FORGIVE YOUR BODY; FORGIVE YOURSELF!

[@anthonyhulse1248]

Just coming up to 5 years after Bladder cancer, chemo, and many surgeries. I’m feeling optimistic though, because of videos like this, and because I have a great personal trainer who pushes me hard, but never to injury. I’m stronger, lighter and fitter than I have been for many years.

[@johnfitzsimmons5690]

Profound. This video should have one billion views. In our youth obsessed culture, aging is frowned on, if it is acknowledged at all. Losing ability, aches and pains, illness, etc. feel like an insult. WTF? I train--you respond. I want a new PR in the deadlift. No? You're 60 years old and can't deliver? WTF? It's not going to happen and resentment builds. Forgiving is the only logical and productive thing to do. Thanks for this video!

[@murphyarmstrong3163]

Lovely episode. Thank you. I had a bout of cancer 10 years ago (colon- caught it in time). Shortly after I joined a gym. At 70 I took up Olympic lifting. I’m 75 now, lift 3 days a week and compete every chance I get. Fuck cancer! Fuck getting old!

[@damianlang1855]

You, sir, would fit in perfectly at Greysteel:)

[@billking8843]

Had colon cancer 20 years ago. Wasn't easy. They had to just about cut me in half to dig it out. 30 staples. Now living just as heavy as I ever did.

[@rochellemelvin5178]

❤❤❤❤

[@hubertchristopher9180]

You look pretty good for a guy with cancer and back issues. Best of luck, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you carry on your good works for many years to come. Thank you for all you do.

[@markburnham7512]

As a 70 year old, current Covid experiencer, I truly appreciate this wisdom. God bless.

[@arymniak1]

In my third year of throat cancer recovery, training saved my life. Been following, great advice and wisdom. Graysteel rocks!

[@stevendrysdale1067]

About to begin my recovery from stage 4 lymphoma. One more treatment to go. It’s going to take a lot of patience.

[@arymniak1]

One year later and still going strong. Consistency has been the key. Really increased my strength over this past year following a very simple program outlined in the Barbell Prescription book. Grateful. Cancer free after 4 years. Lord please keep me that way so I can continue to strengthen myself.

[@gregorybuttari8651]

50 ...Bi focals, tendinitis in the left arm. I won't quit until GOD calls me home ....good principal movement is medicine.....don't let your ego overcome your wisdom, age is a blessing growth is ongoing....love your wisdom, Sir

[@Mettejks]

I wish I could have liked this video a hundred times. It is profound and wonderful, thank you so much! ❤❤❤

[@americanexile]

My best wishes for you in fighting the Lymphoma! Your video resonates strongly with my own experience, and my current situation. So I also thank you for that -- having been a long-time reader of The Barbell Prescription. Which I have recommended to many people. My repetitive 2 cents: Giving yourself permission to fully recover is vital. My worst mistakes fall into two categories. First, I rushed recovery or ignored all the pain signals -- and damaged myself instead of improving. Second, I had a few sedentary years in which weight gain and inflammation -- including joint arthritis -- put a real hurting on my body. The bad weight is gone, but the arthritis remains -- and with that, some real loss of mobility. So the worst thing you can do, IMO: being inactive. That will kill you faster. But the second worst thing you can do is to keep grinding when your body tells you it needs a break. A professional athlete -- or a tactical operator -- or someone in an emergency situation: maybe it is your job to keep pushing. But for the rest of us, if the particular activity (workout or program) is not a matter of life or death, don't make it one. Don't fall into the binary -- black & white -- thinking. You'll get it next week. You'll get it when you are fully recovered. Be strategic. Be in it for the long run.

[@GreySteel]

Great post. 🙏

[@johnandstephanie377]

I was angry when I tore my meniscus in 2021 at 52. Should have done more therapy, but I worked it out in home gym. Lost a little mobility but it came back and my squats are better. I had to learn to stop when pain hit me. I logged it and came back another week and hit all my weights. Love this channel. So glad old rippatoe introduced me you.

[@DennisNowland]

I am 70 years of age, so I know a bit. Go swimming, cycling and walking and do some weights on machines. Now take it leave it but I can sleep soundly knowing you that I have given you the best advice that I found works for me.

