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True Tales from the Gym - Auto Suggestion

By Ray Nobile


Scottish Bodybuilding and Strength Legend Ray Nobile has met a lot of interesting people throughout his weight lifting career. Ray has shared some stories and kindly allowed Strength Oldschool to publish them. The stories are 100% genuine and real names will be used where applicable.

Scottish Bodybuilding Legend Ray Nobile - True Tales of the Gym


Story:

It was the mid 1970s, I was training at Pat Mcshanes famous health and strength club in Coatbridge, Scotland. There I met and befriended Mick Thomson. Mick was passionate about strength training and everything related to it. He was always seeking and trying out ways to increase his power. He read an article about auto suggestion and the power of the mind.

Also, training there was a university lecturer by the name of Gordon Commish. Gordon's biggest ambition was to bench press 300 lbs. Try as he might he could never quite hit that figure. His best was 295, done 6 months before. Mick told Gordon that he would like to try an experiment on him to try and get that magic number of 300. He explained what was involved to Gordon, Gordon was very enthusiastic and excited to try Micks method. It was decided to try the method when there was complete quiet in the gym.

So early the following Saturday morning one hour before the gym opened to the public, Mick, Gordon and myself met in the gym. I went because i was curious to see the results. If successful then I would let Mick try it out on me. Anyway Mick told Gordon to start bench pressing and told him to work up to 285 then the experiment would begin.

So Gordon worked up to 285. Mick then told Gordon to lie on the bench and to keep his eyes on the bar. This Gordon did, Mick began to talk very quietly to Gordon telling him to visualise himself benching 300 lbs and telling him that he was the strongest man that ever lived blah..blah..blah etc.

After 5 mins of this I noticed Gordon's eyes were shut. I thought he must be concentrating on what Mick was telling him. Well another 5 mins passed and Gordon started snoring, he had fell asleep. I told Mick that Gordon had fallen asleep. Mick said that that was good as a person is more receptive to suggestion when they are sleeping and that the experiment would continue.

So after another 5 mins he woke Gordon. Once Gordon opened his eyes Mick told him to load the bar to 300 lbs. Gordon replied 'fuck off' I'm away home to my bed, I'm fucking knackered. Mick was not amused. I nearly pissed myself laughing.

By the way Mick went on to write articles for Hardgainer magazine in the 1990s.


Thanks to Ray for allowing Strength Oldschool to publish this short story. If you wish to comment please use our Facebook link.

If you long for the good ol' days of "Old School Bodybuilding" check out my Vintage Muscle Magazine videos on Youtube!


Keep training hard folks!

All the best,

Strength Oldschool




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