THE VenomXL

Where do i start? My knee is about 95% i’ve been able to train as heavy as i want doing select exercises that don’t bother it.  I have to ice it and stretch it everyday and take an aleve before i train to keep the inflamation down.  You know you’ve toasted your legs when they spasm for the remainder of the day and you can’t walk because they cramp with every step you take. mwahaha.

I had to make some adjustments to my diet because the weight was coming off a little too fast.  I stopped taking the cytolean for now and dropped the cardio back to 20 minutes three times a week.  I weighed in at 221 sunday morning.  Had a cheat meal sunday night after leg training and was only up .5lb the following morning. HA.

 I’ve been battling an illness for the past week, my wife decided to catch a cold from a friend in new orleans and then generously shared it with me. I’ve missed a couple days of work but was able to keep up with my training and cardio.  I think yesterday was the worst of it and it seems to be in remission now.

I’ve joined a new gym in addition to my old gym.  Its about 30 minutes away but its where a group of local bodybuilders train and they have hammer strength equipment and tanning beds too.  Not to mention the dumbells go up to 150.   Its nice to be back in my element in a bodybuilding atmosphere with people who share the same mindset.  I just go there twice a week and alternate between there and my old gym.  I like the variety.

I’ve come up with a new term called "championship sets"  Its the sets you push out when your body and your mind say no, you’re done.  They are what separate first from second place. 

 I’ll be taking progress pics next week.  Should see some significant changes. 

Well i guess i’m past due for an update.  I started dieting 2 weeks ago.  Why?  because i have decided to the Jr. USA and this gives me 16 weeks of dieting.  Well its 14 weeks out now.  I started out at 232 i’m 226 now.  Still rehabbing my knee, its getting better by the week.  I recently acquired a new sponser.  Vitamin Warehouse.  Its just a supplement contract but it will help a lot financially.  I have considered also doing the southern usa’s in panama but i doubt i will be able to afford it this year.  I need to take some updated progress pics to track progress throughout the diet.  Not much else to say now.  Oh yeah…. i hate dieting.

5 weeks of bulking left!  Currently at a leanish 228.  Feel good, looking good.  My knee is slowly getting better, i’ve found a way to do squats that don’t bother it.  I’ve been doing smith squats to keep me from accidentally putting weight on my toes, which is aggravates my patella tendon, and i also put a box under me to keep me from going too low which also aggravates the tendon.  I was able to get back up to 400 lbs for the first time in a long time.  I’ve also started doing one legged leg press which keeps me from having to do rediculous weight with two legs.

My wife has gone back to school for nursing which i am very proud of.  Unfortunately that means we lose her income.  So things are really tight right now.  I could really use a supplement sponser,  that would help alot in my prep for the Jr. National shows.  Right now i can only afford protein powder lol.

I’ll be working with new coach for my nutrition because my wife will be too busy for school.  I start my diet March 1st,  if i’m ready in time i may do the Jr USA’s if not then i’ll be doing the Southern Classic and then on to the Jr. Nats.

I’ll post some updated progress pics when i start my diet.

I’m writing this from my I phone as I sit in the upstairs bedroom of my families condo in park city Utah. We’re here for a little family vacation and skiing. It will be nice to get away from the office for a week or so also. I don’t remember what was said in the last blog but I remember something about a house well that’s not going to happen. Not because we can’t afford it but more because the wife wants to move back to madison.  Which we will do in a year and a half or so.

Alot has happened I guess since my last post. Been dealing with some issues that have just reared there head recently and they have been testing mentally. Can’t really say more than that for the sake privacy. Just learned that after placing fourth at north americans, my wife will not be competing again. Which I am not happy about but have had to accept. Also she will not be able to do my diet for the coming season like she has done for the last two years. It kind of depressing but I think I have someone lined up to help me who is equally as good. So I hope that all works out.  Other than that work has been going well. I’m about to finish up my fourth project which will be 2 million dollar harbor services facilitly on the water in Gulfport. Got a fat bonus for Christmas which we managed to spend in two weeks. Ha!

