Dreaming Really, Really, BIG!

"The greatest discovery of the 19th century was not in the realm of the physical sciences, but the power of the subconscious mind touched by faith. Any individual can tap into an eternal reservoir of power that will enable them to overcome any problem that may arise. All weaknesses can be overcome, bodily healing, financial independence, spiritual awakening, and prosperity beyond your wildest dreams. This is the superstructure of happiness." – William James, Harvard Psychologist, the Father of American Psychology.

William James (1842-1910) stated that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you keep that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking. This process of forming a picture in our minds is often referred to as visualization and is based on the biblical idea, "As you think, so shall ye be."

And so, this 1800's idea is a driving force today when discussing the pursuit of excellence. To achieve your potential, somewhere deep in your core you have to create the belief that you can do it. By dreaming about your BIG dream, and focusing on your daily goals (the little steps), you nourish your commitment, your confidence, and your belief in your ability to achieve.

Even if you never make it to your ultimate goal, your dream of getting there inspires you to be better than you otherwise would be.

The IronLady

From one "Iron Lady" referring to THE "Iron Lady" it is hard not to feel sadness. Margaret Thatcher passed away today. Her character, philosophy and achievements made her one of Britain’s greatest prime ministers. The world has lost a true champion of freedom and democracy.

Margaret Thatcher fought socialism in England and unyieldingly promoted free-market views. She put a stop to the British labor unions and strongly believed in a limited government by lowering spending and taxation.

Ronald Regean and Margaret Thatcher were political soul mates, committed to freedom and resolved to end Communism. As Prime Minister, Thatcher had the clear vision and strong determination to stand up for her beliefs at a time when so many were afraid to “rock the boat.” As a result, she helped to bring about the collapse of the Soviet Union and the liberation of millions of people.

Mrs. Thatcher famously said, “The trouble with socialists is that they always run out of other people’s money.” Margaret Thatcher once said that her competition would rather the poor were poorer provided the rich were less rich. That way you will never create the wealth for better social statuses. In a system of free trade and free markets poor countries – and poor people – are not poor because others are rich. Indeed, if others became less rich the poor would in all probability become still poorer."

I have listened to many speeches by Margaret Thather and one which hits home with me is this: “I think we’ve been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it’s the government’s job to cope with it. ‘I have a problem, I’ll get a grant.’ ‘I’m homeless, the government must house me.’ They’re casting their problem on society. And you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It’s our duty to look after ourselves and then, also, to look after our neighbour. People have got the entitlements too much in mind, without the obligations. There’s no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation.”

The magnificence of Thatcher was her refusal to accept the conventional wisdom of her age...her refusal to conform. History will enshrine Margaret Thatcher as a transformational leader who helped defeat communism, promote freedom, and bring hope to the oppressed. Her penetrating words and compelling vision will last for generations.

 

DreamBIG

When God created you, He deposited in you everything that you need in order to fulfill your calling. He gave you the desire and the ability. He equipped you with gifts and talents. No dream is too big. No challenge is too great.

Ask Dr. J

 

Question: I am a 35 year old, 165 pound male, wanting to put on the most muscle mass possible. What are the best exercises for each bodypart to accomplish my goal?

Answer: This is a real good question and one that bears a lot of controversy. For example, it was once thought that the leg extension, an isolation exercise, involved the most fibers. The problem with this theory is that it is based on measurement of heat production and oxygen deprivation. It has nothing to do with the number of fibers activated.  Have you ever noticed male models that have small, detailed quads? This is undoubtedly from doing lots of leg extensions with no time spent in the squat rack.

The moral of this story is, if you want to hit the most muscle fibers with one movement, make the big, compound exercise the core of your routine. This is no revelation to bodybuilders, but let me explain the reason why, for instance, the squat builds more mass than the leg extension. The answer is Synergy. When there is synergy, or teamwork, from surrounding muscle groups, you can place considerably more weight on the fibers in the target muscle. Now we grow big!

Here is a list of some of the best mass building exercises for each bodypart:

Quads:                               Squats

Hamstrings:                      Stiff-legged deadlifts

Calves:                              Toes-pointed leg curls

Lats:                                  Pull-downs or chins to the front

Midback:                           Behind-the-neck pull-downs

Chest:                                Bench press

Delts:                                Overhead presses

Biceps:                              Barbell curls

Triceps:                             Lying extensions or close-grip bench presses

 

Abdominals:                     Incline or hanging knee-ups

Center Stage Physique by DR. J

It might be said that bodybuilding is losing its luster, that female bodybuilding has crashed and burned, and that top pro shows such as The Arnold Classic and the Olympia are all washed up.

I hate to break it to you, but you are wrong...competing in these events is growing stronger. Take for example, The Arnold Classic: The Arnold Classic celebrated its 25th Anniversary during the March 2013 Arnold Sports Festival. The Arnold Classic has grown over the years into one of our sport’s most prestigious events, and was the catalyst for the Arnold Sports Festival – the nation’s largest multi-sport festival. The Arnold Classic includes five IFBB Professional League Divisions including Arnold Classic (professional men’s bodybuilding) and the Ms. International (women’s professional bodybuilding), which also debuted in 1989. The Arnold Classic Weekend also features the Fitness International (founded in 1994), Figure International (2003) and the Bikini International (2011).

With this kind of history, how could you doubt the fan base and the competetive profiles that are alive and well?

I once had a dream that I would be up on one of those two stages. That dream ended on the Team Universe stage in 2007. I am now coaching young athletes to perform in these events. It has been a dream come true so to speak, as I am able to coach athletes in bodybuilding, figure, physique, and bikini.

Check out www.facebook.com/CenterStagePhysique. Like my page and check out my athletes who are competing in June 2013.