Be Yourself No Matter What and Screw What People Say

This article I am about to delve into is relatable to lifting, but it is primarily to provide my insight and advice on helping you find happiness both inside and outside the gym. Happiness begins with self-acceptance and a self understanding. People must realize that they are born with what they have; you are what you are. Yes, there are always strives for self improvement as individuals such as myself endlessly pursue education and gains in order to improve our physique, strength, and cognitive abilities. However, there are certain features of our bodies, and certain aspects of our brain that we are born with that we cannot change. For example, for the last few years I have been struggling with anxiety disorder and an enzyme deficiency in my brain of MTFRH, which breaks down folic acid, which allows our brains to uptake serotonin and dopamine, the two primary chemicals that make us emotionally balanced and happy. These caused me to experience widespread and heavy depression for a long time until i found the right meds. The point is, what kept me going through the entire struggle was the fact that I knew there was nothing truly wrong with me because I was simply born this way and that I could not change it. Since I was born that way, the only way to find that happiness is to accept yourself for who you are and for what you are. Self-acceptance is the key to happiness, because once you accept yourself for who you truly are, you can move on with your life and become the best version of yourself that you possibly can. Additionally, if you do not want to, do not try to fit in with others or join social groups just because it seems like the cool thing to do, or because it seems like you’ll be respected or have something to gain from being in the group. Because FUCK that. Trying to change who you are for others is pointless, because if they can’t accept you and like you for whom you truly are, then they don’t deserve your time or presence. Be yourself no matter what. Don’t let others influence your goals or dreams or decisions, don’t try to be something you’re not. If people don’t like you for you, then straight up, they can go fuck themselves. Be you and only you, and do your own thing. In my experience so far in life, throughout all of the phases of depression, I have found that being myself and understanding that I must accept myself for who I am is the best way to find happiness. Sure, I wish I could change some things about myself, but I simply can’t. Rather than fret over what you can’t change, work hard to change what you can, such as your gains in the gym. Otherwise, be yourself no matter what and understand that whoever and whatever you are, you are a human being and are just as equal as anyone else on this planet. You are you, and you are amazing because just like me, you are a human, and no matter what kind of human you are, as long as you are yourself no matter what, you are ok.

” Don’t Let em say you ain’t beautiful, they can all get fucked just stay true to you,” – Eminem

• Tommy Roel
• Maxin’ Out’ n Blackin’ Out

What It’s Like To Be On The Platform

Competing in Powerlifting is one of the best thing’s I have ever done. I’ve only competed twice but have been dealing with a lot of tough stuff lately that have sort of held me away from the platform, but when I’m confident I can get good enough numbers I will compete again, as there is no sense in stressing yourself over competition if you know you are not ready. But when I do get back on the platform, I know it will be an incredible time. Being on the platform at first is kind of scary, as you’re maxing out in front of an entire crowd of lifters and people you don’t know, so it can become kinda awkward and nerve-wracking because you don’t really know what it will be like if you fail. However, once adjusted, the platform is not a scary place at all, even when you fail a lift. In fact, it’s like a second home. Being on the platform is an overwhelming adrenalin rushing sensation; it’s incredible. You’re giving it your all in front of a crowd who often times always cheer you on and clap for you. It”s like you’re the star of the show for a second, everyone is cheering for you and your success when you hit a lift, and they congratulate you on your hard efforts when you have failed. People I didn’t even know at the meets I competed at cheered for me and it’s an incredible feeling because it shows people are interested and shows that maybe some people even cared, which means everything to me. It’s a comfortable place where I can push my limits and be cheered on in an environment surrounded by people with the same passion. It helps you meet people who can push you further towards your goal of self improvement. The platform is an amazing place, and I cannot wait for my return. Despite some fear, which is normal for me at least, I know my return to my second home, the platform on my next competition day, whenever that may be, will be something to remember.

• First meet in 2015 at a USAPL meet. Sean Noriega is the spotter, he’s an animal, check him out, he’s a very well known powerlifter and a nice guy and one strong moftherfucker!
• I think my total that meet was like 1090 (around a 362 squat, 225.5 bench and 451 deadlift), I can’t remember exactly. At my most recent RPS meet is was 1140 (390/250/500).
• Maxin’ Out
• Tommy Roel

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEzpcI5Dz7Q/?taken-by=roel_powerlifting

Strive4Excellence and TinyTimTrains

This is a quick post shouting out two of my boys’ youtube channels. The first channel is my boy John from The University of Tampa whom I attend school with, and he is a bodybuilder with solid beginning content, so check him out. Secondly is my homie Tim, a USF Exercise Science Grad from my gym Elite Strength and Conditioning down in Tampa, he is roughly a 130 lb powerlifter. Both these channels are beginning channels with good content for bodybuilding and powerlifting on them, so check out their pages. Click on the photos to lead you to their respective channels.

John:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFwy3crz9pXJGptMD20YkGA

Tim:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvPBczMFHTvCxk2qWDDR9IQ

• Tommy Roel
• Maxin’ Out

Update on T Shirts

T-Shirt production will begin next week around Wednesday or Thursday or so and will take 1-2 weeks to be made, so hopefully they’ll be ready within 3 weeks. There will be 30 shirts made to start off, 15 white, 15 black ranging from m-xl, 5 copies of each. Each shirt is $25-$32.50 depending on size.

