INSPIRATIONS & LIMITATIONS

I have been reading MuscleMag for about three months now and I love it. It has inspired me to become a bodybuilder. I would love to step on stage and have people cheer for me. It must be amazing to have people admire your physique.

I have not been blessed with what you would call a normal body. When I was born I had a problem with one of my legs. To make a long story short, the doctors amputated one of my legs. The rest of my body is normal, unless you consider being fat unusual. I see all these photos in the magazine and I realize I could never look like a bodybuilder so why should I bother trying.

I just want to say that I love MuscleMag. I think your column is really good and you seem really cool.

James Smith
Montreal, Quebec

There is no reason on earth why you can't start training. You can't sit around and feel sorry for yourself That isn't going to get you anywhere.

You said that you would like to look like a bodybuilder, well then do it. What is stopping you, your leg? So you have one leg. Yes, that is unfortunate, but, James, you can do nothing about that You can't change the fact that you have only one leg. You have to stop feeling sorry for yourself and make a better life for yourself.

If you continue on the path you are now, you are just going to sink lower and lower. You are going to gain more weight, have less self-esteem and become angrier and angrier. Stop this self-defeating attitude and go to the gym.

A lot of people can't even walk and do you know what? They are bodybuilders. Yes, James, the NPC has a wheelchair division. These guys are all avid weight trainers and bodybuilders who have built incredible physiques despite their disabilities.

It is time for you to get motivated and realize that you too can build a great physique. Having only one leg won't stop you from building the best body you can.

You have to look on the positive side. Picture yourself with a sixpak of abs and bulging biceps. Does that sound good to you? How about a barn-door back with a huge ripped chest? All of them are attainable and you can achieve all of these things if you get started today.