View Full Version : Success is a journey, not a destination.
Success..how do you define it?
If I or you were to give our own definitions of success, would they fall in the same plane?
If so, then would that which we define to be success fall short or exceed what others percive as success?
Success..how do you reach it?
Success..what, why, where and fuckin how.
Such questions play over in my mind over and over again.
I like to think that if success is to be attained then we are all eventually bound for it, sooner or later we are all destined for success..right?
As comforting as it might sound, it still does not relieve me of a certain pain that I will either feel or never experience..the pain of not or never attaining success.
But what if success is more than a matter of "eventually"..what if success is actually a matter "already" whereby success is achieved the moment you try or attempt to reach it.
If this is so then success isn't one ultimate pinnacle.
If this is so then success is a journey, not a destination.
The moment I start my JOURNEY, that is success.
Bullshit:
False or exaggerated statements made to impress the listener rather than deceive; talk through one's hat: speak insincerely or without regard for facts or truths...
The entries that are and the entries that are yet to be are for real. None of the shit you read is 'bull'shit. What I feel, think, do, experience (all the little things)...its all part the journey..its all part of success.
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out" - Robert Collier
If your looking to read an entry containing daily/weekly listings of poundages, reps and sets then I'm sorry brother..you're on the wrong thread. You'll find all that in the TRANING section of the FORVM.
I made the decision to start a JOURNEY not a training log. This shit goes beyond the trenches.
"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure which is:Try to please everybody" - Herbert Bayard Swope
Keep one thing in mind...I'm doing this for myself
Am I really here?..fuck..a whole years work and progress out the window. I made the mistake of letting go all that is ANIMAL. I excused myself from the iron game and in doing so I lost discipline..I lost focus..and now I'm back to square one.
Bitching and moaning aside, I realize that pondering on what has been is completely pointless so I'm kicking my ass back into gear..I am disciplined..I am focused..and I'm moving forward of square one.
The iron-laden room is soaked in sweat, it rattles with each rep and is ready to swallow whole the inexperienced, unwilling and ill-disciplined.
Finally, I'm here, back to where I left off..back into the iron game..I start lifting..my mind tells me I can handle the weight but a long-layoff means my body cannot follow, I however continue to lift but soon find the technique and reps are shit and I'm left with no choice but to return to the door and check my ego.
It's a real bitch but I know it is essential if I am to progress. I've lightened up the weight allowing myself to re-adjust and practice proper technique. I continue like this for the remaining exercises and I struggle greatly even with light weight. The usual feelings, following a workout, of accomplishment and power are no longer existent, they have been replaced by regret and frustration. Eventually they subside and I'm found eagerly awaiting the next workout for their in lies the opportunity to improve.
Today:
Bench
Inc. Bench
Push press
Close grip bench
Barbell row
Everyone knows squats are a fuckin chore..squat till you puke..unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of experiencing a set of squats resulting in the expulsion of my still-digesting breakfast/lunch.
Today, was a good day. Today squats and deadlifts were on the menu. Today, was probably the closest I'd ever come to puking. Today, that nauseating feeling following sets of squats and deads was the best and worst fuckin feeling ever.
Today:
Glute-Ham raise
Toe press (on leg press)
Back squat
Deadlift
BB curl
A love-hate relationship
The Iron game is bitter-sweet. I relish every aspect of it and yet, at the same time, it is somewhat of an animosity for which I have become a slave to.
I'm ashamed to say that after only two years of it. The daily routine of a porridge-egg breakfast followed with beef/chicken/fish, greens, spuds and a gym session had become a chore. It got to point where I was no longer enjoying meals but forcing the shit down.
Food, supplements and gym memberships were costly. Money never lasted more than a day or two in my wallet, as soon as it was received, it was in the hand of another...
...the irony of it. The iron game had consistently throughout the year emptied my wallet but in return instilled in me a realization of control and discipline. Having no cash taught me better to budget, I learned to control and limit my spending only to "necessity's".
Meal-time was a mission but I loved it, with every meal I knew I was closer to fulfilling my caloric requirements for the day.
A daily routine of 4a.m starts and 11p.m finishes was both mentally and physically tiring. I dreaded the early starts but at the same time looked forward to them, for with a new day came the opportunity to further progress and improve.
Another day, another meal, another gym session, another opportunity to progress and improve.
Today:
Incline Bench press
Flat bench press
Seated BB press
Lying BB extension
Nothing but a barbell. Basics are where I am at as of now and so far so good.
Sets are pyramided up with a rest-pause on the final.
"Barbell"
the name speaks for itself. The barbell is one of the more traditional old-school training tools, it is simple and yet effective. Barbells are a staple in my training, in fact currently all I use is a barbell for all body parts with the exception of the occasional leg curl machine for hams and leg press for calves.
I'm a true believer in the saying that if it isn't broke then don't fix it and for me the barbell definitely aint broke...
HOORAH
Today:
Seated Hammer Strength Leg Curls
Back Squats
Deadlifts
BB Curls
Monday:
Inc. Bench Press
Flat Bench Press
Seated BB Press
Skull Crushers
Tuesday:
Seated Hammer Strength Leg Curls
Back Squat
Deadlift
BB curl
Thursday:
Flat Bench Press
Inc. Bench Press
Behind Neck Push Press
CG Bench
Bent Over BB Row
Friday:
SL Deadlift
EZ Bar Curl
Supplements. Protein, Glutamine, BCAAs, Creatine, Pak
...what if success is more than a matter of "eventually"..what if success is actually a matter "already" whereby success is achieved the moment you try or attempt to reach it.
If this is so then success isn't one ultimate pinnacle.
If this is so then success is a journey, not a destination.
If success is one ultimate pinnacle then success is "accomplishment". If success is a journey then success is a result of many smaller successes.
Accomplishment is based on what was expected, and what was done. I accomplish things all day long, but do I really achieve success in those actions??
Success is something different...success to most people is having an ongoing string of accomplishments that when put together, add up to a major obtainment in life known as success...success then is an ongoing realization and obtainment of worthy desired results, concerning actions, life or a worthy ideal.
Success isn't just "accomplishment" it is more than that.
The realization of a moral and worthy ideal is success...the realization of a dream and an ideal that is driven by the heart and passion that will not, cannot, and will never be denied is success.
Furthermore, I believe that there is an even higher level of success...that there is a more powerful level of High Achievement..."True Success"
True Success for me, is simply the realization and obtainment of a worthy ideal or result that your heart is deeply connected to it. It is what births passion...it is a Success that is soaked with emotion, powered by passion, driven by destiny, and forged with the fire of the Heart.
True Success is born from a Dream that cannot be denied. It is driven by a hunger that cannot be stopped. It is driven by a focus that is unrelenting, by actions that will not be contained and a Force that knows no failure.
barbell
04-07-10, 12:27 am
For me nutrition has been and still is everything. I've seen and experienced first-hand the benefits of sound, balanced nutrition. Personally, I think diet is the hardest aspect of the iron game...training goes for an hour or so...eating goes on the whole day.
I would describe my current diet plan as "budget" and somewhat bland...it's simple but does the job.
Meal 1: Oats & five whole eggs. The eggs are mixed in with the oats and some water then microwaved. Tastes and smells weird but saves on cooking time and dishes, not a big fan of "doing the dishes"
Meal 2: Big tuna sandwich. Simple yet effective.
Meal 3: Ox's shake (protein powder, oats, olive oil)
Meal 4: Tuna & rice
Meal 5: Protein shake
Today:
Flat Bench Press
Inc. Bench Press
CGB
Behind Neck BB Press
Bent Over BB Row