Page 55 - NGA NATURALmag 2017 ANNIVERSARY FALL Issue

One morning while in in in in the gym doing one arm dumbbell rows with far more weight than what I I typically use I I felt a a a a a a a a a a a strange burning sen- sation in in in my lower back The rational part of me me insisted that I cease the the activity immediately however the the irrational and more macho part of my mind overruled that instinct and I I continued on on although I I I was was in in in in in great pain My form was was poor so as as as I I I jerked the the dumbbell up for for every rep the the the burning sensation began to spread I I did complete the the the exercise but that that was the the last time that that I touched a a a a a dumbbell I I decided to to to seek the the attention of a a a a a a a medi-
cal doctor and and learned that I I had torn the the last intervertebral disc wide a a a a a a a a a a a full 120 degrees and and my pelvic ligaments were so stretched out that they no longer provided the the the support necessary to to hold my pelvis together which caused excru- ciating pain Because of this in in in 2008 I elected
to to to to have a a a a a a a a a a a micro discectomy This surgery helped me to to to to be able to to to to at at least sit again but the the threat of pain from my pelvis twisting if I I made even the the the slightest move was still there I I I could could not bend to put socks on or or or tie my my shoes nor could could I I spread my my my legs more than shoulder width apart And the the worst part part about the the diminished use of my my physical body was that I I I could not lift more than 15-20 lbs As a a a a a a a a a a man I I I felt useless I I I had to to develop special ways to to get get my pants on in in in in the morning and and for getting in in in in in and and out of bed I I basically felt like I I couldn’t participate in in in life anymore So when I I decided to enter a a a a natural body- building competition I I felt this would would be a a a a a a a solu- tion tion to to to to my ineptness and it it would would give me a a a a a a a goal to to to to strive towards in in in in being able to to to to regain control of of my life Just the the idea that I could participate in in in in in a a a a a a a a a sport breathed into me me a a a a a a a a a renewed sense of of self For me me me it it wasn’t about about winning or or or losing it it was was about about being able to be be be a a a a a a a a a a part of something stand on on stage and and look like I belonged there No longer able to to to to lift weights I I decided to to to to use bodyweight exercises to to to to get back into shape I I used a a a a a a combination of of push-ups pull-up dips and chins Over the the the the course of of the the the the 12 weeks that I I trained I I began to appreciate the the the the aesthetic qualities symmetry and beauty of bodybuilding I slowly came to the the realization that bodybuild- ing ing is is not about pounding on on the the the muscles just for for the the the sake of of mass but it is is an an an art and a a a a a a a a a a a sincere appreciation of of the the the human form very similar
to the the beauty displayed in in Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man Once the competition was over I I felt like I I had had achieved a a a a a a milestone because for so long I had had listened to to to my body telling me me “no” which stopped me me from doing things But after mold- ing ing ing ing it it it into the form I I wanted I I was was beginning to to to tell it it it what to to to do for for a a a a a a a change and it it it was was responding Through the the experience I saw that there is a a a a a a a a a a place for everyone in in natural bodybuilding I I walked away from the show stronger healthier and more confident than I had been in a a a a a a a a very long time n n n n Fall 2017
NGA NATURAL mag 55
REGAINING CONTROL
By Dr Jeffrey scallon NGA Athlete obiwan111@aol com