bldntz1856’s BodyBlog

So let start off by saying that I reached some great short term goals in the last month or so.  I got BF back down to 17%, but I didn’t go as far as I thought.  Then to blow off some steam I went out for the whole weekend on a major bender, drinks, cheat foods, the works.  Didn’t workout at all, then got home Sunday, got sick all week.  I haven’t even seen what the gym looks like in 7 days.  That being said got back on the diet right quick from Monday on, but I am concern with my strenght losses.  No worries I haven’t taken more than one day off in a row for over 2 years, now I am rested and recharged.  This time off has given me a new set of goals, and number one is to reduce the number of supps, that I have been taking.  Too much stuff going in, I worked out the last 2 weeks prior with no creatine, or pre-workout arginine supp.  I keep my pre-workout protein and post workout protein/ carbs.  I am going to go at the next quarter with a new goal of fine tuning the last bit of fat, I am not looking for 16%, but rather 15% or <.  That is where I will be able to size myself up, and see what needs to be done for my long term goal of getting on stage and winning.  The diet is evolving, and workouts are building a ton of strenght.  I will add in some powerlifting on single lifts, with high intensity for the balance of my training.  Keep working hard, and consistent, and the rewards will be mine!

The time is here once again to take all of my hard work to the reaper!  It has been over 6 weeks since my last BF test, and I have dropped about 6-8lbs of body weight.  The reality is in the numbers, no matter how much I "look like" I made progress, the caliphers will lay it on you without any question.  The new workout I am currently doing  spares no prisoners, and I honestly believe that no one trains with more discipline, and dedication.  The passion, drive, and commitment that one has to invest into bodybuilding…………Most people haven’t the slightess clue how many things have to be in perfect alignment for one to make constant progress.  The constant nutritional requirements, supplements, fluid intake, carb cycling, training intensity, cardio, not to mention keeping stress at bay along with getting the proper amount of rest……………I wouldn’t have it any other way!   I wake everyday with anticipation of the gruelingly, painful, and "realness" the IRON!!!!!

So I have been on the road, for the last week or so.  Let’s just say that my workouts have come few and far between.  My diet has been good, but a lot of cheat meals as far as carb intake.  I have also indulged in some beers with close friends, since I have been on the road.  I hate hotels, and to top off my lack of fitness level over the last week, I got sick with a mild case of flu Sunday.  I had my first workout in three days, and believe it or not I had so much more energy!  I am learning each day about how my body is responding to my new higher carb days, and this new data will benefit me in the short and long term.  There is also a woman in my gym, who just got back from her fitness comp in Cal.  She did not finish where she wanted, and you know I just have a great time talking with her about, everything.  Nutrition, dieting, cardio, and weight training.  That is the type of woman that I have yet to meet.  Someone focused on fitness and who enjoys the competitive nature of the fitness lifestyle.  I know that she is out there, but the reality is my small world has not lead me there yet.  See you soon!

Let me start my update with one statement………………I hate injuries!  Coming off a high that would carry me deeply into the bowels of training hell, i went through my daily warm-ups on the bike, and started my bi-weekly leg workout fueled with revived potential from my travels at the Arnold.  That’s when things slowly came crashing down!  My first warmup good, a little weakness and tightness in my right knee.  I hadn’t done any cardio to speak of, and my leg workouts have reduced weights dramatically to focus on uni-lateral movements allowing me to isolate my legs more.  I have been trying to get my left leg up to my right leg development.  I got to my 2nd warmup and slowly it began creeping into my head that dread of something no right.  I went for my first working set, dropped down to the bottom of my rep and it hit me like a ton of bricks!  How in the world could this happen to me!  I felt the burn in my knee, and I knew, this is how it starts.  I stopped my quad workout and went right to hams and calfs.  I took a ful day out of gym, and went through my upper body workouts so far, but the knee is still weak and sore.  I will give it one more week, keeping the use of my knee and quads to a minimum.  Beyond that I am in disbelief of why, I warmup properly, eat great, stretch and maintain proper form with my lifts.  The fact is that I am not a professional bodybuilder, and my normalcy of genetic un-giftedness is a sad reality.  This is my fate, and while it will retard my development for the short-term.  I will win the war!  Never say die, and my strength carries me in times of weakness!

