TEAM
Body, group, force, gang, unit.
A group of two or more organized to work together.
At the start of my "fitness journey," I always focused on working alone. I wanted to figure everything out for myself. I did not want to share my goals, my process, progress or emotions. Up until that point, I suffered an eating disorder and surrounded myself with people who did not have my best interests at heart. In essence, I thrived off of negativity (both people and circumstances). I felt that anger was the best fuel for success.
Every goal for me was some sort of "fight" in life, versus just a challenge. Over time, I built this resentment for life and everyone in it and did not even understand why. I always felt alone. I had many people around me but I always felt alone. One might assume I suffered some sort of depression, and this was very much so.
It is only in the last two years that I recognized my own cynicism. Furthermore, I came to terms with the main problem: pushing people away...not allowing any support; not emotionally, intellectually or even physically. Being such an emotional person, closing up like a clam causes extreme anxiety.
As I have grown, more positivity has entered, while even more negativity has been removed. I am better equipped with a more efficient "filtering of life junk," if you will. Consequently, more people have become involved in my training, albeit for bodybuilding or now, powerlifting.
With a history of body shaping and figure competing my training has always been individual. For the first time since high school, powerlifting has enforced the performance and spiritually enhancing benefits of a team.
Recent events have brought me to think about all the teams that exist out there. Spouses, families, occupations, sports...they all function best when treated like a team, and fail easily when each party focuses only on themselves.
There are those out there who feel embarrassed to admit they need people to succeed. I find this immature and ignorant. The truth is, we all will not necessarily die without a team backing us up. However, we will function more whole heartedly, with a more positive approach to life and people as a whole.
I no longer thrive off of that anger anymore. There is more love in my heart and I feel at peace. Of course, from time to time when faced with several hundred pounds to lift I will get a fire inside me...but it is no longer against people, it is passion.
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Injuries, Setbacks and Failures
Within the last few months, quite a few people in my life, including myself, have had physical setbacks in their training. The circumstances range from muscle tears, broken bones, surgery, illness and changing of medication. Instead of focusing solely on my own recent conditions, I would like to approach the accompanying issues in a more general sense.
It does not matter what activity level you possess -- injuries and simple setbacks in life happen and the frustration and anger is felt by everyone. Many people greatly involved in fitness from performance athletes to avid gym goers get so accustomed to their routine and progress that when a setback occurs, their minds and emotions take the most trauma. Additionally, these people also focus on optimizing in their activity/sport -- heavy training, a diet appropriate to their needs/goals, supplemental nutrition, rest and recovery therapy (stretching, massage, chiropractic care, etc.) -- so when an event occurs out of their conscious control that affects their training, it can sometimes be taken in vain. People tend to make a global calamity out of a simple setback and find themselves in a deep depression when they need not be. Moreso, many even quit the activity that brings them joy, excitement, motivation and drive in life, which is the saddest part in my opinion.
My advice:
1. ACCEPTANCE - accept what happened, and also accept that you will need to grieve in your own way, at your own pace. Do not brush it under a rug. However, accept also that you will need to get over it emotionally.
2. REFLECTION - reflect upon what you learned; why do you think the event occurred? Was it completely out of your control? If so, know that it was not your fault. If not, write down what you could have done better to avoid the situation.
3. PLAN - plan your path to recovery, what you will do differently in your training and set new goals with respect to your [possibly] new circumstance.
Another word of advice is to never lose focus on the bigger picture of life. A sport or activity should not define you -- YOU define YOU. That being said, keep your priorities straight and remain involed in other things that do not necessarily have to do with your activity ...it will help you in the long run for overall emotional health!
Now, the emotional side ...
Those who are competitors in some sport have higher expectations on themselves to succeed/win than do their supporters. They feel that people only care about them when they are on top.
To the athlete:
Those who TRULY support and love you are more interested in your "fight" than your "battle." In fact, people want to see that you are HUMAN and are able to handle life issues and still move forward. This is what makes you as an inspiration relatable and in a way, trustworthy. The worst thing you can do is shy away and quit at something because you feel you let everyone down. You hold your head up high and say yes, I had a setback or, yes, I failed ... but that is life and I will move on.
It does not matter what activity level you possess -- injuries and simple setbacks in life happen and the frustration and anger is felt by everyone. Many people greatly involved in fitness from performance athletes to avid gym goers get so accustomed to their routine and progress that when a setback occurs, their minds and emotions take the most trauma. Additionally, these people also focus on optimizing in their activity/sport -- heavy training, a diet appropriate to their needs/goals, supplemental nutrition, rest and recovery therapy (stretching, massage, chiropractic care, etc.) -- so when an event occurs out of their conscious control that affects their training, it can sometimes be taken in vain. People tend to make a global calamity out of a simple setback and find themselves in a deep depression when they need not be. Moreso, many even quit the activity that brings them joy, excitement, motivation and drive in life, which is the saddest part in my opinion.
My advice:
1. ACCEPTANCE - accept what happened, and also accept that you will need to grieve in your own way, at your own pace. Do not brush it under a rug. However, accept also that you will need to get over it emotionally.
2. REFLECTION - reflect upon what you learned; why do you think the event occurred? Was it completely out of your control? If so, know that it was not your fault. If not, write down what you could have done better to avoid the situation.
3. PLAN - plan your path to recovery, what you will do differently in your training and set new goals with respect to your [possibly] new circumstance.
Another word of advice is to never lose focus on the bigger picture of life. A sport or activity should not define you -- YOU define YOU. That being said, keep your priorities straight and remain involed in other things that do not necessarily have to do with your activity ...it will help you in the long run for overall emotional health!
Now, the emotional side ...
Those who are competitors in some sport have higher expectations on themselves to succeed/win than do their supporters. They feel that people only care about them when they are on top.
To the athlete:
Those who TRULY support and love you are more interested in your "fight" than your "battle." In fact, people want to see that you are HUMAN and are able to handle life issues and still move forward. This is what makes you as an inspiration relatable and in a way, trustworthy. The worst thing you can do is shy away and quit at something because you feel you let everyone down. You hold your head up high and say yes, I had a setback or, yes, I failed ... but that is life and I will move on.
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