[@sambsialia]

Dennis, I am 55 and I find that free weights are the best for me. I want to be diplomatic, but I strongly believe that I should always use free weights instead of machines. If needed, I can always start lighter and progress up. But, I will argue that the best benefits for my bones, muscle, and connective tissue comes from supporting weights that are free. I truly believe that anyone can progress to free weights, unless contra indicated by other medical reasons. Yesterday, I was watching the Persian Yoga channel and have learned that free weights, in this case not barbells but weighted clubs/meels, have been used for centuries. What really impressed me were the grey heads in the Zurkaneh or “House of Strength”. Still dive bombing pushups on a board and swinging weights around. I wear barefoot sandals or go barefoot because I believe that more cushion and more arch support actually is not helpful but teaches us to be weak and unsupported. I do backwards walking on a turned off treadmill cause Knees Over Toes Guys says the Chinese have been backwards walking for knee health for centuries instead of adding more cushion. And, unlike most Starting Strength novice, I do heavy frames carries to help load my frame and increase posture. But, it is still the same principles that SS and Greysteel promote. Gradually load and build. It works for me and I hope to reach 70. God bless!

[@Francesco-cj3oi]

I'm not a masters athlete, but thank you Sully for this channel and your wisdom. You are a great example to follow into my older years, far as they may seem, although I could never pull off such beautiful hair in a million years!

[@albertbresca5801]

OMG how did my youtube feed know I was going through back pains etc as a 55 yo???? hilariously good.....and timely...

[@GruntProof]

Good stuff

[@mikkopalasvirta3307]

I was diagnosed with stage 4 B-cell lymphoma in summer 2020, and I was given the all clear that December. As I started working out at home following the quite taxing treatments (I went into a septic shock at one point, very likely caused by chemotherapy induced damages to my guts, which very nearly took my life - kind of obvious, I suppose), my first workout consisted of 5x10 pushups, 5x15 bodyweight squats and little besides, after which I was completely exhausted and quite nauseous to boot. Luckily, muscle memory is real, and the thirty or so years working out with weights helped me put on muscle and gain strength quite rapidly, and about a year or so after the treatments ended (I had a little hickup in the way of a pulmonary embolism caused by the cancer itself or the chemo a little later) I was basically back to where I'd been before the whole thing. And in fact, I did a 100kg one-rep max on the seated overhead press (from pins on a power rack) just two weeks ago. It was my PR, which I felt quite good about, having turned turned 58 this year. Not that breaking records is my priority - staying as healthy as I can is, and I'm quite sure the three decades of consistently working out have played some role in my recovery and the fact that there have been no signs of the cancer returning since the first all clear. At the very least it has kept me sane during the whole thing. All the ramblings aside, I wish you strength with all the battles in this war we call life - sometimes a little retreat is needed to be able to advance at a later date.

[@GreySteel]

THanks for telling your story, Mikko.

[@TheT1000tony]

That's good stuff. Best wishes with your lymphoma journey Sully.

[@406dn7]

I wish you well in your fight against lymphoma. That makes the bursitus flare up in my knee seem really trivial. My journey is ten years longer than your's, to date. Three friends passed into the unknown recently, all younger than me. It is sobering, but really the only option is to keep on living life. You have trumpeted the benefits of strength training, it is indeed powerful medicine. I hope it makes the difference in your case.

[@andybuckle285]

A fantastic video, as ever Dr. Sully. I wish you the very best in dealing with your lymphoma.

[@matthewstrauts5427]

Love your delivery and humor Sully. But even more than that, love your passion and knowledge of strength training for masters athletes. At 55 years old, it's hard to get excited about anything regarding strength training from social media as it's almost exclusively geared toward those under 40. Thank you for your comitment to this extremely important information. 🙏🏼

[@gregorybuttari8651]

Thanks!

[@woodbyte]

Listening to my body is perhaps the single best thing I've learned from working out regularly. I used to pay it no mind, but working out 6 days a week has made me hyper aware of every little pain and discomfort, particularly on the joints, because I now know from experience that ignoring such feedback and pushing on will bring nothing but misery to the both of us.

[@dimitryvesensky8165]

❤Fantastic video...

[@richardkule9384]

Well said. Nice background lighting.

[@rdmckeever7645]

I thought it odd when my Physiology prof pointed out, "The brain is part of the body," during the first lecture of the semester. It seemed obvious but apparently some folks needed to be informed or reminded of such. 46-years later, it must still be news to some. Good reminder for those that may have forgotten or never knew; thanks. Keep fighting the good fight. Now if you'll excuse me, my back says I (all of the parts together) need to visit the inversion table...

