My training journey has spanned most of my life. Training started at 13 years old and by 21, I decided to go for it. The first step was to build a team. A team of winners. There was only one man in my city producing champions faster than you could blink. Putting himself second to his athletes had brought this master to his boiling point. He needed to focus on his own goals now, more than ever. It didn’t take much persuasion to pull him towards the cause. We settled on a twice a day training schedule. 2 hours in the morning at 6 am and again in the evening at 6 pm. The rest of the time spent recovering, resting, working, eating and dreaming. The next step was to find another individual who would embrace this bizarre life decision and train with us full-time. You would have better luck finding a unicorn. After searching through my network, I found a candidate. Every relationship in my life relates in some way to bodybuilding and powerlifting anyways. We dove headfirst into it, never missing a workout, never missing a meal, never missing rest. This went on for months and months. As time went on, I felt more isolated from the world.
We did incredible things during that time. I won’t divulge the numbers from our training sessions since most people are skeptics. To give you an idea, the coach barbell shrugged 550 pounds for 33 reps.Strength athletes are the most intense people on earth. No matter what your fitness goals, there is no better foundation than strength training and powerlifting. The strength internship paved the way for the future. After bleeding for it, the foundation was mine. I took all the knowledge from that experience and moved on.I slipped back into a regular reality. Filled with girlfriends, work, television, holidays, family, friends, drama, stress and everything “normal”. Years later, the iron called me.It sucked me right back in and bodybuilding became the new focus. I met the biggest man in my city. A 5’7 bodybuilding kingpin weighing 270 pounds with good conditioning. The next internship was about to begin.
Success with your training goals is a long process. There will be failures and lessons along the way. There will be moments of frustration that force you to rethink your entire approach to your fitness goals. Slow and steady wins the race in this game. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The key is to enjoy each stage of your progression. Take the time to reflect upon on how far you have come and how far you will continue go. Assess your results every few months. Be patient and kind to yourself. Keep moving forward, onward and upwards! The fact is there are no shortcuts. I’m not going to sell you a magic pill or secret formula. Real results are born through a hard process. Success in your fitness goals is not an event that will just manifest itself once you step into a gym and exercise for a brief period of time.
To achieve something worthwhile you will have to commit to a series of small steps on a daily basis that add up over time. This is what the process is. This is what produces real results. Over time, you will develop great habits with nutrition, rest, and training. They will empower you into achieving your goal. The end result is a lifestyle that spirals upwards towards your fitness dreams.Are you committed to permanent change? The process required to reach your dream body is a life changing journey. A ship cannot sail without a map. Likewise, you must know where you’re going. Clarify your goal and take action on a daily basis throughout the process. Make adjustments as you progress along and before you know it you will have a new lifestyle that will get you where you need to be.