How Losing Changed My Perspective For The Better

By WNBF Pro & Team 3DMJ Coach Jeff Alberts

How can losing be better than winning? After I lost back in 2000 at the INBF Northwest Natural Championships in which I placed second overall, I decided to take my training to another level. In my mind I was ready to do whatever was necessary to win my pro card. I believed I was going to win, there were no doubts about it. In my case, back in 2002, it was an obsession to win my natural pro card. The plan was to travel to the INBF Texas Shredder Classic, which was promoted by Former World Champion Dave Goodin. The show was a professional and an amateur contest combined. It was a high profile show and I wanted very badly to win my pro card in this show. 

I began my contest preparation 14 weeks in advance and I was mentally and physically ready to take on the challenge of becoming the most shredded natural bodybuilder at the competition. I was training with 100% commitment in the gym and I did not miss a single workout. Each session was preplanned and I executed the workouts with extreme intensity, pushing myself to the limit! I set my diet up perfectly to ensure I would get as shredded as possible. I ate the same foods day after day like a programmed machine, making sure I was hitting all of my nutritional needs. My cardio training was solid: one hour everyday on the treadmill and I did not miss a single session. I even had a picture of the previous year’s winner taped on my treadmill. I did this so that I would push myself as hard as possible to get more shredded than he had been. My posing sessions consisted of hitting each mandatory pose for roughly 30 seconds each. I would repeat this 5 times making sure there were no mistakes in my poses. I also practiced my posing routine time after time to erase any doubts in my mind that my routine was going to have any flaws.

I left nothing to chance, everything was preplanned and everything was going perfectly. I was programmed and I was convinced I was going to win. It did not matter who was going to show up, I was going to be the best! I felt I was training harder than anyone else and therefore I should win. Day after day I followed this same path. I went to the gym, then back home for my cardio session and then I would follow that up with grueling sessions of posing practice.

Each day I would evaluate my progress and I would always find something to improve upon. Whether it was a workout where I felt I could have pushed harder or maybe a cardio session where I could have done a little more. Day after day it was never good enough. I wanted more improvements than I had achieved. I was like a machine with the single goal to keep improving and win! After 14 weeks of pushing myself harder than any other contest preparation period, I had achieved my best condition ever up until that point. I was ready to travel to Texas for battle and in my mind I was going to get my natural pro card.

Contest day came and I was ready and focused to do battle. I was there for one thing and one thing only and that was to attain professional status. Backstage I was focused, I had my game face on and I was not there to socialize or to make friends. I was there for a purpose, I had trained hard, I traveled a long way and there was no messing around. I was there to win!!

Prejudging went as planned as I was called out in the middle of the pack. I was the most shredded athlete among the amateurs. I posed with confidence and things were going well, until I was moved to the outside of the lineup. I became a little worried, but I thought maybe the judges had me at first and they really did not need to look my way again. More moves were made by the judges and I became more concerned, but I was still confident. After a long prejudging, I was still feeling positive and many in attendance were telling me I was the winner. This only helped my confidence and reaffirmed in my mind that I was going to win, but I still had a little worry in me.

At the night show more athletes were convincing me that I was the front-runner to win, but in my mind I knew anything could happen after such a long prejudging. I was still confident and I was still focused at the task at hand. It was still business! I nailed my posing routine with confidence and the pose down was nothing short of amazing. The announcements were next and 5th place was called, 4th place was called, 3rd place was called, and as it came down to the final two places I was still in the hunt. Then to my amazement, my name was called for 2nd place. I remember being completely shocked and I was not very happy. I accepted my award with disappointment, but I did so with poise. Many in attendance and many fellow athletes assured me that I had been robbed!! I was devastated to say the least. It was a long flight back home. Many questions went through my mind, especially after seeing the score sheets and photos. I had four – 1st place votes, one – 2nd place vote and two – 5th place votes. I was confused by the 5th place votes! How could two judges have had me in 5th place? It was a one point loss!!

