Famous Gym Rats
Plato's given name is Aristocles. He knew the importance of physical fitness and was olympic caliber (theyre version at the time) wrestler. His coach nicknamed him Plato, the Greek word for broad, because of his broad shoulders. Obviously chiseled and strengthened from training, he knew how to workout. Like I emphasize recovery he knew ..."Keep it simple and flexible...as in all things dont overdue...in this case you will remain free from medicine in all but extreme cases."
Now that's a forearm for grappling!
“No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training…what a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” socrates
Ben Franklin- “Franklin advocated lifting weights, sleeping in cold rooms and drinking great quantities of water. These practices have been accepted today, but back when Franklin proposed them they were usually considered eccentric.”
“The amount of exercise should be judged not by time or distance” but by “the degree of warmth it produces in the body.”- Ben Franklin
“Powerful, vigorous men of strong animal development must have some way in which their animal spirits can find vent.” Ben Franklin
“In order for man to succeed in life, God provided him with two means, education and physical activity. Not separately, one for the soul and the other for the body, but for the two together. With these two means, man can attain perfection.” plato
Alan Turing almost made the Olympics in marathon
"My writing is nothing, my boxing is everything" -Ernest Hemingway
Ernest's routine for boxing can be found on line, every writer should try it
Harry Houdini was a track star
Ivan Pavlov talked of "Muscular Joy" when describing the pleasure he got from gardening, swimming, biking and rowing.
Neil De Grasse Tyson was a wrestled and rowed at Harvard, besides winning ballroom dancing competition
Leonardo Da Vinci is described as lean and muscular-
It seems there is correlation between achievement and physical training. Plato had it right afterall. On the religious side, Minister Farrakhan benched 225 on incline and the most popular Evangelical TV Preacher of all whose name escapes me leg pressed 1,000 lbs (partial rep). Agree or disagree with these people they command large followings for theyre spiritual teachings, theyve figured something out. Enlightenment demands a massive amount of energy and focus. It takes more than just being "perfectly healthy" to achieve this. This is why the Shao Lin Monks perform superhuman feats, theyre able to tap into that source and achieve "flow state"
The link between high creativity, intelligence and enlightenment with intense physical activity and sport doesn't end with great achievers and legendary people. It requires energy to be enlightened and energy requires health, not just health, but vitality. Increasing physical/sports performance and increasing vitality are directly proportionate (barring use of damaging performance enhancing chemicals). Manifesting your reality and executing grand plans requires an energy that most people are not willing provide or incapable of providing.
These people seem to have a source of energy derived from determination, divine inspiration and will power. Either having a natural proclivity towards they're task or a genuine love for it. The greatest have both, either way the energy required requires a body that is not just "perfectly healthy" by medical standards, but one that is thriving.
Modern Medicine's definition of perfectly healthy, at this time 2019 has set the bar very low. When we see how they measure health it becomes clear. Lets look at 2 examples of their criteria for health. BMI, cholesterol levels.
Medicines Problem Starts with it parameters. The BMI INSANITY
A major culprit is BMI measurements used by doctors to assess health, the statue of David if proportioned
Obese by today's standardsin human form would be considered obese and the statue of Hercules morbidly obese! Doctors and insurance companies to this very day use these measurements to predict health. If you were to see these endurance sport people at a beach you wouldn't look twice usually. Yes appearance and is separate from health, but a healthful appearance will take you a long way in life.
BMI is Height to weight ratio, the lower the score the better. So if you are above recommendations you are unhealthy. So by their logic, activities or conditions that lower your BMI to "healthy" levels are good for you. Lets take a look at how BMI can drop:
Addisons disease (adrenal insufficiency), old age, cancer, celiac disease, change in sense of smell, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Crohns disease, dementia, dental problems, depression, diabetes, heart failure, HIV/Aids, hypercalcemia, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, pharmaceuticals, parkinsons disease, peptic ulcer, hard drugs, tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis...
To consider BMI a barometer for health is asinine, period. Brad Pitt in Fight Club is obese by these standards.
There is no better measurement for health as body composition measurements or bodyfat tests. If your fat to lean tissue ratio is increasing, there is an underlying circumstance that is not good for vitality or health and the body will suffer the consequences physiologically. Sarcopenia (muscle loss) is the main symptom of aging and leads to the death of many seniors.
