I wrote it in my journal last night–circled it, highlighted it, dated it and even wrote in the exact time. The entry reads, ” PB! Single lift BP, 215, 8-6-08, 7:50 P.M.!”

This short entry memorializes the fact that last evening I did a 215 pound bench press of one lift at my home gym. It may not sound like a big deal to most people. Heck, there are some bodybuilders who start their warmup sets higher than that! But, for me, a 62 year old guy who has had 4 shoulder operations and three on a shattered collar bone, who was told he should never bench press again, that is A BIG DEAL! And I’m not done either. My “goal” for this challenge I am on is to do a single lift bench press of 250 pounds!

I know–I’m bragging. But, I really more than anything want to make a point that I hope you’ll find encouraging. And the point is this: No “barrier” that a doctor or another or even your own mind sets for you is impenetrable. With hard work, with a willingness to endure regular setbacks, pain and sacrifice, much more than you can imagine you are capable of can be accomplished!

Here’s what the news looked like 5 years ago. I was just getting back into the exercise business after having a second surgery on my right torn rotator cuff, and then having a massive infection in the shoulder which landed me in the hospital for a week and kept me in a sling and on IV antibiotics for months. A third surgery on that same shoulder resulted in removal of some necrotic (rotted) muscle and some other debris in the joint. I literally looked like I had a muscle wasting disease as I stared in the mirror. My trap muscle was the size of a rope, and my right arm and shoulder girdle were shrunken noticably compared to the left. The doctor sent me to a therapist and gave me a list of “don’ts” that included “pullups, barbell bench presses, dips, overhead lifting, reaching out in front of me, and some others I’ve since forgotten.

I honestly don’t advocate simply doing what you want in spite of what a doctor tells you, but in this case, I just began pushing the envelope as I felt capable. I think the surgeon was primarily trying to avoid putting me back into an injury situation again, and neither of us was looking forward to going through a nightmare like the one that had transpired. I refused to believe that my body was so frail that it could never again do any of those things, and so far, I’ve been correct!

There really is power in a mindset. Refusing to believe negative things, and instead looking forward always to better and bigger things will gradually get you there. In my case, I can now do 25 wide grip pullups, rather than the none I was told to do. I can do 22 dips, or 12 with 32 pounds of weight added to my body weight, rather than the none I was told. You already know about the bench pressing, and as for overhead lifting, I really am careful there, and I never lift more than 40 pounds overhead in each hand.

What’s next? I have lofty goals for this challenge! I hope to meet them and I will report back as time goes on. My goals for my next challenge will be emerging soon enough. One thing is for sure–they’ll be lofty, but achievable. And they will keep me always looking for more!

I hope you’re looking ahead, and that you’re expecting more  out of yourself than others are!