Live for Something or Die for Nothing

[Iron_Spirit]

Today, I had fuel on my head and in my veins. I was about to do this leg routine called "The Kill" a routine I used back 2 years ago, but back then I had my back as fine as a horse's. Now though, my back is fukd up, so I pulled out the first 6 sets of 15 reps, every set to failure (some sets I couldn't finish and just pulled weight off untill I finish the set), anyway... soon after I finished the set, I was ready for 3x3 supersets of Hack Squats, just as I ALMOST started that one. I remembered and started feeling my back problem, and thought that I'm not only an Animal... I'm also a Man, and as one, I stopped right there.

A real man is courageous, but also knows when to stop.

In case you wanna try the routine (I used it for 4 months and got great gains), here's the link: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/hodge1.htm

[brandona]

Have to listen to your body bro...i stopped short on my squats yesterday for the same reason.....that week i spent on the couch sucked...lesson learned.
-B

[Iron_Spirit]

I know what you mean, I was feeling the back pain all the way home. I don't have it, for now, hopefully tomorrow it won't come back. It has the habit of coming back the next day after you hurt it.

[bleed_alone]

i don't really have much to add except the fact that smart decisions like that can only help in the long run. and also, hatebreed tears shit up on leg days, i assume that's what the thread title is from. peace.

[Iron_Spirit]

What I figure is what keeps me going is something that I was born with. Its a feeling of being outside the circle. Knowing that I'm in this world to do something different, hard, and profound.

I know not if my actions will have an impact on future generations, but you can be sure I'll die trying. I'm no old war dog, I've only been in the game for 5 years, but you can be dead sure there are few decades more to come from me. Because I've got the tank on full and I can't see the empty mark, unless the engine blows up.

It is my need to exist more than my years of life what makes me want to be extraordinary, I want to be extraordinary for myself, and people that are composed of something more than parties, job, an expensive car, a house and social circles.

This is why I push myself beyond the limits, why I try to achieve something even I know is impossible; because I know my destiny is to do precisely that, achieve the impossible or die trying. Give me the smallest of sparks and that will be enough for me to fight on for a lifetime. So even in the darkest of times, you'll see me striving for greatness.

[Iron_Spirit]

As I walk through life, I notice two paths. The first one, shown to me by others, is one full of light, joy, economic ambitions and normality. The second, is one I found, hidden in the shadows, deep in my heart, full of pain, rage, hardship and true beauty.

The first path has economic ambtions, I say it has other's ambitions, not mine. Normality? I say it has tiranity. Light? It is a blinding light. Joy? I say its weakness.

The second one, full of pain, to make me stronger. Rage to make me unstoppable. Hardship to make me experienced and disciplined. And a beauty that goes well beyond any you find by looking with your eyes.

I tell you, brother, choose your path in the crossroad, and choose well because you've only got one chance, one life.

I've chosen my path, and I ain't looking back. So I'll release the beast within me to go on to the battleground, and maybe, just maybe, I'll see you there.

[Iron_Spirit]

Today it is one year after I seriously and permanently hurt my back and I can remember it like it was yesterday... I was resting because of my back injury that day, and as I walked through the streets like a crippled old man, not only because of the back pain, but also because of the pain in my calves; I was thinking about how I looked ridiculous walking from one side to the other like a drunk man. But the funny thing is that the more I thought about it, the more proud I felt of myself.

Fuck yes, damn proud, because there ain't no better feeling in this world than that of feeling like a truck just ran over you, just because you decided that 5 reps isn't enough, or 2 series won't do it, or because you decided that another 45 pounds disc is what you need. Because the fact that you are seeing shiny spots on the roof, feel like you're gonna puke and even forget your own fucking name; all that just means the fun has just started.

THAT is the greatest pride I have in this life, suffering to reach my goals. There is no greatness without hardship. I recognize I'm not the mold made of steel and rock that I should be, but I know that is my destiny, and each time I suffer to reach it, I feel damn proud of climbing one more step up in my Everest.

[ironshaolin]

those who walk away today, continues to fight another day. Its definately better to end a session early and be able to train the rest of the week, then keep going and lose several months of trainng. I know, last summer I couldn't work legs for 3 1/2 months because I messed my knee up squatting improperly. I learned the hardway, GO PARALELL OR ELSE!

[Iron_Spirit]

those who walk away today, continues to fight another day. Its definately better ....

Yeah, I hear this "click" in my knee each time I go below parallel. But then again, I've heard that "click" all my life when I bend too much, I guess if I add weight it would get hurt. Some of us just don't have the bone structure to do some exercises in certain way.

[Iron_Spirit]

I mostly train alone, because I haven't found a single partner willing to keep up with my training, let it be because of lack of experience or balls. Either way... I've only had ONE training partner I would have like stayed with me, it was this small kid, that really didn't have much experience in weightlifting, but it was the last time I trained with him that I really started to like him...

I started to like him because he started to hate me, I perfectly remember shouting at him because of his lack of form on exercises and intensity, well... the last time he worked out with me he went beyond my expectations and started to bust my balls about my intensity, it felt fucking great, feeling his hate and expressing it with criticism.

