The Iron Path: A Lifetime of Lifting and Why I Still Show Up

 ## The Iron Path: A Lifetime of Lifting and Why I Still Show Up

They say Father Time is undefeated, and I know that eventually, the numbers on the plates will have to start moving in the opposite direction. Most people probably won't believe the miles I’ve put in or the iron I’ve moved, but the barbell doesn’t lie.

My journey with the weights began back in the 80s. I used to walk over a mile to the local gym, put in the work, and walk a mile back. In those days, I was sitting with 18-inch arms and a 150 kg (330 lbs) deadlift. I even tested myself in a powerlifting competition in 1987—officially registered with the Weight Lifting Guild and everything. I came in dead last that day, but I showed up, and that’s where the foundation was laid.

### The Home Front and the Highs

Over the years, the scenery changed, but the routine stayed the same. From the gym in Bude to training in Holsworthy, I kept pushing. For a long time, my "secret weapon" was the consistency of home training. Twice a week, I’d be in the house with dumbbells, barbells, and raw determination.

Eventually, at the Holsworthy Leisure Centre, that consistency paid off. I reached a point where I was "maxing out" the full stack on every machine in the building and working with 30 kg (66 lbs) dumbbells.

I eventually moved on from that spot—life is too short to train where you aren't comfortable—but I never stopped moving.

### The Modern Era: Odin’s Gym and The Home Lab

In September 2025, I signed up at Odin’s Gym. My approach these days is surgical: three machines, once a week, focusing on quality.

 * **Standing Hack Squat:** 120 kg

 * **Seated Back Row:** 120 kg

 * **Seated Chest Press:** 85–100 kg

I stick to 3–4 sets of 15 reps. It’s about maintenance, muscle endurance, and staying mobile.

When I’m not at the gym, the home sessions are still the backbone of my fitness. I use a 5 kg curling bar for deadlifts (ranging from 40 kg to 80 kg), and a 20 kg (44 lbs) dumbbell for hammer curls and one-arm shoulder presses. I also mix in behind-the-neck presses, squats, and barbell curls. I even keep it old-school with a classic 56 lb weight and a 20 kg kettlebell.

### More Than Just Muscle

I wouldn’t claim to be the strongest man in the world, but that was never really the point. I do this for two reasons: **mental health and staying functional.**

There is a clarity that comes from lifting something heavy and then putting it back down. It keeps the mind sharp and the body capable. Combined with a two-mile walk most days, it’s a lifestyle that keeps me moving forward.

The weights might get lighter as the years go by, but the discipline stays exactly the same.

**What’s your "why" for staying active? Is it the numbers on the bar, or how it makes you feel when you walk out the door?**