It was a bit weird going through the Labor Day weekend celebrating milestones for friends
birthdays while the memory lingers of the loss of my dear friend Peter Baez on this weekend 2 years ago and my little schnauzer Athena only one year ago. I miss them both dearly. But I was also reminded of how lucky I am to have had them in my life and how grateful I am that all of you are in my life still.Recap-
The beginning of January I started studying to become a certified personal trainer through the NASM, National Association of Sports Medicine, with a exam date of late April.
The end of February I went to Australia with my dear friends Steven, Graham and Marc and had a great time. It was my all paid invitation for a vacation from last year that had to be canceled because I had to get new heart parts put into my chest. What a great change from last years birthday celebration to be able to go “Down Under” not having to be “put under”.
After Australia I came back for 5 days and then I was off to Lyon, France to visit and work with Brett and the cast of Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet. It was amazing! The dancers were all so grateful to have me working on them as their massage therapist and I was in awe of their incredible talent and art form. Alonzo was an inspiration to watch as he created a new dance piece while these dancers were also performing nightly shows to sold out audiences. I never had cried so intensely watching a dance performance. It still touches my heart to recall those days this past spring.
I was studying as much as possible while in France to make sure that I passed my exam for NASM slated to be taken the end of April so I could start my Personal Training Buisness, tightandfit.com.
Needless to say, I was pushing the envelope a bit too far. I was exhausted by all the travels around the globe, but also because somewhere along the way I had ingested a parasite from food that totally kicked my ass, literally. I had lost 10 pounds from diarrhea by the time I returned to San Francisco. I was a little freaked out because I had planned to compete in the summer. I had no energy and had lost a lot of muscle mass. Not from a narcissistic point of view but from a general health standpoint. People were commenting on how “thin” I looked. Not a good thing to tell someone who really tries to just keep weight on for health sake! So then I started to feel like I wasn’t going to do what I had told myself I wanted to do. I had a business to start I couldn't slow down now.
I passed my NASM exam and started working at Diakadi Personal Training gym and wellness center mid May.
I entered my first bodybuilding competition less than 2 weeks ago on August 30, 15 pounds lighter than the weight I usually compete at, but I felt that I was in as good as shape as ever. I went into the competition with the goal of just getting up the courage to be back onstage, challenging myself to stay on top of my health, and to share with anyone who is struggling with weight issues or health issues or general self worth issues, that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Do the work and focus your energy in a positive manner.
I was so honored to have had many of my family members and friends in the audience in Pittsburg, CA for the Contra Costa Bodybuilding Championships, that it was difficult for me not to get emotional. Two of my uncle, both of whom had major bypass surgeries, and their wives were in the audience. I could see their faces in the stage lights reflection out glistening their smiles as I flexed and posed. Their teeth shining brighter and brighter as each passing moment of my posing routine to music played on. I could especially see my aunt Jenny holding here breath, maybe out of hope that I wouldn’t fall on my ass, but maybe more so because she couldn’t believe that she was watching her nephew, who carried her wedding rings down the aisle when he was 5 years old, strutting around in his brief attire after having had his chest cut open wide from collar bone to sternum to fix a faulty valve caused by a genetic disposition. Is that possible to have a genetic disposition and look like an anatomy chart for great symmetry and proportion? I guess that’s where the hard work comes in! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsP9UG46DFo
I know it’s been awhile since I’ve updated my blog but I intend to try to keep things
updated at least a couple times a month since there are still quite a lot of news to report. I’m planning on going to Germany again to compete in the Mr. Universe competition in Hamburg the first week of December. My dear friend Angie Pacaldo is sponsoring me to go. She has been a shinning star in my life, and the life of my friends and family over the past year, and if anyone hasn’t had the chance to meet her, well, you’ll never forget her once you do! And that’s a good thing!I need to acknowledge Brett Conway. He’s been so encouraging and supportive and
watchful in helping me to do all the things I need to and want to do. He wants me to succeed and to be the best I can be. Thank you Brett!Another person I want everyone to know about and acknowledge is John. John Ferrare. He’s an amazing man, an amazing human being. He’s gone through some tremendous growth this past year
and it’s all good. He read Eckert Tolle’s, “A New Earth”. It’s opened up his heart to the life that he and I have shared over the past 8 years and his appreciation of it. We are the best of friends and we are glad to still be a big part of each other’s life. He has embraced my relationship with Brett whole heartedly as have all my friends and family who have met him.It’s not been an easy road to take dealing with surprise after surprise in my life’s challenges but if it wasn’t for all my friends and family (whom I love and love me in return) I couldn’t have done it so easily. “You” are my prize! “You” are my strength. “You” are my inspirations for living and for striving to always be the best Jesse that I can be. Put your faith in God and His plan. With encouragement from and to one another we can all help to make this world a better place one step, one moment and one day at a time.
Love and Light, Jesse Garcia
