Let me first start by saying happy 4th of july and  oooo Rahhhhh!!!! Devil Dog For Life.

Today marks a day where many will get together have family over and party and enjoy good food , drinks ,and fireworks. But for those who made a step to change there lives this will be a bigger day for you this is a day of memories plain and simple. Today you will attend a party or event and others will have fun but they will also be looking at you . Why you ask, simply put they will see do you be the person you have been or become or will you be the image of the former self ? I know some of you trained extra hard and did extra cardio or moved today to your cheat day but what example will this set for so many who beleive in you or watch you? It starts with you why go so long scarfice so much to give into peer pressure or drink today. Its independance day right so show the world your independance to stand your ground to fight for what you beleive in to fight the good battle till the end to never give up. wow never give up yeah i would say this is why we have the freedom to do today to celebrate because brave people did not give they did not let the wons around them in the fight make them think the battle is over yes the battle may be over but the war , well that war we can still win the war on fat, or the war on the new better me or stronger me. I know some times it gets hard but in these hard times in these dark times i pray that you see there is light and hope in that feeling and i hope this can help you in this tough day of temptations.

Stay Strong , Get Strong!!!!

Wow i sit down for the final thoughts and this is truly an amazing feeling the hard work the sacrfice  you endure and give up to reach your pivital part of your new life. Sometimes you give up friends or family time or that extra hour of sleep or work to acheive your goal but this is temporary peices of the parts you must give up.

The foundations and building blocks that are laided in this journey will last you a lifetime i may not have please the idea of perfect but i did in my eyes and hey is that not what this is all about is doing this for you? Well over these weeks i set standards i controlled my enviroment i made sure that no matter what i made my days more easy because of my preperation  meals packs drinks made and well the less you have to do the easy the pattern develops sundays are my prep days. I know this seems like impossible to do because of some excuse but if you delay or put off the reasons of why you cant how can you ever move forward.

My meals are basic and very bland i did not do cheat days because i would not cut my training short my cut my diet short. Now this was my plan but you need to do what works for you and this is what worked for me. Everyone has there own method of training but this does not mean it will work with everyone key to this find what works for you and embrace it. Its been a long road and i have fell in love with the new me yes it sounds selfish but if you cant love yourself then how can you truly change you have to be happy with you.

I have hopefully shown others anything is possible but i cant make you do it, noone could make me do it either you just have to want it no one can push you you must push yourself.  I have done and achieved so much i attended events and programs i never would have thought and it build me up so well it changed my outlook and heart .

HMMMM heart yeah you gotta have heart and i was shown real heart on sunday i went to my first special oylmpics for first time and it was truly inspiring that my fitness journey was so hard but these guys and girls are true athletes  its made me a better person seeing that.

My final thoughts are anything is possible you just have to beleive there will be ups and downs in this but this will build character. You will have haters but you must remain focused its sad to think there are people who wanna see you fail and if you happen to win it gets worse i have seen it envy is a harsh reality of life but you know what who cares i love everyone and no matter how small or how big the goal you have down im proud of anyone who tries. Love and compassion will change the world if we in the fitness community can be true to eahother and support everyone.

Good luck to everyone and win or lose we all won we did so much and change our outlook of life and thats the biggest reward and trust me that bigger then 10k anyday. 

This has changed me forever

First mini vacation of the summer and this was like one I never had before, The feeling this year  was so amazing to be able to enjoy the beach for the first time in years was amazing the heat was blazing but worth it previous years I would stay a hour and leave or sit down with my shirt on. Is this what someone who is on vacation is supposed to do, No not at all. Its supposed to be fun and it was I was confident and walked proud and enjoyed time and went to pool and would have avoided these things due to my lack of confidence in myself but this journey changed that. This is a result of society of people not feeling good because of the world judging and not accepting people for the way there are. I noticed people at the beach like I was laying down ,sitting or at beach with a shirt on these are all habits we can change if we move on from  wondering what people say, and change for you! The feeling is great its not about being ripped its about taking back control of your life being able to be confident again is the biggest reward. Trust me do that and your options are limitless.

I wanna share a good and bad thing about these life changes and this story has nothing to do with training but it will effect it greatly.

