Thoughts... From Beneath the Bar

[Arbalest]

I figured I would start a little log about all the things that pop into my mind while i'm hitting the iron... my deepest moments seem to come when i'm at my most intense... trying to hit that last rep... forcing my body overcome the fatigue...
----------------------------

I was thinking... you know how they say as humans we are never truly happy?

Thats been on my mind for some time now... Why aren't we?! What is it inside, that causes us to just want more? We are never satisfied... Some of us may say that we are... but deep inside, we know thats just a front... I do it, you do it... we all do it... Heck, as bodybuilders, all we want is more. Just that extra rep, pound... those extra grams of protein... the hunger pangs to leave... that last little bit of water to drain from under our skin...


Are all these things we want worth dying for?

The answer is a simple NO. No they are not...


You know whats sad? Because we are normal we are not satisfied... Right now, i'm sitting in front of 4 of the most satisfied people on this planet... And you know what? They're mentally handicapped...

We're busting our asses everyday... whether at work, school, gym, family... etc... Trying to attain what we think will make us happy...

These 4 people... They're sitting happily... knowing that in a few minutes, i'm going to make them lunch... and then, they'll go and wander around the house... surprised and excited at the same thing they saw yesterday... and the day before.. and the day before... One of them plays with a bucket of cards all day... For him, being content only takes a single bucket, and a deck of playing cards... nothing more.


Those are the people I envy...


But, tomorrow I'm going to wake up... make my eggs and oatmeal... look in the mirror... and want more...

[PlacentiaBay]

Theres a song thats comes to mind when I read this:

How many times have
You heard someone say
If I had his money
I could do things my way

But little they know
That it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind

Once I was waitin'
In fortune and fame
Everything that I dreamed for
To get a start in life's game

Then suddenly it happened
I lost every dime
But I'm richer by far
With a satisfied mind

Money can't buy back
Your youth when you're old
Or a friend when you're lonely
Or a love that's grown cold

The wealthiest person
Is a pauper at times
Compared to the man
With a satisfied mind

When my life has ended
And my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones
I'll leave there's no doubt

But one thing's for certain
When it comes my time
I'll leave this old world
With a satisfied mind

How many times have
You heard someone say
If I had his money
I could do things my way

But little they know
That it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind

I also wake up every morning..put my pants on one leg at a time..and want more..the only different is were willing to work for it.

[BeastofBurden]

Name of that song?!

[PlacentiaBay]

a satisfied mind - johnny cash

[Suleiman]

men that was deep and i agree i wake up everyday feeling that same thay are days where i cant sleep because am falling back and at times like that i just hate myself.

[Giant Killer]

hey I wrote a post inspired by this thread but didn't want to pack an essay into your shit bro', I know, I know, you wouldn't have minded...but anyway check out "What is a Bodybuilder -a read" for my thoughts from beneath the bar today

[darkside64]

you know its true. The beauty with bodybuilding is that there is always something to improve. What happens when you get that cash money. You spend it and want more. Bodybuilding always keeps you humble and keeps you real. Shit Im not going to be satisfied until I reach my goals. When I have reached them I hope that I will not be satisfied so I can create new ones, and reach those. Thats the stuff that legends are made of. Thats the difference between a overcomer and a drug addict. A hero and a hasbeen

[Liftbig21]

Some deep humble shit fellas...def. some good inspiration.

[Giant Killer]

hey Arbalest, for my thoughts from beneath the bar today, check out the post "Little Man Syndrome"

You still goin' to the Muscle Mayhem show? gettin my ticket on Monday--any other animals you know goin'?

[Big Wides]

some deep stuff here and i like it

[Preston]

I've finally seen pictures of you sir, and I must say, you're way ahead of the game. I give you some madddd fuggin' props dawg, ur quite the beast. Train hard dawg.

-Preston

[Arbalest]

I've finally seen pictures of you sir, and I must say, you're way ahead of the game. I give you some madddd fuggin' props dawg, ur quite the beast. Train hard dawg.

-Preston

lol. thanks... but i'm faaaaaaaaaar behind where i want to be right now... wait til next year...

[Revolutionary]

you know what im thinking on my deepest moment... while im picking up the motha fuckin weights off the floor............... """" IM A fucking tornado force that will suck up everything and anything and i will never stop because im the fuckin angel of death and everything will become one when i am fucking done..... PEACE!!!!! it is anger and rage much beyond control if it were to ever get loose.... so i constrain myself to contain it and slowly release bits of the never ending rage slowly through lifting some fucking iron.... but it goes much beyond that shit.... it goes on forever... not even i can explain it.. PEACE!