 – This logo is being used for the white shirts, and the featured image header with the normal yellow/blue logo on the black t-shirts is how those designs will work.

Email me if you want one or order from the store once they come in, of you know my number and know me personally, shoot me a text.

• Maxin’ Out n Blackin’ Out
• Tommy Roel

The Gym Is more than Just a Place to Train

The gym, no matter which gym I attend out of the various gyms I go to or have been to, i get the same relief and same feeling every time I walk in. Thats because to me, the gym is more than just a place to workout. Its more than a place to train for powerlifting. Obviously I work as hard as I physically can in the gym to get the best gains I can, however, attending the gym to improve my gains is not the only reason I go. The gym for me, is an atmosphere where I can relax. Every workout, despite the difficulty, provides a physical and mental relief and release for me, especially after a stressful day often times filled with Anxiety. It relieves my stress and is a medicine for me whenever I go through difficult times. Not only that, it is physically healthy for me as it helps me stay in the best shape I can.  Additionally, it is a place where I get to meet many gym friends whom I have bonded with over the years and can shoot the shit with throughout periods of rest in-between sets. We get to know each other better, exchange lifting advice, and talk about many other things in life. I get to know some individuals so well that some gym friends end up becoming some of my best friends. It is a place where I can chase my passion and get my gains while I relieve stress and anxiety whilst meeting some of my best friends as well. The gym represents an entire chunk of my life and means so much more than fitness to me. It means health, fitness, friendship, knowledge, and is even a second home to me. Don’t Just go to the gym to lift, go to the gym to find many other of the benefits that a great gym can provide.

• Tommy Roel
• Maxin’ Out
• By the way, the featured image as a header is Me back in about 2014 when I met Kai Greene at Bev’s Francis Powerhouse Gym in Syosset, NY.

Go Hard Under the Bar, Go Hard At the Bar – Balancing Drinking and Lifting

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCa6TjNDz-Z/?taken-by=roel_powerlifting

Lifting and drinking typically DO NOT go well together. Alcohol has 7 calories a gram and is a toxin to our body, so our body prioritizes the break down of alcohol over all other bodily functions, such as MPS (muscle protein synthesis) and lactic acid breakdown. This is why when you go hard at the gym on a Thursday, wake up sore Friday, and then drink on Friday night, that you wake up Saturday just as sore as you were Friday. That is because your body was focused on breaking down the alcohol in your system, not the lactic acid, (which is a byproduct of glucose breakdown) which is what makes us sore. Obviously, it also prolongs the ability to build muscle whilst alcohol is in your system since the alcohol needs to be broken down first, and when drinking and eating your body can store the food calories as fat since it needs to break down the alcohol first. This portion is just to let you, the reader, know a little more about how our bodies handle alcohol when we drink after training. However, it is still important to enjoy yourself and celebrate on special occasions. As I phrase it, “go hard under the bar, and go hard at the bar.” When I say under the bar, I am referring to squatting, by the way. Below I have linked my first time squatting 4 plates, which is 405 lbs. This was a huge accomplishment and longterm goal of mine that I had finally achieved. So, for the special occasion, I fulfilled my statement and after going hard under the bar, I went out to celebrate and went hard at the bar. Obviously, as athletes individuals should avoid drinking heavily, but for occasional celebrations that are linked to significant events you have participated in or goals that you may have achieved, it is okay to go out and celebrate your accomplishments because of how hard you have worked. However, just do not let any celebration hinder your motivation. Stay focused. Stay chasing your dreams and get your gains.

• Tommy Roel
• Maxin Out n Blackin Out
• Link above and below

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCa4q9yrRG0zsdSxe1XXqj-SyCb1oP-9CF1MOA0/?taken-by=tommyroel&hl=en

Planet Fitness and why It Contradicts Fitness

Planet Shitness as I like to call it is the complete opposite of fitness. Although I support the occasional pizza and couldn’t care less about bagels, apparently from a member report from said, ” Free Pizza on the First Monday of each month, Handfuls of purple Tootsie rolls are displayed temptingly in jars all across the Planet Fitness front desk areas…Free Bagels on the first Tuesday of every, month..”

THAT contradicts the entire concept of fitness, I mean once in a while its fine, but that’s pretty frequent. Plus, it’s a wide known fact among serious lifters that you’re deemed a “lunk” if you grunt, slam or drop weights, sing, bring a bag or water gallon, or wear tank tops. What herbs. Also, there are no bench presses or squats racks, only Smith machines, and deadlifts are banned A powerlifter’s worst nightmare. Planet Fitness carries it over the top with their supply of shitty food to people who are already limited to important methods on training such as benching, squatting and deadlifting. Also, overhead presses are banned. Important compound movements are banned, so how can these people getting fed garbage a few times a month and every day with Tootsie rolls make gains when the most important lifts are banned? Plus they kick every serious athlete or lifter out of there. And that is why Planet Fitness contradicts fitness. Planet Shitness would have been a better name dude.

