First off, let me apologize. If you clicked on this article because you think you can relate, because you think I’m going to be talking about being ‘addicted to iron,’ addicted to the feel of a heavy barbell on my back, addicted to the way your throat tightens up from breathing in chalk dust or addicted to the whiff of a snapped ammonia cap, just pass on through. This article ain’t for you.
If you’re expecting me to bitch about how no one understands why I bring my own meals with me everywhere I go, why half my meals are called shakes but taste like shit, or why I can’t go two days without training before I freak out…well, I’m sorry to let you down, but I’m not talking about training here at all.
I’m an addict and chances are you are, too. Addiction is a hard-wired mindset, a particular chemistry that you have in your brain. If you have one addiction—any addiction—you will have more. The behavior patterns of addiction are just part of you. You can trade one addiction for another and you probably will—several times over. Steroids, porn, sex, cigarettes, dope, Oreos, Beam, beer, World of Warcraft, chasing tail—if there’s something you’re drawn to, something that you do or participate in habitually, even if it isn’t really wise, healthy, legal or good for your
life, goals or relationships, you’re an addict.
I am an addict. I know this. I’m addicted to many things, far too many things, to list. I have some good addictions like training for instance. And I have some deadly addictions, addictions that would end good relationships if they were discovered, addictions that would humiliate me and my family if they were known to others, addictions that are slowly killing me, addictions that could get me thrown in prison, addictions that would make you think twice about calling me your friend. That’s for sure.
Those are my problems, not yours. But you have some problems, too, don’t you?
If you’re addicted to training, competing (with yourself or with others), strength, size, or whatever it is that you chase, you’re an addict, too.
So my questions to you are this—what behaviors do you regret? What habits are keeping you from realizing your goals? What do you participate in that is a complete waste of time? And finally, why aren’t you doing anything about it?
And just who am I? I didn’t give you my name, did I? Why? Because I’m a pussy. That’s why. If I had any balls, I would’ve given you my name and told you all about my addictions and how I’m conquering them all one by one. But that would’ve been a lie. I may be a pussy and I may be an addict, but I’m no liar.
That’s not true either. I’m a huge liar. One of my ‘not so swell’ addictions.
So choose your addictions wisely. Make your addictions public. Tell everyone you know about your desires and your goals and what you’re doing to achieve them. If you can’t tell the world, then quit.
Don’t do anything you wouldn’t be proud to share with others—your mother, your father, and especially your children. There are healthy addictions and addictions that we need to shake. You need to man up. Know the difference and then do something about it.
So what’s the bottom line? Simple—don’t be like me. But don’t be like you either. Be better.