Natural Bodybuilding For Vitality
Weightlifting (resistance training) and bodybuilding do not get their rightful respect in the fitness or medical fields. As a result the medical, health and anti-aging communities are falling far short of their potential when it comes to tangible medical results. Most people when trying to get in shape for the first time or after long periods of inactivity will immediately start on some type of cardio program. I live in Southern California and it seems everyone is running at least a half marathon, mini triathlon (they call it a sprint), or some kind of endurance sport. Those trying to get in shape for the first time like to walk/jog, bike ride or take a group exercise class. This is at behest of medical professionals and the current default of the fitness industry.
If health and appearance are a goal (of course they are) pursuing bodybuilding would be the wisest course of action for anyone. those that start with only cardiovascular training have one thing in common after a few months, that is frustration with their body composition or body fat levels and a nagging pain somewhere. Have you ever been to a marathon and checked out the people? Most of its competitors do not appear to be the picture of optimal health nor do they appear to move efficiently or gracefully. You don't see proud Greek statues portraying emaciated, marathon runners, arms raised in glory, you see a chiseled (literally), perfectly proportioned low body fat, muscular god who resembles the physique natural bodybuilders are striving for. Mans ideal, the picture of ultimate health and function, when did this ideal change?
lets talk injuries, especially chronic overuse injuries that plague one over a lifetime, hear of runners knee? They have an injury named after them! Runners have a plethora of injuries from the low back down, ask most veteran marathoners about their lower backs. On the other hand, weight training with a slow controlled tempo and good form is the safest form of exercise there is, check the stats.
Those of you looking to really transform your body and make a long lasting contribution to your overall well being and quality of life should be participating in natural bodybuilding. All that time spent on the road putting mileage on your joints could be much better spent pursuing bodybuilding. Or for females, pursuing figure or bikini competitions, where the emphasis is more on the female form. lets be honest, most of us would not want our wife's or mom to go to those muscular extremes that bodybuilders do..but that's another subject.
There should not even be a question on the benefits of bodybuilding vs running for improving and maintaining health. There are three reasons that I will give here, but there are many more. Lets spread the word and change societies perception of what it takes to be healthy and active now and in our old age!
first are the obvious health benefits of adding muscle and losing fat (bodybuilding), as you shall see the comparison is not even close. Next is the injury factor, and the chronic damage to bones and joints between the two. again bodybuilding is far superior here also. finally my favorite is that natural bodybuilding progress is the ultimate "barometer" of ones quality of life. Further benefits that benefit vitality: Improves Skeletal Muscle Insulin Sensitivity-Reduces stress and the resultant cortisol release-Makes TCA cycle run faster, detoxifies fructose (as in HFCS) and increases insulin sensitivity in liver.
If you are training to gain strength, lean body mass your results are reflective of your quality of life.
This person is healthy. To gain muscle all of your bodies systems must be working optimally, especially the endocrine, digestive and immune systems. without these systems functioning optimally, there can be no muscle growth
This person has low stress or knows how to minimize its impact. Again there can be no growth if stress levels are high, the chemicals that are involved when the body is under stress are catabolic. that is they cause tissue breakdown.
This person is well rested. Muscle growth actually occurs when the body is at rest, and a body that is not rested cannot have the optimal workout. success shows this person they are getting enough.
They have a healthy cardiovascular system. to add LBM you need a lot of calories, to burn fat or prevent fat gain this person needs to maintain a consistent cardio regimen and have a strong heart to get through the demanding resistance training workouts.
This person is reversing one of the main components of aging. sarcopenia (muscle loss due to aging) adding muscle is the reverse of this process, providing not only visible results, but increasing function dramatically. Muscle is our engine, bigger engine, better performance.
In contrast the following will have a negative effect on progress: high stress, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, illness, excessive partying (alcohol and lack of sleep mainly), dehydration, drug use and over training.
These are obviously destructive behaviors, yet according to current medicinal science they will reduce your BMI. If lowering it brings you closer to "healthy" than
Its time we reprogram society with some truth. It begins with you and those around you. The ancient images of strength and power in the human form still hold true today. Lets start with the youth and emphasize resistance training over how many laps you can run or sit ups you can do. lets start with the basics in PE, like how to squat properly, how to breathe and how to maintain a full range of motion
Cholesterol Levels
Natural Bodybuilding/ performance training for strengthening the mind
I was once told by a massive Tongan that worked with me a rental car company back in 1990, that bodybuilding is the most difficult job in the world. At the time I was on the size quest, weighed 185 at the time and something clicked. I approached it like it was the most difficult job in the world and started getting results. Started with a book High Intensity Training which featured Tom Platz and had incredible pics of both him and Sergio Oliva. I approached it as the most difficult task in the world by reading every bodybuilding magazine and book from 1992 on. I quickly came to the realization that the amount of discomfort I would have to subject myself to required mental training, a development of will power and self motivation. Tom Platz had famous workout sessions with the hypnotist Pete Siegel, who was known to have lifters tear pecs overriding their pain mechanism and maximizing their mind body connection. https://youtu.be/kJJZ5XhS17E . Fitness people are usually successful in their professional careers because the mental fortitude learned with bodybuilding is easily applied to their jobs. Also colleagues and people who they interact with will have a different approach to them based on their physical appearance, gait and posture.
