Lifting for the Love of It!
Over the last couple of years I have taken a number of layoffs, for a variety of different reasons. Many times I wonder why I lift at all. The prevailing belief is that lifting must be one's top priority if one is to be the best at it. That may be true and that is one of the biggest problems I have had. Lifting is not my top priority, it is more like fourth after God, family, and work. Actually work is only ahead of lifting because I need it to support my family, otherwise it would be further down the list. So given the fact that lifting is not everything to me, why do I do it?
I guess what makes this a complicating situation is that I love lifting. I love competing against myself and others in everything. That's why I have done so many different kinds of competitions. I have done 3 strongman contests, 2 highland games, and numerous powerlifting contests.
A perfect illustration of this competitive nature of mine was the exhibition that Bill Kazmaier put on in Spokane, Washington in July 2001. I hadn't been lifting for a couple of months and didn't plan on doing it anytime soon. But I heard about Kazmaier doing a show in the park and I thought it would be cool to watch him. When I got there, I met him and he invited me to do some dumbbell presses with him. When my turn came, I pressed the 100's 14 times overhead. I had done more than that in the past, and so instead of being thrilled about lifting with Kazmaier, I was mad at myself for not preparing better (even though I had not planned on being there). I also felt that I could do much better and I was just chomping at the bit to try something else and redeem myself.
A little bit later Bill brought out an 11/16" steel bar and asked if anyone wanted to try to bend it. I jumped at it and did it without a problem. When Kazmaier brought out a ¾" bar and said that nobody had bent that size of bar before, I wanted to try it. Not because nobody had bent it before, or because so many people were watching, but because my adrenalin was pumping and I felt like I could do anything at that moment. I didn't care if I failed. I would have tried it alone in my garage. That is what I am talking about. It wasn't about winning an award or having a place in history. It was about being the best on that day and conquering the challenge before me. By the way, I did bend the bar.
I am 6'3" and my weight varies between 295 and 335, so it's not surprising that I might do well at the activities listed above. Now get this. I like to play basketball and I like to play it well. I don't post up or play underneath the basket like everyone expects me to. I won't accept the idea that someone my size is slow and can't jump. I like to drive to the hoop, taking people off the dribble. I like to shoot 3-pointers and pass the ball. Just like everything else, I want to excel all the time. When I play basketball I get frustrated with myself for allowing myself to get so heavy and out of shape. You see, playing basketball and lifting in the Super heavyweight class do not go hand in hand. Why don't I give up one and work on the other? Because I love them both!
So to clarify myself to anyone who hasn't yet figured out what I am talking about, I want to know why I can't have it all. I don't want to be limited by other people. Maybe I can't be the strongest man in the world without becoming obsessed with that goal. But since when is obsession a good thing? Last year I took 10 weeks and worked out with a well-known lifter. I wanted to see how the best train, and what sets them apart from the rest of us. We lifted 3 days a week for 2+ hours per workout. This lifter was in constant pain and talked of the day when he could retire from competitive lifting. Needless to say, I was surprised. I did get stronger in those 10 weeks than I had ever been, but I quit after that. It wasn't that the workouts were too hard for me. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed them and the opportunity they provided me to compete against a top lifter. What I didn't like was missing time with my family. At first I was excited and thought about lifting all the time and what great heights I would reach. After a while I was tired of focusing on only one thing at the expense of everything else. I am not writing this to point fingers at those whose priorities are different than mine, but rather to encourage those lifters who feel like I do. I know now that I do not want success in powerlifting at the expense of everything else, but I am not going to quit. I am going to lift the way that I want to lift. The way that will make me happy. I want to use the act of lifting weights to benefit me rather than becoming a slave to that act.
How many times have lifters been told that if you don't do something, you won't succeed? If you don't use steroids, or buy this equipment, you won't be the best. If you don't do a certain exercise you will not be a truly strong person. If you don't train like a madman you'll never make it. Well, I know one thing for sure. I am going to do it my way from now on. I will weigh whatever I feel like weighing no matter how it affects my strength. I will not give up family activities or other important things in my life so I can win a contest or make it on the top 100 list.
