All kidding aside, Are there any + or - on conceiving a child while on the juice
http://www.animalpak.com/html/article_details.cfm?ID=561
Thoughts on Fatherhood
by Ox
Has fatherhood in any way changed your perspective on bodybuilding?
I don't know if it's because of the fact that I knew I would become a father or it's simply a matter of maturing and looking at things more carefully, but whereas bodybuilding was my number one focus in life, family is now first. I think I can wrap it up perfectly with a quick story. A few months ago a good friend of mine stopped by to see the house. I was working outside and stopped to talk with him. He asked me how long I plan to compete for and what my life after bodybuilding might entail. I told him I wanted five more years in the sport and I truly believe that. But then again, I truly believed it five years ago when I said the same thing. He asked me if I would miss walking around and looking like a pro bodybuilder. Without hesitation I said no. I guess that when I was younger, the thought of being as big as humanly possible was much more appealing to me. The thought of being big was really important to me. Now, I told him, the thought of being with my family and doing things together is what really puts a smile on my face. A perfect day might consist of me working in the yard while my daughter runs around with my wife chasing after her. Call me simple but the idea of sitting down and having a meal together after a long day of work and play sounds better than anything I can imagine.
What example are you looking to set for your child? What ideals will you primarily try to instill in your daughter?
First and foremost I want her to have a strong sense of humanity. I want her to be able to look at people from any walk of life and afford them the respect they deserve. She needs to be able to decide for herself who is worthy of respect rather than simply give it to someone because they have money or fame or because everyone else thinks that person worthy of it. She must know how to think for herself and have the ability to decide what makes sense to her, what is right for her, how she wants to do things and be able to live life on her own terms. I want her to know the value of hard work. I believe that if you work hard, dedicate yourself and know how to sacrifice for the things you want and the ones you love then you will know happiness. I don't want her to be afraid. I want her to know that she is capable of anything. I want her to take an interest in a variety of things and make it her business to be well rounded. Everyone is good at something but it's impressive when a person is good at many things. She should know that people are people and anything anyone else does she can do just as well or better. Determination and a strong will is what will enable her to solve any problem. Lastly and perhaps most important, to honor her word and do what she says she will do.
What will be the nutrition guidelines of your household?
I don't plan to head a crusade on health but I just don't want to see “garbage” in my house. I'm not against sweets or snacks or treats, but the processed shit is out. I'd rather see someone have a bowl of ice cream than eat a TV dinner or some shit from a can. I want my family to eat real food. Variety is important and I want my family to eat a broad range of foods that are as close to nature as possible.
What lessons taught by your parents will you make a point of passing on to your child?
My father was (and still is) my greatest influence. I was able to watch my father and see how he reacted to different situations, how he treated people, how he treated me. One of the things I admire most in my father is the fact that he is good at a number of different things. The guy can do all sorts of things; plumbing, automotive, carpentry, electrical, machining. And then he can sit down with you and talk about politics, religion; anything really. Even if it's something he knows nothing about, he can think about it and still say something that makes sense. I always saw confidence in my father. Growing up, it had a big impact on me to watch my father and see him as someone who never gives up and never backs down. I can't tell you how many times growing up I watched my father spend an entire day trying to fix something when could have saved himself time and aggravation by paying someone else to do it. When I was younger I thought it was foolish to waste time messing with things you don't know anything about. As I got older I realized that stubborn determination is responsible for every single worthwhile thing man has ever accomplished. Sometimes you just have to roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty. Just the same, if you want it done right you often have to do it yourself. Take charge. Take responsibility. Get it done.
Would you consider having another child?
The other night Erica and I were laying in bed and we jokingly wondered how parents have more than one child and love each one as much as the next because neither one of us could ever imagine loving another child as much as we love her! Of course, if we did have another we would love him or her just the same. Hahahahaha. Neither one of us has given much thought about another child yet but I would definitely consider it. So long as I can pay the bills, the more the merrier! Seriously though, considering the fact that the pregnancy went so well and the fact that Alana is perfectly healthy, it makes you realize that things don't always go so well and how fortunate we are. This is something I don't think anyone considers until they are expecting a child or are already a parent but your heart breaks thinking about the possibility that things don't always go so perfectly. If I want to bring tears to my eyes all I would have to do is imagine my daughter having to struggle with a health issue. But just as I said that I wish to instill a sense of fearlessness in my daughter, to make my own decisions based on fear would make me a hypocrite. It's always better to make decisions based on the prospect of good than the possibility of failure. So yes, we would consider it at some point down the road.