[Preston]

Trust me bro, I'm stoked for the coming up years myself. :]

[SINISTRE']

Well, I Dont Think Of Much, But Using Bench As An Example; As Soon As My Hands Touch The Steel During A Heavy Lift, I Imagine Pushing Thru The Bar, As If It Was A Liquid, Shoving My Palms Thru To Try And Reach The Ceiling. With That Thought, There Isnt Anything Stopping Me From Finishing The Lift......

[Toni69]

I like your thread here..but do you actually think about that stuff from beneath the bar or is that just a cool title you named the thread?

I had a quick thought from beneath the bar a couple weeks ago. I thought when I unracked 135 off the incline bench that my grip was off and instead of re-racking the weight and adjusting my grip..I would just do it right there...weight in palms..like a jackass..what do you think happened? The thought sure crossed my mind, but I acted way too fast instead of actually thinking that was a bad idea.

I didnt have the pins on the sides..I never add them on anyway, and somehow I lost my grip and the bar slipped out of my palm, one plate slipped off one side of the bar, the other nearly slipped off and the bar was on my chest! I nearly cracked my wrist too! I dont know how in God's name I didnt injure myself. I should have known better..but I re-racked my weight and did the dam set 'cause everyone was doubting me at that point. I got my 6 reps with 135....2x.

It never fails though...everyday I have some stupid incident happen to me.
Well, I still enjoyed your post very much....

[Tucker McGrath]

Lifting is definitely a strange balance of torture and tranquility, and by far the most therapeutic. The way I see it, the thoughts that DON'T come into my head when I'm beneath the bar are the important ones. All the problems in life, all the nonsense we all put up with... you can't see it; you can't see anything when the sweat gets in your eyes -- bliss -- get some

[bigrhino]

i have had those same thoughts about mentally handicapped being content. i think it is because they can free themselves from the "chains" Wrath described. it is much harder for us fully mentally aware people. although, when i try to put everything in perspective, i realize my problems mean nothing. i like your friend, can be truly content with the simple things in life. you know, basic stuff. lifting. eating. resting. thinking.
i can't tell you how much the Journey and Life is a Freakshow has made me examine myself. not to mention all of Machine's stuff that pulled me in a long time ago.

[ironshaolin]

good stuff. Thats the whole idea behind the buddhists enlightenment. The enlightened one is the person who realizes this falicy in man, and can spend the rest of his days being completely content just existing, going about day to day activities, never wanting, striving, no fear of death or failure, just to be. I can see that as being a good way to finish off your life, but for now I like having goals to set and trying to obtain them.

[JBlackapple]

I just downloaded this song and I have to say this is the most appropiate one, great song and very humble.
What pops in my head during that last set are things like "make it count if it's just once a week" , "push it "or "one more f-ing rep" but the most humbling thought I've had is that the weight, the IRON will always say the truth and humble even the most stubborn ego(not that I have one I leave mine at the door). This does not stop me from moving the weight but knowing that the weight will always have one more rep or one more plate on me, puts me in my place and reminds me of where I am, how far I have come, and how much more I have to go. It keeps me grounded and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Preston]

I like your thread here..but do you actually think about that stuff from beneath the bar or is that just a cool title you named the thread?

I had a quick thought from beneath the bar a couple weeks ago. I thought when I unracked 135 off the incline bench that my grip was off and instead of re-racking the weight and adjusting my grip..I would just do it right there...weight in palms..like a jackass..what do you think happened? The thought sure crossed my mind, but I acted way too fast instead of actually thinking that was a bad idea.

I didnt have the pins on the sides..I never add them on anyway, and somehow I lost my grip and the bar slipped out of my palm, one plate slipped off one side of the bar, the other nearly slipped off and the bar was on my chest! I nearly cracked my wrist too! I dont know how in God's name I didnt injure myself. I should have known better..but I re-racked my weight and did the dam set 'cause everyone was doubting me at that point. I got my 6 reps with 135....2x.

It never fails though...everyday I have some stupid incident happen to me.
Well, I still enjoyed your post very much....

Hahaha, nice Toni ;) Atleast you came out without an injury.

[Arbalest]

Hahaha, nice Toni ;) Atleast you came out without an injury.

lol.. yes i'm glad as well


toni - yes i actually do think of these things while i'm "beneath the bar" ;)