given up and let the injury be the excuse to give them a way out but at this point it was no longer about me . It was about what the sport meant to me , and how was I going to be remembered . It was about the message I was giving all my clients , if there is a will there is a way , you simply don ’ t quit on yourself . You cannot give up on your dreams . No matter how insurmountable the deck is stacked against you , keep pushing forward .
After speaking with a few surgeons , I found someone who was willing to help me . The plan was to create a new neural pathway to my knee by removing all the scar tissue and damaged muscle from my previous surgery . The surgery took place in November and it left me with 47 staples in my thigh and no feeling from my hip to my knee . It was quite the mess but I was optimistic that I could rehab and rebuild the leg over the next few months .
My goal was to compete in the lightweight division which meant I had to lose 30 lbs in the next 6 months . To hold myself accountable and to help motivate my clients , I did weekly check ins with them as a little competition . It was me now who was being motivated by my clients daily .
As the weeks went by and we got closer and closer to the show , the wear and tear started to set in and I questioned myself if it was worth it . The thought that kept me moving was : “ Stop complaining about what you can ’ t do and do what you can do , you still have both legs so get up and use them ”.
I had to keep going for me , my clients , and to motivate people to chase their dreams no matter what .
Bodybuilding has always been a sport where your only true competition is yourself . It ’ s about integrity ; keeping your word to yourself . It ’ s about not letting yourself down by being weak and giving in to the cravings , or being lazy and taking a day off when its not scheduled . Its about harnessing your self doubt , and staying true to yourself and your goals . If you keep showing up , especially on the hard days , you can accomplish anything in life . It is not about winning and losing , it is about giving 110 % every single day no matter how tired you are , no matter how bad you are hurting , and simply saying to the world : “ This is me ; I am here and you can ’ t stop me .”
If you remember this , you have already won . Juan : This is very good for all of us to keep in mind ! With all the experience you have John , your clients are very lucky to have your guidance . Tell me about your training business .
John : I have been operating my own business Superior Fitness for the past 7 years but I have been working as a Personal Trainer for over 30 years now . My one-on-one approach with clients has been quite successful and I truly love what I do . Helping people regain their confidence , mobility and helping them enjoy life again has to be the most rewarding job there is . Knowing that you have made a positive impact on the quality of someone ’ s life makes you feel amazing . I work with clients at my private gym which allows a more intimate and honest approach with people . Some of these clients would never step foot in a gym but after a few months with me they are unstoppable ! I love seeing their attitude towards fitness change as I know it is going to help them for the rest of their lives . I have had many success stories with clients losing anywhere between 100 and 170 lbs . But the majority of my clients tend to be people just trying to get control of their lives back , whether that be physical or mental . I help my clients overcome all the obstacles that stand in their way to a better life .
Juan : If you could go back 30 years , what advice would you give to yourself when it comes to bodybuilding ?
John : If I could go back 30 years and give myself some advice it would be to rely more on food and less on supplements . Supplements don ’ t build muscle ; proper eating and training does .
I would have also waited longer before using PEDS . I think most young bodybuilders are too impatient and want to get huge as fast as possible and they are not always taking the safest approach when incorporating PEDS . In today ’ s society , people can obtain drugs very easily and with new drugs coming to market at an alarming rate ; most people are not even certain what they are putting into their bodies .
Juan : Thanks so much for your time today John . It was amazing being able to chat with you and to be motivated by such an inspiring story !
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