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.
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
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
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.
Its the start of progress pictures and this is one way that I am able to draw motivation for myself. Knowing that each day I am making an improvement on the last. I am pretty constant and usually take my pictures every 2 weeks before my Saturday workout, cold with no pump or special lighting.....basically what you see is what you get.
This past year I feel that I have evolved in may areas in and out of the gym. I have placed an emphasis to think outside of the box, enjoy all aspects of my training and most importantly I am rolling into my contest prep healthy and hungry. I would also like to thank everyone for all their help and support this past year. It has been an amazing journey that just keeps getting better each and every day and this is one reason I love what I do so much. With this I wanted to post a few training highlights from my 2011 offseason as a base for self improvement next year.
Now that 2011 has come and gone, it is time to press forward into 2012 with one huge goal on my mind....to improve and have fun!
Had a great one and here's how it went...
*Warm-ups excluded
Pullups- 3x15 / 2x10 (Pause at bottom)
Chambered BB Row- 3x10@315 / 1x15@
Reverse NG Pulldown- 4x10
Hammerstrength Pullover- 4x10
Since the first of the year is almost here and we are about to see a huge influx of new members at every gym across the USA. This is a great time to buckle down, focus on your goals and mentally prepare for the large crowd that is ahead in January. Always remember that at one point you were a beginner too and may have been more nervous than you remember at the start of this new adventure. Keep the intensity high and be aware of your surroundings, just because you are in Beastmode doesn't mean you have to disrespect others or make a mess. Take the frustration out on the weights!!
Had a great one and here's how it went.....
Also, I was able to meet up with Ty this past weekend for a great back workout.....It's been too long!!
Its crazy to think that a whole year of my offseason has flown by and I am starting to get that contest prep itch again. This entire year has been a great learning experience for me in many ways and I have really enjoyed the whole process. One thing I have discovered is that no one should place a limit on their progress. What I mean is you should always be open to changes and try to think outside of the box. So many people are close minded, especially when it comes to diet and fitness that they have already limited their progress without knowing any better. You are always right in your own mind, so it is up to you to keep it a learning process and evolve mentally as well as physically.
One of my main focuses right now is spicing up my training with some unconventional approaches to my lifts. With it being Halloween I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to throw around some chains to help overload the peak of the contraction on lateral raises. Each week I am going to try a few slightly different approaches to my lifts and I really encourage everyone to try something similar in their training. We all can be found guilty of falling into a rut at some point and this is one way to keep things interesting. I really feel that everyone can benefit in some way from slight variations and I regret not trying anything like this sooner. This has allowed me to take a totally different approach to my training and in turn push forward with improvement.
Crushing it with 3 Natural Pros! Paul Tomko, Luke Ehlis and Scott Kluth
Tara and I just got back from a quick trip to Seattle, where we hit the town and enjoy some great food from Whole Foods. I probably enjoyed that a little too much, but oh well. I made up for it on Saturday. I was able to meet up with NGA Pro Paul Tomko and WNBF Pro Scott Kluth to watch the prejudging of the 2011 NPC Iron Mountain, then headed into Golds to train some arms. It was technically an off day for me, but I ended up following along and putting in some work. This by far is one of the best parts of the sport, just hanging out with some friends and killing some weight. Here are a few highlights from Saturday.
Today I went in for some legs and had a great one. Here's how it went.....
*Warm-ups excluded
Front Squats (with Bands)- 3x12@315 / 2x8@385
Narrow Leg press- 1x25 / 2x30
Step-ups- 3x8
Leg extensions- 2x10 / 1x10*6*8