Don't get me wrong. I want to be strong and I love to win. But true happiness comes from a well-rounded life. Family, friends, success in all areas instead of one. This may not sound appealing to everyone, but to those who feel like I do, don't let others limit the way you do things. You don't have to sacrifice everything to lift. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.
I hope that this benefits somebody, but either way, I know I will be happier lifting this way than I was before.
Aaron Anderton competes in both Powerlifting and Strongman and has won several titles. He won the Superheavyweight class at the 2001 Washington State Powerlifting Championships. He won the 2004 Washington's Strongest Man Contest, and placed 9th out of 43 at the 2004 National Strongman Championships in Atlanta, Georgia. Aaron and his brother Sam own No Limits Physique, which is dedicated to providing effective training information and supplements to everyone. The website address is http://www.nlpbodybuilding.com
 Google News Updated : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:05:39 GMT Lavrov rejects Cheney's attack on Russia - CNN International
CNN International - By CNN's Matthew Chance MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russia on Friday rejected sharp criticism by US Vice President Dick Cheney that its intervention in Georgia raises doubts about Moscow's reliability as an international partner. Video: Cheney Slams Russia for War Against Georgia Russia says Cheney fanning Georgian aggression Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:45:40 GMT In Long-Awaited Maps of Cancer, The Breakthrough Is the Problem - Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal - By GAUTAM NAIK After struggling for years to improve the treatment of cancer, scientists now hope to fight the disease with the help of the same techniques that deciphered the human genome eight years ago: mapping it. What You Need to Know About Mapping the Cancer Genome Data on defective genes make tailored remedies possible Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:01:28 GMT Dell looks to sell factories worldwide - CNNMoney.com
CNNMoney.com - By Scott Moritz Dell (DELL) is getting more serious about trimming costs and is exploring plans to sell its PC manufacturing plants, according to a news report Friday. Dell said to consider sale of factories Ahead of the Bell: Dell may sell plants, WSJ says Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:15:09 GMT Lebanese ruling majority accuses Syria of interfering in Lebanon - Xinhua
Xinhua - BEIRUT, Sept.5 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese ruling majority accused Syrian President Bashar Assad of interfering in Lebanese internal affairs and not recognizing Lebanon's sovereignty, local press Naharnet reported Friday. Video: Sarkozy in Syria : the press is divided Editor's Notes: A losing battle, so far Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:59:29 GMT Nokia Forecasts Drop in Third-Quarter Market Share (Update1) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Juho Erkheikki Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Nokia Oyj, the world's biggest maker of mobile phones, forecast a drop in third-quarter market share after competitors slashed prices and a new handset was delayed. Nokia Sees Market Share Slipping in Third Quarter Nokia Lowers its Third Quarter 2008 Mobile Device Market Share Outlook Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:50:07 GMT Reviews of McCain's speech - MSNBC
MSNBC - The AP’s Ron Fournier says McCain “preached bipartisanship and unity from a stage retooled to carry him out to the Republican faithful. McCain: I work for you ‘Change is coming,’ McCain tells GOP in speech Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:35:16 GMT PIECING TOGETHER A PLEA How the deal got done - Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press - BY JOE SWICKARD • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • September 5, 2008 Prosecutors rolled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's plea deal into court Thursday praying the wheels wouldn't fall off. Detroit Mayor Acknowledges 'Poor Judgment' Detroit mayor pleads guilty, to leave office Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:57:24 GMT Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... As experts says, "NO PAIN, NO GAIN." This specially applies... Read More The vast majority of myths about weight gain are mostly... Read More Packing on Muscle mass involves a lot of dedication and... Read More One of the most time consuming and frustrating parts of... Read More In one of my recent articles, I spoke about the... Read More Traditional strength training consists of performing one to three (or... Read More Build Muscle with a unilateral weight training program. Whether you... Read More Over the years there has been a surge of different... Read More Most people make an excuse that they don't have time... Read More Wouldn't it be great if you could get rid of... Read More Success came to me at an early age. However, it... Read More Many individuals judge the quality of their exercise session from... Read More Until I started following a routine to eat, my gains... Read More It is a well-established fact that calories control everyone's bodyweight.... Read More Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More Building muscle mass with a power cycle. Desperate for pounds... Read More You can only build muscle if your body is in... Read More There are many causes of back pain. Injury, illness, herniated... Read More The number one thing you need to get from this... Read More Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More Most bodybuilders would agree that supplementing with whey protein is... Read More My career began in the eighties. I never found myself... Read More There are some major key parts to a successful body... Read More Anabolic steroid use appears to be on the rise. With... Read More The aim for beginners to weight training must be to... Read More
Adsense
websites
Muscle Building Workout For This Week!
