go to http://www.sixpackandsenior.com for all posts, photos, and articles

I remember the excitement and the surge of emotions as the gate swung open to allow all the footbal team to walk and then run down the tunnel out onto the field to start the game. Everything was electric. Nothing could stop me or this team. I couldn’t wait to hit somebody to get things started. This is what I mean when I say that it’s easy to do something when all is flowing in the right direction. WOW!!! All of us who have played baseball, football, ran track, wrestled etc. Knows precisely this moment. I wouldn’t exchange a single memory of these times.

However! Let’s review and recall all that has been. required to get to this moment. The early morning training, the long runs around the stadium, the streets, and our neighborhoods–sometimes twice per day. Being on the field or in the gym by 0800 five days per week ready to train, and hit. The study of opponent films and the coaching criticisms and demands at every stage of preparation. I used to love going into the locker room after practice so I could sit in front of my locker and slump for a few minutes. Then, the long, hot shower that had a magic effect on my bruised, body.

Supper was soo welcome! Weakness gave way a sense of well being, comfort, and relaxation.

I say and describe all this because when we are training and pursuing our goals we have moments when we think that all this training is not worth it. We want to quit. we would rather be doing anything than this. It’s right here in our journey that we have to take a deep breath and decide that we must go on….this is where e have to resolve that we have to go despite the tasks becoming hard. There’s an old saying “NOTHING IS FREE” and this is absolutely true. Just because a thing is hard does not signal that it is time to quit. Remember you can “have excuses or you can have results, but no both!”

Bottom Line: Plug in your brain and your expectations. Function with your eyes wide open! The road to your greatness is never easy and that is why you never quit when things get “HARD”…You are the Captain of Your own Destiny…..Difficulty and doing hard things is real and expected so determine to finish the course through seemingly insurmountable challenges. Now! Go win and don’t look back…

go to http://www.sixpackandsenior.com for full article, posts, and photos

“Nothing good happens to us when we only give a half-ass effort. If something is worth having it will cost you your life.” All out and being all in is the only way to win!”

This is a very straight forward concept but few people like total commitment. Most of us want to have an off ramp in case we change our minds or we begin to realize that success attracts tons of attention. This new found attention is uncomfortable, a little embarrassing, and sets the s age for more effort than we anticipated. We can feel a bit trapped by our own success. So! The question. is do we continue or do lie low and let the success exist as an aberration.

Let me reiterate: “if it’s worth having it’s worth going all out.” Muhamad Ali said: “I work as hard as I can now so I win and so I can live the rest of my life as a Champion!” We have to be able to look in the mirror and know that we gave it our best. My goals and aspirations are mine but when I attain them nobody can ever take them. away.

It’s crazy to think (at my age) that attaining great things can still happen. However, the principles that got us through the hard things before are now required again. This time we think, set the goal and the compass and be about the business of doing all that’s required to win.

Bottom Line: When the prize is decided on, there is nothing that can stop you! You can have excuses or you can have results but you cannot have both….Losing is not an option! Sweat, pain, effort, desire, and an ironclad will is the order for every day. Do the work and win….Nobody else will do it for you. Become your own hero….!

go to http://www.sixpackandsenior.com to see all articles and photos

I was told a long time ago that i should “PLAY BIG” but stay within yourself….Never try to be that which you are not. Bring who you are and what you have to the table and that’s all you can give…..It will always be enough. The only thing you have to drop into the equation is your “RUTHLESS EXECUTION OF THE BASICS!” Always remember that nobody is going to do it for you.

Once you move from your decision to move forward the next thing is for you to gather are the basic skills to get started and to improve. In bodybuilding there are very distinct components: 1.) Motivation and Discipline….When Motivation is not there then Discipline will take over for you. 2.) Construct your plan. 3.) Begin “RUTHLESS EXECUTION OF THE BASICS” 4.) Develop a diet that supports your goals that should be put into place as soon as you can. 5,) Get a coach and get started. 6.0 Don’t look back.

When you start my advice would be that you do not tell anybody about your goals or what you are up to. You do not need the “bench sitters” to discourage you with crazy questions like: Why do you want to do this? What will you do if you get injured? or Aren’t you too old for this? You need to keep your effort high and let your body transformation speak for you. Work in silence. Say nothing. You will win!

