Brad’s BodyBlog

I woke up this morning without the alarm clock, eyes just popped open, I saw that is was just starting to get light and sure enough it was 4:45am.  I took my supps, packed up my gear, and headed to Healthy Bodies.

I got up this morning less than motivated, but that would soon change.  With yesterdays lower calorie day and lots of cardio, my body looked shredded this morning with veins and striations coarsing through my inner thighs.  That got me a little more motivated to go train.  Then I watched some utube videos of some crazy deadlifts, and that got me in the mood to do some pounding.

Training: Back

Deadlifts - 370lbs 1×7, 375 1 x 5, 403lbs x 4: Last week-360lbs 2×6, 365lbs 1×5

V-bar Pull ups - 83lbs 1×6, 87lbs 1×6, 90lbs 1×6, Last week 82lbs, 2×6

One arm dumbbell rows - 112lbs x 12 reps, last week 105lbs x 23 reps

Bent Over barbell rows - 230lbs x 4 reps, Last week 225lbs x 6 reps

Great workout again!!  I love working out with Ron! He really had me going again.  This morning he brought in pictures of one of my competitors.  He has this super tiny waist, is super lean, and his back looks as wide as Ronnie Coleman.  Needless to say it inspired me.  I had one set of deadlifts left and I really wanted to leave nothing on the table.  I WANTED 403lbs again.  I WANTED to do it twice today as this would be a new record, I GOT IT 4 TIMES!!  I was scared as hell I would hurt my back so I kind of bounced it off the floor on the last 2 reps, but I got it and it felt DAMN good. 

Nutrition: All pre and post workout meals on time.  I am eliminating some calories today as I start a new menu.  Todays will be a little lower than the rest of the week as I have to make some potatos.

1:30am - 6 BCAA 4500, 2 Myo D, 1 CLA

6:00am - 1 Xocai Chocolate Power Square, 2 dymetadrine Extreme

6:50am - 1 Scoop VP2, 1/2 Scoop Creatine HSC, 2g Micronized Creatine, 5g GL3, 2g Beta-Alanine

8:05am - 1 Scoop VP2, 1/2 Scoop Creatine HSC, 2g Micronized Creatine

8:25am - 1/2 cup egg beaters, 1 plain rice cake

9:00am - 1/2 NytroPro 40

10:45am - 1 Scoop VP2 and 1/2 cup pure pumpkin, Black Decaf Coffee

12:30pm - Oatmeal Pancake, Xocai Power Square, 2 MYO-D, 1 CLA, 3 BCAA 4500, Decaf coffee with 1 small tub of Coffee Mate(15 cals)

2:15pm - 1/2 MetRx shake, 5g creatine, 5g GL3

4:00pm - 4oz chicken, 6oz veggies, salsa, butter spray

6:00pm - blackcoffee, 1 CLA, 3 DX, , 1 Beta X

7:00pm - 1/2 MetRx shake, 5g creatine, 5g GL3

9:00pm - 4oz chicken, 6oz veggies, salsa, butter spray

1:00pm - 1/2 cup Trader Joes Nonfat Cottage Cheese, 1/2 scoop VP2

I saved 130 calories and 23g protein in case I got called in for xray in the middle of the night.  At 1:00am I had to go pee so I went ahead and ate.

Totals: 1637.5 calories, 235g protein, 131g carbs, 17.5g fat

Cardio:  Again I was tired as hell and my legs weak as rubber, but I got another great cardio in.  Immediately after getting called in to do a Cat Scan, I went straight to the gym and did 16 hard minutes on the Tectrix upright bike.  Weak and Tired and I still got damn close to my all time record of 5.99 miles and finished the 16 minutes with 5.91 miles burning 283 calories.

Little Extras: I left the workout on fire this morning and headed straight to church.  It was the best hour of the whole week.  I don’t think my faith has ever been stronger than right now.  Not only because I have this big show coming up, but because money is tight right now and it is hard to do, but I must have faith that as long as I bust my ass, keep working to help the community and people every where to get well, healthy, and fit, God will provide for me and my family.  Something Ron said to me keeps ringing in my mind.  "Faith is the absense of fear."  Nothing is more true.  I don’t have be be fearfull that I won’t be able to pay the bills and provide for my wife and son.  As long as I make the effort to work, weather at the gym or on call at the hospital, God will provide for us all.  "God helps those that help themselves."  I left church today absolutely on fire with the Holy Spirit.  I felt like a million bucks, I LOVED IT!!

