Hey,
The past couple of
emails have been a story which included the announcer Bricks of the Fitness Atlantic show.
He is a popular person at many fitness events.
Many people have no idea that it was me who recruited Bricks into actually competing back in 2001.
He wanted absolutely nothing to do with eating chicken, brown rice,
sweet potatoes, and vegetables for six meals a day. After I talked to him in a gym one day I didn't see him again for an entire year when he came back and said he wanted to now prep a show.
Over a twelve week period I helped him drop about 60 pounds. He competed and looked awesome except he had 20 people in his class and took 6th place with left him with no trophy.
Now that is really the key to the story is how do people react to that?
One of the hardest things to when everyone you know who saw the weight loss knows you competed and asks how you did. This is where a lot of people get angry because it is hard to deal with and a big shot to your ego.
So to add to this story and explain it
from another view yesterday the guy I work with asks me,
"How is the show going?" I explain that it never gets easier as this is the type of event that people may enter it one time and then never enter it again.
So he goes on and gets into it like he knows what he is talking about and this is where we have a disconnect.
He says people should look to find the smallest show that offers a Pro Card and do that and why enter a big show? He says winning is about winning period and all that matters is getting a Pro Card regardless how you win it or how many people you are against. This guy always knows how to fire me up regardless we are like best friends he knows how to push my buttons but he makes his point.
I tell him
he doesn't know what he is talking about... I explain that his point is fine and if overall winners get Pro Cards and each Open Division has one that is like 12 people per show. My point is about all the other people who only enter one show.
He was a basketball player. He played basketball in college and is now coaching basketball. For him it is about playing basketball in high school and being good enough to get a scholarship
to college and if good enough going to the NBA which is being a Pro regardless of what level or how great people are as players.
How does that even relate to prepping for a show over 12 weeks and doing ONE and stopping.
That would be like if he was to recruit a team of basketball players and coach them for 12 weeks on how to play and they are finally ready to
compete against another team so they go and play and they lose. Then the whole team quits after and the team blames everyone else for the loss. Then as a coach he has to go out and find all new players and and trains them for 12 weeks they play one game and quit afterwards. Constantly finding new players for one game - not a season - one game.
It is so not the same as any other sport.
After being involved for 26 years in physique sports I had a different point of view of Fitness as a sport. I always did... yet I can judge a show and have judged hundreds of them. I have judged many different federations and many World Championships. After being at Worlds so many times and being involved in the sport I really know what a Pro physique should look like and how competitive someone can be when I see them at a regional show.
The main thing I see about Fitness Modeling and Physique Sports is the fitness part of working out, eating right and getting in incredible shape. I've worked in gyms for 26 years as well and the members I see change their bodies with going to the gym and eating certain ways is few and far between.
How many people do you know that struggle with weight
loss?
Almost everyone struggles with body issues.
This is why I talk everyone into doing a show at least once in their life. We learn how to get lean, ripped and have visible abdominal muscles. If mastering your body isn't enough reason to do a show and be at one of the best venues in the world with legit fitness magazine photographers taking amazing photos of you on
stage!
These emails had a lot of responses so here are a few of them:
Dear Brian and Bricks,
I enjoy your emails and agree that just being present is a win for me. I haven't competed my whole life, just the past couple of years. I like the challenge for myself and love the
friends that I have made since I did my first show. Thanks so much for all that you do!! Looking forward to seeing you both on April 28-29!!
With sincere gratitude,
Karen
Greetings Brian..
I never thought about
sending u an email but this particular story is a mirror image of mine...3 years ago i made the best decision in my life to compete...with all of the odds stacked against me....financially ,(no coach, no posing class, drug store bought self tanner..lol...no personal trainer, and basically no support.....but a will of steel,perseverance, tenacity, and alot of faith assisted me in getting up on that stage...... this would be a great story if i placed , but no call..it was.the greatest day of my
life!!!Catherine
Hello. I am actually going through the same thing as of right now. Your email could not have been more true. Thank you very much.
Brandie
I love your points in this email in particular. Myself
personally, all I care about is showing progress every show I participate in . I feel as a "winner " EVERY TIME simply because I know I improved . I create my own trophy by showing everyone who supports and follows me all along on stage with my progress . To me that's the best "reward " I'll be receiving every time . Everything else is a bonus . - Chris
This email is so real. I wish everyone would look at competing
this way. I remember 3 years ago it was my first show and every one of the girls back stage seemed stressed, snappy, and not nearly as jovial as the couple of girls I was surrounded with. I think because it was such an incredible accomplishment to even MAKE IT to the stage that year and last year and now going into this year, I compete with a different mindset. Be your best, have fun, and cheer EVERYONE on. Even the last place competitor had the ups and downs, it’s a bummer when people say they
hated competing or it isn’t for them because of where they placed. The reason I started my own business was because of my journey through competing, so thank you for that. Fitness Atlantic is the only show I compete in, because of how grand it is and how much fun all 18 of my family members have each year.
Thanks
Brian!