There’s an old saying that you plan, work, eat, rest,—repeat! Keep at it no matter what. You will learn that repetition combined with consistency and your brutal effort will carry the day. As you look forward to accomplishing your goal the temptation to stop at times is unreal. Duties, jobs, family, fatigue, and money will all present themselves as reasons to quit. Get determined! Make a way when none exists. When you think you are going to quit or skip a workout……Plug in “DISCIPLINE” and keep going.

I’ve wanted to stop bodybuilding numerous times but this is what I do. The very same thing as you. I do it even when I don’t like it.

Bottom Line: Become a monster and a “legend in your own mind.” Nobody or anything can stop you. Many start but few finish….Make it your business to not talk unless you can back it up. This is your time! Brutalize your routine always in order to win. Your goals are yours…..!!!

go ro http://www.sixpackandsenior.com to see all articles and photos

You have to decide that what we want from ourselves will require more than a passing thought or urge. It will demand that we refocus and retool all the necessary components to get the job done. When we survey and take stock of our health, our appearance, our weight, our endurance, and all things that have brought us to this point of evaluation and direction to correct. I first like to look over the way I look. If you want to look better you must learn to hate being stuck in the same place. We have, actually “hate” what we see. This is a real starting point—to desire to. get off the time and do something about our broken selves. We have to stop, “settling” for what we have and believe. and learn what to do to change our poor self-image. Next, we have to take stock of our health. It’s a good idea to get a medical evaluation to be sure that you are in good enough health to take on the work that will be required to change our appearance and lives. Letting a medical professional evaluate you and clear you/me to begin our assault on change. Listen carefully to see what modifications need to be made to incorporate into the program. The medical evaluation will guide us to be safe as we progress. I recommend staying in touch with your provider during the entire process in order to clinically measure your progress. Be sure you write down your weight and work with your medical provider to establish your desired or ideal weight. Weigh yourself daily using same scale with the same type of clothes. Be sure that you establish and metric to measure progress in your endurance. Measure such things as time done with each exercise, number of reps with weights related to each exercise etc.

The above steps are critical. All these helps us to determine various goals, Write the goals down and put them in bold and obvious places as a reminder of where you are going and the current status of your progress.

Now, we put together a plan to get to our goal(s). This is where the waging of the actual “War on Ourselves” begins. It’s you against you. Whatever you see broken or improving is always on the table. I have a formula for consistency that may help: “I TRAIN 6 DAYS PER WEEK X 1.5 HOURS PER WORKOUT). Then, determine what you do with each training session. For instance, Mondazay is Chest Days. Tuesday is strictly Arm Day hitting Biceps and Triceps. Wednesday is Leg Day. Thursday is Shoulder Day. Friday is a Pulling Day for Lats and Upper Chest. Saturday is strictly Cardio. But, please note that 30 minutes of cardio per day all other days. Sunday, Rest and take all measurements. This is just a thumbnail workout schedule to get you started.

To close let me emphasize that nothing you do is attained by half-ass effort! You have to envision your goals and get after it. Remember, “NOBODY IS GOING TO DO IT FOR YOU” You are the “Captain of your ship.” Nobody does it better and winning is all there is. You have to determine what winning looks like and how badly you want it.

Bottom Line: Get started! Don’t look back! Let nobody talk you out of your effort.

The best to you always

Go to http://www.sixpackandsenior.com for all photos and articles

We tend to rise or fall to the expectation imposed on us by others or we play down to the image we have created for ourselves. Either way, it is fear that sets the bar for us to clear to be successful. Try to think of what you really want. Then imagine the things that must be done to realize your goal(s). The mere thought of starting the process is more than daunting. The bottom line is that we want something so badly that we are nuts, but when we consider the effort we get “cold feet.” We just dismiss the stirrings of beckoning greatness and we settle into our life of quiet desperation. We learn to stay away from the thing that makes us “alive.” In order to have what we desperately want we have to overcome the self-imposed fear. Let me make some suggestions that may help.

