elitster’s BodyBlog

Little by little for sure!  Just keep chipping away at the stone.  The diet continues to go well as does the training.  I recently purchased the new Mark Dugdale/Dorian Yates DVD.  I was thoroughly impressed by the way Dorian thinks.  He has some serious Mental Toughness that so many do not have…  You never see/hear Dorian complain about training, cardio, diet.  You hear him say, "Somebody had to be Mr. Olympia, why not me?"  On the flip side I read an interview with a solid pro that has never won the Mr. O… Throughout the interview he complains about everything including precontest diet.  So much of what we do is mental.

Two weeks to play and back at it with guns blazing…  Have the new plan for packing on some needed mass over the next 9-10 months!  I have a Great nutritionist and I’m excited to continue to dial in the workouts and the diet.  I really enjoy eating clean, and eating quantity!!
The key areas for improvement are packing on size to the thighs and delts!  I have pretty narrow clavicles so I appear very narrow facing front.  As well I have long legs and a shorter midsection.  Gotta FILL IN the blanks…like they said in school!!!

April 12th was the day…  I came in dry and in extreme condition…  Definitely my best to date. 
I  competed in the Lightweight Novice Class that featured "12" competitors.  Quite a large class.  The Prejudging was draining to say the least.  However, it felt good to compete against 12 rather than 4 or 5. 

In the end I hoisted the 2nd place trophy.  FAR FROM SATISFIED.  I was rather dissapointed, but all you can do is get back on the horse and continue training/prepping.  You never know what the judges are looking for.  You just never know.

I hired a TREMENDOUS nutritionist…  He was absolutely instrumental in my conditioning.  I can’t say enough good about him.  Honestly I feel like I let him down with a 2nd place finish.  I’m taking some time to refuel before making any decisions on future shows.

Just a couple quick notes… I started at 194.5lbs and 100 days later I weighed in after dumping water at 159.5lbs.  Flat out I must put on some more size.  I’m far too tall to keep walking on stage at that weight.  Give me a full year and we’ll see what happens!

WOW!! I’ve dropped 20.5lbs. in 45 days…  I finally hired a nutritionist and it’s been the best thing I’ve done.  Yes, I’m a personal trainer… Yes, I’ve competed before.  BUT-There’s a big difference when you have someone that is outside looking in that can assist when let’s face it, your brain isn’t fully functional.  I’m very appreciative for the help… Of course I’m paying for it, but it has made a big difference.

 I also finally have a reliable training partner who has also been a big help!  He will also be competing so that’s motivating without question.

 My diet is completely dialed in.  Things are taking shape for sure!  I will be ready!!!

Found out two weeks ago that I have two fractured elbows…  I have had severe elbow pain for the past 4.5 years.  Finally went to a specialist and after a few tests and x-rays it’s pretty clear.  The options are 1.  Live with it as I have for 4.5 years or 2.  Surgery that can’t gaurantee an increase in success in the sport of bodybuilding.  The surgery will also require some significant recovery time.  I would not be able to lift for up to 6 months. 

The plan is to live with it for now.  I’m sure surgery will happen in the next 10 years.

Mixed emotions… I dropped over 40lbs. in 8 months in preperation for this competition. During the 8 months I changed jobs,  work hours and responsibilities changed, pushed through some MAJOR injuries, had recently moved, and dealt with my share of relationship tsunamis.  I had "no" help for this show…  Meaning, I had no training partner, no posing, or diet coach.  I was on my own and although I drew from experience  I have no doubt having someone as passionate as me around to coach me would have been huge.

I’m a believer now in that what you "think" you get. My goal was to place and that’s what I accomplished.  I took 3rd… The two winners were "shredded" to the bone. Although I was bigger and definitely hard they were cut up royal and in the NGA that’s what wins. It’s always nice to "hear" the people say, "Man, I had you 2nd!!", but in the end the judges opinions are what matter.  I even had the Utah NGA commissionar tell me I got robbed, BUT again it’s over!!!

What did I learn? First I will NOT allow myself to get out 40lbs.  I mean that right there says it all.  I had to do a ton of cardio and dieted hard to drop the weight fast.  When you drop that much weight your body is just doing what it can to hold onto everything and anything.  In return when you drop that much you lose muscularity and true seperation.  Plus you can end up looking flat.
Next surround myself with those with the same passion to help me get as shredded as possible.  I need to find some other "bodybuilders" to train with and to really push me.  I had a good friend help me with my color and oil and it was pretty bad.  I need someone that knows what they’re doing.  I can’t blame my friend I blame myself for not making sure it was spot on.

One week left and things are coming together…

Considering the many injuries this year and the crazy amount of time spent working I’m pleased, but never satisfied!

I’ve lost over 37lbs so far with a few more lbs to go. 
I’m definitely learning my lesson and next time will not allow myself to get that far out.  I want to stay within 20lbs of competition weight no doubt.  I will enjoy the post competition meal and take a week off from the gym to heal, but after that I’m staying on track!

The weight is coming off which is nice as we head into Summer!  I’m 3 lbs. ahead of where I was the last time I competed in 04′.

I’m also changing things up a bit with my diet.  I’m strict, but one day every couple weeks I bump up my carbs significantly.  It seems like it keeps me from getting stagnant and it hopefully will keep me sane as I get closer to comp time.  I still have roughly 25-30lbs. to lose, but again the mirror will be the judge as to what I have to lose.

As for the knee.  I generally train legs twice per week.  I still do so, but the first day I hit quads and the next time I hit legs I focus on hams.  It’s allowed my knee to recover a bit more.  I’ve also been doing some light walking about 3X each week.  After I walk I really stretch my quads and it seems to be helping significantly.  One of the causes of chondromalacia is tight quads so I’m doing what I can to rule that out.

Well, good news… I was able to finally meet with a Physical Therapist regarding the Patellar Chondromalacia in my Right Knee.  I’m always a bit apprehencive when seeing a Physician or Health Care Provider regarding anything because traditionally what do they tell you????  "Stay off of it for 4 months, don’t lift, don’t exercise, put some ice on it and take some meds."

I was very happy to find out this Physical Therapist definitely knows his stuff.  He has showed me what I need to do to heal the area…

Every time I train legs I have to "tape" my knee cap so that it tracks properly in the patellar groove.  Today was my first leg day and I taped it up and did the exercises he showed me.  There was still some pain, but it’s not even close to what it was.  This is big because when you have Patellar Chondromalacia your Vastus Medialus actually "shuts down" meaning it begins to atrophy.  Not good!!!  Now I can continue progressing toward competing in October!!

I’m back from 8 weeks of continuous business travel. I still hit it hard while on the road, but there’s nothing like eating your own food and training at your own gym!
My knee is, well JACKED up! Its frustrating, but I still train legs twice per week. Its not the same but I refuse to let it be an excuse.
I’ve had a prescription for some Physical Therapy but the travel has made that impossible. Now that I’m back I’ll see if some PT helps!
The Mr. Utah NPC was this weekend and it was awesome! Very inspirational! Victor Martinez was the guest poser and ROCKED!