Do You Want To Be A Bodybuilding Champion ? The Power Behind The PEN!

IT ALL STARTED ON A TYPICAL NOVEMBER MORNING back in nineteen eighty seven. Life was changing for me quickly; I just didn't realize it at the time. I had been successful in some bodybuilding contests as a teenager, but that was really as far as I wanted to go in the sport. I worked at a local construction company as an architect. Each day in the office started out the same; grab a cup of coffee and sit down at my desk. Being a designer, you either had a mouse, pencil or cup of coffee in your hand.

It all began that morning when I looked over at a sheet of paper that lay next to my computer with these words that read; I AM MR. MICHIGAN 1988. At the time I thought it was funny and threw it away. Two weeks later, I realized I had written it again. Only this time the words were written more than once. I threw it away and forgot about it,again. A few days later, I caught myself doing it, again. I stopped and just shook my head and said, "Could I? No, I'm not doing it again." I thought, "I have accomplished all I wanted to. But, what if I could win? Are you kidding? Stop kidding yourself Greg!"

This conversation went on in my head for days. I found myself over the next three weeks writing the same thing, I AM MR. MICHIGAN 1988. Could I? Well, if I do I have to make a decision by January 1, 1988, due to the contest date in April.This would give me four months to prepare. What I am saying? I thought I was finished. I kept writing and writing and writing every day through the month of December. Then I just decided, Ok, one more time, I'll do it.

I don't know when it happened, but it did. You see in the sport of bodybuilding there are many variables involved. You can not predict what will happen. Contest preparation is mostly the science of nutrition and mental preparation. And of course doing your time in the gym.

However, even if you do all the hard work, when you're dealing with the human body and are judged on your looks, anything can play a part in what the final product will look like. Changes can come at the last minute due to nerves, water retention, sickness, over-training, presentation flaws or in a lot of cases, mental fatigue. But this time, something began to happen with my body along the way.

I continued to write that simple statement over and over again. Day after day, after day, and with that what started out as a denial now became a dream. So I wrote and wrote and worked hard and ate right.

It was now the beginning of March and I had three weeks left. At this point, my mental training had kicked in. Time and time again, I saw athletes fall to the demons in their heads. The self sabotaging thoughts of food depervation, self esteem issues, only to crack at the very end. I was no exception. I had many bad days. Some days were per hell. I didn't want to get out of bed at times. I just didn't have the energy. But I found a way. I kept writing, and writing until my hand could write no more, I AM MR. MICHIGAN 1988.

The days continued to pass, getting closer and closer to the contest day. I have to admit, by two weeks from the contest I just wanted it to end. But, I could not quit. I had made a promise to myself never to quiet. Goals change decisions do not. The contest was on Saturday, so by Monday training wise I had done all I could do. Now I prepared for the day, keeping my nutrition finely tuned and absolutely did not break down mentally. I stayed focused on the bigger picture. Due to my fatigue level, my training partner and his wife drove me up to Detroit on Friday so we could spend the night and get a good night's sleep.

I never said bodybuilding was not an extreme sport. Part of the goal to achieve success was through training and human physiology manipulation. I needed to get rid of as much fat and water as I possible could and still stay functional. The fat came off through diet and training over the past four months and if all was fine in my body, the water would go in the last few days. Now let me tell you, through all of this I kept writing, and writing and writing.

Friday evening I went to bed about three pounds over what I thought I should be on competition day. My weight class was 154 to 176 pounds, Friday evening I weighed 174 cool, but not good lean enough to win. You see, it was not good enough for the judge's criteria just to be lean; you had to resemble a medical anatomy chart. This required, on a temporary basis, for you to lose as much water around your muscles as possible. This was science, luck, and faith at its best.

I awoke early around five. My friends were still sleeping in the same room. I didn't feel any different as I went into the bathroom to weigh myself. What I saw on the scale didn't seem possible. I stepped off and back on at least a half a dozen times. It just could not be. My contest check in time was five hours away, but it was time for my roommates to get up, so I yelled. Still not believing the scales I dropped all my clothes and at the same time dropped my jaw. It just was not possible. Without going to the bathroom for eight hours, it was not possible to lose four pounds of water. The water in my body, under the skin, covering the fine tuned muscle fibers had out of thin air disappeared.

My training partner, his wife and I walked into the theater in preparation to the check in. As we entered my friends wife stopped leaned over and said to the both of us, "Can you feel that?" I looked at the both of them and said, "Feel what?" That thick ego filled air. Honestly, I turned to her and said, "I matters not what I receive today in trophies or recognition. I have already won.

