In a characteristically brilliant phrase, philosopher Leonard Peikoff describes the ideal artist as one who is "intoxicated...with the possible"1--"the possible" meaning that "which might be and ought to be," i.e., the best possible. It is with this attitude that history’s greatest artists have approached the creation of their dazzling universes and the inspiring characters who populate them.
But this intoxication is not solely the prerogative of novelists and painters. For there is one "character" that every person, no matter what his profession, creates: his own. In the personal realm, "intoxication with the possible" takes the form of "that radiant selfishness of soul which desires the best in all things, in values of matter and spirit, a soul that seeks above all else to achieve its own moral perfection, valuing nothing higher than itself." (Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged)2 Ayn Rand identifies this commitment as the virtue of pride.
It is pride, in this sense, that motivates people to take up bodybuilding--the desire to become as healthy, as strong, as beautiful as they possibly can.3
But what is "the possible" in this regard?
Of course, it is widely recognized that very few have the genetic potential to become world-class physique champions; but few expect, or even aspire to, that level of development anyway. Most (myself included) would be satisfied simply to actualize their muscular potential, however relatively modest that may be. Most soon "learn," however, that the full actualization of one’s muscular potential is, for all practical purposes, a luxury that only those with the very best genetic potential can afford. Why? Because the expenses involved, according to the "received wisdom"--namely, hours a day dedicated to working out, consuming thousands upon thousands of calories worth of food, and resting in total physical exhaustion--not to mention thousands of dollars spent on anabolic steroids--are so high that unless one can expect to make money from the resultant physique (by "turning pro") it’s just not a feasible use of one’s resources. In light of this, many would-be bodybuilders give up their training in frustration, and many more probably never start in the first place.
This state of affairs might seem "reasonable." After all (for example) only those who intend to become professional physicists invest the time, effort, and money required to earn a Ph.D. in physics. Why shouldn’t the actualization of one’s muscular potential be reserved for professional bodybuilders?
Why not? Because, only a few years ago, Mike Mentzer re-defined "the possible".
In its explicit and unprecedented identification of the three fundamental dimensions of exercise--intensity, volume, and frequency--and of their interrelationships, Mike Mentzer's Heavy Duty training system represents nothing less than a revolution in exercise science. And for those who have genuinely put Mentzer's theory into practice--particularly if they were previously accustomed to the grueling, draining "four sets of four exercises per bodypart" approach--Heavy Duty has meant a revolution in their personal lifestyle: faster, more consistent gains in strength and size; more energy; more time.
From a practical standpoint, this last is, I think, the outstanding aspect of the Heavy Duty system (and it is the one reflected in the title of Mentzer’s latest book, Muscles in Minutes): namely, the comparatively minimal time investment that it requires. Those who adhere to Heavy Duty’s high-intensity protocol spend literally, at most, less time working out per month than some high-volume, high-frequency trainers spend in two days--and with equal, or superior, results.
The essence of Mentzer’s achievement, then, is that he has dramatically lowered the "cost" of muscle mass, and thereby dramatically increased the "affordability" of a muscular physique to anyone who wants one--and most especially, to those with a full-time occupation other than bodybuilding, such as students, executives, scientists, plumbers, salesman, grocers, artists, etc., etc.
I would like to elaborate on a particular, philosophical reason why I consider Mentzer’s achievement to be one of tremendous significance.
As I stated earlier, only professional physicists pursue training in physics; similarly, for another example, only auto mechanics seek to become proficient in car repair. Others do not seek such proficiency not only because they do not have time, but also because they simply aren’t interested--just as non-lawyers would be bored to death at the prospect of gaining an exhaustive familiarity with legal precedent, and non-painters couldn’t care less about color theory or brush technique. Almost every person has some degree of potential to achieve in any one of these fields, but most are rational enough to realize that they can only pursue one career, and they properly feel no need to lament over their unactualized potential in the thousands of careers that they did not choose.
And yet, as we know, many people--from widely varying walks of life--do desire to actualize their muscular potential. Why? I believe that the answer lies in the metaphysical status of one’s body.
In a fundamentally rational, division-of-labor society, one can safely be ignorant of, say, microbiology, architectural engineering, computer programming--or even agriculture. But no one can escape the fact of having a body, or the fact that the condition of one’s body, for better or worse, depends on one’s decisions and actions in regard to it.
Discussing the virtue of pride, Ayn Rand says that "as man is a being of self-made wealth, so he is a being of self-made soul." 4 Metaphysically, man’s body occupies an interesting middle-ground here. It is not, as such, a part of his soul, i.e., his consciousness--but it is a part of his self, not something external to him and potentially dispensable. Rather it is, simply put, an additional arena in which the person "intoxicated with the possible" has the irresistible opportunity to bring the possible into real existence. This, I believe, is why the person of genuine pride should naturally desire to "re-make" his body, just as he has re-made his soul and the world around him, in the image of his values.
And now we can recognize the magnitude of Mentzer’s achievement in its full context. For we can see--given all the reasons stated above--that what Heavy Duty makes possible is nothing less than the widespread pursuit of a particular style5 of perfection in, not just any old value (so to speak), but one of man’s fundamental, metaphysical attributes.
So, as we begin a new year, a new decade, a new century and a new millennium, let’s drink a toast to "the possible"--and strive for the Best of Everything!
Steve Clarian
January 2001
NOTES
1. This quote is from Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, page 435 of the paperback edition. [Return to text]
2. This is from John Galt’s speech, page 947 of the paperback edition. [Return to text]
3. Pathological cases aside, of course. As I’ve stated in a previous article--Bodybuilding, Metaphysics, and Art--bodybuilding, like any legitimate activity, CAN be pursued for irrational reasons. [Return to text]
4. Again, from Galt’s speech in Atlas Shrugged--page 947. [Return to text]
5. With regard to the development of one’s body there are, of course, alternatives. There are many types of demanding physical activity other than high-intensity anaerobic training which one might desire to pursue, whether professionally or recreationally; and since the body’s recovery ability is limited, any of these, practiced long-term, preclude one’s following the Heavy Duty regimen. But for those who do not have such specialized interests, I see Heavy Duty as among the foremost "default options." And obviously, for those seeking specifically to put on muscle mass, it is the best--and therefore the only--way to go. [Return to text]
©2001 Steve Clarian
The Best of All rights reserved.