.gif "IP Gear")
hi this is dr mark p. i have submitted chapter 3 of my book for your enjoyment. thank you.
Chapter 3
Changing your current reality
In the wrong hands of a misguided overzealous trainee, even brief, high intensity workouts will eventually bring them to their knees both physically and psychologically. After that it’s just a matter of time before they throw in the towel. Working out hard does not necessarily mean working out right, and is no guarantee that you have done everything possible to stimulate growth. For this reason, it is necessary to be on the constant lookout for new knowledge and perspective as to how to continue making progress.
But even while motivation, proper training, nutrition and genetics are certainly very important considerations; an objective, rational, pro-active way of thinking is equally necessary in order to enjoy success in bodybuilding-as it is with anything else.
Jones’s teachings were a major breakthrough for bodybuilding, giving us a better grasp as to the how and why the body responds to exercise. It also prompted us to look at the subject more intelligently. Jones exploded many bodybuilding myths, encouraging us to examine everything with an open mind. And while they may have failed to produce a new generation of supermen, his teachings spawned a breed of inquisitive, thinking bodybuilders. Jones told it like it was, and ruffled a few feathers in the bodybuilding community along the way. He was known to make outright personal attacks about the beliefs and philosophies of others, which some undoubtedly took offensively. Jones’s shook the tree of convention that many advocates had for so long held as near and dear to them as family values themselves. I suspect that for some of the so-called experts, Jones’s was considered somewhat of a threat to their authority. Ironically, by his attitude of finding the current dogma of the day so objectionable, he replaced much of it with his own.
I see a dichotomy in this scenario analogous to the tension that exists between the Medical profession and Chiropractic (my former profession). First of all I want to make it clear that I would not want to live in a world without Medical doctors and second, I do not believe that Chiropractic is a panacea. Chiropractic does have its place however, and is the best treatment of choice for structural problems and most soft tissue injuries resulting in strain/sprain injuries and their related symptoms. On the other hand the Medical profession has aggressively rejected alternative healthcare for the last century. Most Medical doctors still reject the premise an ailment of any kind can be treated successfully by means other than the medical model. Still, despite my defending position towards natural health care, I do understand the premise for the bias possessed by the Medical profession.
For many years these individuals have been trained to believe in a philosophy that was taught by mentors who have been taught the same. Handed down through generations, these instilled beliefs have now become their reality. To suddenly be confronted with the proposition of modifying their beliefs would be treasonous. It would be like a person being suddenly told that their mother was a test tube after a lifetime of being told otherwise.
People are always reluctant to let go of long held customs, beliefs or traditions; bodybuilders are no exception. Some individuals insist on embracing false beliefs even after being presented with evidence to the contrary. It is a closed-minded individual who allows their pride get in the way of reality.
For the sake of this text, we’ll call current reality a state of mind in which a person holds a belief to be true based on a previous learning experience. If this belief happens to be erroneous and is practiced long enough, it will eventually result in negative consequences. After trying the same thing over and over again and getting the same negative result, it is to the best interest of the practitioner of this falsehood, vice, or behavior, to consider changing or modifying it. Unfortunately it is not always easy to drop a bad habit, or a bad way of thinking.
This brings to mind a former associate of mine who by his own admission was exceedingly overweight. At 5’10” and over 400 lbs., he was strong as a bull and could bench over 450 and squat and dead lift 700 lbs. He was the type of person however who felt sorry for himself and saw himself as a victim. Worse, he thought the world owed him a living and believed that anyone who didn’t join him in his pity party must be against him. When it came to training, he was a know it all who had all the answers. His raw strength and size being one of his few redeeming qualities, he would always train to impress with heavy poundage’s, though performing only between four to six repetitions. This individual was a picture of a child in a man’s body.
His burgeoning weight had become a sensitive issue for him. I once overheard him say that his weight had been causing him difficulties, and that it was getting harder for him to get around comfortably anymore. He admitted that he did not like being overweight and that it had affected his social life as well as his self esteem. I would encourage him to modify his training and diet, attempting to help him reduce. While he had the desire, his ego would not allow him to let go of his advantage of strength and size so he refused to make the necessary modifications.