Weight Gain Myths
Muscle Building Workouts and Tips: Dos and Donts
Hair Removal Tips For Bodybuilders
Focus on Both Consistency and Variability in Your Workouts for the Best Results
What Is Strength Training?
Build Muscle and Boost Your Training Intensity Now
Strength Training Strategies that Actually Work
Muscle Building Workouts at Home!
Targeting Those Trouble Spots
Bodybuilding Benefits - The Price for Confidence!
Muscle Soreness After Exercise
How To Gain Weight
How Proper Calorie Fragmentation Improves Body Composition?
Exercise The Right Way - The Seated Calf Raise
Building Muscle Mass With A Power Cycle
Creating An Anabolic State That Supports Muscle Growth
The Skinny on Muscle Imbalances - Restoring Order As A Means Of Eliminating Back Pain
How To Get The Greatest Possible Muscle Gains... And... Still Have Time Left Over To Just Goof-Off!
Exercise The Right Way - The Deadlift
The Role Of Whey Protein In Achieving Significant Muscle Gain
A Champion Bodybuilder ? Do You Have What It Takes?
Successful Body Building Routine
Boost Your Anabolic Hormone Levels - Naturally!
Dumbbell Exercises That Suit Beginners
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Exercise The Right Way - The Lying Triceps Extension
Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More
Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle (Lose Body Fat) - Product Review
At first glance, this product manual's title (Burn the Fat,... Read More
Why You Must Use The Right Dumbbells For Your Workout
A dumbbell exercise program is effective with the right equipment... Read More
Dumbbell Exercises That Suit Beginners
The aim for beginners to weight training must be to... Read More
Building Better Biceps
Two of the nine pivot points - those stunning body... Read More
How Stretching Can Explode Your Muscle Growth
When you think about gaining muscle, stretching is probably not... Read More
NO2 Muscle Enhancing Hemodialator
Whenever I go to the gym and tell a friend... Read More
Body Part Isolation vs. Complex Movements in Strength Training - Build Real Muscle Instead of Fake!
Working as a fitness professional, there is one type of... Read More
How Proper Calorie Fragmentation Improves Body Composition?
It is a well-established fact that calories control everyone's bodyweight.... Read More
Back Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders
From a bodybuilder's perspective one of the most important body... Read More
The Skinny on Muscle Imbalances - Restoring Order As A Means Of Eliminating Back Pain
There are many causes of back pain. Injury, illness, herniated... Read More
8 Tips To Building Your Dream Body
Just like routines, this document is not intended to be... Read More
?Bodybuilding Sins? That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts
It's one thing for someone who sits at a computer... Read More
Resistance Training With Your Dog
You may be wondering, "How can I possibly do resistance... Read More
What Do You Mean Low-Intensity Training Isn?t The Best For Fat Burning?
But how can this possibly be? Everywhere you look, it's... Read More
Weight Gain Myths
The vast majority of myths about weight gain are mostly... Read More
How to Increase Your Bench Press by Doing Squats
My Legs Are Already Big Enough. I Keep Hearing Working... Read More
Building Muscle Mass With A Power Cycle
Building muscle mass with a power cycle. Desperate for pounds... Read More
Are You Over Training in the Gym?
Every set was taken to positive failure, with three or... Read More
Why You Must Choose The Right Dumbells For Maximum Results Results
Embarking on a dumbbell exercise program? Then examine two well... Read More
7 Surefire Strategies For Fat Loss!
1. Weight Training. Building lean body mass (muscle) will speed... Read More
Exercise The Right Way - One-Arm Dumbbell Rows
Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More
Muscle Building Tips and Supplements: Dos and Donts
Packing on Muscle mass involves a lot of dedication and... Read More
Waist Your Breath - Breathing For A Thinner Waist
The crunch exercise is the backbone of abdominal training. It... Read More
Exercise The Right Way - The Seated Row
Other articles in this series looked at a number of... Read More
Muscle Building & Bodybuilding |