A couple of days passed and I received a phone call from one of the judges from the show. The judge explained to me that they did not know what happened and they felt I should have won. This only served to make me even more confused and bitter. I was angry and completely devastated. I had gone through the 14 weeks of training, deprivation and developing the confidence required in attaining a natural pro card for nothing!

I became bitter and depressed about the sport of natural bodybuilding. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into two years of bodybuilding depression. I lost my motivation to compete, I was done.

In 2004, I returned to the stage, but I fell way short of attaining the same level of physique I was accustomed to presenting. I had no motivation, no drive and I only competed to be on stage with my brother Paul Alberts, who is now a WNBF Pro. It was a great experience competing with my brother, but I had lost my drive for the sport. I was remained depressed and yet again, I was absent from the stage for another two years.

Fast forward to the start of 2009, I had decided to come out of retirement and compete again. Only this time I had a new passion, a new drive and most importantly, a new perspective!

By going through such a bitter disappointing loss back in 2002, I have seen firsthand what an obsession with winning can do to an athlete. It can cloud your mind and it can prevent you from seeing the good things that are accomplished during your journey to the stage. Because of my newfound perspective I had a much more rewarding experience this year. I did not criticize myself to the point where I felt disappointed with my progress and I did not feel as though the improvements I was making were never good enough. This year, my journey was not about winning a pro card or beating other athletes.

I learned to appreciate each and every day of training. I really took in the satisfaction of what I accomplished with each of my workouts, whether it was one more repetition than last time or adding more weight to the bar.  After each cardio session I felt a sense of accomplishment, a small victory and I knew it would only improve me. I did not question the session or get down on myself for not having done more. My posing practice became the reward for my hard work. As I was practicing my posing, I took in and enjoyed what I was seeing in the mirror. If there was new definition in my physique, I would see the improvements and be proud of myself. I no longer was looking for the flaws, but rather the improvements I had made.

This year, I let go of the mentality of attempting to beat everyone which had turned the journey solely into business. This time, I really took in the experience and enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship among athletes. I gained friendships this year with INBF Champ Eric Helms, and WNBF Pros Alberto Nunez and Brad Loomis (whom I met back in 2006). These friendships have turned into TEAM 3DMJ, and now we help other natural athletes prepare for their journeys to the stage. I also gained a valuable friendship with INBF Champ Luke Ehlis, who is now a contributing writer for 3DMUSCLEJOURNEY. This could have never happened back in 2002; I would have been closed off and focused only on the task of competing to win.

Backstage at the 09' INBF Washington State Natural with friends Luke Ehlis (left), myself (center) & Eric Helms (right)

I have learned to appreciate all the athletes’ hard work and dedication. I no longer feel I am training harder than someone else or that I deserve more than the other competitors. I can look at another athlete and appreciate their physique on a new level because I understand the mutual sacrifices we have both made to get to the same point. Sometimes we may think no one else is training harder than we are, but in reality there probably is someone out there training harder. I look at these individuals with the utmost respect, because I know how hard it is to get to the contest stage.

I have learned that a bodybuilding contest is only a platform to display our hard work. I have no control over the outcome of a competition. Be it the physiques of the other athletes or the decisions made by the judges, I only have control over myself and my attitude towards the show. It is up to me to decide whether I will enjoy myself or make it so serious that I end up getting disappointed to the point of depression.

I have chosen to look at bodybuilding from a new perspective, and in this better light it is a much more enjoyable process. I no longer participate in this sport for the obsession of becoming a pro or to beat all the other athletes. I participate because I love the everyday challenge, the friendships and camaraderie, the gratification of helping other athletes and for the benefits to my health.

We are now approaching the new 2010 contest season, and many of you may have dreams of becoming a professional natural bodybuilder. There is nothing wrong with that dream.  Just be aware that winning is not the deciding factor for success. The journey itself and the friendships you may make are much more rewarding than either winning or losing. The journey is what you make of it, whether you choose to have a positive outlook or a negative one. Take each day as it comes, train as hard as you can, appreciate your hard work and you will succeed!!

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