’t be classified as such to the sedentary laymen.
I do strength train. For optimal health, for preservation of youthful vitality, to preserve the temple which will one day house my future developing daughter or son....to enable me to continue to work effectively, with confidence and energy so that I can meet my goals, in career and in one day raising a family of my own.
What training has done for me…training has hands down surpassed…left in the dust any other method of mental wellness method in terms of efficacy…the natural high I feel from endorphin production to the physical manifestation of all of my hard work and sweat, which I see looking back at me in the mirror, by far excels sitting and talking about a bad day, reaching for comfort in food, and other counterproductive "easy solutions" that are supposed to make you feel better, but actually compound the problem.
I started training at a low point in how I viewed myself. While I didn’t suffer from a negative self image by any stretch, I wasn't at all satisfied with my new figure, especially in the field (modeling). I came from being a very fit, very toned 112, 5'5" female, in optimal health, to one day, almost losing it all. My weight plummeted fast - down to 98 pounds- from being so severely ill. I looked down at my body and I could see the outline of ribs. I could not digest on my own. I was fed through intravenous, and was hooked up to a heart monitor under observation at a hospital, with a heart rate that exceeded 156 BPM. I stopped sleeping. I had seizures. I was told I may have a brain tumor. Essentially, my life was no longer in the hands of any earthly being. I said my prayers, and hoped the Good Lord was proud of how I've chosen to live my life...and I waited for the results. By stroke of fate, my time was not up, and my MRI's tested negative. I spent close to a good year, though, suffering from depilating panic attacks and minor agoraphobia, but had no choice but to leave the house. I forced it, even when I felt like I was having a heart attack because I was so scared I'd have a seizure, or worse, in public. I wasted thousands of hard earned money on cab fares because I could not yet drive in my state of health and was terrified to take the bus. I soon immersed myself completely in food to soothe my soul. When I was scared, I'd eat. When I was happy, I'd eat. When I was celebrating something, hell, I'd clear out sections of a buffet. I would literally eat until I was full, wait 5 minutes for a little room to clear out in my belly, then cram more food in. I went up from 98 pounds to 124...and it happened fast.
Why am I so open about this time in my life? Simply, because I hold no shame in where I come from and in being able to help others live a better life, I'm talking about those who sit on the couch and want to work out, but give up before they even start.... those who feel fitness will have no direct benefit on them.
Well...I am living proof. Fitness WORKS.
SO how did I do it? Well, I can honestly say I started with a mental image. An exaggerated version of myself. And I said screw it, I'm making this happen…TODAY. I will MAKE this image...a PHYSICAL REALITY.
And it wasn’t by any stretch of the word, easy to stay focused, but dammit, I did.
Close to the end of month one, I remember taking a shower, soaping up and getting ready to shave. I remember gliding the razor over my legs and rinsing my arms, and the blade seemed to be gliding on a newfound terrain of curves...muscle I wasn’t even aware I had sculpted. I remember beaming like a kid in the candy store, (I must have looked like a goofball in the shower that day) anxious to get rinsed off and check myself out in the mirror! (LOL!) Soon after this revelation, OVERTRAINING became hard NOT to do! LOL...I felt strong…not only physically...but mentally....I had defeated what could have killed me, and am now in better condition than most people around me (who are sedentary). I stuck to a plan, and I continued to excel at it. I cannot express in words the feeling I got inside from seeing myself lifting heavier plate loads by the week…with comical ease...this was one of the rare things in life where you actually SEE the physical manifestation of all of your hard work...paying off right before your eyes. you KNOW you are doing something right.
My diet, is now better than most people around me as well. I NEVER thought, even with my degrees in fitness/nutrition, that I could possibly follow a healthy meal plan. Heck, I would take food over sex any day of the week. If I am ever stranded alone on a deserted island, give me an unlimited supply of food, and I'll live out the rest of my days happy as a pig in sh!t. Only difference is now it would be healthy food choices, and no more gluttonous behavior.
I have to give credit where it’s due, and thank DB.com for getting me to stop drinking coca cola. I would literally sometimes drink 2L of coca cola day...now...it’s all water. And no joke, the pounds, simply dropped off faster than you can dial Jenny Craig by doing so.
I have a newfound lifestyle. I have no more panic attacks. My resting heart rate is lower than anyone in my family, and most of my friends around me. I've never been one to smoke, drink alcohol, and I never feel comfortable taking herbal supplementations or OTC/prescription meds....now I can say with confidence that I can avoid the "small stuff" too, like the junk food, and crap sodas.
Training....has given back to me my mental sharpness and clarity, my perseverance, my confidence, and more importantly, it has given me back my health...in its true essence, it has delivered back to me what I almost once lost…it gave me back my life.
And now...I can finally give back to those who want me to train them…not from my degrees, but from a very personal space in my life.