This maxim is something we all wrestle with and it does not necessarily relate to Bodybuilding. However, for the sake of this article I will use Bodybuilding as our back drop.
When I first started lifting weights I did it with the full intention of getting into shape and I wanted to do it as quietly as possible. I didn’t want anybody to find out what I was doing because I didn’t want to be criticized, humiliated, condescended or, at worst, to be called crazy. Lastly, I didn’t want people to say that I ought to “act my age.” I had no intention of competing in Bodybuilding. This project was designed to get me into shape and nothing else. So, I trained twice per day 6 days per week for three years. Each time I went into the gym I wore a ball cap, a headset to listen to my music, a string top tank top, T-shirt, sweat shirt, long warm up pants. I was not going to let anybody see just how far out of shape I had gotten over the years. My strength and size went through the roof. Then, one day I had to take off my shirt for some reason, in the gym and 2-3 guys were so impressed that they all told me that I should consider competing. The mere thought of standing on stage with just a Speedo on in front of thousands of people struck fear in my soul.
I went home and told my wife about what happened and she told me that I should do it! I was immediately filled with fear and dread. “No Way!” I said to my wife. She listened to my protestation quietly and once again she told me I should do it. I quickly changed the subject and I did not bring it up again for about a week. During this week I had one anxiety attack after another as I tried to imagine myself on stage.
The next time I went into the gym I immediately approached my colleagues who had suggested that I try to compete in Bodybuilding and I blurted out, “OK! I’m going to do it!” They were as surprised to hear what I said as I was to say it. My Fear had been exposed and now addressed. There was no turning back.
Over the next 12 weeks I worked harder than I had ever worked before in the gym. I had no coach so I had to learn everything on the fly as I watched other guys train and asked tons of questions. Finally, the date for the contest came and I had lost 33 lbs., tanned daily, ate very healthy, did cardio an hour per day. I was ready! My posing I picked up by watching videos on YouTube.com of some of the great bodybuilders. My fear was so great that I thought of just putting my clothes on and leaving the auditorium.
Then, it was my groups’ turn to go onto stage for prejudging. It was over so fast that I can bare remember it. That evening I posed to “Phantom of the Opera” and it went over pretty good. In the end I had competed in 3 divisions and received 3 fifth place trophies. Not bad for an old guy.
The take home on this experience as it is in anything else is that you have to commit yourself to accomplishing the thing you want. The commitment must be complete because your fear will be seeking to make a coward of you. In this case, “Fear made the wolf bigger than he was.” But, I did not give in and I took my place in an arena that I could not have imagined.
In closing, Fear is normal but quitting is a choice. Let me admonish all of us to never Quit.
Until next time I remain, Douglas E. Graham, Lt Col, USAF, (ret), MHSM
Six Pack and Senior 