September is here and this past weekend marked the 2 week out point for my 2nd show of the season, the IFPA Pro International in Kansas City, KS. I have never been this motivated to bring my best and overall I am loving this whole journey. I have really come to realize that its not what happens on a given day, it's the work you put forth leading up to it. Give your best, have fun with it and everything will come together with time.
Here are a few training highlights from the past few weeks of my prep, going to keep grinding all the way to the stage! I also want to thank everyone for all of the support!!
This Past weekend Tara and I made a quick trip to Sacramento, California for the IFPA Pro USA. This was my first pro show and I am more than happy with how things went. I had an absolute blast seeing everyone again and meeting a ton of great competitors, for me this is one of the best parts of the sport. Bob and Tina Bell run one of the best shows around and it really helps with the whole experience. Here are a few clips of the IFPA Pro Men's Pre Judging courtesy of Matt Ogus. Also if you get a chance check out the link to is YouTube page. He is doing some great things for the sport and always posts some great vids, not to mention he is a beast in the gym.
I also want to give a huge Congratulations to Moji Oluwa for his big win this weekend. You have always been a huge inspiration to me and it was an honor to share the stage with you. Also, Robbie "Superman" Sardinia. You are all around an amazing Bodybuilder and person, pictures and vids don't even give justice to the conditioning he brought to the stage! I had a blast sharing the moment with you, there will be many more to come!!
For me this is just the start to the season. I am also planning on competing in the IFPA Pro International in Kansas City on September 15, 2012. Everything is booked and I am now sitting at 8 weeks out from my 2nd show. I know what I have to do to improve....now I just have to do it. I can't thank everyone enough for all the support, it really means so much to me and has really provided me with tons of inspiration in and out of the gym. Here are some clips from this past weeks training, back to work and killing it all the way to the stage! You will see some crazy changes in 8 weeks!
It's been a few weeks since my last update, but things have been rolling right along. Work is in full swing with cherry harvest and I am now less than 3 weeks out from the IFPA Pro USA. My weight is still steadily dropping and I have no doubt I will be bringing my best to date. There is still time to keep pushing it and that I will! Here are a few highlight clips from the past 2 weeks of training.
These next few weeks look like they are going to be super busy, but this actually helps keep me in a routine and the time will blow by. Before I know it Tara and I will be making the trip south to Sacramento, slapping on some Dream Tan and hanging out with a ton of great friends.
It's hard to believe that as of today I am officially 34 days out from my IFPA Pro Debut!! This prep has really been an eyeopener for me, especially when it comes to keeping an open mind. Don't be afraid to go against what others may believe is the right way, because a closed mind has limits. My philosophy is to approach the gym like a Powerlifter/Strongman and diet like a Bodybuilder and I am absolutly loving every aspect of my prep so far. Now it is time to step up the game and finish stronger than the first! Here are a few training highlights from this past week.
Powerlifter, Strongman and Bodybuilders all have many training techniques in common and they can carry over to each individual sport. I feel that I have found a balance of training in the the "grey" area, other than black or white. I have really tried adapt my training method to suit my needs and I really feel that the variations and methods I use have really helped me improve on my physique and in this sport on a yearly basis. Most importantly I love training this way and when it comes down to it....if its not fun, then why do we do it? I'm not saying that training this way is great for everyone, all I am saying is to find what works for you and you enjoy doing...then run with it!
Training has been rolling right along and I hit a low of 203.0lbs this week. Overall I am feeling great and here are a few training highlights from this past week.
One thing that is really hitting me this prep is the mentality to never settle for anything less than your best. It doesn't matter what others think or say, just as long as you personally know you didn't just settle for anything. Bodybuilding is actually more mental than most would care to admit and what separates most competitors is the ability to break through barriers mentally before physically. If you say "never"...then you never will.
Progress for me at this point is slow, but steady. I am staying consistent and trying to keep as much strength as possible. Here is a highlight from my deficit deadlifts this past Wednesday as well as my comparison pictures from my 2010 prep. I also finished this week with a low of 203.6lbs. I still have a long way to go, but I am closer than I was yesterday.
2010
2012
Yesterday marked the 8 week out point and I was able to meet up with Cohn Wolfe, a fellow bodybuilder and good friend for some legs. We didn't really keep track of sets or reps but here is some footage from our Safety Bar squats.
This past week has been a little harder mentally than usual, but I finally broke through. I weighed in at 204.6lbs 9 weeks out and progress is really picking up steam. For those of you who have prepped before you all know about some of the mind tricks that take place during a sticking point of your prep. You may question your calorie intake or amount of cardio your doing, but when it comes down to it all you have to do is stick to the plan that you have set in place and you will push through with no problem. All I know is I could not do this without the help of Tara and her watchful eye on monitoring my progress. It makes all the difference in the world to know I have her backing me in my corner as well as all of your support. No matter the outcome of each training session, as long as I give my absolute all at the time I will improve in more areas than one.
Despite the mental toughness this past week, I have actually had some amazing workouts. Here are some highlights from this past week.
*Warm-ups excluded
Safety Bar Squats- 4x8@335
BB Lunges- 4x12@135 (Pauses on each step at bottom)
V-Squat- 4x8
Leg Extensions- 4x10 / 2x12
Progress has been rolling right along and my weight is sitting just at 206lbs. I am passing the 10 week out mark for my first show, so today just before cardio Tara was able to take a few progress pictures for comparison from my last prep. I had many areas I wanted to improve on this past offseason and now is when I can start to see if I have made any progress towards those goals of improvement. Progress is made a day at a time, the key is to be consistent and it will come.