This Friday is the day I have waited for all year…….The Arnold Classic here in OH!  Finally after a full year of burning the energy I got from hitting the show last year has just about run out, and here it is again!  The one opportunity I have each year to rub elbows with all the True Athletes in the fitness world!  Sure there are way too many exercise idiots there, and the crowds don’t get me started, and then there’s all the freakin people carrying around the biggest bags of samples that they can handle…………but that’s not even close to stopping me from meeting all of my heros.  Last year was great, I found myself walking around just watching everyone, so many people involved in the bodybuilding and fitness world, we all share a focus and dedication that most will never appreciate or ever understand.  This is where I draw my strenght to hit it even harder over the next year to move past previous goals, into new areas of growth and development.  People on my hit list to meet this year include, James "Flex" Lewis, Branch Warren (a perinneal miss each year), Brandon Curry ( I met him last year awesome man), David Henry, and Phil Heath.  Yeah well you know that I will maybe catch 1 or 2 of them if they are available, I hope to pictures with many more.  I met Ed Corney last year, he was very personable and easy to talk to.  I also caught Bill Kasimier from WSM, he was pre-occupied with something else.  Lee Priest is someone I always look for, he was definitely on my I wish I could have arms that big list!!!  He always is willing to talk shop, and I tried to catch Mark Dugdale, but again very pre-occupied with other things.  Man I love this, I am excited, and I would be a liar if I told you I wasn’t hoping to meet some ladies.  I find myself not really meeting anyone with a much substance.  A lot of pretty faces, hired candy, the ladies I am interested in are generally hard to find.  I will put my face on the map, and see what fate brings.  See you all there if your going, if not, I will post some photos from my time there.

So here I am, down to 18% again with wt @ 180lbs.  I am happy with my look, but I have not fully recovered my lean mass, and bf % held in December.  2 weeks and 1.5lbs.  I know that I should be elated, but it is too much to be a little dissatisfied.  I need to temper my emotions, I set a goal so far out of reach for a purpose.  I wanted to be @ or below 15% at the end of thrity days.  That means a drop of near 4% BF!  Weighing 180 that means a 7.2lbs of fat loss.  I drop 1.5lbs of fat in 14 days, now that is all I could handle and if I can maintain my level of intensity with the addition of some well place cardio maybe another 1.5% can be a reality.  I can come into the Arnold @ < 16% I will carry a lot of muscle for my size.  Maybe that will be a good ice breaker for me meeting some people, it is very frustrating to workout as hard as I do, and not show it on the outside.  Underneath the layers of fat I have tremendous development, and in time I will shine.  My resolve is is unwavering, goal soon to be a reality………………..

Well I would like to report a huge drop in bf today, but I have to wait till Thursday now to get tested due to my work schedule.  I look great but I haven’t checked my weight in 6 days.  Partly to keep myself positive, if my weight has not dropped then I may overstress myself, and maily due to my focus is not on weight but how I look with BF % being the major measurement being used.   I am taking a new supp. with my new program, but I am not going on record with the name until my cycle is over.  Not what you think, but I want to impartial on my assesment so that I have not only subjective, but also objective data to provide as proof of sucess or failure.  I am still cycling my carbs, and I am pushing the limits of how low I can go on my low days (always 70g or less).  No carbs except veggies after 4pm, and if I eat anymore brocc I am going to turn green.  On a side note I had thought with my bodybuilding diet over the last few years I had experienced abdominal discomfort……..I was wrong.  I have so much more respect for every bodybuilder and fitness competitor ot there, as I have never gone that extra mile to tighten my diet to the levels that those amazing people do several times a year!  I hope that I can make some connections at the Arnold this year, I am running out of resources to pick and I seemed to be unable to find anyone on this site willing to talk shop.  So I am me, and I am persuing my dream without any consideration of ever failing in the process.  I will succeed and no matter the amount of time, effort, or dedication it will take.  I will train harder than they do, I will monitor my nutrition better than they do, I will research and be more consistent than they are.  After all of this I will no longer look to them to see where I need to go, but find myself there amoung them watching other look to me finding their own way to the places I have already gone!!!!!  Pictures coming soon!

