Hold Strong!

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! 

 

Plain and simple, lift the weight!

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.

-Luke

10 week out comparison

10 Weeks out from the 2012 IFPA Pro USA

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

-Luke

"To give any less than your best is to sacrifice a gift" -Steve Prefontaine

 

"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

-Luke

You get what you put into it!

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.

Had a great one and here's how it went......

*Warm-ups excluded

Front Squats- 1x12@225 / 1x7@315 / 2x6@315 / 1x12@225
Lunges- 3x8@225 / 1x12@135
Narrow Leg press- 4x10
Leg extensions- 4x10

-Luke

Vlog #16 // Progress and Posing

Had a great one and here's how it went.....

*Warm-ups excluded

WG Pulldowns- 4x8 / 1x10 (TUT)
RG T-Bar row- 4x8
Freemotion High Row- 4x8
Stiff Arm Pulldowns- 3x10

-Luke

Vlog #12 // 2012 IFPA Pro USA Roll Call

*Warm-ups excluded

Smithmachine Squats- 3x12@405 / 1x12@315
Leg Press- 4x10
Lunges -4x8
Leg Extensions- 4x10

-Luke