I fell in love when I was 18. Specifically, it was the first week of my freshman year at college. This was not a typical romance, but like any other, it had its fair shares of struggles, frustrations, doubts, and required a wholehearted commitment which continues to this day.
On the first week of my first year at college, I stepped foot into the university gym for the first time. I was immediately enthralled with what I saw. All the people in the room were committed to improving and pushing themselves to their limits with a determination I had not quite seen anywhere else. I was a 5’8’’, 120 pound freshmen with grand visions for myself; I could transform my body here and become an entirely new me. Quite frankly having no idea what I was doing, …show more content…
I had gained 35 pounds of muscle, my deadlift had risen to 405 pounds, and my experiences in the weight room had instilled a greater sense of confidence and perseverance. As I sought to continually improve my lifts, I realized that I was thinking about weight lifting in a completely different way than before. Previously I approached my problems in a reactive manner, where I attempted to solve them after they appeared. I found that preparing for and anticipating potential problems proactively is the most important step for combatting them. Even today, while I am resting between sets, I oftentimes find myself visualizing lifting the weights in preparation for actually lifting the weights. When doing bench presses, I now imagine myself lifting the bar off the rack, feeling the weight pressing down on my arms and shoulders, and the sensation of feeling the bar touch my chest as I squeeze every muscle fiber to lift the weight back up. I imagine what it would feel like if I became tired, started struggling, and the bar started to sink down despite my best efforts, and the feeling of pure satisfaction as I put the bar back on the rack after my last repetition. Anticipating sensations like these in advance provides greater control over my lift, and leaves little to surprise. When I start to struggle in the middle of a repetition and the bar starts to sink, I am ready; I had seen this coming. I drive my heels hard …show more content…
The years of believing in myself, focusing on my core, and thinking proactively had certainly paid off immensely. But as with any passion, the desire for continued improvement is everlasting and so my progress was never enough. I had begun to plateau once again in my progress, and knew I had to do something differently. One day, a careful analysis of my form led me to discover that while bench pressing, the small changes of my feet being placed further back, and my hands being placed an inch further out allowed me to lift more weight. The very fine details within weightlifting, the placement of individual fingers on a bar or the angle of my feet suddenly became obviously important. Minor details can make all the difference in succeeding. A single word can be vital to fully understanding a contract; being able to accurately gauge a person’s tone of voice and body language is key to maintaining good relationships. An affinity for small details provided myself with a greater understanding of weight lifting, as well as social and professional
On the first week of my first year at college, I stepped foot into the university gym for the first time. I was immediately enthralled with what I saw. All the people in the room were committed to improving and pushing themselves to their limits with a determination I had not quite seen anywhere else. I was a 5’8’’, 120 pound freshmen with grand visions for myself; I could transform my body here and become an entirely new me. Quite frankly having no idea what I was doing, …show more content…
I had gained 35 pounds of muscle, my deadlift had risen to 405 pounds, and my experiences in the weight room had instilled a greater sense of confidence and perseverance. As I sought to continually improve my lifts, I realized that I was thinking about weight lifting in a completely different way than before. Previously I approached my problems in a reactive manner, where I attempted to solve them after they appeared. I found that preparing for and anticipating potential problems proactively is the most important step for combatting them. Even today, while I am resting between sets, I oftentimes find myself visualizing lifting the weights in preparation for actually lifting the weights. When doing bench presses, I now imagine myself lifting the bar off the rack, feeling the weight pressing down on my arms and shoulders, and the sensation of feeling the bar touch my chest as I squeeze every muscle fiber to lift the weight back up. I imagine what it would feel like if I became tired, started struggling, and the bar started to sink down despite my best efforts, and the feeling of pure satisfaction as I put the bar back on the rack after my last repetition. Anticipating sensations like these in advance provides greater control over my lift, and leaves little to surprise. When I start to struggle in the middle of a repetition and the bar starts to sink, I am ready; I had seen this coming. I drive my heels hard …show more content…
The years of believing in myself, focusing on my core, and thinking proactively had certainly paid off immensely. But as with any passion, the desire for continued improvement is everlasting and so my progress was never enough. I had begun to plateau once again in my progress, and knew I had to do something differently. One day, a careful analysis of my form led me to discover that while bench pressing, the small changes of my feet being placed further back, and my hands being placed an inch further out allowed me to lift more weight. The very fine details within weightlifting, the placement of individual fingers on a bar or the angle of my feet suddenly became obviously important. Minor details can make all the difference in succeeding. A single word can be vital to fully understanding a contract; being able to accurately gauge a person’s tone of voice and body language is key to maintaining good relationships. An affinity for small details provided myself with a greater understanding of weight lifting, as well as social and professional