2007 Transformation Contest

I wanted to just check in and see how everyone is doing.  I haven’t heard from all the contestants that much since the contest has ended, even though I have kept in contact with most, I just wanted to see how everyone is doing.  Are you all still going the workouts and nutrition.  I know most of us still are, but we all have heard alot about the goals Ben had set for himself regardless of the contest, and I haven’t heard how he is doing on that.  Also, I hope Chuck keeps us informed of his upcoming contest.  Great job on the contest coverage, George and get them next time Ness!

I watch the World Series Of Poker and other poker shows on television and whenever there is a big tournament, the players always are throwing a fit over second or third place.  I would literally yell at the TV, "You idiot, you just won $2million and your mad?"  I would say that in response to their answer to ‘how they felt’.  The players would always say, "the money doesn’t matter, I just wanted that championship and that title". Man, that made me mad.  How could someone who just won millions of dollars be mad at that and state that money didn’t matter they just wanted the title?  Now I realize!  As we all have been waiting on who won, I have been pondering what that money and supplements could do in not only my life but others as well.  Well, I am glad we had to wait for the announcment.  Tonight, I was asked ‘what I would do with the money if I won’.  Without hesitation, my response was "It’s not about the money.  Yes, that is a super-added bonus, but the title and to be able show my wife, kids, and family that I won, would be great…the money would do great and be short-lived, but having that title and that self-esteem would last a lifetime"  After I made that statement to answer the question, I thought about it and thought about my response to those poker players and it made me realize that money is great, but to have that self pride and to fully accomplish what you set out for is the true reward.  I mean, I thought this all along.  But, the money is what alot of us talked about, but deep down, having that pride and to be able to hold that head up higher because you are proud of YOURSELF, is amazing!

So thanks Rich and Bodybuilding.com…I knew what I wanted this whole competition, that transforming my body was the real prize and to have that title as winner, but killing me with anticipation really drove that deep-down home.

The anticipation I am having is crazy. I am constantly checking my emails, going to this contest  blog…did anyone post? any comments? did I get an email? anything going on the google group?  I find I am checking everything, every 10 minutes.  The anticipation is crazy, but great.  You all feeling like this?

I know the contest is over and it is no longer needed to post in the blog, but you do something for three months it is hard to just let that go, so I thought I would give a one week update.  My workouts have been great.  I have mixed it up again and I am doing sets in the 12 rep range.  I will continue this for a couple of weeks and then go back down the the max 8 rep range.  I did have a few celebration dinners and even had a donut and a couple cheat snacks.  The bad food make me sicker than a dog…Yuck!  I know Vanessa has a little bit to go and poor Chuck has a while to go, but guys I am right there with you.  This is now a lifestyle for me…I don’t where this may lead me, but I will keep on, keepin on!  One thing I have noticed is that I have been craving Pnut Butter like crazy.  Don’t know why, but I picked up some all natural stuff and put it on 12-Grain bread and first bite, I was like, "Gosh, this is soooooo good".  I hope everyone (except Matt…he’s Oreo MAD!) is still making great progress and striving to reach those goals!!

Here is my final summation, in video form, of my personal and life-altering transformation throughout this contest.

Click the play button to see how far I’ve really come in not only transforming my body, but also my entire life-outlook…

Having problems with the video?  Click here for the downloadable Windows Media version.

The road for the 2007 Transformation Contest has come to an end.  I look back and to see where I started and where I am today, absolutely blows my mind.  I was a lurker for awhile and on December 13, 2006 I applied for this contest.  Not knowing it at that time, but life as I knew it was going to change forever.  As I said in the original thread, I used to be skinny and athletic, but after so many years that soon went downhill.  Well, actually it went right over the cliff.  I was told that I was a prime candidate for the onset of diabetes, other health issues and I was already very depressed a lot of the time.

January 1st came and I was on a mission to transform my body and make all the people around me proud.  Nothing came easily…does it ever, though?  I had many struggles along the way, but the biggest one of all was the third week in February I got an infection in my jawbone and gums from an old sports and working injury.  My face had swollen about four times of its normal size.  I went right to the doctor and was told; the infection could have gotten in my blood and caused some major damage if not worse.  The decision to get the surgery was not an easy one, as I had the contest on my mind, but it was a necessary one.  After having titanium screws put into my jawbone and having that great new smile, it was right back on with the contest.

To date, I often find myself smiling for no reason.  I feel that I met my goals (except one, the announcement of winner).  I made a math problem with car-a and car-b (contestants know).  Some motivational comments were made about that, and I felt that, that one comment, I had to prove myself and not only meet my goals, but break them down like a wall.  To hear what people say about me now has let me know, bricks are STILL flying away from that wall.  People have come up to me and asked how I am doing it.  The comments on how great I am looking have been good to hear.  The most precious gift of all though is to hear my wife and two kids come up to me and tell me how proud they are of me.  The are starting to be more conscious of what they are eating, drinking and contantly active with me.  They are looking at me in such a different way, it is such a great feeling to know they are proud of me.

I applied for the contest with the ambition to transform my body, BUT little did I know I was actually stepping on a road that was going to transform my life.  The obstacles that were overcome, are to me, amazing.  Yes, I have lost the bodyfat and I added a little muscle…that was obvious.  Is what isn’t obvious is what other changes were made.  I have overcome the surgery and did great in-spite of it, become better at my job, met so many new and wonderful people, made some outstanding friends, met other people that are nothing short of inspiring.  I have become more involved in activities as I am not embarrassed to be seen in public anymore.  The two most important changes I have made though is that I have totally quit chewing snuff and I am tobacco free.  The second, I have become a more active father and husband.  If this is what I have been missing all these years, I hope and pray that all who read this have some inspiration to go out and do great things.  Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and everything God does is for a reason.  As I said, not only did I transform my body, but I have transformed my life in every aspect possible.

