mrdead’s BodyBlog

Well, yesterday I had written that I would be going to the Seahawks and Raiders game. Box seats, 50 yd line, field level. Well, our tickets became "ticket". It seems the person my wife works with only had one ticket, not two. So, since she worked with the guy, and I felt that at least one of us should go, she got to be the one. No big deal, I can watch it on the television. Well, after the game, I get a phone call at 11:00. It was my "Dear Sweet Wife", asking me to come up to get her. She had parked her car in a "park and ride" about an hour and a half from our home. Her key wouldn’t turn the ignition. So, I get there and fiddle with it for an hour or so. I’m tired, cranky, and have to get up for work at 5:00. So, I said "Screw it!", loaded the necessities out of her truck into mine, and drove home. We got home at 3:00 AM. So here I am tired as hell, ony 2 hours of sleep, and still down to one vehicle. "Free ticket" my a$$!!!

Monday, was chest and shoulders. This marks my 2nd week on the "HUGE" program, and the 2nd week of taking Anator p-70. I had some killer pumps, and some serious soreness. What the 1st 3 weeks of the program entail is doing 3 exercises 5 sets, and 10-15 reps for large muscle areas (Chest, back, and quads) and 2 exercises 5 sets, and 10-15 reps for smaller areas (Bi’s, tri’s, calves, shoulders, abs, etc…). But it goes through different phases, throughout the year, and keeps the body from adapting. But, the pumps I’ve had, are incredible!!! (Between that, and taking NaNo-Vapor beforehand *L*) My nutrition is slowly evening out, and I’ve gotten myself to stay in the 190’s, for now. My abs, are back to where they were 6 weeks out from my last show. (Oops!) 

Tuesday, was back and arms. The vascularity in my arms and delts really has come out!!! It’s exciting to see all the veins starting to pop out, and criss-cross.

Wednesday was a rest day. Whoopity doo!

Tonight, life has intervened, and I will not be going to the gym, but to the Raiders and Seahawks game. I will have the privilage of watching my beloved Raiders from box seats on the 50 yard line. The "Coach/Torture Master/ Dear Sweet Wife" has a co-worker that has season tickets for the Seahawks, and found out that we were Raiders fans, and offered us tickets to go. Hmm… Free tickets, box seats, 50 yard line, Oakland Raiders? Oh, yeah… I’ll be all over that!!! (For those that don’t know, I’m a big time football junkie… *L*) So, tomorrow will be my day to annihilate my abs and legs. 

Well, I survived a rather painful weekend. It was saturated with in-laws. Now don’t get me wrong, normally we get along great. But… Sometimes, enough is enough, or too much! Friday, was at their house, with her grandparents and great-aunt and uncle. I had no clue as to their wonderful reminiscence of "old times". (Good thing Smackdown! was on.) I pretty much felt like the little kid who was stuck at the "kiddie table". Next day, was at her grandparents. The same people were there, with the addition of her aunt and uncle as well as their 2 boys. Again, it was the same thing, only the 2 boys (teenagers were wrapped up in texting on their cell-phones). Then came Sunday… I had the joy and pleasure of slaving over a grill for all 10 of these "wonderful" people, plus my "Dear Sweet Wife". And, of course, if you ask for any assistance it falls on deaf ears. So, I’m running back and forth like a madman, filling up the platter with chicken legs, thighs, and burgers. Finally, after everyone had eaten, and I was down to my food, I get asked, "Do you need any help?" If murder was legal, I’d have been very busy. So, as I’m sitting down to finally eat, I get asked, "Can you run and grab the cakes out of the fridge, for dessert?" I started to get a slight homicidal twitch. Then, as I’m drinking a Rockstar Juiced, I get grilled with, "How much alchohol is in that?" A. I’m over 21 B. It’s an energy drink, not like Rockstar 21 C. What I consume is none of their damned business! Then, as soon as the last bite of cake is devoured by our "wonderful" company, they’re gone, like the wind, and I’m left with the clean-up! (Somebody should’ve shot me, and put me out of my misery.) This will never happen, with my family, as they all live in the Midwest!!!

The other madness that has ended, is my orgy of carbs and "naughty" foods. I’m back to a bodybuilding diet, back at the gym, and "happy as a pig in slop!" I plan on greatly improving on my placing at my first show, and really making an impression next year!!!

Last night, was legs. I was still kind of sore, from hauling wood up from the front of the house uphill to the back. But, like a good boy, I went to the gym and had my first leg day on the "HUGE" program. I’m feeling it, today. I’m walking like Golum, from Lord of the Rings. But, it’s a good kind of sore. Oh, and if you have a spouse on this site, and only one computer between you, don’t forget to tell them that you logged them off. They wind up posting under your name, and get REALLY ticked off! And, then they go tattle to people about how much naughty stuff you’ve been eating since your contest. But, anyhow.

