Wednesday, March 4, 2009

behind closed gym doors

after having the ridiculous idea implanted in my head that my body can actually survive a 10K run, i decided to test my limits at the gym yesterday afternoon. i had been slaving over a couple of schemes for a client presentation the entire day already and after finding myself stuck in a rut, decided that a quick work out might do me some good.

i arrived at my gym 30mins earlier than my usual routine since i had planned running the 10K on the tread before hitting the weights. it takes me about 30 mins to do a 5K so i presumed, considering i don't suddenly DIE in my attempt, that a 30 minute head start would be enough. it was only 6pm then, gym buddy hasn't arrived yet and considering he hasn't texted me asking of my whereabouts, there was also a good possibility he wasn't coming at all. i went in to the locker room and saw a couple of the usuals i work out with. as i mentioned before, my gym is quite small and through the years, i have already befriended a lot of the regulars, even if just as mere acquaintances. at that time, there were only these 2 guys, whom from overhearing their conversations, were discussing techniques on how to bulk up, normal talk in these quarters. it was however that NORMAL only lasted until one of these guys took out a syringe and shoved the needle onto the other guy's shoulder. now, i have been fully aware of people using steroids at my gym for the longest time. it was only logical to assume since guys talk about it so much as well as seeing people blow up like a balloon in only a few months time, especially near competition season (like now). though i would have thought that i was comfortable knowing about people using it, to witness people actually shoot up however, well... was a different thing. i was changing at that time and i could have sworn that i never changed so fast in my life (wonder woman, 'te!). there was a sense of panic there and i really wanted to get out of the locker room as fast as i could. i couldn't really understand my reaction but seeing these guys just made me feel too uncomfortable, and even to a degree, disgusted.

i had been offered steroids before, much more now that i have lost a lot of weight and am lean enough to show cuts. the trainers, even some of the patrons here highly suggest it saying how it would make me look so much better, bulkier, leaner. though my vanity was admittedly intrigued with the possibility of finally achieving the physique that i had always craved for, my higher senses just could not be convinced. it may have taken me this long (7 years) to reach this point of reinventing my appearance, but i know i worked hard for it and earned every single bit of change, how undefined they may still be. i got into working out for health reason since i was quite sickly due to my sedentary lifestyle, and could not imagine why i would risk harming myself just to look "healthy".

(me, not too long ago)

though there is still much debate as to the effects of steroids (surprisingly), i believe there is a reason why shooters have to buy their loads covertly from horse vets and why they have to shoot each other behind closed doors (though, with what happened in my case, they seem to be getting bolder by the day). as i think about what i saw yesterday, i cannot help it but feel saddened by how ignorance and vain foolishness can lead people in doing the most horrible and stupid things.

17 comments:

. said...

Good thing, in my gym, bulking up has never been an issue. Its been ages since I heard the word steroids. Dun pa yata sa luma kong gym yun.

I'm tempted to resort to hydroxy cut for my midsection. Kaso narealize ko na anlayo na ng narating ko para magshortcut pa.

Anonymous said...

have you submitted your story to men's health's belly off club? This is inspirational! Did you get yourself into a strict diet or fitness program?

jamie da vinci! said...

diet and hard work :) it also helps if ur gym buddies are crazy and more vain than you :) hehehehe. ive never met ppl more abs crazy in my life.

Anonymous said...

well that's the thing, I'm probably the most anti social person at the gym.

I used to go to the gym with my bestfriend who spots for me. We only get to go on weekends cause we work three/four cities apart. :(

i think it's the stupid infomercials that spawned this abs crazy mentality. You know those abs machine and exercises 'as seen on tv?' hahahaha

jamie da vinci! said...

@narnian. agree, that and almost every print ad you chance upon as well! i'm pretty anti social myself. if i really had it my way, i prefer working out alone. i usually find that i spend twice as long if my gym bud joins me. he's like running for office, that guy. i really don't understand why he needs to talk to EVERYONE in between sets. me thinks he's cheating... taking longer rests than normal. hehehehe. pardon my masochistic tendencies.

Anonymous said...

I need someone to spot for me so i can lift heavier loads. otherwise, i don't exert much effort. hahaha

well maybe he is really planning to run for office. hahahaha but that too, he may be cheating. I cheat all the time. so my progress isn't as fast as what my fitness bibles predict.

jamie da vinci! said...

@narnian. thankfully, the trainer keeps an eye on me constantly. i guess he thinks i'm the only one worth his attention since i hit the heavy loads with no hesitation. he's always within my immediate premises when he feels i need a spotter. my gym is a body builder's gym so they like it when you go for the dumbbells larger than ur head :)

Anonymous said...

it's so funny, we're chatting on your blog page. hahaha

which gym do you go to? I'm so mainstream, i go to fitness. hahaha and i used to have a personal trainer. It's just too costly to hire a PT in fitness.

Anonymous said...

i added you na. :) I never liked weight training class back in college. hahaha

jamie da vinci! said...

you did? funny? i haven't received a request yet. you had weight training class back in school?! wow! sos!!! :)

Anonymous said...

yeah, i did. hahaha my ym is outednarnian.

You wouldn't want to do weight training class back then because of the possibility of getting tetanus. the machines were... older than my parents. hahaha LOL

gentle said...

hehehe. natuwa naman ako sa picture mo not too long ago. :)

jamie da vinci! said...

@gentle. that was not too long ago. hhhmm, maybe 7 years. just as i graduated from PT. i started working out maybe 6 months from when that pic was taken.

Reena said...

kala ko steroids are taken like pills. :)

aww...you look cute sa picture. :) ayaw mo ba ng huggable? hehe. so what exact physique are you aiming for anyway?

MkSurf8 said...

wow! i admire your determination. couldn't believe that's you. galing man! ;-)

A.Dimaano said...

Buti na lang di ko kelangan steroids. Naturally mabilis ako mag-build ng muscle in so little time. Likas na magsasaka daw kasi angkan ko kaya ganon at mabilis magkamasel. LOL! =)

wanderingcommuter said...

but sometimes its interesting to know the stories behind those reasons, don't you think?

but don't get me wrong, i am no shooter.. hehehe!