Page 59 - NGA NATURALmag 2018 WINTER Issue

Winter 2018 Winter 2018 2008 I elected to to to to have 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 the threat of pain from my pelvis twisting if I I made even the the the slightest move was still there I I could could not bend to put socks on or or or tie my my shoes nor could could 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 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 I decided to read a a a a a book by Steve Reeves called “Building the Classic Physique” and began
to to think about muscle building in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a different way That’s when I I decided to to to enter a a a a a a a a natural bodybuild- ing competition I I felt this would would be a a a a a a a a solution to to to my 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 in being able to to to regain control of my my life Just the the idea that I could participate in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a sport breathed into me me a a a a a a a a a a a renewed sense of self For me me it it wasn’t about about winning 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 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 I began
to appreciate the the the the aesthetic qualities sym- metry and beauty of bodybuilding bodybuilding I I slowly came to the the the realization that bodybuilding bodybuilding is not about pounding on on on the the the the muscles just for the 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 a sincere appreciation of of the the the the human form very similar to the the beauty displayed in in in Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man Once the competition was over I I I felt like I I I had had achieved a a a a a a milestone because for so long I I I had had listened to to to to my body telling me me “no” which stopped me me from doing things But after molding 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 do for for a a a a a a change and it was was responding Through the the experience I I saw that there is 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 very long time n n NGA NATURAL mag NGA NATURAL mag 59