Got a shiek belt and a digital slr camera for Christmas so the quality of my photos should increase dramatically. LOL.  As far as training goes, I peaked around 238 and my weight fluctuate between 235-238. I pretty much stalled and I could not get any more food down so it was time for a break. My body had adapted to the high caloric intake and stopped growing so to remedy this I went on a 4-5 week diet with cardio and everything. This mixes things up for my body and allows it to adapt to a lower caloric intake. From this point I enter my last blast phase which will shock the body with high calories forcing it to grow past my previous stall point. I’m sitting at 225 right now with visable obliques and seratus. My quads and hams are split too. I’m not near contest shape but I could be on stage at a ripped 210 at this point. After this last blast phase I should hit 240-245 which could put me on stage at 215+ which is wear I would like to be.  I start the blast phase as soon as I get home which will be immediately followed by my contest diet. Stay tuned things are going to start moving pretty fast.

Progress pictures posted.  I’ve stalled at 229, somewhat purposely.  I haven’t increased my calories, so i figure i’ll stay at maintenance for another week or two, then move into my final growth faze for the next 3 months which should take my weight up to 240+.

Training has been solid, hitting some new pr’s. 1200lb on leg press for 10.  300lb on lat pull down for 10.  Chest strength is limited due to my fore arm and wrist pain. I’m repping out 120lb db’s for 15 only because our gym doesn’t go any higher.  I may have to strap some ankle weights to my wrist like the old days lol.

Looking at my pics my chest still seems to be lagging so for the next 12 weeks i’ll be doing a chest specialization hitting it twice a week with a little less volume to bring it up.  Legs are still coming along nicely, hams are bigger but need to be better.

Still maintaining my focus and motivation.  Some days its harder than others.  The progression keeps me motivated.  I’ve been able to balance training and my professional life.  I’ve been advancing nicely in my REAL job, and my training hasn’t interfered with it or other relationships, so i am happy about that.  People at work are supportive and are full of questions.  We’re looking at buying a house, because our rent costs as much as a mortgage right now so we might as well put it towards owning something.  I can’t wait to have a trophy room lol haha.

Back Day:

Progress pictures posted,  i haven’t seen my back in a while so i was pleasantly surprised.  Seems to be coming along nicely.  Workout was good, felt a little weak though.  Forearms were hurting on the curls.

 Close Grip PD: 240 x 12,6

                      
200 x 15, 8, 4

                      
180 x 12

 T Bar Row: 115 x 15,10,5

                   70 x 15,10,5

Close Grip Row: 200 x 12,6

                      
 180 x 15,10,5

                       140 x 12

Back Cable Flies:  70 x 15,8,4

                      
   50 x 12,8,8

BI’s

ISO cable curl: 50x 20,10,5

                      
30x 12

cable curl:  100×12

                 120 x 12

                 140 x 12,8,6

                 80 x 12

Chest day.

 All sets are rest pause. (20 seconds rest)

Decline Bench:  320 x 12 - 6

                       230 x 15 - 10 - 5

DB Bench: 80’s x 15 - 10 -5

                60’s x 12 - 6

Cable fly:  70’s x 20 - 10 - 5

               50’s x 12 - 6

TRI’s

Cable Push down: 270 x 15, 8, 4

                      
    240 x 10

                      
    200 x 10, 5

This blog is to track the progression of each phase as i prep for my first national contest.  I had to take some time off due to life issues taking priority.  I have since graduated Architecture school and have a great job and can now actually afford to compete haha.  Because of school i had to take eight months off from the gym and my diet was less than desirable.

Now i have been back in the gym for 4 months and put back on what size i lost and more!  I’m sitting at 224 lbs and leaner than i have been at this weight before.  The goal is to average 1lb a week gain for the remainder of my bulk with minimal fat gain.  This would bring me in at 240lbs at the conclusion of the bulk.  From that point i plan to diet for 20 weeks and really dial in the conditioning for my first national appearance for which i hope to be on stage at 215-220 lbs with striated glutes baby!

Diet so far is on point, its hard to get all the food down that is necessary to grow at this point but i’m chugging along.  My metabolism is still strong because i feel like a ****ing furnace after every meal. Currently i’m taking in 5000 cals on training days and 4800 cals on non training days.

Training is going smooth, had some intense fore arm pain during the first couple months due to increasing the weight too fast, but that is mostly gone now.  I will outline my training along the way to track my progression.

My physique is definitely improving, i’m trying to bring up my weaknesses which i perceive to be, chest, hamstrings, and calves.  So far so good, i’ve added a lot of thickness to my chest.  Hamstrings are starting to respond.  And calves, well they’re calves.

I hope to post some progress pictures soon, and hopefully i can keep this thing updated.

Thanks to all that follow along.