"Don't Mistake My Confidence For Arrogance"

Check out this video for some motivation. 

A gold mine of motivational quotes.

Struggling Today

I'm struggling today.  I won a minor victory yesterday by not stopping by my favorite pizza place for 2 for 1 pizzas.  Throughout most of the summer that was my thing every Thursday.  Damn, that pizza is so good. 

Now today I'm just kind of in a funk.  I don't have to lift today, (just calves, abs, and cardio) so the motivation is a little bit less than normal.  When I have to lift it gives me something more to focus on.  I guess I just need to focus on getting in each meal properly since that's just as, if not more, important than the lifting. 

 I also started watching Sons of Anarchy while doing my cardio a few days ago.  Badass show. 

It's All On Me

I used to think that I just needed the right diet, the right workout plan, the right coach, the right situation, the right job, blah, blah, blah.  The truth is I could've had the perfect everything and I still would've failed.  Honestly, the perfect everything is just a myth.

No matter what a person is trying to do, the circumstances will never be perfect. Quit with the rationalization and get to work because time is passing one day at a time.  Just think where you'd be if you would've started a year ago, two years ago..... ten years ago. 

Even adding on to that, I'm not even focused on the main goal.  I'm focused on the next goal, the next step, the next class, the next meal, the next workout, the next day with my family.  There is no end point in life until you die.  Until then, there's only right now.  The future is a myth, it doesn't exist.  There is only right now and good things will happen when we start living in the present. 

That's my philosophy lesson for the day.

One Journey Ends And A New One Begins

"Things may seem bad at first, but it’s only in relation to what you’re used to… once you become accustomed to something new, it’s not so bad… you might even enjoy it. If I constantly lived my life dividing thing up into “what I like” and “what I don’t like” and “what is easy” and “what is hard”, I would definitely not be living much of a life. Be careful of craving this and that, because it tends to snowball. First you want this, then you get it, then you want that, and then that, and so on. It’s better to just live your life and be happy… and not be fooled by things like this and that." - Shelby Starnes

I just competed in my first powerlifting meet last Saturday and things went great.  I will post some videos of my lifts sometime soon.  I'm most proud of my 500lb. deadlift.  I have been wanting that for a long time, but have never went over 435lbs. in the gym so I wasn't positive that I could get it.  Needless to say, it went up pretty easily and I wish I would've attempted more. 

Now I begin the journey of competing in my first bodybuilding contest in May.  I am ready this time.  I say that because I have failed three previous times, but it's only a failure if you quit and don't keep trying.  I will succeed this time because I am more mentally strong than I have been previously.  Nothing to do with the diet, cardio, and training is good or bad, it just "is."  I'm going to enjoy the journey and learn a lot about myself along the way. 

I have hired Shelby Starnes to program my diet, cardio, and training so I can be certain that I will leave no stone unturned and be in the bets possible condition for the contest.  If you read this and want to follow along, I will be posting a lot about my experience here over the next 7 months.

New Squat PR - 435 lbs.

New Squat PR.  This one felt pretty tough and I almost stalled on the way up.  Looking to get a belt and knee wraps soon so that should help.  

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.

Pay Your Taxes Olympians!

I don't believe income taxes should exist.  The government doesn't own our bodies and shouldn't have the right to take a portion of our work under the threat of jail. 

I think the Olympians should pay taxes on the money that they earn from winning a medal.  I also think that all soldiers and military should pay taxes on all of their income, even if they are in a war zone. 

Why?

If we have a law or a rule it should apply to everyone.  We currently have a law that states income is taxed.  To exclude certain types of income would be to put a value on certain types of work.  That value is all subjective.  What I think shouldn't be taxed is different than what you shouldn't be taxed. 

Of course, I don't think any income should be taxed, but since we have the income tax, tax it all!