Stats: I have been neglecting to do any weight or body fat analysis because it was screwing with my head a month ago when my weight would not drop.  I broke down today and did a quick measurement and I am glad I did.  161lbs - 5.9%/9lbs body fat.  I have dropped 5 pounds of body weight and 6lbs of body fat.  WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T BUILD MUSCLE BEING CALORIE DEPRIVED!!

With last nights tough night and knowing none of our kettlebell club would be here I took my time getting to the gym this morning.  I rode in at 7:45am or so to do my workout, then had a step aerobics class to teach at 9:00am.  It was a weird morning for my nutrition as everything was so late.  My blood sugar felt really low after last nights allnighter so I adjusted my food schedule and ate as I was working out in stead of before, after, 1/2 hour after and 1 hour after.  It got me back on schedule.

Workout:  Russian Kettlebell training and step aerobics.  I had to modify what we usually do as I only had 1 of each kettlebell and on some exercises I need 2.

Snatch Challenge: 52lbs x 52reps

1 minute intervals with 1 minute of rest.
2 hand swings - 72lbs
1 hand swings - 52lbs
alternating cleans - 52lbs
high pull to a squat - 52lbs
Turkish Get ups - 44lbs 3 each side
Clean and presses - 52lbs 30 seconds each - 5 reps
Figure 8 - 72lbs
Snatch Ladder - 5 reps each hand-26lbs, 35lbs, 44lbs, 52lbs
Sling Shot - 52lbs
Walking overhead Lock out - 52lbs 1 KB 1 lap outside around gym
Windmill to overhead squat - 52lbs 3.5 reps
Dead Snatch - 72lbs

40 minutes of step aerobics immediately after Kettlebell workout.

Nutrition:  As I stated I was so far behind eating, and my blood sugar was so low that I ate my morning meals as I was working out.  It worked, it got my blood sugar up, and back on schedule.  I did not realize that I was out of potatos at the gym so I mixed some of the Xocai Chocolate in with the eggs.  It was terrible, it did the job as I got the same amount of calories and carbs, but it tasted terrible and I will never do it again.

1:35am - 6 BCAA 4500, 1 CLA, 2 Myo-D

6:15am - 1 Xocai Chocolate Power Square, 3 dymetadrine Extreme

6:45am - 1 Scoop VP2, 1/2 Scoop Creatine HSC, 2g Micronized Creatine, 5g GL3, 1g Beta-alanine

8:05am - 1 Scoop VP2, 1/2 Scoop Creatine HSC, 2g Micronized Creatine, 5g GL3

8:40am - 1 cup egg beaters, 1 cap Xocai Healthy Chocolate Syrup

9:00am - 1/2 Metrx, 1/3 cap Xocai Healthy Chocolate Syrup

10:15am - 1/2 cup Pure Pumpkin, 1 scoop VP2, 1g Beta Alanine, 5g GL3

12:00pm - 1/2 Metrx, 2 Myo-D, 1 CLA, 3 BCAA 4500

1:30pm - Oatmeal Pancake, 1/2 cap Xocai Healthy Chocolate Syrup

3:00pm - 1/2 Metrx Shake, 2 DX, 1CLA. 1 Beta X, 3 BCAA 4500

5:00pm - 4 oz Chicken, 6 oz mixed vegetables, salsa, butter spray

8:00pm - 4 oz Chicken, 6 oz mixed vegetables, salsa, butter spray

10:00pm - 1/2 Metrx Shake, 3g GABA, 5g Creatine

Totals: Calories with Supplements 1702, Protein 242.5g, Carb 142g, Fat 20.5g

Cardio:  It was very tough to do, but I drug myself up to the high school track to run.  My energy was low and I did not want to, but we were at the local pool for our sons birthday party and the track was but a block away.  The whole way up there I was telling Jamie, "why do I feel I have to do this?"  She even responded once saying, "You don’t have to do this you know."  That only re-affirmed in my mind I had to. It took forever and I tried to run as fast as I could, but I got it done.

