Needs and Wants - From Shelby Starnes

I found this in Shelby Starnes's log.  There is so much good information there that you will have weeks of good reading.  He is one motivating and inspiring SOB.  Check it out. 

Needs and Wants

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It’s human nature to desire, to crave things.

We crave money, sex, fame, power, drugs, attention… the list goes on and on.

And with this craving we create our own misery.

If only we had such and such, then we would be happy and content.

Right now can’t be that great, because we don’t have (fill in the blank).

But once we get it (if we even do), we quickly realize it isn’t so great after all, and we’re soon chasing after the next shiny thing.

The obvious problem here is that we never get it. We never get there. We end up spending our entire life striving, rather than arriving.

As I mentioned though, it’s human nature. It’s hard to escape. In fact in some respects, trying to escape can just become another desire.

Perhaps it’s best to realize the situation for what it is, and not let yourself get too wrapped up in it.

Yes you’re going to want stuff in your life – some tangible, some not, but don’t let it define you.

Like they say, “Pursue your dream but don’t let your life become one”.

Realize that the game of pursuit is one which can’t be won.

Quieting your mind down and appreciating what you already have is just as commendable as chasing after your dreams and constantly improving.

Sometimes NOT getting what we want is actually what we need.

I'm Fat and I Don't Like It

I'm fat.  Yes, I shouldn't admit that, but I would be fat whether I admitted it or not.  I am also strong, but it's easier to be strong when you're fat. 

I haven't always been fat, but I have weighed more than I would like to my whole life and have almost always been uncomfortable with my shirt off. 

The funny thing is that I know how to help others lose weight and get into great shape.  I've been doing it for almost three years now.  I just haven't been able to follow my own advice and get out of my way.  I always second guess myself and look for a better plan or a better way. 

I need to stop doing this because it will kill me if I don't.  I need to get the weight back under control and stop hiding behind the fact that I'm in better shape than most people or that I'm stronger than most people.  If I'm comparing myself to the average American, sure, I'm doing alright, but that isn't saying much when 33% of Americans are obese. 

So What Am I Doing To Change This?

I have registered for my first powerlifting meet in Dubuque, IA in November.  The weight class I will be competing in is the 220lb class.  This will force me to drop about 25lbs. and then I will readjust my goals from there. 

I also may hire a nutrition consultant to prevent me from second guessing the plan I make for myself.  I'm going to see how the next month goes before I do that.

Coming Out of the Funk

I have noticed something since I started lifting regularly three years ago.  My motivation seems to come and go in a predictable pattern.  I get really motivated around October or November and push really hard with lifting and dieting and make some pretty good gains.  Then around May I notice that I'm not as excited about my workouts and I slowly start eating too much. 

I even knew that this had been a problem for me in the past and was prepared for it this year, but it still happened.  It even happened earlier than normal this year.  It started around April and lasted until just a couple weeks ago.  It's not like I didn't work out at all during that time, but my workouts were inconsistent and I didn't really make any strength or body composition gains. 

I do know that it is behind me now because I'm looking forward to my workouts and I'm excited for my workout time to get here everyday.  On my off day yesterday I was disappointed that I wouldn't get to lift.  That's when I know I'm back in the right mindset and I'm going to take advantage of it. 

I have been doing more research on upcoming meets and I think I found the meet that I'm going to register for.  It's November 16th in Dubuque, IA.  I will be competing in the raw division in the squat, bench, and deadlift.  My goals as of right now are to bench 315, squat 475, and deadlift 525.  That would give me a total of 1,315 pounds and would be great for my first meet.  I'm not committing to anything after that, but I am leaning towards taking a couple weeks off and then preparing for a spring bodybuilding competition. 

That is scary for me to even think about because I have dieted down for a contest twice so far and quit at about ten weeks out both times.  I did learn a lot about what to expect from those two attempts so I think I would be better prepared this time, but who knows.

Today's Workout

Epiphany

Ok, so I think I realized today what it is that I need to do.  I have been messaging back and forth a little with Harry Selkow (check out his log here).  He knows his stuff.  I was hoping to work with him because I was thinking that I needed some guidance and motivation.  Well, he definitely motivated me, but not in the way that I expected.

He basically said that I need to man up, register for a powerlifting meet, and get to work.  Once I send in that entry fee and commit to the meet he said I would become a different person.  I would be a lot more motivated, driven, and focused.  I really respect that advice because he could've easily written me a program and took my money, but he told me his true opinion even though it didn't make him any money.  That's integrity right there and you don't find it very often.

I'm going to start searching for meets around November or December and get training.  I had plans of doing a powerlifting meet a few months back.  The meet is actually tomorrow, but I wasn't fully committed because I'm not doing it.  I never sent in my entry form or check so I guess I wasn't very serious.  That's what is going to be different this time.  I'm going to send in the entry fee as soon as I find the meet that I'm doing.