EPTFrom September 14 to 19 I participated in what can only described as a viking party, where I basically got drunk with my friends for 4-5 days straight, getting to a point where I could barely eat and losing around 4 pounds (national holidays, think of 4th of july without family and for a week). Basically doing dumb shit and breaking stuff, both I haven't done in a long time. Nothing really to brag about, just to get the point across that I shited on my body and my usual 9 hours of sleep and 250g of daily protein.
Nevertheless, after 2 weeks I'm stronger than ever, after going trough some really tough pain from the week off (For those of you not familiar with weight lifting, when u train 5 times a week "soreness" just stops happening, but when you take a break and come back it appears). I've regained the lost weight aswell.
This is just anectodal evidence and a starter to the purpose of this entry: to remind you that humans, and you, are FAR MORE AWESOME AND CAPABLE than you think you are.
Why we suck?
The main reason preventing anyone from reaching high levels of athletism and general awesomeness in life is the fact our brain convinces us that we are slower, dumber, weaker and clumsier than we really are. That, and the fact that group thinking influence is super bad; everywhere around you, the internet, TV ads and series, your family, friends and the so called "fitness experts" are constantly bringing you down, in spite of prolly good intentions and the fact that neither you or them notice. Its just within apes nature to try to bring everyone to the average, and let's face it, the current average man fucking sucks.
![[image loading]](http://www.cacbc.org/kung_fu/images/Monk_on_Spoon.jpg)
I bet his mom didn't kept him inside the house until he was 10 to prevent him from getting a cold
Sounds like some positive thinking bullshit? Ya kinda. The point is you can train yourself to do really awesome stuff when you don't let your thoughts and other people bring you down. To prove myself, I'll refer to some historical figures who did some really amazing feats, mostly because they believed the could, they found out the shit that worked for them AND SPECIALLY because they didn't listen to the fear mongers. Hopefully you will get motivated to pick up heavy shit, or at least to get fucking good at something YOU like (unless its long-distance running).
Bob Peoples
This guy deadlifted 728(330kg) pounds @ 181(83kg) in a time when powerlifting didn't even exist, yet alone steroids. In spite the fact he prolly didn't even finish high-school, this farmer from I don't know where used a simple method of training. Despite what everyone else on the world has ever done, he spent a shitload of hours doing hard labor work, after which, he would deadlift for a few hours, 4-5 times a week. I can see bodybuilders tears when they hear each body part doesn't need 72 hours of rest, and PT's all over screaming "overtraining" and complaining about his form. Luckily for Peoples, internet didn't existed back then so he enjoyed setting records in a sport that didn't even exist rocking his rounded back, which NEVER gave him any discomfort.
![[image loading]](http://pressingtostrongman.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/peoplespulllg.jpg)
In truth, Bob Peoples seems to be a smart man, who tried to figure out what worked with himself by his own experience and by training with other STRONG AND ACOMPLISHED people. Why would anyone take fitness advice from somene that can't bench his body weight is beyond me.
Here is an article written by him:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2008/04/systems-and-methods-i-have-used-bob.html
German Goenner
Another old time strongman, this guy was a gigantic strong mother fucker (6" 1, 260-290 pounds and ripped) who enjoyed doing stuff like deadlifting over 250kg WITH ONE HAND and putting all kinds of weird stuff overhead. He is credited to be the overall strongest mother fucker ever, even though advances in sports science and nutrition have lead to some of his record broken given they were stablished 100-80 years ago (again no steroids existed).
Some of his amazing feats where:
- In 1920, two decades before testosterone was isolated, Goerner pulled a one-handed deadlift of 727lbs, with a hook grip- no strap. Fucking sick.
- a CROSSED-HAND snatch with 231.5
- 430 lb two hands anyhow
- 442.5 continental lift
Those were acomplished without any special practice, as he had to work at the circus and spent the majority of time lifting LOTS of different things.
How he do it? By training his ass at the gym, 4-6 times a week for hours doing all sort of weird lifts, with HEAVY WEIGHTS. LOW REPS and COMPOUND MOVEMENTS. Had he been born now, countless PT's at the gym and douches over the internet would tell him that he is "overtraining" and that his joint would be all fucked up when he got old. He obviously didn't gave a fuck, and at his dawn, kept lifting dudes overhead wearing a suit.
![[image loading]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HbaApmpa-Po/StMLg370tbI/AAAAAAAABwY/OXzVZVeDlpA/s400/hermann.jpg)
Did I mention he got payed to wrestle an elephant? How awesome is that.
![[image loading]](http://getlifting.info/wp-content/uploads/gtm-016.jpg)
More about Goerner's life here.
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2009/10/hermann-goerner-charles-smith.html
Conclusions
There are and have been thousands of people who have a done a miriad of incredible things, I just picked the ones I am more familiar with. As of now, I know of a guy who climbes huge vertical walls, Mission Impossible like, free style (without a fucking rope) and some icelandic or finnish guy who swam 80 meters under frozen water without oxigen in shorts, run half a maraton next to the artic circle BAREFOOT (and in shorts) and climbed the fucking everest, which despite wearing shoes, is an amazing feat in FUCKING SHORTS.
So here you have it, you are way more awesome than you think you are. The first step to accomplish anything is a delusional belief in yourself, find out what works for you and bust your ass training.
My personal ambition is to total 600kg raw on my next competition, November 24, thus making me stronger than anyone that weights 123 (56kg) and 132 pounds (60kg) in the fucking world, steroids or not (I'm 80kg though).
Did I mention the 56kg Squat record of 274kg belongs to an actual Midget? Tell that to anyone who says squats are dangerous.
GO BE AWESOME.
![[image loading]](http://spc.fotolog.com/photo/12/33/120/mat_189/1245617497218_f.jpg)
Small and awesome, like midgets who squat.