No one can take away what I have received over the last few years." I thought of Pumping Iron and Arnold it was then I realized what he new before the show. It just didn't matter what place I recieved, there was no pressure. As I checked in, it was interesting and comical to see affects of transferring internal pressure to your fellow competitors. They looked at you like little boys who lost there best friend.

It was night time now, I final time out on stage in front of thousands. Yes, this was it. My career was ending no matter what the results would be. My journey was now complete.

As I heard my name called as the winner of not only my weight class, but the overall winner it was announced you are MR. MICHIGAN 1988. It was at that moment I realized the Power behind the Pen. What started out as a slip of the ink, four months later had transformed my mind and now my body into the very words that had been written so many times before. I can not explain it, but to this very day I know in the bottom of my heart, if it was not for power behind the pen, and that deep desire to win I would not have accomplished so much in so little time.

I don't care what it is in life, if you want it, write it down. Everyday, all the time. Sooner of later your mind will help you achieve it. Never, ever underestimate the power behind the pen.

Greg Ryan is a high profile fitness expert and former employee of Kathy Smiths. Body building champion, public speaker CEO. He is a best selling author of the Changing from the INSIDE OUT through real behavior change, smart eating and effective exercising. For FREE MINI COURES click here http://www.resolutions.bz

---

After WLS: Walking for Wellness

Step for step, mile for mile, walking is the best... Read More

The Abs... More Important Than You Think

What comes to your mind when I say the word... Read More

When to Exercise

Do you hit the gym in the morning, before your... Read More

Exercise Intensity

"Physical Fitness"Some physical activities (exercise) are not intense enough to... Read More

Have a Detailed Exercise Plan Before Training

You would never build a house without a site plan,... Read More

Weight Loss and Exercise in Tough Environmental Conditions

Working out is working out, right?Wrong.Depending on the environmental conditions... Read More

Benefit of Pilates

One of the main benefits of Pilates is it refreshes... Read More

When Exercising Right Looks Wrong

For most of us we live in a black and... Read More

Incorporating Physical Activity into Your Daily Routine Not as Hard as You Think

You already know that getting at least 30 minutes of... Read More

How to Choose a Good Jogging Stroller

If you lead an active lifestyle and you want to... Read More

The Great Forgotten Exercise -- Parallel Bar Dips

When it comes to building lower pectorals, triceps and frontal... Read More

Metabolism: How to Increase Your Metabolic Rate?

Metabolism is a process by which the body burns the... Read More

3 Steps To Starting a Successful Fall Exercise Program

Ah, the crisp cool breeze, the invigorating feel of the... Read More

Sport

In our modern day society we have moved away from... Read More

Exercise & Motivation, Part 2: Overcoming Inertia & Getting Started

In the first article in this series (http://tinyurl.com/8ztbo), we gave... Read More

How Exercise and Beta-Glucan Help the Immune System

It is thought that moderate exercise, such as speed walking,... Read More

The Importance of The Fibonacci Numbers in Fitness Training

"Things do not change; we change." ?Henry David ThoreauThe following... Read More

Want a Flat Stomach? - Heres the Best Exercise

The best exercise for the stomach is probably not the... Read More

Home Gyms with Free Weights

Having your own home gym with free weights is not... Read More

The Many Benefits of Exercise

Health experts encourage us to include exercise as a necessary... Read More

Current Recommendations are 30-60 Minutes of Exercise, Everyday?

This is the latest advice to the public and many... Read More

Fitness the Goddess Way: Movement vs. Exercise

I was excited to hear the esteemed speakers at the... Read More

Some Great Ideas on Staying Fit

Physical exercise is something that you need to do on... Read More

Benefits of a Good Training Journal

Most of us have trained at one part in our... Read More

Speed Training With Intensity - Bound To Get Faster

Bounding can be a great addition to your high intensity... Read More

Exercise and Heart Health: A Life Giving Marriage

Most people get their health out of a bottle these... Read More

A Fitness Mothers Time

So you've been a mother for a while. Good for... Read More

No Pain, No Gain Isnt True For Arthritis, But Exercise Is Still Important

Recent studies have shown that exercise may acually help people... Read More

Life Walking: Dont Walk Just For Exercise - Change Your Life

"Life walking" is more than walking for exercise and fitness... Read More

Professional Triathlon Training Taking You To Your Best

There are hundreds of different programs for professional triathlon training... Read More

Reviewing Weider Home Gyms

For most of us non-professional body builders the Weider Home... Read More

Arthritis Exercise for All Levels

Exercise can be very beneficial for arthritis sufferers, often relieving... Read More

How to Avoid Using Your Home Gym as a Clothes Rack

So here's the situation?You have a home gym, treadmill, elliptical... Read More