I want to thank a few people:
My wife: The support you gave me was unbelievable.  You truly are amazing and a blessing upon my life.  THANK YOU!
Taylor and Avery:  God gave me such a wonderful gift in you two.  Thank you for all your encouragement and motivation.  I Love you, Taylor and Avery!
Sponsors:  Contest like this would not be possible without you.  Thank you.
Contestants:  I am proud to call you all my friends.  Thank you for the motivation and knowledge you have given me.  People like you is why the sport of bodybuilding is a success.
All American EFX: Thank you for making products that work.  Customer service is great and I appreciate the advice you gave me to get me started.
Brian Andrews: You listened to me gripe, complain and cheer.  The little emails and phone calls were a true pick-me-up for my spirits.  You truly are an amazing person and a true great friend.  Thank YOU!
Community members of bb.com:  Thank you for your kind words and motivation to help keep me looking forward.
Rich Barnet:  Thank you for putting up with all of us.  The help you gave us was nothing short of amazing.  You truly showed what a wonderful person you are through this whole contest.
Bodybuilding.com: What can I say about bodybuilding.com.  An amazing company with a staff that is second to none. Thank you for having the transformation contest.  To some it may only seem as a body change and some money (even though I need it now to buy new clothes), to me you gave me the opportunity to take hold of my life and turn it completely around.  You provided me the tools to hear my kids, other people, and for the first time, hear myself tell me how PROUD they are of me.
Thank You, Bodybuilding.com…THANK YOU!

Here are my final pics for the 2007 Transformation Contest.  The ones I want to use as a finale are in my progress to date:Philip page (link is on the left).  I do apologize picture frames don’t line up, but I wanted to show comparison size for size rather than worry about the frames.

I also posted a video on my personal Bodyspace.  Rich will be posting that on this blog, but you can also view it at: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/pmtaf/more.php?section=videos&type=you&i=6308#6308

Stats:

I will update this page with final stats ASAP…but one stat I would like to point out, that I am very proud of is…..I started this competition on January 1, 2007 at 242lbs.  On April, 2007 I weighed in at 202lbs.  I almost fell off the scale.  My bodyfat went from 27.8% to 11.8%.  I lost aTON of weight and put on some muscle as well, so I am happy! Those are great stats, but I am going to remeasure and reweigh next week to be sure, but this week I am going to just enjoy it.  I haven’t weighed under 200lbs since, well I don’t know when, but I feel AWESOME!

Yesterday was another day of cardio in the morning and lifting in the afternoon.  I got home and went to do my usual bodyspaceing and blogging, but it was shutdown for scheduled maintenance.  I must say, I didn’t realize how much I use this tool until I could not use it last night.  If there is a borderline for using bodybuilding.com as a tool or as an addiction, I am tickling that line so bad, it isn’t even funny.  Oh well though, I guess I could be sitting in a bar or at a buffet instead of on here.  Anyway, Rich told us that the staff at bodybuilding.com was working around the clock and it should be up in the afternoon.  Here is it early morning and it is up and running already.  Amazing work and major kuddos to the staff at bodybuilding.com!  GREAT JOB!

My workout was good again yesterday.  I did a 2 mile jog in the morning.  In the evening I did a workout on my arms.

Barbell Curls: 3 sets of 10,8,5 reps
Preacher Curls: 3 sets of 12,8,6 reps
Alt. DB Curls: 3 sets of 20 (10 each arm)
Arnolds3 sets of 12,10,7 reps
Hammer Curls: 3 sets of 10,9,12

Skull Crushers: 3 sets of 12,11,10 reps
Tricep Pushdowns: 3 sets of 14,12,10 reps
Tricep Extensions: 3 sets of 8,6,4 (this is a hard movement for me…don’t know why though)
Diamond Pushups: 3 sets of 15

I then went into the batting cages and tried to do some pitching (haven’t done in years).  My arms were so dead….needless to say, there was NO CHANCE of Bringing the heater back!

That felt like a good day to me.  I will be soon throwing those fastballs again real soon!  Only thing I dread is my 6 year old son is awesome at sports and baseball.  He’ll probably send it right back up the middle, right in my face!

Again, GREAT JOB, to the bodybuilding.com staff at getting Bodyspace back up so quickly!

Today was another day of cardio and another light total body workout.

Morning
2 mile jog at a pace of:
      10 seconds fast pace walk
       5  seconds slow walk
      20 seconds of jogging
       5  seconds of slow walk
      10 seconds of sprinting
      Repeat for the whole 2 miles

I would have loved to see a video of this, as I probably looked real goofy, but I was sweating like crazy and I had no mucas build up while doing this.  I felt great after this workout.

Evening
Sitting DB Press, palms in (delts) 2 sets of 12 reps
Lat Pulldowns: 2 sets of 11 reps(couldn’t get that 12th one in)
Bent Over Row: 2 sets of 12 reps
Incline Dumbell Flys: 2 sets of 12 reps
Flat Bench Press: 2 sets of 10 reps
Tricep Extensions: 2 sets of 13,10 reps
Barbell Curl: 2 sets of 8 reps
Hammer Curl: 2 sets of 8,6 reps

2 Hours Later
2 mile Walk

Pretty good calorie burning day overall.