[@vspflatcat]

A really fantastic message. Thank you so much. And I'm so sorry to hear about the lymphoma, I hope that your recovery is swift and complete.

[@MikeBarbarossa]

Wishing you the best dealing with your lymphoma. I'm sure you know the best way to move forward. Good luck

[@ForTehNguyen]

recovery is just as important as the workout itself

[@fingerlakesWatcher]

Thanks - I needed that. A lot of us do!

[@Luckey900]

Thanks Doc, I needed that.

[@fyimediaworld]

None of this makes my slow deterioration and the accompanying pain any less emotionally bearable. I struggle to find movements that I can do somewhat regularly, that will benefit me, without being completely invalid for the week following.

[@Debsjac]

True wisdom..thank you I needed to hear that ❤️

[@thefox1703]

Wow, thank you for these profound words!

[@gregorymccoy6797]

After a lifetime of challenges, I'm sure you're equal to this one, too. Get better, Sir. I've always considered me and my body in an uneasy truce, waiting for one or the other to violate it on a whim. I should rethink my position.

[@jeffreybabino8161]

Hey Dr Scully excellent video those disagreements I had with my own body thank you great job

[@helenfernandez5956]

Thank you Sully. Needed encouragement to get out of the hole l seem to be stuck in. Love the advice of forgiving my body just as l would forgive a friend. Makes so much sense. My mind and body must get on the same page.

[@darioinfini]

One of the interesting things I've learned in the process of training is listening to my body and what it's telling me. Oh it complains the entire workout session. That's that dull yak yak yak of complaint. But when there's a twinge of a sharp pain it's telling me dude, I'm serious. You continue with this, I WILL make you pay. I've learned to tell the difference and I've learned to take the threat seriously. My body always wins. When it says "I'm serious", it's rare at this point that I have the boneheadedness to insist, no, one more rep, I have it IN ME! Yeah maybe. But you won't have it in you for awhile after.

[@feliciacoffey6832]

That's exactly the system I use. 64 and it's working so far.

[@twofeathersspiritual3454]

Well said, sir!

[@arbiter3297]

Thank you for the great wisdom and prayers for your battle with lymphoma.

[@MadshGrappling]

Great message and beautifully conveyed!

[@canonik55-19]

❤great talk doc

[@WilliamStanton-t2u]

Thank you Sully. On first watching this video a few months back, I rejected the message out of sheer pride and stubbornness. Now I'm revisiting the video because nagging injuries are bringing me down, and I hear the message. You're giving me a path forward.

[@ethanallenhawley1052]

Every day is a gift!

[@gymdad6626]

Interesting concept forgiveness. I had a crisis of confidence the night before, and the day of my most recent meet. Reflecting on the experience, I couldn't understand why I thought I would fail every lift. My training had been pretty good, and I was as "healthy" as I had been for a few years. What I came to realize was the fact that I didn't trust my body not to betray me as it had in previous competitions. Covid / Cancer / Wonky Thyroid over a 3 year period will do that, and I refused to acknowledge that I wasn't a bulletproof teenager any more. I came to terms with my "frailty"...and I guess you could say I forgave myself. It's made a world of difference in my perspective about how I train. Thanks for your perspective and video Sully.

[@Hossak]

Great video, Sully. So sorry to hear of your health issues, all the best and look forward to hearing good news.

[@GreySteel]

News is all good. I'm clear now.

[@Hossak]

@@GreySteel Champion!!!!!!

[@joshuaroberts2059]

This is thoughtful and beautiful.

[@GreySteel]

Thank you.

[@robertmajor4904]

Very well said!

[@Abraham_Kist-Okazaki]

To me, the fact we can be programmed to think of ourselves as a "Mustang trapped inside of a Dodge" actually seems to make us look a lot like a combination of hardware and software which to me sounds a whole lot like the Greek dualism between body and spirit that you want us to move away from. Because I bought your book when I was 56, at 59 I am the strongest that I've ever been in my life and am even continuing to make strength gains. I do know at some point, that will come to an end for me. However, I do wonder what it's like for the mindset of those around my age who unlike me was faithful at taking care of their body and training from their younger days. Whereas I am amazed at how much my body is capable of as I continue to progress, they've been having to deal with the reality of the increasing limitations aging brings despite the fact that they have been good to their bodies for the whole journey. My guess is that for you, forgiving your body is a much more difficult process than it is for me. I do wish you peace on your journey going through this chapter with lymphoma and thank you for the help you've given to me on my journey.

