We always want things to be perfect or moving toward perfection in as straight a line as is possible. When we close our eyes and imagine the way things ought to be, there is a never ending panorama of goodness and victories with never a failure, setback, or sidetrack. We pump our fists skyward in celebration as we conjure up the image of our arrival at our final destination in glory. (Pretty Heady Stuff to legends in our own minds).
This month of October has presented things that totally defeated the “dream” of victory accomplished along a perfect trajectory. I am exhausted but not bowed.
I have a goal of competing at 212 lbs in the National Bodybuilding Championships in July 2015. I have had a hell of a time getting to 200 lbs. My metabolism is so high that in the face of between 5,000 & 7,000 calories per day I would actually lose weight. I would describe this phenomenon as extremely weird. I train very hard 6 days per week. I take all the right supplements. I eat as much protein and carbs as my little body can absorb each day. I’m sleeping much better now as well. I have been faithful to the plan outlined by my coach Justin Dees and things have progressed well but very slowly.
Finally, a week ago I hit 199.6 lbs and I was ecstatic. My son comes home from the University of Utah and begins to throw up. Within 2 days, I begin the toss my cookies, with an associated fever, body aches, chills, nausea, and extreme weakness. You guessed it! I lost 8 lbs in 36 hours. I fought through this episode of flu-like symptoms and got back to the gym. In fact, I missed training only once during the illness.
After, I had gotten better I got a severe cold accompanied by nasal congestion and cough. This went on for several days and my weight hovered between 193 and 196lbs. Then, after about 5 days I pushed myself to eat and my weight was back up to 200 lbs even. I decided to visit my coach. I walked in his front door and it was obvious that he was feeling very badly himself. He had been with diarrhea, fever, chills, nausea, body aches etc. I only stayed for about 1.5 minutes I sware. I went home and thought to myself, “boy, he sure looks rough.” Within 12 hours I had another episode of the flu with diarrhea, fever, chills, weakness, body aches, chills. I was again down for the count. This time, after 4 days I had lost another 8 lbs and I was still extremely weak. I repeated the intense workouts during the illness. I could not eat very much at each meal due to the nausea and the subsequent diarrhea. My weight dropped to 192.4 lbs.
Today, was much better with my weight skyrocketing back to 198.6 lbs this afternoon. I am feeling better and I’m back on track.
As the story above describes. I was not headed to victory without some turbulence, slow downs, and good old fashioned, ILLNESS to try my soul. Each episode illustrates and underlines the basic fact inherent in any quest—-that the path is NEVER straight and NEVER void of trials, slow downs, and outright failures. This is to just state the obvious of course. But, what is the required response? What should our strategy be when things have taken a tributary. Let me try to put one single process into our heads that provides a focus for us to keep on keeping when things go poorly.
When things go awry and I am totally taken off the path to victory there are a few steps that absolutely must be taken to get back on track:
1.) I must never “Lose Track of the Goal:
“Please know that that “where there is no vision for any of us we will not succeed”—-I do tons of “heart work” to nail down what I want to accomplish and why I want to do it. I determine in the very beginning that NOTHING will get in my way to make the prize mine. Thus, during a time when I am thrown off the path I will not “forget” my destination.
2.) I must “Suffer/Survive the “Tributary Event”
Surviving the disaster is absolutely important. Dead soldiers never fight another day. All of our energies have to be invested in survival so we can get back on track.
3.) I must “Rehab” from the “Tributary Event”
Once Survival has happened we have to rehab and make ourselves strong in order to proceed. Take a breath of fresh air. Stretch your limbs. Go for a walk.
4.) I have to “Reload” my strategy and effort
Reload at this point. Reform your strategy if it’s required. Maybe even redo your thoughts about why this objective is so important. It’s a bit of gut check to validate the effort and the way forward. If all systems check out—-GET GOING!
5.) I “Proceed” to accomplishing my dream
Proceed with the gusto! Leave everything you just experienced in your rear view mirror because it is only a drag on your forward progress. Unless there is another “Tributary Event” I/you will be champions.
These are principles that have presented themselves to me over and over again during my quest and especially during the times when things are not going my way. Sometimes these seeming catastrophes are not quite so bad so long as I/we have a strategy to hold onto and to exercise. Having these steps firmly in mind for the bad times is part of preparation for the journey.
Always remember that this is “OUR TIME” and it these are “OUR” goals and “OUR” dreams to be had. Nobody can take them away from us lest we self-eliminate by not believing we can attain our own levels of greatness in this life. This has been good to explain these requisite steps to “get out of the ditch” and back on the path to your goals and dreams. Until next time.
Douglas E. Graham
Six Pack and Senior 