Weightlifting and Life - Slow, Focused and Success Will Follow

I am going to tell you the best way to successful weight training and life in general. I will tell you in just a moment. First, some perspective.

I turned on the television back in 1975 and began to watch Wide World of Sports like I did each and every Saturday. This Saturday was a little bit different. They were going to show the Mr. Olympia contest. I saw some pictures previously, but I was only 12 years old and did not think much of it. It was kind of a freak show, or so I thought.

When the Mr. Olympia segment came on, I was totally drawn to the television. I never saw bodies like this. Combine that with the great lighting, Jim McKay, the competition itself and the fact that I was a chubby little 12-year-old and you could see how the juices starting to flow. The motivation started to bubble.

Immediately, I told my mother I wanted a set of weights for Christmas. My next-door neighbor had already given me a bench that I had not used yet. So, they would go together very well.

I followed the instructions that came with the weights. I became incredibly sore. I started to get a little bit bigger. I really did not see it myself. Then, I allowed my life to be changed with one silly question - How Much Can You Curl? What I mean is - that stupid question made me want to make sure that I could curl WAY more than anyone, and instead of getting totally toned and in better shape, I made it my goal to be bigger and stronger. Which is not that bad, but, it took me much longer to build my foundation. Luckily, I also started playing football and it pretty much took care of that. I was always fixated on strength and size instead of total conditioning. But again, football, took care of the conditioning.

Where am I going with all of this?

Well, I totally believe that the key to weight lifting is tone and conditioning. You can build off that. Not the other way around. You need to do lots and lots of focused, direct and slow repetitions. You need to feel some burn, some pain. The good pain. The phrase "No Pain No Gain", really means something. As with all things in life, you need to suffer a little bit in order to grow. Pain Is Temporary. I mean, 20-15-12-15-20 reps per exercise, focused and slow. If you watch the movie Pumping Iron, you will never see anyone doing very fast reps. They are slow and focused. Why? Because they connect the mind to the muscle and make everything work in synchronicity. When your foundation is built, honestly built, you can then slowly start to go heavier. You are truly ready.

Do not be that guy that bench presses, really fast, bouncing the weight off his chest and arching his back.

That is called cheating. The weights don't cheat or lie to you. That guy might impress the girls, but he is not getting it done correctly. Instead, be the focused, disciplined and Motivated athlete. You will win the competition with yourself. You will be best positioned to take on anything in a focused, direct manner.

I grew up by the phrase - Go Heavy or Go Home. Just do it intelligently. Not like a Rock Head.

Just in case you did not know, all of the above will hold water in everything you do in life. Think about it.