I bet it’s been over a year since I’ve last posted on here. I had to get away from taking this bodybuilding/fitness, whatever-you-want-to-call-it lifestyle. Why you ask ? Because I started seeing my focus turn into more of an unhealthy obsession. Too much of even a good thing is bad for you, regardless if on paper, looks like a good thing. Even if eating well and lifting weights and a bit of cardio is great for the body, the obsession it can be is unhealthy for the mind, social relationships, etc.
Therefore, I backed off of all this for awhile. I didn’t quit going to the gym entirely, I went and moved weights around, and that was about the extent of it. I got more into other things of interest, like cooking. (o.k. y’all, don’t laugh now) I got into something I always thought what would be cool to do, and that was competitive BBQ contests. I won’t go into much detail here, because it’ll bore ya !!.. But, in short, I worked and worked, practiced and practiced. Working on it through last fall, this past winter and spring, and finally competed in august in two different contests. I had counted only 8 weekends in a year that I didn’t do something BBQ related.
Therefore, again, I became obsessive. So, what I had found o’t is that if I’m passionate about something, I?ll do what it takes to make my goal, and I do succeed !!! I finished top 1/3 overall in both contests, and in one contest, I came in 4th in ribs and beat out 9 world class teams doing so. 47 teams total. Now, I’m fully confident I can compete in this, improve, and come out a champion eventually.
What I used to harp on people all the time is to try to balance things in your life. Relationships, career, school, hobbies, etc. all need not be obsessed over. Now I’m trying to practice what I preach. Now, I’m in a bit of a pickle. ? I am now trying to balance out something completely unhealthy with something good for me, and be happy with both. Now during my BBQ off-season, I can make foods better for me. I’ve been smoking salmon, chickens and turkey breasts that are excellent, and make dieting easier. As you can imagine, BBQ’ing over the summer will flat out put weight on you !!
After writing all this, I can’t really understand why I did write it all. I reckon since I’ve been away so long, I needed to explain. I have been lurking a lot on T-mag site. I see a lot of new names and a few ones I recognize from the past. (and this whole web-site looks great too in the past year !!) I guess I’m wanting to get back in the groove with the fellow T-mag people, so I can gain back the motivation to succeed again in being in shape. But, this time, try to be more balanced in life in general !!
Podge