2010 Prep
2012 Prep
Also, here are a few training highlights from this past week.
Had a great one and here's how it went.....
*Warm-ups excluded
Leg Press- 4x10
Hack Squat + Bands- 2x10 / 3x8
Smithmachine Lunge- 4x8 1x12
Leg Extensions- 4x10 / 1x8
"To give any less than your best is to sacrifice a gift" - Steve Prefontaine
For me this really hits home in all areas. Some days you feel amazing and others its a real struggle to push forward. As long as deep down you know you are giving 100% of what you are capable at that time, it will always be worth it. These past few weeks have been a little harder for me. I have actually had a few setbacks with allergies and a cold, but I still kept things on track and worked around it with one goal on my mind...Improve! I also just passed the 11 week out mark to the IFPA Pro USA and I am weighing right at 206lbs. I am defiantly leaner and stronger at this weight, so I am pretty excited to finally see some of the improvements I have made this last year. This is also really helping with my motivation and I have never been so focused, but at the same time loving every second of the journey. Here are a few training highlights from this past week.
Had a great one and here's how it went.....
*Warm-ups excluded
Front Squats- 1x10@225+Bands / 2x6@275+Bands / 1x8@225+Bands
BB Lunges- 4x8
V-Squat- 4x8
Leg Extension- 4x12 / 1x15
This week flew by and things are really starting to pull together. My weight actually had a big drop and I am sitting right at 210.4lbs, which is a few pounds lighter than my last prep in 2010 at 13 weeks out. My motivation is through the roof and I am approaching each day exactly the same and trying to keep a healthy balance in all areas of life. This mindset has really helped with my progress so far, don't worry about others or what they think. Just keep killing it day in and day out, because you get what you put into it. Here are a few training highlights and posing from this past week.
One thing that I have done during my past preps is over think this whole process. Ronnie Coleman is known for saying it best "Ain't nothing to it, but to do it." Just put your head down and step up to the bar and lift the weight. As long as you have a plan, follow it to the T and do the work...things will fall into place. As of now I am rolling past the 14 week out mark for my first show of the season. Right now I haven't made many changes to my training or diet, but I feel that my progress is starting to pick up steam. I was also able to have Tara take a few progress pictures this afternoon before cardio. I'm pretty happy with my progress so far, but still have a long ways to go until I'm am ready.
14 weeks out at 212.2lbs
Also, here is one of my training highlights from this past week on Deficit Deadlifts. This is one variation of the Deadlift that I am not the best at, but really enjoy to throw in every so often. If your not very good at something, the only way to improve is to make yourself do it.
Had a great one and here's how it went.....
*Warm-ups excluded
Safety Bar Squats- 3x8@335 / 1x6@335*1x8@245
V-Squat- 4x8
Single Leg Press- 4x8
Leg Extension- 3x10 / 2x8
One part of this sport that many overlook is how your own thinking should evolve. So many individuals have a close mind to what they think is the right way. What may work for them now, may not work down the road. The key is to keep an open mind to what others feel is the right or the wrong way. You never know what works for you until you try it for yourself. One of my friends posted a quote earlier today and it really caught my attention.
"Don't count the days, make the days count." -Natural Bodybuilder/ Powerlifter Eric Koenreich.
This really hit home for me during this prep and can cross over into every part of your life. Make sure to soak up the whole experience and continue to push yourself to improve on yesterday. So far I am passing the 15 week out mark for my first show and this prep has been a whole new learning experience for me. I really feel that things are progressing and right on track to bring an improved package to the stage.
Had a great one and here's how it went.....
*Warm-ups excluded
Front Squats- 1x12@225 / 2x6@315 / 2x8@225 (1 sec pauses at bottom)
Narrow Leg press- 4x8
Lunges- 4x10
Leg Extensions- 3x10 / 2x8
I am just rolling past the 16 week out mark for the IFPA Pro USA and currently weighing in at 216.6lbs. So far I am about 2 pounds lighter than in my 2010 prep at this point, so the key is to stay ahead of the game and really bring something different to the stage. Here are a few shots Tara took from this past weekend pre workout compared to my last prep in 2010.
2010
2012
Overall I am really happy with the progress and the intensity I am keeping in the gym. My main focus is always to keep my weights as heavy as possible throughout this entire prep and so far things are really coming together with not too much of a loss in strength. Also, here are are a few training highlights from this past week of lifting.
Just passed the 17 week out mark to show #1 of the 2012 season for me, here are a few thoughts of how things are going so far.
Also, I was able to meet up with Natural Bodybuilder Cohn Wolfe and Clint SwinDell for a great back workout this past Friday. Here are a few highlights...
My "skinny" game face at the 2010 NANBF California Natural Muscle Mayhem.
Everything has been progressing well and the scale is steadily moving in the right direction. This week I weighed in at 223.8 and I am still feeling great in and out of the gym. I was even able to pull another PR in the Snatch Grip Deadlift this past Wednesday, so there is no complaints with that. Here's a clip from one of my working sets.
Now its time to get my game face on because I am soon coming to the point where my body likes to fight back. I am going to be making a few trips out of town. So the cooler is packed and I am ready to train in a little different atmosphere, possibly with a few friends which always helps with the motivation. This sport is all about balance and its up to you to find what works best. Many people think you need to have tunnel vision through your entire prep and they end up pushing friends and family away. The truth is they are a support system that you can use to your advantage. They can help push your physique and training to new levels as long as you let them.