I used to drink party go out thinking if I was out doing shoots yes yager bombs!! That I would have all these guys and I see now that was a silly thing to think

I mean was this my life or me living in the shoes? Well when you train and focus hard you will see who really is your friend and my list grew short

My family was one my girlfriend and my little guy Anthony, yes that’s it I know pretty lame but it was eye opening should I really be surrounded but people who will not support me and help me out when I need it most. My nights now are playing toys and days are work and working out a boring way to a life we call fun.

It was tuff in the start but it made me a better man a better leader a better father and I know some may not be able to relate but I hope you find something

In this story that the acceptance of others to bless your choices is not needed the opinions of other should not make your path but you I still have the same friends and some new 5am gym buddies and its great for me if I knew the outcome I’d still do it again.

What to take from this enjoy your life live your life when you do that you wont need anything else.

I wanna share this in the transformation you will become weak this is normal don't let it get you down keep your heads up this is just your body in shock everyone here changing there lives im proud of you be it a small change or big i believe in you and im here my hardcore training is over and i feel now i can balance helping others and myself now and im sorry it took me so long to find that balance team .

I finally have a chance to relax sit and write my taken notes down its been hard going non stop but im nearing the end and i taking this time to catch everyone up on my journey and pain and great things that also happen so stay tuned tons more to come and i hope i can inspire people to be great i wish i could have be more active on bodyspace but i did not want anything to stand in my way .

No Excuses!

When you think of the word “ winner” what comes to mind?

We sometimes feel the one who is the fastest or good looking or more fit should be the for sure choice correct, But is that always true?

I thought that that was the case but in my journey I see that we are all winners in our own way if it’s a winner in a struggle or overcoming adversity is that not also a win? We are caught up in the stereo type of the image of a true winner. I have seen people win and I have also seen people lose but we make comments or judgments base of what we know from what we read, Contest after contest we tear people down for not being good enough is this the way we have now become? We became a part of social network to connect but we pull people down. what may seem too easy to you may have been pain to them. Be humble  we are human but we must be kind in our words. To be a leader you must lead you must be considerate and passionate unto others a true inspiration, doing that makes you a winner not fame not money.  So remember this we all have are weaknesses some are hidden well and some are transparent. We should not be prejudice.

My thoughts as I near the end.

Hard to believe that im so close to the end. It has been an

experience. Before I get into my journey and life changing experience,

Id like to explain what brought me to enter the contest.

What gave me the drive to push on and how I was motivated and a sample of what I ate.

Being in the marines from 2000 till 2008 I thought wow I be the big bad ripped marine but I never was

I loved to eat and I was young I passed all my training test so what should it matter right.

My plan was to stay focus train hard block out the world and never look back, easier said than done I work for a company and I have the temptation of food around me all the time they eat out a lot. I blocked it out and kept pushing on.  They looked at me ask me why what was I doing it for? , What  would I stand to gain from this. My response was I’m doing this for me not an event or a special person but me, I know I’m going to get a lot of criticism from this yes I know my final pics will show my change and people will say my are small , my chest , not big enough , or I’ve seen better but we have to sit here and remember  no one person is perfect and if we are all the same then what makes us unique.  I am not a body builder I’m not a model I’m a person who decided I will change my life and for that I remain humble in my transformation wherever this journey takes me I’ll say this much I did it for me.

I entered week 3 feeling weak maybe the shock to my body or maybe not sugar  heavy in my diet or my body using fat as energy I don’t know about the next 2 weeks became hard at the gym. Now Week 6 was great I felt the pump I was now focused and driven I was HOOKED! I had a plan I woke up same time every day  on my rest days I did same thing consistency made me successful. The final weeks I became passionate or emotional  however you look at it I wanted to quit the voice told me give up why are you doing this but my strongest muscle in my body told me no! What muscle you ask MY HEART if you got heart nothing will stop you I ran, I lifted ,I wanted to quit ,I punished my body to the point I was breaking down. I’m not telling this story to make people feel sorry for me you should not I wanted this I’m telling this because at that moment I felt alive I was truly connected  with myself. I now know what it felt to be great to be passionate.

This plan I went heavy in beginning then focused on my negatives then normal and to end it circuit style.

Cardio was everyday

HIIT training was once a week and everyday plan for my final weeks.