First, I always without fail, counsel everybody who wants to do bodybuilding that they get alone and decide if they “really” want to do this. I tell them to take their time and be sure that this is their goal. If they decide that bodybuilding is their passion then we work together to establish their first set of goals. We look over all that is in place already. This survey is required before the plan is put into place. Let’s say that they want to compete in 15 months from today. I instantly put together a workout plan that has a formula that says he works out 1.5 hours per day X 6 days per week. That’s the rhythm. I recommend/demand that no workouts are missed. Consistency is the main guiding principle. Missing workouts reveals that we don’t really want the goal that has been established. Next, he must begin. Day #1, Day #2, Day#3, Day #4, Day #5, Day #6, Day #7 REST!

This is the time when a personal choice must be made: to continue OR quit because it’s too hard. Not to mention severity will curb your appetite for hard work and we look around for an excuse to fail. If you continue along this path the self-sacrifice, pain, exhaustion along with uncompromising regimentation will be your life. At this point you/he will need a good coach. A person who believes in you and is immovable in his demands for you. You must see him as your partner and coach and not necessarily your friend. This is crucial.

As you turn toward finishing this trajectory to the stage and maybe even a win, you will have tons of self-doubt. Just the mere thought of getting up on stage stokes waves of major fear in your soul. This also is the time that you must get it through your head that if I am afraid I will be performing a rite of self-annihilation. This is also where you see only blue skies, following seas, and limitless potential for this endeavor. The Bible says in: 1 John 4:18 ‘there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment…” By extension, we will not fear but we will, instead love ourselves and the challenge we have set before us.

Turn up the heat. Train hard, Do what is required. Don’t miss workouts. Demand that your coach helps you be perfect with your posing. Chin up! Chest Out! Shoulders back with a look of determination will carry the day. You’r not afraid anymore! You have no limits….Go after it. You have just won.

http://www.sixpackandsenior.com for more articles. and photos.

All of us have times in our lives when “nothing” is going right. You’re facing challenges that you never anticipated nor have you been prepared for. Family crises of various types, sudden reduction in income and the additional burden of carrying another family unit worse off than your own, business that seems to shutter and nearly stop thus delaying a much earned payday, depression, withdrawal and the list of woes is seemingly endless. Your personal goals grind to a halt. So, where does a potential champion go from here?

Let’s start where we are. First, you have to raise your head up to see if where you want to go and what you want to be is in sight. I have to assume (justifiably) that all of us has never forgotten. We are just caught in the mire of real life. I always say that this is where men and women of greatness are forged. It is here that we find that toe hold to push off one more time to raise ourselves just a little higher so as not to quit. Boy!!! This is easier to talk. about than to do. But, my admonition for all of us is to “focus” on that personal image of ourselves that we see in our minds that is the best self we want to become. This is what we see. However, now you have to “want” your future self more than what you have this moment. Ponder, think, imagine, do a little something that moves you in that direction despite today’s devastation and mire that pulls us down. It ain’t much but that little movement is life sustaining and life changing.

I only have two gifts God gave me. 1.) Discernment. My ability to see to the end of a process or project. 2.) Drive. Somewhere when I came into the world I discovered that if you get up, “ONE MORE TIME.” and keep pushing forward you will win. i’ve done it all my life and I am still in there swinging. I want something really bad and I can see it and now I am about the business of getting it. I, like you are very discouraged and we feel there is no way forward or out! Let me encourage you to get back in the gym daily. There are a ton of people who are looking at us and watching to see if we buckle under the weight of epic burdens. They need you to win so they will be encouraged to keep going.

Next, for us muscle heads, we need to plan (slowly) to make it to the stage again. it is a very palpable symbol for us of winning. A guy named Paul Little wrote a book. entitled, “So what’s the Difference?” The difference between a person who believes nothing and a person who believes in something, So for instance. You can respond to nothing. But, with something to live and die for you have everything you need. So, find out if you are shooting for nothing or for something and use the gym as a place to take your gut check.

Bottom Line: Know what your strengths are. Develop an iron will at the point when quitting seems to be the only option.

A bout 27 years ago I lost all that I had built and accomplished. I’ll spare you the saga. I had no place to go and others pursued my demise with glee. Somewhere along the way I stopped believing that what others thought of me was the measure of how I saw myself. The moment I decided that I didn’t want this dependence on other people’s opinions I was instantly free. Wow! I was the one who was to steer this damaged ship into a harbor to heal and take on new energy. During this quiet bit of planning came the assurance from God that I myself was sufficient for any of my needs and desires and aspirations. I, to the degree I could had to put all my losses in my rear view mirror and I started all over again.

