Attitude is everything! In my world, and being an older bodybuilder it is imperative that I determine to outwork everybody else in the gym. I have no choice because “father time” is not on my side. I have to be always at my best if I am to be competitive and if I am to progress in the ranks of bodybuilding.
My Best Days to Train
There are days when I go into the gym to train that I am perfect. I feel good, I am strong, and I am able to work long and hard with seemingly little effort. My mind is focused in accomplishing what I have set out to do. Nothing can stop me on these magnificent days of total commitment to being better because I am ready to train. There isn’t anything that can deter me from performing at a very high degree. These are the best of times.
My Worst Days to Train
As I noted above, attitude is everything! When I run into days when my body is totally racked with pain, I have a nagging injury, I am ill (sometimes with a fever), or I am mentally distracted, I have to reach deep to find the drive to do my training. Luckily, I have determined a long time ago that when things are not good in the gym I instantly look for something that will push me forward. For instance, when I have a nagging injury and my training is in jeopardy that day, I think hard about how to work around that injury without exposing my body to further injury or to exacerbate my existing injury. If my biceps muscle is torn, I shift my emphasis to using my triceps muscle. I minimize the stress on the injured muscle. It’s amazing how hard I can still train despite being hurt.
Another example is when I am sick. I know! I know! Conventional wisdom and advice would dictate that I forget training and go home. There are times that I follow this advice and head back to my bed. But, before I leave I make a herculean effort to get into my workout to see if I can still train though I don’t feel well. If I can get into a rhythm during my workout I will stay in that rhythm throughout my time training. Sometimes, I notice that the fever goes up and I sweat like crazy. The big thing here as in any other hindrance to training, I have to put my mind in gear and be determined to never quit.
Even on my Worst Day—I’m Killing it!
Its imperative to know that nobody can or will out work me. I have four goals when I train: 1.) I never miss workouts 2.) I don’t talk during my workouts. 3.) I work harder than anybody else in the gym. Nobody out works me! 4.) . When I am finished I have to know that this gym belongs to me. This is my “MY HOUSE.” I own this place! All these goals are in place to push me to be better—even when it seems impossible to perform.
What I Seek
I only want to be better and I cannot be better unless I do the work. I have to do the work all the time and when I am not at my best I “STILL” have to be at my best. Nobody gives us anything. I have to work for what I want and expect nothing from no one. It is me against the world and I have to be sure that all that I do qualifies as “KILLING IT!’ There is no tomorrow and my success is dependent upon my ability to “KILL IT” even on my worst days.
In closing I would advise that you, like me, must learn to “KILL IT” even on our worst days in the gym because the goals we seek demand this level of effort.
Until Next time, I remain, Douglas E. Graham, Lt Col, USAF, (ret), MHSM
Six Pack and Senior 