Motivation

 I stayed motivated by constantly discussing and reading articles, workouts, and recipes  and posting my pain and  struggles on Facebook as my training page to build a support group helping other made me feed of their stories By doing this I was always in my fitness mind frame.

Supplements

I used a couple different supplements over the 12 wks. Protein and pre workout and multi vitamin  and BCAA was the key building blocks.

Workout

Check my body space.

Goal Assessment

This was my first time setting goals to transform my body so

I really had no idea on how to set my goals. Therefore, some of

my goals were unrealistic I know I wanted to change my life and I entered a

contest and I said I’ll be featured on body building.com and be sponsored I know funny right lol.

I did not care about all that take the contest away, body space and Facebook and the only thing

I truly did this for was me not the money not the fame but me and only me in the hopes that

 I can inspire or push someoneto be great to be the one who goes against the grain. I can say I have a few

 close friends who stood by checked on me Bryant Nickole and my best friend Anthony no matter the mood

 or the pain my little man loved me regardless of how my mood was to him and I owe it to him

he was the one who in my heart suffered the most.

Sample Diet

Meal 1:  3:30AM Protein Shake

Meal 2: Time 7AM

3 caps vitamins , 2 Whole Eggs, 2 strips Turkey Bacon and ½ Cup of Quick Oats.

Pre Workout Drink and BCAA

Post Shake

Meal 3:  10AM Protein Shake

Meal 4: 12:30PM BCAA

Meal 5: Time 1PM

3 caps Vitamin ,Chicken 8 oz.  Broccoli 2-3 cups

Meal 6: Time 4PM  Protein Shake

Meal 7: Time 7PM Meal:

Fish 8 oz.  Broccoli 2-3 cups

Meal 8:  Time 9PM 1 oz. Almonds

Drank a lot of water 1 gallon a day.

My story I had a lot of time to think about this and some people ask me why do I want to be great. I don’t know why I just looked in the mirror one day and seen my life flash before my eyes I seen myself going down a road a long road filled with pain heartache putting my family in a position due to my trending habits but I know you ask the question. How can 215 lbs. be so bad well looking at my f...amily history you can see how bad could become worst I was reborn in November of 2011 I said no longer would I make excuses for my life. I played sports but never made anything because of me quitting or never being tested. Just another excuse to add to the list of reasons why I could not do this or that I mean the only thing in my life I ever did that was worth any value was being a marine touring in Iraq deployed protecting my home my USA! But even then I was never fit or the guy that people said wow look at him. I never wanted that but you want that acceptance feeling of self-worth and I discovered bodybuilding a little late in my life. People told me it’s too late or genetics makes you this way and I thought back I could make an excuse or I could change the path of my life I worked hard and ill share I also entered Dymatize Nutrition contest for 10000 dollars I mean wow 10000 sounds great right but I did not enter for the money or the fame I entered to change lives to show the guys or girls out there feeling like me at the end always making an excuse that the underdog can sometimes win that true greatness is not measured by talent or genetics but by heart and dedication the will to push forward. I know what you’re saying it’s the money , and again your wrong. I would rather win the hearts of people then win the money if I could push one person to change their life what’s that worth thousands? , Millions? No its Priceless! I am 160lbs now and I’m almost at the end of myTransformation and well I’m beating my goal I’m making it my point to outdo myself. I’ll let nothing stand in my way the excuses are gone I’m going to do this not for a show or money but for me because I need this more than anything and I know there is someone out there that also needs this extra push and I want to push them. See you at the end I luv everyone for the support

Today 4/12/12 i have come to a point where i see change, but to those around me im wasting my time. Its hard to think of how hard i try and train but there will always be someone who says ill never make it ,but it hurts bad to have one of my loved ones tell me to give it up why keep trying ill never get there.

Well i will get there and ill never quit ill push and push till the mountian moves but i will never quit. I went to the gym today and turned that hate and anger inside me and channeled it into the gym and i crushed it today i left my heart and soul in the gym its still there and will remain there until i reach my goal.

 I know this blog no one reads or cares but if i see this when i log on that hate and passion will stay enraged in my heart!  I am "CHRIS GET STRONG" AND I WILL NEVER STOP!