These are all things going through their minds and they had only a few hours before the evening Finals would commence. But most of these men had been through it all before. But this was was Roelly Winklaar’s first professional show, let alone the 2010 Arnold Classic.

The Netherlands resident did not appear satisfied afterwards but remained positive. “I feel good,” he said. “I did my best.” Winklaar made the second call-out and for a rookie, that was quite an accomplishment in itself in a line-up as deep as this one was. “If I don’t make the top six, I’ll try again,” he said.

After the introductions and individual posing routines, six men remained in their posing trunks while the rest packed up. Winklaar joined his trainer Sibilla Peeters in the audience and when asked, said that he had no idea where he had placed at that time. His mood may have been brighter if he knew that he did in fact finish seventh, ahead of Hidetada Yamagishi, Melvin Anthony, Robert Piotrkowicz, Tarek Elsetouhi, Johnnie Jackson and Sergey Shelestov.

A week later at the Australian Pro, Winklaar qualified for the Mr. Olympia by taking third place. And just recently, he was signed by Muscular Development magazine and appears on the cover of their upcoming issue.

Things are certainly looking up for Winklaar and even if he decides not to compete again right away, his future looks very bright, indeed.

The monthly 500 Word Article Submission Contest on the Muscular Development website forums (www.musculardevelopment.com) has already begun posting some of the entries, with the winner having his/her article published in the print magazine. Voting will begin shortly and go until December 12. Is this a shameless ploy to get some votes for my entry, “Sweatpants and a Duffel Bag” by MuscleSport Mag? You bet, it is! To get your by-line in MD should not be taken lightly, and I’m not doing so. If you have never been on the boards, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. MD is the top publication out there and their website is loaded with great material. The forums are legendary, especially the ‘No Bull’ section. Sign up, post and don’t forget to vote every month.

Sweatpants and a Duffel Bag

Remember the first time that you hit the weights? Me neither, but it doesn’t really matter, I suppose. As long as there is a first time to think back to and that there’s been many more since then.

Yeah, the longer that you’ve been training the harder it gets to recall how bad those first few workouts were. Your form was totally off, hands in the wrong position and all. But you got your ass in there and, lo and behold, it wasn’t too much longer before you figured it out.

Watching the ‘big guys’ training near you, reading magazine articles and (if you had the balls) asking questions of the guy waiting for you to finish on the incline bench gave you the knowledge that you needed to make that jump. Before you knew it, you were on the answering end of those same questions.

Over the years, you’ve gone through enough changes but one thing’s remained consistent – no matter what you always found time to get yourself to the gym. Even if it was one of those pieces of home equipment with the rubber band weights. While the people you lived near or worked with made their January cameos to satisfy their fat consciousness, you took care of business.

It may get harder every year, but when you can look yourself in the mirror and say that you’re in the best shape of your life, you know that you’re doing something right. It’s a simple formula – take care of your body and reap the rewards. The kind that stares you down every morning when shaving.

“There goes that guy with the sweatpants and duffel bag again.” Is that what your neighbor thought to himself this morning when you waved to one another as he raked another bag of fallen leaves? Have fun with that cleanup, my friend. I have a little back and bis to take care of.