[@damianlang1855]

Awesome comment and achievement!

[@quaysaymeditations]

Thank you for your courage, sense of humor, and insight. Best wishes.

[@jeffreybabino8161]

Hi Dr Scully great job on the video yep I have had some disagreements over the years like when I tried to do strong lifts 5x5 and it beat the heck out of me that's when I got your book and everything has been good since thanks🏋️

[@karenmarr7266]

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, and for the self-compassion you model, and suggest for us. I feel at peace.

[@matthewstevens2700]

Your channel has helped me a great deal to stay strong at 67 years of age. I'd like to offer my profound best wishes in your fight with lymphoma.

[@GreySteel]

Thank you. Winning!

[@malinaf1]

thank you for reminder! off to exploring your channel!

[@TheDoctor23452]

Excellent presentation! My best to you on your lymphoma fight! From a fellow doc. 🙏

[@davidpenfold]

Lovely episode 🙏

[@davidwayne9982]

I've been arguing with MINE since I got mashed between those two trucks in 99... and lately , IT"S WINNING!!! :)

[@bcduckworth]

Thank you for this video, and so many more. Invaluable reminders. Hope this unpleasantness is in your rear-view pronto.

[@oldmanpawpaw]

Thank you, buddy.

[@sammack9149]

Hey there Sully. Im a 26 yo male recently diagnosed with femoral condyle chondromalacia, and Im looking for advice on how to train with/through/around this. Been scouring the interwebs and havent found anything useful. Thanks in advance if you see this and reply. Big fan of the channel 💪

[@MichaelCarter]

I like the two very different videos of two different dead lifting methods. Mine uses the legs mostly. I just put a video up about how I manage recovery.

[@kennethcraig6439]

This video came along at a good time for me, Sully. I've been pretty consistent for a 65-year-old, crusty, retired MGySgt, but I find myself feeling guilty for not sticking to my schedule sometimes. I haven't injured myself in years, but my back sometimes sends me a message to "back off" for an extra day. I've been listening to my body more lately and not pushing as hard as I would in the past. If it's good enough for Raymond Reddington, it's good enough for me. (By the way, I've got Reddington blood in my ancient Scottish past.)

[@GreySteel]

Glad it spoke to you, Top!

[@martystrasinger3801]

I love how, near the beginning, you said you avoided talking politics and religion (and by implication philosophy) and then jumped in with both feet! On the subject, are there any books on the philosophy of lifting or exercise? Keep us proud, doctor!

[@GreySteel]

Politics and religion =/= philosophy. I'm all in on philosophy.

[@barbellgardener]

The universe likes to push us to see if we can still push back.......yes we can

[@northernlights6459]

This was wonderful and exactly what I believe and you’ve explained it so well.I’m doing strength training for the first time in my life and making good progress. I’m retired and subject to the aches and pains of getting older, some days are worse than others.Forgiving your body is forgiving yourself and it feels like a happy release. Your presentation was very profound and so helpful to me at this stage in my life.

[@GreySteel]

I'm so glad it spoke to you.

[@sherrischwartz6844]

Love

[@vancemcnulty8242]

I know you downplayed the cancer diagnosis doc, but serious stuff, gonna pray for your healing.

[@garyellis9917]

Is it possible to visit your gym? I'm from California and would like to spend a few days or a week learning good form before returning home? Obviously, I'm willing to pay for your time. Thank you.

[@russellsnell9680]

Dr. Sullivan, talking about forgiveness of the body, I have been told by my cardiologist that I have a mild thoracic aneurysm. She tells me that I can't weight lift because I may cause it to burst or separate. There is no way I give up lifting. I am looking for options. We have your book as well as starting strength and have been following the regimen. I want to continue, but I do realize I may have to modify the training. I could use some advice on how to continue. I sent you an email, but I am sure you get thousands of emails and mine may have been overlooked or not reached you yet. Can you help? Thanks!

[@GreySteel]

I will look for the email. Long story short: these kinds of vascular lesions make me nervous. I'm not sure what I'd do if I had one--I'd probably train, but I don't know. But I can tell you that as a coach I do not accept clients with aortic lesions unless their _vascular surgeon_ tells me I can train them. Sorry I can't be more encouraging, sir.

