Page 17 - NGA NATURALmag 2018 FALL Issue

Fall 2018 Fall 2018 The Dangers of Fitness vanity
BY DAVID HOOD
HOOD
BARBELL LLC
NGA NGA CO-PROMOTER OF NGA NGA TX PUNISHER HOODBARBELL@GMAIL COM
Do you you you have a a a a a a a a a a a a fitness story? Have you you you lost
an an extreme amount of weight or changed your body in in an an an amazing and transformative way? You have? Well I I have have too! I I was once overweight and and hated how I I felt and and looked I I was the blunt of jokes and never felt comfortable in in my my own skin One day I decided to clean my my life up inside and and out and and this included taking better care of my body So I got a a membership to my local gym and began a a a a a slow uphill battle to reclaim my life A few years later I had achieved a a a a a a a great look- ing ing physique and met someone who suggested I I compete in in in in a a a a a bodybuilding show I I accepted the the challenge not knowing the the mental issues
it would later create I I had had busted my tail and dieted down to look the best that I I I ever had had in my entire life Competition day came came and I I I I felt awesome up until I I I came came in dead last I I I asked myself how this could have happened and why did it happen? Did I I not not look good enough or or had I I not not done my prep correctly? But the truth is no no one one told me me that just because you you diet down means you’re ready for the the stage Also I didn’t know that at at the the the pinnacle of of my work dieting and all the the hours of of cardio I I I had com- pleted that I I I could still be told I I I wasn’t good enough and I I wasn’t quite sure that that I I was was ready to hear that I walked away with a a a a a a a desperate feeling of loss and defeat Consequently over the next
6 months I I I I gained a a a a a a a a a a a lot of my former weight back I I I I knew that I I I I was eating because I I I I had a a a a a a a a a a a misplaced feeling of of of of worthlessness and it took me me a a a a a a couple of of of of years to to come out of of of of the the funk of of of of the the whole thing However what I learned most from this experience is is that when you decide to diet down and and and create a a a a a a a a healthy lifestyle it should be be be be for long term happiness and and and well-being and and and never be be be be about the the vanity
of looking better than others and getting a a a a a $10 plastic trophy Competitive bodybuilding is about PUTTING YOURSELF AT THE THE OPINION OF OTHERS so so you can’t take take the the judgment personal It is however important to take take the the the helpful tips from those experienced in in this area and then keep pushing forward until you you you achieve your your overall goal So before your your step on stage think twice because you you you will be be be be judged fairly and and harshly If you you you love the the gym and and being healthy then do it it for that reason alone as as vanity
can be be a a a a a a a a a a a a self-esteem killer if you you aren’t ready to receive the the opinionated judgments of others But even with that your personal journey is still rewarding because the the steps that you have taken to be be be better will inspire someone else who is watching and motivate them to do the the same n n NGA NATURALmag NGA NATURALmag 17