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Exercise History

I closed down a site about Fitness that I really was not doing much with for the past few years, so I decided to put some of the content here:

Firstly, as genetics would have it I have to struggle to keep my weight down unlike most people, like my wife who can eat everything and stay thin... now on with some background...

When I was growing up I used to love to love to watch the cartoons on TV, especially batman and superman. Like any other kid I wanted to get as close to the screen as possible so as to get the full view. In my day having a 20" television was a big deal and we had one in our living room, so I sat about 18" away from it. No matter how much my parents said to move back I would still try my best to get as close to the 'tube' a I could. Well, unfortunately I ended up wearing glasses by age 10 and looked like your basic nerd.

By age 14 I was starting to really look chubby and it wasn't until I came across some old Universal Training booklets (you know, those ads that appeared in the comics with the skinny guy on the beach that wanted to be buff) that I lifted my first weight. You could say that reading those booklets was my first inspiration to become fit.

My first bench press was 35lbs. and I thought that was a big deal. Then I increased it to 50lbs., 75lbs. and so on until I had to join a gym to get heavier weights. At 15 I also went into martial arts training which help bring an aspect of 'faith' in myself that I did not have.

Most teenagers turn to drugs or sex when the pressure of teen life sets in, but for me, overcoming meant running. I use to run so much until the natural body chemicals (endorphins) would be released and I could no longer care. Running for me was like a passion and I would run ten miles every other day. Now this may not seem like a big deal to you marathoners out there, but it was for me because my left foot had a fallen arch to the point that no muscles held my instep, so after a lot of these runs I would suffer excruciating pain as my left leg would take most of the pressure of the thumping on the road.

The rest of my teen years enabled me to develop a physical foundation that would prepare for later power movements. By 19 I was preparing to go to England for a mission for two years where running was out of the question. Sadly, I became very out of shape.

Upon my return I took running back up again and made many friends on the 'track' doing it, but there was always that passion for lifting weights. Through a friend I learned the skill of arc welding (using electricity to burn through and join metal) and this opened a whole new world. I had an old pickup which was more like a 'boy scout' project that I used to pickup scrap metal and weld all sorts of contraptions that would normally costs hundreds of dollars in a store.

Now I had the metal I needed for power movements. I dished out several bench presses at 190lbs., hack squatted 300lbs., dead lifted 250lbs., and curled about 70lbs. This was my new found stress reliever and I started to swell like a balloon. Along with this I had a friend, I will call Ted, that would exercise with me and this was our routine; an hour of lifting weights, running 3 miles and then playing one and a half hours of basketball all in the same breath. I was at my climax of fitness and new I had full control over my body. I was able to max out with the following stats: Bench press: 222lbs. Curl: 120lbs. Hack Squat: 435lbs. Deadlift: 350lbs. Chest 45" Arms 15 1/2" Thighs 27" Waist 32" Neck 17".

During this period in my life I did many 'experiments' that I think stalled my muscle building, but at the same time I was able to discover the unique effects of:

a. Being a vegetarian
b. Going without food or water for two days and nights
c. Eating only fruits for one week in a month
d. Drinking lots of herbs

I can say that the herbs and fruits really 'cleaned me out' and brought such energy as you could not imagine, in fact, my 4 hour long exercise scheme with Ted was carried out when I was on one of those herb and fruit diets.

Then marriage came into my life and I went back to my sadden state - out of shape. Now I can blame marriage, but really it is about desire... getting in shape is more mental than physical and you have to program yourself to just DO IT! I produced this site for myself as a motivation to become fit and for you because you may want to...

1. Find a place to relate to the sickening 'yo yo' effect of being in shape and out of shape and find an end to it.
2. Meet other people online who may be able to 'coach' you on something.
3. Get tips and inspiration for your own routine.

Hope you enjoy my site and feel free to contact me with your positive comments.

History Exercise

That was interesting to read. How are you doing with your health now JB?

Exercise History Sports & Fashion Music Movies

I started out at the age of 14 working on a farm. I did not look at it as exercise but rather a way to get away form my home life. You can read about that in my blog. I found through the hard work of farm life that I was getting stronger and stronger. I was able to lift and throw a hay bales a few feet when I first started but by the age of 17 I was throwing a hay bale almost as high as my employer. It made me feel good to be in shape. During this time at school I would spend my extra time running. I found running to be very enjoyable as it was a way for me to escape from anything. Much like you JB the freedom to be out away from all and enjoying the wind in your face.

I went to Arkansas as soon as I graduated from high school. The summer I spent on a lake and in college. I enjoyed the fact that I was able to continue to run while there and was in excellent shape. I found a new hobby at this time it was riding a bike up and down the Ozark mountains. The college I went to is just outside Branson Missouri. The trail I rode was about 27 mile circuit. I got to the point I was doing this circuit in about 45 minutes. Needless to say I had some serious leg muscles. I could get a ten speed bike up to 70+ MPH on flat ground and hold it there for at least 5 miles. Beyond that I am not sure because I could not find more than 5 miles of flat ground.

I quite college in may of of 82 and joined the Military. As MP I was able to work out at the gym with my friends and we would work out till we could not lift a beer can. It is here I got most of my size. I went from 179 lbs to a 230 lb fighting machine. I had less than 10% body fat. When I got back home in 1985 I was not picked on by anyone in my family again. I told them I would leave and they would never see me again if they did not shape up. I met with my uncle who at this time was a wrestling coach. Between him and I we came up with a excersise routine to build muscle and to keep it. I did this routine at the YMCA for about three years before stopping because of lack of funds.

Now I am over weight and still in pretty good shape. I am just needing to get back to working it off and getting the fatty tissue cut down to around 15-19 %.

History Exercise

Typical really. Wimp as a teenager. Had an interest in getting stronger and bigger, joined the high school gym first and then went on to a more professional facility and never looked back after I saw the reaction of those who saw my change.