[@russellsnell9680]

@@GreySteel Thank you sir! I just appreciate you getting back to me. My wife and I were about 3 months into the starting strength program. I am 64 and she is 62. the first I'd heard about my aneurysm they called it a mildly dilated aorta sinus. I figured it was no big deal. It was during her report thaat I found out it was an aneurysm. I've done some homework and there aren't a lot of studies on aneurysms and lifting. and very little on if lifting makes it worse. Anyway, I appreciate your working with the master aging athlete! My wife and I have lost weight and have gotten stronger in the time we were lifting your program! You convinced me it's not too late to lift. I'll figure something out. maybe lighter sets longer until the weights are not a strain to lift, then go up 5 pounds. We'll see. I refuse to live in fear and I will be a participant in my healing and health! Thanks for getting back to me!

[@kalwija]

I bet you are a Spinoza reader! If I’m wrong, well… I like your philosophy :-)

[@GreySteel]

I am a great admirer of Spinoza...and Leibniz.

[@jimkane4530]

Haven't seen any posts lately ! Are you okay?

[@GreySteel]

I am! We have THREE videos in the works, including a new "Form Check" feature. It's just me and Damian on a shoestring, so we can't always push vids out as fast as we'd like. Thanks for sticking with us!

[@K4R3N]

Good message Sully. And it lands even better post-divorce 😂

[@sherrischwartz6844]

I miss you even though I don't know you.

[@jahkarl7376]

Sir, I am an ageing strength athlete who demands subjugation of my body because it still has ability. But as a Christian, I believe Jesus has led me to your video, and I have taken away a life changing, very beneficial wisdom from your video. God bless you, Sir.

[@Robert-xk5pm]

I forgive my body but my body hasn't forgiven me.

[@ChadWilson]

We do not forgive our body because the golden years...aren't. Our immune system betrays us, slowly, but marching to ultimate betrayal. Our metabolism slows. Our brain steadily loses cognitive mobility. After having lived 40 years of relatively good health and fortune, you realize that you are at risk of having a bad day because you slept in the wrong position. You can have eaten only the purest of food, drank only the cleanest of liquid, maintained the most peaceful of mind, only to be subject to genetics, epigenetics, an external world, and trillions of viruses and bacteria trying to make a meal of you. Aging is an indignant process and I am fighting it every day.

[@mw1429]

bull - that thinking is what gets you on the easy lazy side of life

[@GreySteel]

Oh, yeah. That's me, and my colleagues, and my athletes in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. All the other viewers who've posted on their own trials here in the comments: they're lazy too. All of them on the easy-lazy side. Yup. All of us slackers. NOT LIKE YOU. You nailed us. You didn't watch the video, did you, Mike? Or if you did, you didn't actually THINK about it, did you? Kinda like you didn't have the time to actually properly compose an English sentence, with caps and punctuation? Maybe you were too...lazy?

[@feliciacoffey6832]

​@@GreySteelLove the sick burn, Sully!

[@johnandstephanie377]

I thought there was a podcast at one point, but I don't see it any longer. Thanks

[@JaredSchmuck]

We are not our bodies. If you lose a limb, are you not still here? There are people with no limbs who are still here. We don't even need to open our eyes to see as evidenced by dreams. BOOM!

[@GreySteel]

Have you ever had a dream when your body did not physically exist? Have you ever had ANY experience in the objective absence of your physical being? Did you ever have a dream in the absence of brain activity? Aren't dreams, in fact, a clear and measurable manifestation of brain activity, which is a physical, BODILY phenomenon? I'll wager I've met FAR more amputees than you have. I've never had a conversation with an amputee (or anybody else) without a body. Are the people with no limbs disembodied and incorporeal? Have you ever met an amputee who was missing the ENTIRE rest of her body? Boom yourself. You've helped me make my point.

[@JaredSchmuck]

@@GreySteel You've defined body as including the head. Very clever.

[@GreySteel]

@@JaredSchmuck Did you define body as NOT including the head or the brain? Because that would be a rather unconventional definition of "body," at least as far as this physician and physiologist is concerned. Tell me something: what is the physical, anatomic demarcation between "head" and "body?" You....you really haven't thought this through, have you?