Abs:

Crunches: 2 sets of 20

Leg lifts: as above

Legs:

Leg extensions: 5 sets of 15

Squats: As above

Leg presses: as above

Hamstring curls: Same

Standing calf machine: Same

Well, 3 days after starting the"HUGE" program, I see why they have the rest days as scheduled. My ENTIRE upper body is SORE!!!! I haven’t been this sore, since I started this "crazy" idea of competing. Yesterday, I had the joy and pleasure of moving some roofing supplies (Shingles, plywood, tar paper, basically the roof, aside from the "A" frames). And, then I was graced with the wonderful opportunity to move our firewood uphill, to the back of the house. And, tonight, before I go to the gym for leg/abs-day (My 2 least favorites). I get to split some of this wonderful wood. And, why are we moving all of these things, and building sheds and what not? To have the joyous pleasure of having my in-laws, my wife’s grandparents, her great aunt and uncle, her aunt and uncle with their two boys over to eat us out of house and home. And, while she will be busy catching up on "old times" and having a ball, I will be slaving over a hot grill, listening to shouts of "is it ready yet?". Oh, I am such a lucky boy. (Somebody shoot me please….) And, then after the hurricane of guests leave, I get to clean up, as the "Dear Sweet Wonderful Wife" will be too tired from her "busy" day. For once, I’d just like to skip the weekend. *L*

Oh, and to top it all off. After all that has happened pre-and post contest. I’ve now nearly become a bottomless pit. I’m more hungry than when I was dieting down. Sheesh! It takes a lot of will-power to keep from eating everything in sight, and to ognore the loud rumblings of my tummy!

Last night was back, bi’s, and tri’s. I was actually quite a bit sore from Monday’s workout, but "pain is good". I’m still taking the NaNo-Vapor pre-workout, and the Anator-p70 post workout. And, I’ve had some distractions at the gym, these past 2 days. On both nights, I’ve been interupted by young ladies wanting me to show them how to use something, or wanting to "work in" with me. First off, the one that wanted me to show her how to use the leg press, had already done 3 sets on it already. She knew how it worked. The one trying to work in with me, did one set of 6 reps, and stared at me the whole time, and then went off giggling with her friend. Now, for starters, I’m normally not a very nice person in the gym. My wife says that I have a tendency to look at people "like they’re already dead, and just don’t know it, yet." Second, when I’ve got my i-pod blasting violent music, and I’m in a totally focused zone, it ticks me off to be interupted. But, unfortunately, due to my agressive nature in the gym, my wife will only do cardio with me, and that’s it (Unless she wants me to get her started on the leg press or get her a bench for pull-overs). She has no intention of getting anywhere near me while in in the psychotic bliss of lifting. I suppose I should be flattered by their attention, but enough of that rant. The workout went as such:

Back:

Deadlifts: 4 sets of 8

Bent over rows: 5 sets of 12

Close grip pull-downs to the front: 5 sets of 12

Triceps:

Close grip bench press: 5 sets of 12

Tricep cable press-downs: As above

Biceps:

Barbell curls: 5 sets of 12

Incline dumb bell curls: As above.

I deviated from stopping there, and also did some triceps extensions, and some seated low cable rows. Tonight there is no workout at the gym, but the "Coach/Torture Master/Dear Sweet Wife" has decided that "WE" (Which means "ME") will be moving wood up from the front of the house, to back behind the house (Which is uphill). And, since they have not been quartered, "WE" ("ME", again) will be splitting them, afterwards. And, "WE" will be taking things out of where the wood is now housed, and putting some of it into the shed that "WE" built on sunday. Oh, joy… (Somebody just shoot me, please… *L*)

Well, after taking about a week and a half off from the gym, I eagerly went back at it. I’m trying the program outlined in Flex Magazine’s "Huge" book. Of course I had to put in some of my own ideas as well. But, man am I sore! But it really felt great getting back into it.

Chest:

Decline press: 5 sets of 15

Incline press: As above

Bench press: As above.

Cable crossovers: As above

Shoulders:

Millitary press: 5 sets of 15

Lateral dumbell raises: As above

Machine lateral raises: As above

Shrugs (With the Calf Machine): 5 sets of 10

Started my first dose of Anator P-70 afterwards, and am still using the NaNo-Vapor pre-workout. But it’s great to be back at it!

Well, this past weekend was my last one off, before hitting the gym hardcore, again. The whole thing was a blur. Saturday, I went to 2 BBQ’s. One for my neighborhood block-party, and the other for my "god-daughter’s" B-Day. I ate sausages, burgers, cake, hotdogs, cookies, and drank gallons of soda. I had a really good time, that day.