This change of focus was then and continues today as the major motivator of my life. I have a very successful (purely my opinion) bodybuilding life, a business on the verge of great things, a stupendous wife who loves me and JUST LIKES ME. It’s not just a change of mind it is a purposeful and thoughtful determination that I am much more than what others know or believe that I am. Let me illustrate: In bodybuilding, we are constantly distracted by our family, our colleagues, our kids, our grandkids and, of course those who want you to fail. When we know our enemies are out there in the world and our champion lives inside of us, we are again able to believe in ourselves. Oh! Happy Day! You see!! nothing in this world is more important than what we believe about ourselves.

Let’s not belabor this! You can do what you believe you can do and all others can go to hell. Too long I’ve played with being a champion. Now it’s time to emerge as the “Great and Powerful Oz.” Next show for me will have to be in 2026. I’ll do more than one but I plan to win them all. You should speak to your champion and make plans to “win it all” this year.

Bottom Line: Believing in you is paramount. Listening to others is insane!

go to http://www.sixpackandsenior.com for all photos and posts

Sometimes we want to just stop what we are doing and go back. Turn back the clock. Unring the bell. But, that’s not the way life works and it’s not what is required to win in bodybuilding. Nearly every day my money, motivation, time, or plans seem to disappear. I am immediately faced with quitting and concocting a great bullshit story for consumption by myself and then by all those who are watching me, or I can plant my left foot and push off in the direction of my goal/dream. The old saying: “You can make excuses or you can win—but you can’t have both!” This is a harsh reality that many of us experience and the decision to push forward (despite any new obstacles) is way too hard.

In order to hit the stage at just the right time with all motivation and push we cannot be stopped to distracted by a problem that is seemingly insurmountable. This moment of hesitation can define us for life if we let it. This is where we define ourselves for life by choosing to “move forward.” This is the first step in becoming that which you are called to be. There is no satisfying second place finish. The only thing standing between you and being bhe best is your willingness to be in pain, embarrassed, out of gas, fear and a lack of self belief. “JUST KEEP MOVING FOWARD!” even when it seems ridiculous to keep going.

I’m looking forward to doing two shows this year and I cannot flinch. I’ve go to: “JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD.” Nobody is going to do it for me. I want to destroy the youngsters at all levels. I have to arrive in the best shape of my life.

Bottom Line: ‘BE THAT PERSON WHO SEES NO OTHER ROUTE TO VICTORY EXCEPT STRAIGHT AHEAD AND “JUST KEEPS PUSHING FORWARD!” Lessers people quit—but not you or me…..Bring on the challenge! I am winning and defining my character.

go to http://www.sixpackandsenior.com for all my photos and posts

All of us has taken on a task or established a goal that is seemingly too big. But, even when the objective seems to disappear and discouragement is the order of the day we press on toward our goal undeterred. All of us have had those “defining moments” when we have to face ourselves and either put up or shut up. We go into cloistered psychological room that we shut the door ahd seal it behind us. This is a “hill to die on!” We set our course, we bragged about what we were going to do to all of our significant friends and colleagues. We bough the T-Shirt that had the logo on the front, “Winning is the only option!” Now, for some very personal reason we want to be released from our own promise to ourselves.—-ouch! But, how do we do it and not lose face? Let me give you an unsolicited, heartfelt, bit of advice from the annals of. personal experience…..for what it’s worth. I don’t give a damn about your excuses or the changing circumstances you are now enmeshed in. My advice is this, “Get your ass moving and do it.” The net effect of backing down from your personal commitment to excellence will have repercussions that will not only affect you, but it will damage all your friend’s respect for you and this will be part of a legacy that you do not want to live. The last part of my advice to all of us is, “Winning is a choice (and I don’t care what the job/game is) and my hardest lesson in life is that you can have, “Excuses or you can win!” But, you cannot have both.

I gave up on a very successful athletic career because I told myself that I had no support, I had no money, my heart was not in it—-The list of bullshit I fed myself took me to my predictable end. I became less than I could have been. So, I implore all of us to “STAY THE COURSE! BE PATIENT AND ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY!” After all, this journey is yours and nobody and make this journey except you. Only you can win because you choose to win…..

Bottom Line: “You started this……so finish it in style!