• Tommy Roel
• Maxin’ Out

Gains and Ganja? Pros and Cons

This blog relates to the past article, which involved Arnold Schwarzenegger recreationally using Marijuana after a big time 1975 Mr. Olympia win. The blog also discusses Michael Phelps when a photo on the internet surfaced of Phelps hitting a bong. Even Stephen Jackson, a former great NBA player whose has played for a variety of NBA teams throughout his career, admitted to using marijuana before games. Jackson said, ” I just gotta be real, you know, it’s been a couple games where I smoked before games and had great games,” (ups.com), and he added, “I think it’s a higher percentage of guys that smoke than drink. I know coming in, especially in my time, everybody smoked. After games, when I came into the league, there was only one drug test. And that was in the beginning of the season, in training camp. You knew when it was coming. You could smoke the rest of the season. That was the good days” (upi.com) Jackson discusses his marijuana usage during the earlier days of his career of the NBA and described the drug testing system and even noted that he had played great games whilst stoned. However, he also admitted there were points where he smoked too much and would tell himself, “Please calm down, this high has to calm down’ — I done shot three shots that went over the backboard” (upi.com) So Jackson continued to admit that sometimes he played poorly whilst under the influence of marijuana. So, although many athletes have used marijuana, how does it affect your body athletically? Obviously, these individuals such as Arnold, Phelps, and Jackson are great athletes, so how does weed affect their performance? A lot of it is individualized, as sometimes marijuana increases mental focus and creativeness whilst it can also decrease motivation and increase lethargic feelings. However, for athletes, the CBD component can relieve pain after tough workouts while the munchies side effects can help bodybuilders with their appetites, especially since large bodybuilders require a high amount of macronutrients and eat rather bland food, therefore getting the munchies can hep them get the calories they need. An article from generation iron.com discusses this and features famous fitness YouTubers Elliot Hulse and Scooby. This article has 2 pages and discusses many affects weed can have on athletic performance, both negative and positive. Accents discussed include the lethargic and munchies effect from marijuana, the possibility of mental focus and aid in appetite, which can both be negative or positive, your oxygen levels, and more. Make sure to read both pages.

Whichever or whatever you choose to do, find your balance, and if you smoke and are an athlete of sorts, hopefully, this article can help you.

The Weed Effect: Marijuana And Muscles

Work Cited:

Butler, Alex. “Stephen Jackson Smoked Marijuana before NBA Games, Played High.” UPI. UPI, 31 Jan. 2017. Web. 25 June 2017.

Salmon, Jon. “The Weed Effect: Muscles and Marijuana | Generation Iron.” Generation Iron Fitness Network. Jon Salmon, 27 Nov. 2015. Web. 25 June 2017.

• Tommy Roel
• Maxin’ Out n Blackin’ Out

After Some Success, It’s Okay to Get Wrecked

The whole idea behind Maxin’ Out n Blackin’ Out is to encourage a healthy balance between the lifter’s and athlete’s lifestyle and the partier’s and college kid lifestyle. This blog is supposed to help reinforce such ideas. After winning one of his many Mr. Olympia’s, even Arnold Schwarzenegger relaxed and took it easy from time to time, especially after his famous 1975 Mr. Olympia Win where the infamous photo of him smoking a joint was taken. Or, you can take a more modern day example from Michael Phelps, when the infamous photo of him smoking a bong surfaced upon the internet during February 2009.  After special accomplishments within your sport, whether it be a PR (personal record) in powerlifting, weightlifting, strongman, or CrossFit. Or maybe it was a big bodybuilding or physique win, or your team won the playoff game in crunch time. Or maybe you improved your stats from the year before, or maybe you simply had a killer session working out. Even the big time greats like Arnold and Phelps relaxed after they put in their endless amounts of tremendously hard work. Go hard at whatever training for whatever sport you are involved in, and give it 110%. Work until you cannot work any longer, put in the effort until you have diminished all macronutrients in your body which fuel your activity. Work until you cannot train any longer, and put in the effort. However, once you give it your all, once it’s all said and done, THEN it is okay to kick back and relax and is perfectly fine to crack open a cold one or light up a doobie, just like Arnold.

• Tommy Roel
• Maxin’ Out n Blackin’ Out

 – Phelps in 2009 ripping a binger.

500 lb. Redemption Deadlift

A year prior to this lift in August 2015 I missed the 500.5lb Conventional deadlift at the lockout at my first USAPL meet where I was 74kg. That year I had lost a loving family member, who for all my life has been someone I looked up to, alongside with his brother, my other uncle. But when I missed the pull, I felt like I let my Uncle down. So after training my ass off for weeks and months and switching programs and gyms and going throughout college, In July 2016, I competed again, and I got this 500 pull at the 185lb class ( I competed up but was really 173) in an RPS meet. That’s why I celebrated so much. I had my redemption, I got 500 on a platform, and I made both my Uncles proud. Find your motivation.

• Tommy Roel
• Maxin’ Out
• Link to my Instagram Post

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIVZ1rGjI3p/?taken-by=roel_powerlifting