Rather than make the appropriate changes in his lifestyle that would eventually cause the changes that he desired, he would instead cling to his comfort zone in order to avoid pain. It was easier for him to continue justifying himself in an area that he already felt confident rather than run the risk of facing a challenge that could possibly lead to failure.
This man (and I use the term loosely) later turned on me for no reason attempting to usurp information that was vital to business project that I was involved with at the time. He failed as it turned out, which came as no surprise. People like this live in a dream world. They believe that they are totally self sufficient, whereas in reality they are very desperate, helpless individuals. In their frustration, lack of moral compass and self-control, they eventually end up coveting what they are unable to achieve on their own and are not above taking what is not rightfully theirs. Ultimately they are given up to the depths of their depravity and selfish desires. Pathetic as they are, you almost have to feel sorry for them in a way, as convincing as they sometimes seem with their false sentimentality. Sadly, pity is the only thing that consoles them, whether it be self-absorbed or at the expense of others.
People such as these are motivated by ego and envy rather than passion and purpose. Character defects are like birth defects. They come in clusters. Chances are that if they have one they will have others. But do people with such arbitrary and despicable characters ever change? Do they ever open up their eyes to the truth about themselves and the world around them? My contention is that it doesn’t happen without anything short of an outright miracle. I for one do not believe that this is even possible without first developing a true relationship with our creator. Someone once said this about people who try to improve or better themselves without God; it’s like putting lipstick on a pig.
As for those who are predisposed with the quality of being able to experience personal growth both emotionally and spiritually, God bless you. Change can be a hard pill to swallow, especially when it requires that a person admit they are wrong. Likewise, it is impossible to teach someone who thinks they know everything already. Someone once said that the truth may not set you free but it can sure piss you off!
But even having ones heart in the right place still does not guarantee success. This is where faith in God, a positive mental attitude and a made up mind takes a person the rest of the way.
My younger brother Joey, who is now deceased, enjoyed some moderate success as a bodybuilder. He was the type that once he made up his mind; ninety percent of the battle was already won.
A free spirited, outgoing type of guy, Joey was a perfect example of an intuitive bodybuilder. He was not so patently methodical as I was. No, instead Joey listened to no one; he had to have it his way and he had to have it now! He never stopped to think about it, he just went for it.
Joey announced that he was planning to enter his first contest, the “Novice Mr. California” to be held in our hometown of Stockton, California. I was in school in Los Angeles at the time, so I drove up to visit three months before the show. At the time Joey’s physique showed no indication that he could possibly be ready for the contest in such a short period of time. He was small, smooth and pudgy, and I thought there was just no way he could pull it off. I still encouraged him regardless.
Joey flew to L.A. to see me the weekend before the show. When he got off the plane I was stunned, though fully clothed, I could tell by his face that he was in unbelievable condition. All I could say to him was "you’re ripped!" When he peeled off his shirt, it was confirmed. Of course my brother was on steroids, but the phenomenal transformation that he made in such a short period of time was absolutely amazing! He ended up placing a close second out of a tough field of over twenty contestants!
My brother was not the type to want to be bothered by details; he simply did what his body told him to do and whatever he could get away with. Joey lived his life to the extreme, a personality trait that would prove to be fatal for him later. Yet by determination, discipline and commitment, even if only in the short run, he proved himself to be a winner. He had this naturally ability to make everything come together when he decided to pull out all stops. Not the analytical type, my brother never really took life too seriously, nor the time to accumulate much knowledge, yet he knew instinctively what his body demanded of him. He clearly listened and applied those messages to his training.
