JGraham
04-09-10, 6:11 am
I'm a private person, but since I became addicted to lifting I've been looking for somewhere I could express the thoughts and feelings I have about iron. You just can't talk about it to someone who doesn't spend time in the gym, who isn't addicted to this life. I hope this is the right place for that.
A little background...
I started my second deployment to Iraq back in Sept 09 and looking back now I can say my life was at an all time low. After 12 years in the military my career was stagnant, I was shining a seat with my ass instead of leading soldiers where I should have been. I was out of shape and about 25 pounds overweight, and to be honest I couldn't have met the Army's minimum fitness standards, but I don't think my leadership cared. I was the "used to be a good NCO" that just didn't care any more.
Before the deployment I spent my time drinking or playing video games and not paying a whole lot of attention to my wife or kids. Life was pretty fuckin stagnant. I don't know how the wife put up with it, but I'm glad she stayed by my side.
Just for the hell of it I went out and tried to run two miles and wow did I get a surprise... I couldn't even finish the run. My knees hurt, my back hurt, it was hard to breathe, I was completely out of shape and weak as a kitten at 5'9" and 225 pounds. I knew I was in trouble if I didn't change something before the next record PT test. I had never spent much time inside a gym or lifted weights, but I bought a Men's Health work out guide and hit the gym. That was September. I became addicted to Iron.
Within three months I had my killer instinct back, my confidence was back, and I had a renewed love of life. My stress levels were almost nonexistant. Lifting weights really did change my life. I was still just "getting in shape" but the weights did wonders for me. The powers that be decided to give me another shot at leading soldiers.
It's April now. I still weigh about 220 but there's not a whole lot of fat on me any more and I have a lot of shirts that no longer fit. I'm not the strongest guy out there but I'm damn sure a hell of a lot stronger than I was six months ago. Iron changed my life. I feel like I have a second chance at everything now. I'm not "getting in shape" any more. I went from getting in shape to bodybuilding, but then I found Powerlifting.
I'd never in my life heard of Powerlifting but a friend told me to check out Animalpak.com and I read G Diesel's article on Powerbuilding and did some research. If I'm not working I'm reading everything I can find on lifting, or I'm planning my next session at the gym. Because I'm military I do a LOT more cardio than any powerlifter should and I don't eat as much as recommended, but my strength goes up every week. My goal right now is to break 1000 pounds between the three big lifts and as of last week I was at 905. I'm on my third week of Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 program and so far I love it.
I'll post my thoughts and progress here, Animal seems like the place to do it.
A little background...
I started my second deployment to Iraq back in Sept 09 and looking back now I can say my life was at an all time low. After 12 years in the military my career was stagnant, I was shining a seat with my ass instead of leading soldiers where I should have been. I was out of shape and about 25 pounds overweight, and to be honest I couldn't have met the Army's minimum fitness standards, but I don't think my leadership cared. I was the "used to be a good NCO" that just didn't care any more.
Before the deployment I spent my time drinking or playing video games and not paying a whole lot of attention to my wife or kids. Life was pretty fuckin stagnant. I don't know how the wife put up with it, but I'm glad she stayed by my side.
Just for the hell of it I went out and tried to run two miles and wow did I get a surprise... I couldn't even finish the run. My knees hurt, my back hurt, it was hard to breathe, I was completely out of shape and weak as a kitten at 5'9" and 225 pounds. I knew I was in trouble if I didn't change something before the next record PT test. I had never spent much time inside a gym or lifted weights, but I bought a Men's Health work out guide and hit the gym. That was September. I became addicted to Iron.
Within three months I had my killer instinct back, my confidence was back, and I had a renewed love of life. My stress levels were almost nonexistant. Lifting weights really did change my life. I was still just "getting in shape" but the weights did wonders for me. The powers that be decided to give me another shot at leading soldiers.
It's April now. I still weigh about 220 but there's not a whole lot of fat on me any more and I have a lot of shirts that no longer fit. I'm not the strongest guy out there but I'm damn sure a hell of a lot stronger than I was six months ago. Iron changed my life. I feel like I have a second chance at everything now. I'm not "getting in shape" any more. I went from getting in shape to bodybuilding, but then I found Powerlifting.
I'd never in my life heard of Powerlifting but a friend told me to check out Animalpak.com and I read G Diesel's article on Powerbuilding and did some research. If I'm not working I'm reading everything I can find on lifting, or I'm planning my next session at the gym. Because I'm military I do a LOT more cardio than any powerlifter should and I don't eat as much as recommended, but my strength goes up every week. My goal right now is to break 1000 pounds between the three big lifts and as of last week I was at 905. I'm on my third week of Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 program and so far I love it.
I'll post my thoughts and progress here, Animal seems like the place to do it.