I’ve reached the doctor’s timeline now to go full speed ahead and I can tell you my body thanked me for changing gears this week for the last time. I am at full speed and things are better than ever. I have regained the roundness to my muscle that I showed at the FLEX Pro, my workouts are better than ever and I am on top of the world as I gear up for 2012!
I actually broke two of my personal bests this week and we’re only into the first week of balls to the wall training! Personal Bests: First I cranked out 8 reps, barbell rowing 425lbs; the second was 12 plates a side for 20 reps on the leg press! Joints and limbs are moving like they’re brand new and who ever says plasma injection therapy is a joke or a gimmick has no idea what they’re talking about!
I battled elbow pain even before the tear as almost all of us do after years of training, now not a single pain. My therapist (Alvin Brown) who sees me every week couldn’t touch my elbow with the slightest pressure and now I’m getting true deep tissue massage on the area with no pain at all!
Since I’ve been back to work I’ve also been eating like a real bodybuilder again and my body has responded well. I’m sitting around 290lbs in the morning on an empty stomach right now and feeling pretty good about my condition. I could be a little lighter and I will be, I’ll be guest posing in the Bahamas at the end of the month and I always like to make sure I’m a real professional. That means showing up to a guest posing in decent shape, not like a bloated whale…I’ve seen this and it’s not pretty.
Now for some stuff that’s been on my mind…
I get a lot of people asking me what I wear for shoes when training so I thought I would take this chance to answer. I don’t think this should be as complex as its become, my first response is you should where whatever is comfortable for you. Personally I like Asics, Otomix, wrestling or mma type shoes. They have a very thin sole and I can really feel the floor when squatting or deadlifting.
Anyway, there is a major issue that has been on my mind that I thought I should share with you all. I ran into an old friend the other day and he was talking about competing. He actually said he wanted to do my show in October and he felt he had a lot of time to get ready but he was going to “see” as he gets closer. This is the part I don’t understand, the “seeing.”
Its not because I think people shouldn’t have a choice but he was thinking he would diet and then decide a week out. I don’t think this is the way any body in any profession gets to the top. I’ll tell you guys a little secret about my career from day one: Any time I did a show and I wasn’t sure about it I failed miserably. The first two that come to mind are the Olympia and the Arnold. I wasn’t ready mentally and it showed on stage because I wasn’t in the best shape at either. On the other hand, the times I rocked the stage and showed up looking great I was mentally prepared and focused months in advance on those goals. I learned a very valuable lesson and I want to pass on the ticket to winning and not just at bodybuilding but also at life. The first part of the success process is “saying it.” When you say you you’re going to do something this is the start of the process, you better do it. When you get to the point or time of your decision and don’t follow through and just pass on it, you’re going to regret it later. Eventually if this happens enough you will start to look at yourself like a failure or you’ll just give up on everything.
We’ve all done it. Make a commitment to something, a show, appt, job interview, anything and then procrastinated or fearfully passed on it. These things last with you forever just like the triumphs that last forever. I will always remember failing to show up at my best at the Olympia or the Arnold. At the same time I will also always remember the triumph of showing up at the 2012 FLEX Pro and winning….
Sacrifice Without Regret, Fouad ‘Hoss’ Abiad www.fouadhossabiad.com www.fouadabiadopen.com
I get a lot of people asking me what I wear for shoes when training so I thought I would take this chance to answer. I don’t think this should be as complex as its become, my first response is you should where whatever is comfortable for you. Personally I like Asics, Otomix, wrestling or mma type shoes. They have a very thin sole and I can really feel the floor when squatting or deadlifting.