It is the combination of Joey's instincts and my logic, which symbiotically represent the theme of this journal. It is in my brother Joey’s memory and in memory of my good friend and the best training partner ever, Pete Salcedo, that I dedicate this work. If it hadn’t have been for Pete, I would have never won a show. Rest in pea
Chapter 3
Changing your current reality
In the wrong hands of a misguided overzealous trainee, even brief, high intensity workouts will eventually bring them to their knees both physically and psychologically. After that it’s just a matter of time before they throw in the towel. Working out hard does not necessarily mean working out right, and is no guarantee that you have done everything possible to stimulate growth. For this reason, it is necessary to be on the constant lookout for new knowledge and perspective as to how to continue making progress.
But even while motivation, proper training, nutrition and genetics are certainly very important considerations; an objective, rational, pro-active way of thinking is equally necessary in order to enjoy success in bodybuilding-as it is with anything else.
Jones’s teachings were a major breakthrough for bodybuilding, giving us a better grasp as to the how and why the body responds to exercise. It also prompted us to look at the subject more intelligently. Jones exploded many bodybuilding myths, encouraging us to examine everything with an open mind. And while they may have failed to produce a new generation of supermen, his teachings spawned a breed of inquisitive, thinking bodybuilders. Jones told it like it was, and ruffled a few feathers in the bodybuilding community along the way. He was known to make outright personal attacks about the beliefs and philosophies of others, which some undoubtedly took offensively. Jones’s shook the tree of convention that many advocates had for so long held as near and dear to them as family values themselves. I suspect that for some of the so-called experts, Jones’s was considered somewhat of a threat to their authority. Ironically, by his attitude of finding the current dogma of the day so objectionable, he replaced much of it with his own.
I see a dichotomy in this scenario analogous to the tension that exists between the Medical profession and Chiropractic (my former profession). First of all I want to make it clear that I would not want to live in a world without Medical doctors and second, I do not believe that Chiropractic is a panacea. Chiropractic does have its place however, and is the best treatment of choice for structural problems and most soft tissue injuries resulting in strain/sprain injuries and their related symptoms. On the other hand the Medical profession has aggressively rejected alternative healthcare for the last century. Most Medical doctors still reject the premise an ailment of any kind can be treated successfully by means other than the medical model. Still, despite my defending position towards natural health care, I do understand the premise for the bias possessed by the Medical profession.
For many years these individuals have been trained to believe in a philosophy that was taught by mentors who have been taught the same. Handed down through generations, these instilled beliefs have now become their reality. To suddenly be confronted with the proposition of modifying their beliefs would be treasonous. It would be like a person being suddenly told that their mother was a test tube after a lifetime of being told otherwise.
People are always reluctant to let go of long held customs, beliefs or traditions; bodybuilders are no exception. Some individuals insist on embracing false beliefs even after being presented with evidence to the contrary. It is a closed-minded individual who allows their pride get in the way of reality.
For the sake of this text, we’ll call current reality a state of mind in which a person holds a belief to be true based on a previous learning experience. If this belief happens to be erroneous and is practiced long enough, it will eventually result in negative consequences. After trying the same thing over and over again and getting the same negative result, it is to the best interest of the practitioner of this falsehood, vice, or behavior, to consider changing or modifying it. Unfortunately it is not always easy to drop a bad habit, or a bad way of thinking.
This brings to mind a former associate of mine who by his own admission was exceedingly overweight. At 5’10” and over 400 lbs., he was strong as a bull and could bench over 450 and squat and dead lift 700 lbs. He was the type of person however who felt sorry for himself and saw himself as a victim. Worse, he thought the world owed him a living and believed that anyone who didn’t join him in his pity party must be against him. When it came to training, he was a know it all who had all the answers. His raw strength and size being one of his few redeeming qualities, he would always train to impress with heavy poundage’s, though performing only between four to six repetitions. This individual was a picture of a child in a man’s body.
His burgeoning weight had become a sensitive issue for him. I once overheard him say that his weight had been causing him difficulties, and that it was getting harder for him to get around comfortably anymore. He admitted that he did not like being overweight and that it had affected his social life as well as his self esteem. I would encourage him to modify his training and diet, attempting to help him reduce. While he had the desire, his ego would not allow him to let go of his advantage of strength and size so he refused to make the necessary modifications.