Alright, so here it the truth.  Gained so much fat in 14 days, I believe that there’s a fat fair sleeping under my bed, shoveling the fat back into every body part.  I feel full and I look like I have put on considerable size, but fearing the worst I had my bodyfat re-checked and found out what is going on!  I gained 2 points on my abs and back.  ANd just to top it off 1 on bis, and 2 on triceps!  Holy shit!!!  I knew that I had been loading more carbs into my diet, but being off work for 2 weeks let me graze like crazy.  I haven’t been as strict with my diet, and wow can I eat.  So I have drawn the line in the sand!!!  Started my new stack and winding down on my last stack.  The new program is four on, one off weights.  AM Cardio and if time permits PM Cardio after weights.  Duration will be 30-45mins per session, but no Cardio on leg day.  Chest, Back, Legs 2 minute rest between sets.  Arms, Shoulders, and Calfs will get only 30-45secs rest between sets.  I am excited and pissed off!  I have shown great success in the last 6 months, now it is time ramp up the progress.  Plus the bonus is March is the Arnold Classic in Columbus, and this year I will be able to look like I actually workout.  Goal this Arnold is to finally attend the Big Show.  I wish Health and Jackson were going to be there competing, but hell where else can you get right next to the people you study every issue of Flex!  So many idots roll into the expo, but I am there to meet the men and women who make the sport what it is.  I am going to meet the people that inspire me to drive on!

What better present than to drop 1% BF in 30 days, for the second month in a row!  The bonus is that I have gained .5 lbs in the same time period!  I am ringing in the new year with non-stop, Relentless aggression!  My goal of sub 15% BF is right on schedule for the end of Feb. and I will keep pushing my carb. cycling to the extreme.  The workouts are still going great, strength is moving forward on most lifts, but I have incorporated more SS.  Back and Bis are receiving 2 workouts a week.  Cardio will be added 2-4x a week, either early morning or right after lifting.  My ab workout is working like crazy, I will pick the reps per set with more focus on hanging knee raises as they seemed to be working the best right now.  Diet has taken major steps forward, Ground Turkey is my staple dinner with salad.  Breakfast is 4 whole eggs, 1-2 cups of oatmeal rotating with my low vs high carb days. Lunch has been the hardest part for me, traveling and working in different towns each day, I dumped Panera, and have focused on chicken salads when I can.  Boston Market offers Turkey with veg. and KFC is my last chance place with 1 piece breast meal minus skin.  Cottage Cheese before bed, and Whey and banana upon waking.  I am looking into a fat burner for my last 45 days, not sure I want to get their yet.  I know that I will hit a wall soon with my fat burning, but right now mass is up and fat is down.  Taking new pictures tonight to upload, I need to get someone else to take them with better lighting.  New Years eve will be hard for my diet, with alcohol being the focus I am definitely going to have a week of recovery on my metabolism.  Food will not be a problem as I will pack what I need.  I hope that everyone has a safe and Happy Holiday!

Alright the stars are starting to align, and every ounce of effort brings results.  After gaining BF on my last test, I realized that my body was not burning the correct calories.  I began at 18.3% and went up to 18.9% with 1.5lbs of weight gain.  Talk about a kick in the sack!  Regrouped tightened the diet, following a 3-5 days low carb 100-150g days, until my body screams for calories, then load baby!  I wish that the day after my load was how I look everyday, never having "correctly" carb cycled I am furious that I have missed out for so many years.  Though my journey has been long, the fruits of labors long endured will be realized this year.  I have set my date for 2-2008, BF- @ or below 15%, weight 178lbs.  This will be a loss of 6.15lbs of fat, and a gain of 1.65lbs of lean body mass.  I believe with my nutritional adjustments I will achieve this goal.  I am going to have my BF tested every 4 weeks to track progress, with a spot check for any sudden drops of weight, or loss/ gain in strenght.  I expect my waist to end up at @ 31.5" when I reach my goal, and with that my taper will be absolutely crazy.  I am not sure how low I want to go on the BF, I have no immediate plans to compete, but I have an LT goal of my first comp before I turn 35.  I am not sure with my late progress I will be competitive enough until I reach masters level, but only time will tell.  My priorities on bodyparts this next 8-12 weeks are Biceps (2x a week) and Chest (high volume/ rest/pause intensity).  Legs will continue with SS to keep them working, but weights will stay low as they are way ahead of my upper body.  I have so much to do, but I have all the motivation in the world.  Arnold Classic is is coming, and I am already planning my days, I cannot freakin wait.