Extras: I rode my bike back and forth from the gym today, in addition to my regular workouts.  I got a good coating of moistuizing oil on my skin this evening, and I held each of my relaxed poses of 40 seconds before collapsing in bed.

The day started bright and early at 4:00am. I took my first dose of supplements which was 99mg of potassium with as little water as I could manage. I was all packed and ready to go with the exception of my vegetables which I would be eating all day. I had them all split up into steamer bags made by Glad so I cooked them all up and stuck them in one of my little coolers. I ate my first meal at 5:00am and we were on the road at 5:45am.

Our first stop was at one of my clients home. Jamie was going to finish shaving her up, paint her, and do her hair. The plan was to do her makeup at the show while the guys were registering, but Jamie forgot one critical component, the makeup. So right after I ate again at 6:00am I was heading back home to get her makeup kit.  Once I returned, we painted me up and Jamie did Diannas hair.  I got in another meal and we were on the road at 8:00am. We had just over an hour drive ahead of us and check in time was 9:15am. We cut it close, but we arrived right on time.

Once inside the Cal-Neva Hotel we met up with my good friend Ken and his wife Sandy who were both competing as well. Once the Blah, Blah, Blah the INBA reps put on at the beginning of every check in process the guys lined up and we started splitting into groups. The group of 10 guys was unusual in that there were no real tall guys. There were only 2 guys that were greater than 5′9" and one of them was Ken. Low in behold who was standing next to me but a multiple time champion by the name of "Mr. Peka" At first they split us up and I was in the medium class with Mr. Peka. However, they asked me if I wanted to be in the tall class as I had taken my shoes off.  Taking into consideration I was standing next to Peka, panic set in and I said,"Well I certainly don’t want to stand next to him." This left me in the tall class, for the first time ever, competeing against my good freind Ken.

Once registration was over we went back stage to get ready for prejudging to take place at noon. We found a little dressing room with lots of lights for heat and took it over. It was cool we had our own room all to ourselves. At about 12:30 prejudging got rolling and I ate some of my home made potato chips, had some water and VP2 and started pumping up. I had a dull head ache for about an hour and took some Advil at about 11:00am, but now it was really setting in. I could barely pump up as the pain would come in waves. The heat from the bright lights intensified the pain so I had to keep stepping out of our room into the hall. At times I thought I would puke, but I was able to hold what little food was in my stomach down. The pain was alleviated quite a bit just moments before we went on stage. We did all of our mandatories with me in the middle, Ken on my right, and a rookie competitor on my left. Prejudging went fast and that was OK with me as my headache started to return. However I would not get off so easlily as Ken told the judges to keep working us. I am glad he did now as I needed the extra work, but at the time I was ready to kick him.

Pre juding for us was over and now it was time for me to focus on Dianna. She was primped and painted and ready to go. We got her pumped up and ready when just as she was ready to head on stage the judges called for a 5 minute break. Figures, her first competition, she is ready to go, and now they want a break. She was the only female body builder at this show so it was not a big deal, but I felt for her none the less. I made sure she kept warming up and when I was sure she was OK with everything. I headed out front to get some pics and video of her. She did great as all the practice we put her through paid off.  Once she was done, Dianna and her husband Scott headed up to thier room while we stayed and watched Sandy in the figure division.  She had 2 rounds to compete in so we were there for a little while to support her.

Once prejudging was over, I had a little more food and we split up.  I headed up to Diannas room a got in a good hour nap.  Ken, Sandy and Jamie went to Safeway for some sushi and salad.  After sleeping hard for about an hour, I felt like a million bucks.  Every one showed up at Diannas room at about 2:00pm and we all had our meals.  We all hung out and talked for quite a while and at 4:00pm I had my second steak meal.  We headed back down stairs for the evening show at 5:30pm.