Rather than make the appropriate changes in his lifestyle that would eventually cause the changes that he desired, he would instead cling to his comfort zone in order to avoid pain. It was easier for him to continue justifying himself in an area that he already felt confident rather than run the risk of facing a challenge that could possibly lead to failure.
This man (and I use the term loosely) later turned on me for no reason attempting to usurp information that was vital to business project that I was involved with at the time. He failed as it turned out, which came as no surprise. People like this live in a dream world. They believe that they are totally self sufficient, whereas in reality they are very desperate, helpless individuals. In their frustration, lack of moral compass and self-control, they eventually end up coveting what they are unable to achieve on their own and are not above taking what is not rightfully theirs. Ultimately they are given up to the depths of their depravity and selfish desires. Pathetic as they are, you almost have to feel sorry for them in a way, as convincing as they sometimes seem with their false sentimentality. Sadly, pity is the only thing that consoles them, whether it be self-absorbed or at the expense of others.
People such as these are motivated by ego and envy rather than passion and purpose. Character defects are like birth defects. They come in clusters. Chances are that if they have one they will have others. But do people with such arbitrary and despicable characters ever change? Do they ever open up their eyes to the truth about themselves and the world around them? My contention is that it doesn’t happen without anything short of an outright miracle. I for one do not believe that this is even possible without first developing a true relationship with our creator. Someone once said this about people who try to improve or better themselves without God; it’s like putting lipstick on a pig.
As for those who are predisposed with the quality of being able to experience personal growth both emotionally and spiritually, God bless you. Change can be a hard pill to swallow, especially when it requires that a person admit they are wrong. Likewise, it is impossible to teach someone who thinks they know everything already. Someone once said that the truth may not set you free but it can sure piss you off!
But even having ones heart in the right place still does not guarantee success. This is where faith in God, a positive mental attitude and a made up mind takes a person the rest of the way.
My younger brother Joey, who is now deceased, enjoyed some moderate success as a bodybuilder. He was the type that once he made up his mind; ninety percent of the battle was already won.
A free spirited, outgoing type of guy, Joey was a perfect example of an intuitive bodybuilder. He was not so patently methodical as I was. No, instead Joey listened to no one; he had to have it his way and he had to have it now! He never stopped to think about it, he just went for it.
Joey announced that he was planning to enter his first contest, the “Novice Mr. California” to be held in our hometown of Stockton, California. I was in school in Los Angeles at the time, so I drove up to visit three months before the show. At the time Joey’s physique showed no indication that he could possibly be ready for the contest in such a short period of time. He was small, smooth and pudgy, and I thought there was just no way he could pull it off. I still encouraged him regardless.
Joey flew to L.A. to see me the weekend before the show. When he got off the plane I was stunned, though fully clothed, I could tell by his face that he was in unbelievable condition. All I could say to him was "you’re ripped!" When he peeled off his shirt, it was confirmed. Of course my brother was on steroids, but the phenomenal transformation that he made in such a short period of time was absolutely amazing! He ended up placing a close second out of a tough field of over twenty contestants!
My brother was not the type to want to be bothered by details; he simply did what his body told him to do and whatever he could get away with. Joey lived his life to the extreme, a personality trait that would prove to be fatal for him later. Yet by determination, discipline and commitment, even if only in the short run, he proved himself to be a winner. He had this naturally ability to make everything come together when he decided to pull out all stops. Not the analytical type, my brother never really took life too seriously, nor the time to accumulate much knowledge, yet he knew instinctively what his body demanded of him. He clearly listened and applied those messages to his training.
It is the combination of Joey's instincts and my logic, which symbiotically represent the theme of this journal. It is in my brother Joey’s memory and in memory of my good friend and the best training partner ever, Pete Salcedo, that I dedicate this work. If it hadn’t have been for Pete, I would have never won a show. Rest in pea
