• FreeTrainers.com Forums
• General Fitness & Exercise
• Training for the past year - my story...

Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Training for the past year - my story...

jbennett Posts: 1,558 Joined: 2001/02/28	2006/10/24, 04:24 PM It’s official – I’ve been back in the weight room for a year. I went through a very trying divorce (October 2003 – January 2005), the ex sold my weight equipment, and I dropped about 35lbs of lean mass. By the time I had started training again in October 2005, I had gained about 10 lbs (not all lean mass) and hovered around the 182lb mark. I went into the gym with the attitude that I would not quit no matter what happened. I remember the first time I warmed up for bench – 25s on the bar for a total of 95lbs. By the ninth rep my arms were quivering. 95lbs was making me tired. This from a guy who set a personal record for bench at 360lbs in August of ’03. It made me sick. I wanted to just quit right then because I didn’t think I could get back to anywhere near what I used to lift. But I had already made the commitment to myself that I wouldn’t give up. It’s been a year and I’m at the heaviest weight I’ve ever been (208lbs). In a year’s time, I’ve gained 26lbs and dropped my body fat percentage from around 9.5% to 8%. I’m deadlifting more weight now than I ever have. Because of the gains I have made over the last year, I whole-heartedly believe in muscle memory. I think my prior experience in the gym ‘trained’ my muscles to respond the way they have. I will never brag about the way I look or the way I train. I still have MANY goals to achieve and many barriers to break. I have too much to accomplish to waste time bragging. I have found the right eating/training/eating plan that works for me. (Yes, I know I put ‘eating’ in there twice; I’m stressing the importance.) I want to make one thing perfectly clear: I DO NOT TAKE A TON OF SUPPLEMENTS!!! Whey protein, creatine, Animal Pak multivitamin/mutimineral, flaxseed oil – that’s all! Eating right (and often) and finding a rigorous training program that’s right for you are only the beginning. Keeping yourself motivated by celebrating the small victories – in the kitchen, in the gym, etc – are the real keys to my success. I’ve already forgotten how bad my 5th set of hack squats felt last Monday, but I won’t forget when I had to scrap most of my XL shirts and replace them with XXL. Damn, that was an awesome feeling. A small victory. Just a little something to keep me motivated. Best of luck to all of you. May you never lose sight of your goals and never forget the little things that make you successful. :dumbbell: -------------- --JBennett "I've up-ed my intensity.... now up yours!" "Pain is only weakness leaving the body." "Never think of how weak you are; think of how strong you're going to be."
mikencharleston Posts: 1,585 Joined: 2002/01/09	2006/10/24, 04:26 PM That pretty much says it all. Good going JB
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2006/10/24, 04:27 PM NICE man! totaly got me pumped to hit back tonight! -------------- Stop freaking talking about what you squat and SHOW ME WHAT YOU SQUAT! 7707mutt@freetrainers.com
yadmit Posts: 4,670 Joined: 2003/10/05	2006/10/24, 04:27 PM Good on ya and congrats! t -------------- I am training for birthdays. Be here. Live. Love. Hope. Now. Faith. Believe. You. - Keith Urban They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. - Andy Warhol
jbennett Posts: 1,558 Joined: 2001/02/28	2006/10/24, 04:27 PM BTW, there's no response necessary to the above post. I just want people to realize that no matter what happens, you can reach your goals if you keep a positive mental attitude.
jbennett Posts: 1,558 Joined: 2001/02/28	2006/10/24, 04:28 PM Thanks, though.
Carivan Posts: 8,542 Joined: 2002/01/20	2006/10/24, 04:46 PM Wow JB.....Nice come back to the gym! Very inspiring. -------------- You are what you eat. So stay away from the jerk chicken. Ivan Montreal Canada (City of Festivals)
KC_72 Posts: 3,249 Joined: 2006/05/19	2006/10/24, 04:59 PM OK...we don't HAVE to respond...but that is amazing!!!So I want to respond...that is a fabulous story...thank you for sharing....
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2006/10/25, 07:30 AM Way to go and nice testimony to the resilience of the human body! Isn't amazing what we can bounce back from? Keep it going, jbennet! Oh - and where should I be sending my xxl shirts as I shrink out of them and you grow into them? -------------- AIM HIGH TIME FLIES