Sunday, was a horse of a different color… The "Coach/Torture Master/Dear Sweet Wife" Had some lovely projects lined up for "us" to do. Tearing down 2 unused BBQ grills, loading the truck up with all sorts of lovely things to take to the dump, filling in all the areas in the front yard that needed beauty bark, putting up a border around the beauty bark areas, and last (And certainly not least….) "We" built a shed.  By the end of all that, I couldn’t wait for the weekend to be over. *L*

I figured out what happened in preparing for this past show. I started cutting at too low of a bodyweight. I need to gorge myself, and get into the 250-275 pound range. And, I started cutting too early. I think I’ll do it a couple of weeks before the show, this time around. And, I was eating things that were not conducive to growth. So this year, it will be cupcakes, twinkies, hotdogs and pizza! And, I’ll start cardio one week before the event. So, that will give me plenty of time to BULK!!!!

Just kidding. But the look on some people’s faces would’ve been priceless. Seriously, I do not plan to add too much fat, and will not be cutting down from 220 to 180. That was a bit much, and I was waaayyy too smooth, and small. So I will be working on bringing everything up, aside from my abs, which of course, will be brought down. I’ll try to be a LOT better about posting progress pics, but we use "old school" film cameras. I’ve also been reading "Huge" by Flex Magazine, and plan on trying some of the programs and techniques listed. So, starting monday it’s "game on".

An old Dr. John song has been coming to mind, as of late. I was in the right place, but it must’ve been the wrong time keeps ringing in my head. I placed 4th in the novice class, but that’s only because there weren’t more competitiors. I looked awful. Poor stomach control (bloated), very smooth (retaining water), and nervous as heck. You could hear my and my wife’s groans, the following morning, when I finally peaked. But the experience itself, was phenominal. And, had it’s ups and downs.

Two days before the show, I got nailed with the flu. Oh, joy. Anything that went in, came right back out. (I bet it was nerves, but anyhow. *L*) I took my polygraph the following day. 3 hour drive up, and 3 hour drive back. We spent the rest of the time putting on my Pro Tan. I woke up the next morning, rinsed off the excess, like it said on the bottle. And voila! I was as pale as when we started. We then frantically got everything together, and left the house at a little after 4:00 AM. Now the wonderful Washington Dept. of Transportation decided that that was the perfect day to shut down 3 lanes of I-5. Just lovely. We get to the venue, and as soon as we get there, began slathering on the Pro Tan. Denise James was a ROCK in the middle of this storm. She then "highly suggests" taking advantage of the Jan Tana representative that was there. Talk about a life-saver! In a matter of minutes she had me contest dark.

Now some of you may know, I have an umbilical hernia. Normally I can just lie down, pop it in, and it will stay for awhile. Well, due to the tanning spray, that was not an option. (I’m rather self-conscious about it.) So, the moment of truth approaches, and I begin to pump up. Some of the guys from the site here, came over and talked to me a bit, eased my nerves, and put me through my poses. (Tony Quincy, Mark Kimble, Gary Sewell, Teresa Johnson and Paul Gross you guys rock!)

So, we go onstage and hit our mandatory poses. The guys that were onstage with me looked phenominal. I already said how I looked, so we won’t pour salt in that wound again. I started to finally settle down a little by the last pose.

There was a break between the pre-judging and evening shows, so we went to a rest stop and took a little nap. Came back to the venue, and got re-sprayed. Some of the water retention had died down a little. A lot more of the guys were talking to me, and I loosened up a little. We went out, hit one pose and filed offstage. Each of us came out and did our individual routines. That’s when tragedy and disaster nearly occured. I had to pee!!! I really, really, really had to go!!! So, I go onstage and my music starts ("Could You Love A Monsterman" by Lordi) Due to nerves and the incredible urge that was increasing. I forgot some of the "Jeckyll and Hyde" spins that I was going to do. I finished a little early. I go offstage, and then we come out for the posedown. We were then awarded our hardware. I got a really cool medal. And, then the MC did something really cool!!! He made special mention of how much weight I had lost (He was off a bit on the amount, but the fact that it was mentioned made me feel awesome!!!) We then filed offstage.

Backstage, some of the other competitors congratulated me and talked a bit. I toweled off, and made a bee-line for the potty. (I still hadn’t got to pee yet.) I went and sat in the crowd with my wonderful wife, who was beaming with pride! I had made a goal to compete, and followed through. She knew what I had gone through to get that far.

The next morning I got up, and nearly screamed. The bloating and water were gone. The belly-button where it should be. Crispness, instead of smooth. Anyhow. We went to an all-you-can-eat brunch, and my wife gave me a wonderful surprise. A set of dog tags that were engraved, "You’ll always be my Mr. Olympia" and on the little tag it had the date of my first show.

Kevin and Denise James, thank you for putting on a great show! Count me in for next year! All of you reading this, thanks for all the encouragement, support, and advice. My "Coach/Torture Master/Dear Sweet Wife", thanks for EVERYTHING. I could not have done it without you. (Just remember, you’re the one that picked out the next two shows. *L*) Thanks to my fellow competitors, you guys are awesome!!!

And yes, I do plan on getting back on the horse and compete again. I just don’t plan on being the fat guy onstage!!! *L*