Have your goals and plans for the future been altered at all by your daughter's birth?
Not altered, just reaffirmed.
What does fatherhood mean to you?
Responsibility and creation. I guess you could say that the two are intertwined. Everyone can agree that along with being a parent comes a great deal of responsibility. It's your responsibility to keep that child safe, provided for and cared for. But what is truly a powerful thought is that here you have an opportunity, a responsibility, to help shape a child's life and hopefully influence them in such a way that they grow up to be greater than you ever were. I've learned a few things along the way and the idea of passing that experience on to her is exciting to me.
How did you feel when you first held your child?
Incredibly proud and a little bit overwhelmed at the same time. On one hand, you now have in your hands a living, breathing baby that is a product of yourself and the one you love most and the two of you look at each other and know that what just happened is greater and more meaningful than anything that has ever happened in either of our lives. That's really big and I felt a great sense of pride. But at the same time, to hear the baby cry and to see her face made me turn to Erica with disbelief written all over my face. It really is overwhelming; but in the greatest way possible.
You previously said in an interview that having a child would be more satisfying than winning a big contest like the Olympia, do you still feel that way now that she is here?
When I made that statement I knew that having a child would be greater than anything else I will ever do in my life. The thing I've come to realize about myself is that I'm happiest when I feel like I've accomplished something. The idea of fixing something that is broken or restoring something that is worn makes me feel great. Spending the past year restoring our home is one of the most satisfying things I've ever done. To make something with my own two hands is even better. Whether it's carpentry or cooking, taking materials or ingredients and combining them to make a finished product is also very satisfying. Starting a garden is even better. Why do you think people still plant gardens? It takes time, work, the wildlife often eat at what you're growing and anything you grow in your garden can easily be bought in any store. People do it because the idea of planting a seed and allowing life to form and to have an active role in ensuring its' survival is something that is innate to us. Fixing something that is broken is great. Combining different ingredients and working them into a usable form is even better. But to have a hand in creating life is the best and there can be nothing greater than helping to create a human life. I was always attracted to bodybuilding because it is a creative process. The idea of shaping yourself physically and mentally into a bodybuilding champion is awesome. To be able to shape yourself to the extent that winning the Olympia becomes a reality would be the ultimate manifestation of that concept. But it's small compared to the idea of creating human life.
Will being a father negatively impact your bodybuilding career in any way?
Well, sleep has been a little harder to come by lately and the baby getting her meals in takes precedence over me getting mine in! But we're getting back on track. It's been tough for me because bodybuilding is my job. Yet, I would feel like a huge asshole telling Erica she has to take sole responsibility in caring for the baby so that I can get my nine hours of sleep and get my meals in. She's our daughter and I accept the responsibility that comes along with raising her. Truth be told, I know that even if sleep is shaky for a little bit or if the timing of my meals is slightly off, I will still be better the next time I step on stage. Last year, I debated back and forth about buying the house because I knew how much work it needed and how much time and energy I'd have to put into it. Again, around here we don't make our decisions based on the fears of failing but on the hopes of success. I can't tell you how many twelve hour days I spent at the house in the heat of summer sweating my ass off or during the winter half frozen. If you ask anyone if that kind of work is going to help or hurt their bodybuilding they are all going to tell you that it will have a negative impact on their training. Fuck that. Every time I stepped in the gym I trained even harder. This will be even better. Knowing that I have my family depending on me and the fact that I refuse to let myself fail, I will use the added work and responsibility to push myself harder.
Does a bodybuilder's schedule make it easier for you to be a dad (as compared to someone who has a 9-5 work schedule)?
Both! On one hand, I have the flexibility of being able to train at different times of the day. I don't have to “go” to work from 9-5 and that certainly helps. But try telling your wife that you can't help her with the baby after she's been up all night because you need to get a meal in. And that's after you slept all night because you need your sleep. You feel guilty as hell; you start to feel like you're the baby! And I want to be up with the baby during the night. Being tired or missing meals wouldn't bother me if I didn't do what I do. Shit, I could go to work tired or hungry and still do my job. But, as a bodybuilder you know that those are two things you can't neglect so it makes it hard. To be honest, I think it would be easier if I worked a regular old 9-5. But as with anything, it starts off tough and you eventually fall into a groove. I know we'll establish a rhythm.
Has it all sunk in yet?
Kind of. The other night the baby was sleeping and I said to Erica “Can you believe she's ours?! That we made that happen?” She said “I was thinking the same thing.”