We were able to get our changing room back again and we settled in.  Our impression after prejudging was that I would win the tall class beating out my buddy Ken and the other competitor.  So I took my time getting ready as it appeared that I would be going against Peka and the winner of the short class for the overall.  I went down to watch Dianna do her routine and see her win the novice division for womens bodybuilding.  She did very well and I could tell she was enjoying the moment.  However, I could also tell she was eager to get dressed and back out front to watch the rest of the show. 

 

I headed back to our room and waited as long as I could to get my carbs and water in, then started pumping up about 7:30pm or so.  Sure enough Mr. Peka would win the medium class and it was our turn on stage.  Ken and I did our 90 second individual routines and we all went back on stage for the pose down and for them to announce the winner of the tall class.  It was fun posing with Ken and I think we put on a good show.  As predicted I would win the tall class, but the excitement was only about to begin. 

As we walked off stage, with a huge rush of emotion Ken looked back at me and said with passion, “Dude I sh&t you not, I am harder than Peka, you can do this, YOU CAN BEAT HIM!!”  Suddenly a rush of energy surged over me and I got a huge tingle down my spine.  “Keep telling me that Ken” I said.  “You have to keep telling me that.”  He was really pumping me up and as Mr. Peka, the winner of the short class and I walked out on stage, I felt like a million bucks.

The judges worked us hard.  We were up there for a solid 15 minutes or so.  The judges started asking us to do poses I had never done before.  Practiced yes, but never actually done on stage.  3/4 back poses, flexing and rotating both quads, hamstrings, 3 or 4 back poses, they worked us for what seemed like another 30 minutes.  Every pose I would flex every muscle in my body as hard as I could.  My quads, hamstrings, and glutes felt they would cramp at times, but I just kept cranking my muscles as hard as I could and held them there.  I could here Ken coaching me off stage.  “Legs together Brad!!.  Hold that pose, you got em covered from the back” he would say.  On one of the turns I looked and all of the athletes had gathered off stage to watch.  It seemed as though, being the under dog, they were pulling for me.  I was no where near as massive, but everyone kept telling me, I was much harder and define than Peka.  Finally the judges called for the pose down, they had made thier decision.  I was in my own world at first, just posing away doing what ever I felt like.  Then I started matching poses with Peka.  Trying to make the comparisons entertaining.  He was massive, but at times looked soft.  I felt stupid at first, but was gaining confidence with every turn.  I really got jazzed when I saw Peka walk away and stand on the other side of the short competitor.  I felt like there was me…..and no one else, just me.

Finally they had us stop and I held my front relaxed pose.  Peka was exhausted.  He looked as though he would callapse in a pool of his own sweat.  It pumped me up even more.  The M.C. took her time announcing the winner as always and as I stood on the end with Peka between me and the short class winner, I kept telling myself that I had it, even though in my heart, I did not believe it.  Finally the moment of truth came, “The winner of the 2008 Mr. and Mrs Millenium Overall Mens Natural Bodybuilding Championship is ………………..contestent…………â€
¦number 25, Brad Loomis!  I heard my number and I was in disbelief, my eyes were as big as saucers as I raised my hands in victory.  I looked at Jamie and saw that she was overcome with emotion, jumping around with her hands in the air as well.  For just a brief moment I was not sure if I had won as I had heard my number called, but with the rush of emotion I had not heard my name.  But the short class winner and Mr. Peka came over to shake my hand and it was confirmed in my mind, I had won, I took this whole damn show, I HAD BEATEN PEKA!  I was so happy I was literally jumping on the stage.  My left foot is still sore as I was stomping and jumping so hard.  MAN what a way to spend fathers day weekend.

Every one was congratulating me, the underdog had won.  It seemed like a popular win with both the athletes and the audience as Mr. Peka was heavily favored.  He was just coming off a huge win a few months ago at the Iron Gladiator.  The Overall winner of that show failed the drug test and Peka being second, was announced the Iron Gladiator Overall Champ.  But tonight I was “The peoples Champ” it would seem.  Every one kept telling me I was harder and more cut than him and that I had a chance to beat him.  I guess they were right.