Once results have been achieved they provide a source of energy and resolve in tough times, one of the main reasons for gym mirrors despite what they say. You may have gotten let go from job or significant other left you, but nobody and nothing is taking away the gains. In fact these circumstances can and usually do help workouts and gains which lead to even better opportunities in future. Therapy with pysiological results, cant beat that.
The Spiritual Side of bodybuilding
There is an archetype that all societies can agree upon. When it come to an image of strength in a human, you will get the ideal bodybuilder physique. The quest for the archetype is the quest for the original, the quest for source. The journey bringing you closer to "God" .
HeraculesIs it a coincidence that the behaviors required for success in bb and performance mirror spiritual teaching behaviors for ascension?
The 5th century Proclus talks of nous(intellect), dianoia(understanding) and doxa(opinion), the highest to lowest forms of thinking respectively.
Where nous or intellect is that aha moment or moment of inspiration from some unknown or divine source. Also known as the flow state, bliss tate, the times when a creator and their muse run together, or that mathematician or scientist that figures out a problem that has evaded others. There is a physical equivalent to this flow state when athletes or physical performers connect with the kinetic "nous" and their body performs on what seems to others at superhuman levels. You may have experienced both, ever create a piece of art where everything just flowed naturally? Or got into writing flow where you were even surprised by results? Or you had a day at work where extra productive and enjoyed it? The Physical equivelent is called being in the "zone", if you play or are familiar with sports you have seen or experienced this. Doesnt have to be in competitive sports either, maybe you had a workout where everything was easier than normal or a long hike where you strangely felt little or no fatigue or you were surfing and felt that connection and flow with the ocean.
These moments are accessible by anyone, a few can access them at will, these are the superhumans of their respected activity. Our goal as humans should be to increase these moments, they are closest we get to divinity, source, perfection or just pure joy. Yet these moments are productive, educational and inspirational, improving quality of life for everyone.
This is the goal of Superhuman Training Manual, to increase those moments of flow and bliss, performance and results will come with this happens.
Performance as health barometer for all behaviors
Ernest Hemingways workout!
* 1. Shadowbox with weighted gloves. Start with smooth, controlled punches -- six to the imaginary body, six to the phantom head, and repeat for 30 seconds. Later you can add other punches and combinations to the program. For now, keep those gloves up and feet dancing. Extend the punch out, then pull it back to guard your face and chin. Bob and weave to avoid vicious (if fictitious) counterpunches.
2. Jump rope for 30 seconds. Start with both feet together and your elbows bent in tight, and stay close to the ground. And this ain't no playground. Go 85 percent of max for half a minute -- or until you puke. When you work up to 60 seconds, you're only a third of the way through the round.
3. Do pushups -- nice and smooth -- for 30 seconds. Keep your body straight from your shoulders to your ankles, and lower yourself until your upper arms are lower than your elbows.
4. Roll over for abdominal crunches. Keep your feet on the floor, hands behind your head, and shoulders lifted off the ground, then lower and repeat. For the second set, the upper body remains flat while you raise your knees toward the ceiling, lower, and repeat -- -a small but powerful movement.
5. Get on your feet again for weight work. Starting with 5-pound weights, do full-range-of-motion biceps curls, all the way down, all the way up, for 30 seconds; then do military presses for 30 second; next, combine the two for 30 seconds, raising the weights from the bottom of the curl position to your shoulders, then above your head. Keep at it for 4 minutes. (The next day, work your legs instead, lunging to the left, then right, then squatting for 30 seconds, with weights in your hands.) Number 5 can be ignored every third day, if desired.
6. You're almost halfway home. Repeat the circuit.
7. Increase weights gradually and interval lengths by 5 seconds every week until you start seeing the results you're after (i.e., that jerk at the bar, flat on his back). For conditioning, exercise in short bursts of speed -- sprints and hill work, for instance, not marathon training. Don't go picking a fight unless your skills meet your conditioning.
