Since I was a kid I would lift weights. My dad lifted a little bit. As a young kid I saw Pumping Iron. I bought Arnold, Franco and Zanes books. Back then they all did book signings. Franco even did a demonstration where he bent an iron bar and maybe ripped a phone book in half. I met them and got their autographed books. I bought all the muscle and fitness books and I worked out like a maniac.
All through the 80's I lifted. 3, 4 day split. Ate all carbs or no carbs depending on what the latest muscle and fitness article said. Bought all the creatine and protein supplements.
I always thought I could look like Zane or one of the smaller guys or a good amateur. I knew Id never be as big as Arnold or Sergio or as strong as Franco. But I never missed a workout.
When those black and white pictures of Dorian showed up. I just said "what in the actual fuck am I looking at?"
I stopped with almost all of it. I still worked out 3 or 4 days a week but the magic was gone. I knew that was totally unattainable. I knew that bodybuilding, as I understood it, was changed forever.
