EDT1209’s BodyBlog

Today was my first day back in the gym. It felt really good! Though my lifts decreased a little bit it was great to be back. Now comes the time to embark on the journey ahead. In about two weeks I’ll be starting about a three month bulking phase. My first priority for the next two weeks is to gradually get my calorie intake back up. I had my BMR tested last week and it was about 3100 calories. BMR is basically the amount of calories your body would need in a day just to funtion if you were inactive (lying in bed all day). I then calculated the amount of calories I would need in a day being active just to mantain my current weight and it was about 4800. Obviously the leaner you are the more calories your body requires. Now get this! In order for me to start puting on more weight I need about a 15% calorie increase which would put me at about 5500 a day. That’s sure going to be a ton of eating(especially when it’s coming from cleaner calories), but I’m ready! Sometimes you have be willing to do things you don’t want to do in order to succeed. Right now I’m about 230 and looking to go up to about 255. I would like to compete at about 220lb in September, which would be 10lbs heavier than last year. My goal is to win an overall open title. I know there’s much work and sacrifice ahead, but with an intense focus, unbridled passion, and a never ending trust in God I know I can make my goals become a reality.

During the last four months I sat and waited. I guess I was giving myself a little bit of a break. After all the intense training, competing this year and doing a photoshoot I felt burned out. I haven’t been training has much as usual, but just enough to stay in shape. Somtimes giving yourself a break is good. Though it was tough at times mentally not being in the gym, it did alow to clear my head and and reevaluate my goals. Now comes another year with a clear head and new goals set. What I learned from this break was to never take anything for granted, be humble of my accomplishments, and always trust that God will lead me in the right direction.