One of the most recurring downfalls disabled people face is the notion that their disabilities necessarily impact their physical competencies and make their athletic potential inherently limited. Whereas one might say that in our conventional understanding of most sports, disabled people have a disadvantage in comparison to those able-bodied – what is often disregarded is the necessity to go above and beyond in physical abilities to solely compensate for your disability.
In other words, disabled people might approach physicality, sportsmanship and athleticism differently – but within their journey to be the best in the sport, they often do more, train more and commit more than more able-bodied individuals.
A Life Changing Injury Changed His Life
Nick Scott is an amazing example of this – a disabled professional bodybuilder, he took up the sport after a life changing injury caused him to lose all use of his legs, became discouraged, depressed, overweight, and overall pessimistic about his life prospects. Scott openly talks about how the decision to take up weight training transformed his life – and started his journey of showing people how to turn disabilities into possibilities.
One of the reasons Scott got into bodybuilding is the wish to become stronger than everybody – however, oftentimes, the precise opposite feeling is what prevents many disabled people from taking up that same route. Being afraid of how others will perceive you in the gym, not knowing how disability-friendly gym spaces are, and knowing that you will be perceived as inherently weak upon the beginning of your journey are inevitable, legitimate fears many people face.
Fight the Fear
The best way to fight these fears is by gathering knowledge, information, and experience. Research gyms in your area, connect with a local disabilities group that works out and can offer good recommendations, start up a support system, a mutual training plan and so on. Learn about types of exercise that are tailored to you – not just to your disability, but to your body type, preferred goal, muscle groups you’re working on, and gym capacities you have available.
Metabolic Process
Furthermore, learn how to adjust your metabolism and protein intake to build muscles more quickly, and through a healthy rate. Consider exercise or supplementation programs that would suit your needs – from things as basic as electrolytes, through supplementation of beta-alanine or creatine. Research the option of using steroids, research the general market by making a Google search with the search term ‘steroids Canada’ to understand the wide variety of differently administered types of anabolic steroids that allow your body to increase muscle mass and stimulate your androgen receptors to increase the overall muscle and bone synthesis – strive to find the option that suits your needs best.
Motivation and Success
And even if it might sound cheesy – read up on stories of people like Nick Scott and use their success as motivation. Scott became a symbol of determination and personal strength because he tried as hard as possible to find a sense of purpose after tragically losing it in a car crash. However, his sense of purpose wasn’t found in the sheer building of muscle mass – but rather in developing love for a sport, promoting that sport in a community that needed empowerment, managing to profile wheelchair bodybuilding into a professional sport, and working as much as possible to motivate, inspire, and educate younger disabled people. The goal wasn’t just becoming stronger than everyone else, the goal was inspiring others – and teaching them that they can do a lot more than they think.
