Hi my name is Gareth Thomas and I am the webmaster of www.FreeFitnessGuru.com.I figure I must have had something like 3000 weight training sessions by now. Lets see 23 years X 52 weeks X 3 or 4 times per week. Yep thats 3588 weight lifting sessions. But thats no big deal.
Weight training becomes a normal part of your weekly and daily routine. If you stick at it its just second nature.
I got into BodyBuilding more out of necessity than anything else. At the young age of 12 I was abducted and nearly murdered by a child molester. (its not appropriate to go into the full details here). A year later my parents divorced and my kin all left home for good. I was stuck with my younger sister and mother. I was getting beaten a fair bit at home too. It was a nightmare.
At 14 I hit the booze. Before long my best buddies were some of the worst drug dealers in town (a small rural New Zealand town of 4000). One was a convicted rapist, another was a schizophrenic. These guys kind of took me under their wing. There was a bunch of us and most were about 10 years older than me. At 15 I was a drug addict street kid.
By the time I was 16 I was smoking an ounce bag of dope every night, two packs of cigarettes daily, and all the booze I could steal or scrounge. I was nearly dead. (remember I'm missing some bits out here too).
My weight on my 16th birthday was around 6 stone. Thats only 84 pounds. I used to cough up dark brown lumps of shit all day, my ears had real loud tinnitus all day long, I used to have head rushes and nearly pass out all day, I was very sick, deeply depressed and lonely.
My weight on my 16th birthday was around 6 stone. Thats only 84 pounds. I used to cough up dark brown lumps of shit all day, my ears had real loud tinnitus all day long, I used to have head rushes and nearly pass out all day, I was very sick, deeply depressed and lonely.
I knew I had to go straight or I would not live to see 18 years.
I got a set of iron barbells and started pumping weights like crazy. I gave up smoking dope, booze, cigarettes, pills, caffein, everything. Not one soul helped me to do this. I did it in a small shack near the bush in the middle of nowhere. For a couple of months I was totally insane.
I read alot of psychology books and bodybuilding magazines. I gained 6 stone in six months. I know my IQ took a big upward boost too. I went back to school and passed my university entrance exams. I did my best to exchange my bad habits for good ones.
I read alot of psychology books and bodybuilding magazines. I gained 6 stone in six months. I know my IQ took a big upward boost too. I went back to school and passed my university entrance exams. I did my best to exchange my bad habits for good ones.
I finally could appreciate the beauty in the world again.
Time heals all wounds as they say and these days I'm a pretty laid back, quiet middle aged guy. I did some time in the Army Infantry Core here in New Zealand and have spent many years studying engineering in Auckland. I've kept well clear of all drug and alcohol use for over 20 years now.
Bodybuilding really did save my life and it taught me that the human mind has more potential and ability than most people ever appreciate. I discovered that we all have within us incredible abilty that does not just belong to the genetically gifted. This is what is called self actualization. On a greater social scale in our technological age it has evolved into something called transhumanism.
BodyBuilding is for some of us a transhumanist activity that takes us beyond what is considered normal by many in society.
Best of all BodyBuilding and fitness are just plain good for you. Its natures intention for you to be fit and strong, and to better yourself. BodyBuilding saved my life.
Yeah I love it.
I wish you the best of success with your training.
I wish you the best of success with your training.