No rest for the wicked.  Jamie and I took our time coming home.  We hit the safeway she had stopped at earlier that day and got some Sushi.  We got home about midnight or so and collapsed in bed.  I slept in the next day, but was back in the gym by noon, training back and doing nearly 400lb deadlifts.  I have an even bigger show in 4 weeks and with this kind of momentum, I want to carry it all the way through that show as well.

 

 

As has been the trend all week, I started the day with a brisk ride to the gym at 5:30am.  This mornings ride was a little more treacherous as my handle bars came loose.  They started by just slightly moving to being completely loose and hard to keep the front tire straight by the time I got to the gym.

Training:  Chest

Incline barbell press - 232.5 1×4, 1×5, 235 1×4 ; Last week 232.5lbs 3×4

Weighted dips - 126 3/4lbs 3×5; Last week 124lbs 2×6, 126.5lbs 1×5

Flat Dumbbell bench press - 100lbs 2×4, Last week - 100lbs 1×5, 1×4

Flat Barbell bench press - 245lbs x 6; Last week-255lbs x 4

Another great workout with Ron this morning.  My chest was totally tapped out by the time we got to the last set of Flat Bench Presses. Which (by the way) I screwed up on and used 245lbs in stead of 255lbs like I was supposed to.  My last set of flat dumbbell presses was eventfull as not only did I have nothing left, when I did my little kip up to get off the bench, my right arm completely collapsed and I dropped the dumbbell on my right hip and took some skin right off of my oblique.  I have a big strawberry right where the point of the dumbbell hit.

Nutrition: With the exception of running out of CLA, all pre and post workout meals on time.

1:35am - 6 BCAA 4500, 2 Myo-D

4:30am - 1 Xocai Chocolate Power Square, 2 dymetadrine Extreme

5:15am - 1 Scoop VP2, 1/2 Scoop Creatine HSC, 2g Micronized Creatine, 5g GL3, 2 BetaX

7:15am - 1 Scoop VP2, 1/2 Scoop Creatine HSC, 2g Micronized Creatine, 5g GL3

7:45am - 1 cup egg beaters, 2.1oz red potato

8:15am - 1/2 Metrx Shake

10:05am - 1/2 MetRx Shake, 2 Myo-D, 1 CLA, 3 BCAA 4500, 1g beta Alanine, 5g GL3

12:00pm - 4 oz chicken, 6 oz mixed veggetables, salsa, butter spray

2:00pm - 1/2 Metrx Shake, Iced Tea

4:00pm - 1/2 Metrx Shake, 2 Dymet Extreme, 1 CLA, 3 BCAA 4500, 1 Beta X

5:45pm - Oatmeal Pancake with 1/2 cap Xocai Healthy Chocolate Syrup

8:00pm - 1 cup Trader Joes Nonfat Cottage Cheese

10:10pm - 4 oz Chicken, 5oz mushrooms & Carrots, salsa, butter spray

Totals: Calories with Supplements 1732, Protein 251.5g, Carb 137g, Fat 17.5g

Cardio:  I rode my bike to and from the gym this morning at 5:30am and 11:00am. We had a pretty good kettlebell class tonight, but I did more teaching than working out so I would not count that as my cardio. The class ended at 7:15pm and I got called in to work at the hospital at 7:45pm.  The night would only get harder though.  They kept me there until 10:00pm so I was not able to get back to the gym and get my cardio done.  I headed home to eat as I was weak, tired, and could feel my blood sugar dropping.  The best I could do my 10:45pm or so was hold a few poses for 40 seconds, then I collapsed asleep on the bed.  11:45pm they called me back in for a Cat Scan.  I would be there until 1:00am.  I was literally dragging my butt with every step.  I managed a save a few calories in my menu just in case so I had a few carrots and a 10 calorie energy drink to get through it.  1:30am I fell back asleep after taking my fish oils and BCAAs.

Little Extras: I finally got in the sun today and go a good 40 minutes on my back and then about 20 minutes on my chest and stomach. I can’t see my back so I don’t know if I got sunburnt or not, I doubt it though.  As I mentioned, I was able to hold a few poses.