Tag: bodybuilding

SPARTAN SERIES #262 “MOTIVATED BY THE FEAR OF BEING AVERAGE!”

by Doug Graham, posted in General

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

“I have to admit that I got this quote from the great Branch Warren. In fact it was so impactful that i bought one of his T-Shirts with this on the front of it!” Good Stuff

If there is anything that causes us great pause it is to reveal to the world that we want much more out of life than just a house, a wife/husband, a nice car multiple great kids, church, plenty of money and a great wife/husband. It’s funny but when we start to pursue a path that does not lead to the enhancements of the above stated bits of normalcy (by the world’s standards) we instantly begin to endure multiple attacks by close friends, relatives and knuckleheads. Each of us believes that once the cards of our existence are dealt we only have to do that which is correct according to the world around us,

Let’s say you have always admired bodybuilders and you privately wanted to be like them and way down inside you wanted to go on stage and begin taking your place among them. Now—-enter the first step toward realizing your dream…….POW!! the fears of others are piled on you in amounts that could crush any lesser men. Ouch! These are supposed to be my friends! Next step is to either continue and know that your dream is to be derailed and you are to be reduced to an existence far less than our aspirations and friends dictate. We also know that if we let others crush our desires and dreams we will be relegated to a life of “HO HUM”. The pain of self exposure is too hard. Some give up and I might say “MOST” give up. But, for those who ignore the big three critics they move forward steeling their minds against those who do not want them to be better than them. Normalcy to most people is not being too poor or too despicable to be regarded as inferior. Alternatively, those who aspire to some sort of greatness are labeled as “social climbers or show offs, or big shots or the worst one is just crazy and irresponsible. “They just can’t grow up!”

There are spirits among us that want more than just an existence. They want to be good as they follow their dreams. They want more from life than to live from pay check to pay check. Their dreams run counter to all that they have been led to believe.

Bodybuilding, is a form of being what we want to be. The loneliness of bodybuilders forging ahead in the quiet of a near empty gym after work, after being sure the family is secure and taken care of is deafening. While the world and critics sleep the bodybuilder is busy remaking his physique in preparation to be better than others with the same goals. All of us who do this thing called bodybuilding or even severe physical training on our own terms, have had to learn to walk alone and to reach deep for motivation inside ourselves. What’s really cool is that one day many who threw rocks at the effort will wish they too had the guts to pursue their own passions…..and the passions don’t necessarily have to be in bodybuilding….It could be anything that pushes the spirit to a different and higher plain.

In closing let’s commit ourselves to never settling for being average. None of us has a HOLY OBLIGATION to be average. I believe that when we seek to be better that this is an ordination for good. I will be even better on stage next time. I dare not be AVERAGE because my competition will definitely be way above AVERAGE. So! Go to work and destroy the term AVERAGE in our lives. It’s not for us.

Doug Graham works his chest muscles as he works out Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017 at VASA Fitness in Orem. Graham explained that some of his friends tease him with things like, ÒÕYouÕre in pretty good shape, for an old guy,Õ and I say, Ôsince when did I get an asterisk?ÕÓ ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

30 June 2014 — Four Maxims for Training

by Doug Graham, posted in General

Well, in order to accomplish anything in life you have to first get a “belly full of WANT TO.”  Simply put.  It means that YOU have decided that it is worth it!  That’s what happened when I decided to give bodybuilding at this “SENIOR” stage of my life, a GO.  The decision was not taken lightly for a myriad of reasons that I will not bore you with in this limited space.

Once the Commitment was made, I next set the “VECTOR”…. I circled a date for a local contest on my calendar—the dye was cast!

Next, I set up a few rules of training that have served me well and it’s these rules that I regard as “Training Maxims” that guide me and keep me disciplined with every workout:

1.)  Do not miss workouts — I have trained twice per day for over 4 years.  Missing a workout only occurs when I have another conflicting appointment, I’m sick, I’m injured, or I’m simply exhausted.  I do not necessarily advocate two a day workouts for everybody, that’s my curse that will be remedied tomorrow when I meet with some new trainers.  Whenever you establish a workout to be done, — BE  THERE!

2.)  Do not talk during training — It wastes time and you lose your concentration.  God, only gives us “X” amount of time and we best be about our business.  Put on a headset and stay focused and keep moving.  You can talk about you and your “Legend in Your Own Mind” stuff after the workout.

3.)  Make haste slowly — This is a little hard to explain, but here it goes. — Never throw large amounts of weight onto the barbells, dumbbells, machines etc.  Start low and add small amounts of weight to each set, grind out the reps for that set.  Add, again, a small amount of weight and keep going.  Repeat this until you have maxed out.  It’s not how much I lift — it’s  where I peak when I finally am exhausted.  This method establishes endurance, enhanced calorie burn, and increasing strength again “small amounts of increasing resistance.