Sometimes we get told to keep on going, but with a 'good heart', this wasn't like that, that kid truly thought I was lacking intensity, I saw it in his eyes, he insulted me, and I loved it, he made me push beyond what I thought I could and when he saw me push on through the pain I remember him getting mad at me for being able to pull out the reps, that was great.

Next time you look for a training partner, make sure he has fire in his eyes and capacity to insult weakness.

[Iron_Spirit]

On non-weightlifting days, I do Abs and Cardio in the morning before eating any carbs. Anyway, today as I started to do my ab routine, and started to feel the pain, doubt entered my mind.

I asked myself: "Why do I do this?"
As ususal, I replied to myself with some poetic BULLSHIT: "Because it makes me feel alive, because I want to sustain this pain."
Then I asked again: "Honestly, bullshit aside, why do I do this?"
That's when I got real: "Truly? I do this because I don't want to be like the rest of the lazy fucks out there. I do it because every time I prove to myself I can overcome these obstacles and challenges, I feel powerful. Because it makes me feel unstoppable, invincible."

Now that I've already finished today's workout, I think about it, and I'm DEAD sure I was born for this. So bring on those reps, weights, dozens of meals and pills, because this train is on straight tracks towards greatness.

WATCH ME, I'm still here, after all the pain, injuries, struggle and distractions. I'M STILL HERE and you aren't getting rid of me. YOU HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST.

Live hard, die well.

[Iron_Spirit]

Today I had a reencounter with myself. It had been a long time since I trained until I felt like collapsing, and finding that spark in me to shout:
"YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO KILL ME, BECAUSE I'M NOT STOPPING."

Every time I conquer the obstacles of my hazardous journey; I have an encounter with a spirit of pure strength that takes over my mind and body; and I become an unstoppable beast, determined to obliterate any and all obstacles in my way to conquest.

Today I had such an encounter, and after I finished my workout I said to myself: "It's been a long time, my friend."

Now I'm unstoppable, invincible, insane... I am myself. Some even call me an Animal.

Live hard, die well.

[Iron_Spirit]

I usually go for three days only on a DoggCrapp split, Mon Wed Fri, but today is Saturday and I'm seriously considering hitting the weights again. So I laid down on the couch, started thinking why not, and all the "overtraining" bullshit came to mind, although I don't really care about that... all I care about is progressing under whatever cirsumstance my body is.

Then I considered why I should, and I'm currently taking some suplements to enhance performance and recovery. Add to that the fact that today AND tomorrow I will definetely sleep 8 hours and eat like a beast. So now I say, what the fuck? I've got my arsenal ready, and my attitude? I was born ready with it.

If someone still thinks this is overtraining, and that I can't progress with this training, then I just don't give a damn.... I'll still turn into a rampaging beast, no matter what some coward fuck thinks.

Sometimes you just have to challenge the myths and break the rules to get where you want, this week, this day, these next hours I will be doing precisely that; breaking rules and busting myths with claw and fist, pushing my way rep after rep, meal after meal.

In the end, I'll stand with my head high, shoulders square and middle finger raised high in the sky.

THIS is Animal. Welcome to our world.

[Iron_Spirit]

We were all born into this world no different than an insect, after all, there are 6,500 millions of people in this planet. We were all born without a name, and truly, remain as such.

But there is a solution to this insignificance of being, we can gain RESPECT, through this value many other dignifying events occur. Still, there's a catch, respect isn't something you go buy at the store, like social status or fame...

RESPECT is something one has to EARN, you cannot demand respect just because you feel all you've done is hard... it can only be earned through example, by demonstrating others that your actions speak of high values such as honor, courage, and love.

So now, I stand in this world without respect, nameless... and I head on to the battlefield to squeeze and scratch respect out of the iron. Is this possible? I don't know, but I'll keep on trying until my eyes shutdown forever. Maybe then I'll earn respect from myself.

Live hard, Die well.

[The_Dude]

Today, I had fuel on my head and in my veins. I was about to do this leg routine called "The Kill" a routine I used back 2 years ago, but back then I had my back as fine as a horse's. Now though, my back is fukd up, so I pulled out the first 6 sets of 15 reps, every set to failure (some sets I couldn't finish and just pulled weight off untill I finish the set), anyway... soon after I finished the set, I was ready for 3x3 supersets of Hack Squats, just as I ALMOST started that one. I remembered and started feeling my back problem, and thought that I'm not only an Animal... I'm also a Man, and as one, I stopped right there.

A real man is courageous, but also knows when to stop.

In case you wanna try the routine (I used it for 4 months and got great gains), here's the link: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/hodge1.htm

Hey bro, good job listening to your body. Most forget at times that the temple is a sacred and magnificent thing. Your temple knows and will tell you when and or when not to do, no matter what it is.

[Preston]

Body sends you some sublminal messages all the time. Those messages are the ones where you reply " eh, whatever's," could lead to something more. Stay smart animal, train hard.

-Preston[ANIMAL]