“Nothing is promised…”

The sport of professional bodybuilding is a weird creature. You train all year for the biggest show (Mr. Olympia) only to know your dream can be dashed in an instant. The 4-6 months of bulking, then the last couple months of cutting, all for one day, all for a couple of hours, and that’s if you make it.

Unfortunately this year, Fred “Biggie” Smalls is one of the ones that didn’t. In a recent post on instagram he declared he was out of this year’s Mr. Olympia due to Salmonella poisoning. The IFBB pro and bodybuilding vet has spent the last week in a hospital undergoing test after test and living through an IV.

If you haven’t heard I will not be able to participate in this years Olympia !! My life over last week has been in a hospital room running test after and after test . And living through an IV ! Had first solid food in over week and seem to be back on the upside of things . Serious salmonella poisoning can wreck havoc on your body . Oh yeah lost 33 lbs in the process , all I can say is thank you for everyone who has wished me well , let me know what I mean to them and kept me strong during this disappointment and struggle #embracethenow

A photo posted by Fred Smalls Ifbb Pro (@fredbiggiesmalls) on Sep 13, 2016 at 2:53am PDT

To lose 10 lbs in a week is rare, to lose 33 lbs in a week is madness. Our hearts and prayers goes out to Fred “Biggie” Smalls and his family and the disappointment he must be going through. But to be honest, he’s not the only one.

In a recent interview with Dennis we talk about the dangers of contest prepping. Despite the physical juggernaut you have to be to train, people don’t realize the mental behemoth you have to be to make it on stage. Mistakes will happen, and there are things beyond your control, but like anything in life, how will you respond? Can you imagine being a week out of show you’ve spent a year preparing for only to get injured, or have to bow out? The cost for a trainer, supplements, the blood, sweat, and tears you’ve put into training, the sacrifice, and all for a niche sport. Let’s be honest guys, we’re not talking about NBA money here. And all this just to do it again next year? You have to be a stone cold killer. You have to want it, bad.

Despite the best prepping in the world, you have to have a little bit of luck and here’s to hoping the bodybuilding Gods smile down upon you.

So next time you’re on stage or watch a contest live, remember all the hard work, time, and luck it took to get there. Enjoy.

Will you be tuning into the Olympia?

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