4.)  Nobody works harder in this gym than I do — This is an attitude that can become a reality.  The attitude says, “This is my gym!”  Nobody works hard than I do.  If there is somebody else working harder than I need to make an adjustment.

These are my 4 Training Maxims.  They keep me focused while I train….There is plenty of time for “self adjulation” and BS after you work out.  While in the gym give these ideas a chance to become part of you.  They are the things that keep me pressing ahead during my training time.  Image

Another Favorite Quote:  “I am very hard on myself when I train so I can be even more hard on my opponents” — Dan Gable, Wrestling Legend (Iowa State University and Olympic Gold Medalist) and Coach, University of Iowa 

Douglas E. Graham

29 June 2014 — Don’t Hold Back!

by Doug Graham, posted in General

Got up (again) a little later than normal around 07:40 AM.  Did the morning stuff and headed for the gym.  By 0830 AM I was deep into my workout of Heavy Dumbbell Pullovers, Heavy DB Shrugs, and Heavy Barbell Shrugs.  I won’t explain the regimen but know that I did 90 Sets of 12 Reps.  Stopped, and went home.

Ate some eggs, Blueberries, and Oatmeal.  Church, next.  Had some fantastic speakers.  However, the simple message that came through that seemed to speak to our efforts as people and our supreme focus on our callings came from 2 Samuel 11 when David screwed up with Bathsheba.  We all know the story and the ramifications and how he essentially was tagged with violence for the rest of his life.  Bottom Line for all of us (and let me insert that I am a criminal of the highest order forgiven only by God) we must stay focused on the true passions that we possess and that we pursue.  I believe in “Asymmetrical Living” — which, simply means that all that we have needs to be unleashed on accomplishing the things we set out to do. I am not a “ying and yang” sort of guy.  ImageA great quote from a movie that I recently saw that was put out by “Young Life” says, “Nothing great was ever accomplished by holding back.”

Let me cease with this rambling and encourage each of you to, “not hold back.”  Define your passion (kids, family, cars, sports, religion, money) and go for it!  This is our time.  Until tomorrow….Douglas E. Graham

27 June 2014 — Trying to Stay on Track!

by Doug Graham, posted in General

The most difficult thing we do in life is get up every morning and try to stay on the “VECTOR” that God has placed us on.  A Vector is a straight line between where we are and where we are going.  It has an origin, a destination and speed and a host of other properties that a mathematician can attest to.  Despite all the distractions, diversions, and very legitimate obstacles,Image we must arise, get our bearings, prepare for the day and “find the place on our VECTOR to continue.”  Nobody can make this trek for us.

This reality was apparent this morning.  I awake at 05:00 AM and begin the process of rationalizing why I should continue to lay in bed a little longer.  Eventually, I place one foot on the floor and then the other. With a very foggy mind (and at the urging of my wife) I begin to plan my training for that morning. I replay the reasons why I do what I do.  I pull up an image of myself on stage giving it all I’ve got. Then, the juices begin to flow.  By 0:530 AM I am eating some oatmeal and blueberries.  05:45 AM I’m out the door headed for the local Gold’s Gym.  Training is brutal with my eye on the prize.

I illustrate this process to remind all of us that we are all on a quest to be as good as we can be and to finish strong.  We are in the twilight of our years and it’s our time.  To think of all of you and the indelibly imprinted memories that I carry with me always, I think of the words from the song “The Last Farewell” by Roger Whitaker, “I have loved you dearly! More dearly than the spoken word can tell.”  See some of you soon in July.  Train hard for the trip along your own VECTOR to the destination that you have been directed to.  Douglas E. Graham

26 June 2014 — Pushing Ahead

by Doug Graham, posted in General

Just finished training my abs, quads, calves, triceps.  Trying to push things to next level this week as I prepare to submit myself to new coach.  Surely, my training will be reduced to once per day.  Goals now are to push my weight to 195 lbs to compete as a Light Heavy Weight.  Next is to push on to acquiring my “Pro Card” and finally, to win a National Championship.  New coach feels very strongly that we can accomplish these goals. 

Feel pretty good today.  Reducing my calories a bit to be sure my weight does not explode upward due to the intake of “dirty” food.  I’ve been pretty good eating “clean” since contest and I have only gained about 3 lbs since 21 June  2014.

Christine, too is thinking seriously about raising her bar over the next year.  Quite frankly, she is doing great so far on her own but with some real guidance from a pro she would morph into a super model.  She is magnificent and I love her dearly.  Lots to do.  Maybe I will add more later as this day unfolds.  Personal Assertion: “Nothing is free!”

Douglas E. GrahamImage