The Journey

All things change over time especially diet.  As I learn more about my body I am constantly changing things especially the amount of carbohydrates.  I don’t really count my pre-sleep meal, or my post workout shake as meals per say, but I do account for the calories.  Here is my current regimen (on Sundays and Thursdays I eat lower calories because I don’t work out):

Meal 1: 1 Cup of Egg whites (equal to about 8 whole egg whites), 1 cup cooked oatmeal or 1 cup kashi go lean cereal, and 1 slice of 100% whole wheat toast

Meal 2: 4 oz lean ground turkey burger or beef burger, 1 slice of 100% whole wheat bread, 1 cup french cut green beans

Meal 3: 6.5 oz boneless chicken breast, 3/4 cup brown rice, 1 cup french cut green beans

Meal 4: 4 oz can of low sodium tuna, 1 Kashi bar, 1oz of nut mix (almonds, pecans, pistachios)

Meal 5 (pre-workout): 1 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 scoop ON Whey Protein, 1 kashi bar

Meal 6 (PWO Shake): 2 scoops ON Whey Protein, 1 large banana

Meal 7: 4 oz cut of flank steak or 4 oz cut of top sirloin, 5-6 oz red potato, 1 cup broccoli florets or 1 cup full green beans

Meal 8 (Pre-Sleep): 1 Scoop ON Casein Protein, 1 tablespoon Almond Butter

Extra calories from Fish Oil/Flaxseed oil

This comes out to anywhere between 2800-3050 calories

*Edit* This is my off day Meal Plan:

Meal 1: 1 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 cup egg whites, 1 slice 100% whole wheat bread

Meal 2: 6.5 oz chicken breast, 1 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 cup broccoli

Meal 3: 6.5 oz chicken breast, 4 oz sweet potato fries (you can find them at costco, really good for you!), 1 cup broccoli

Meal 4: (I play APA on Sundays so I’m usually not at the house) 1 ISS Research Pro 42 bar, or 4 oz can of tuna, 1 kashi bar, 1 oz serving of nuts

Meal 5: 4 oz cut of flank steak, 3/4 cup brown rice, 1 cup broccoli

Meal 6: 4 oz cut of any lean meat I want, 1 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 cup broccoli or green beans

(Pre-Sleep) Same as workout days.

I take 2 fish oil or flaxseed oil pills with every meal.
Calories comes out to anywhere between 2400-2600.

I had recently run into some youtube videos of previews for these video documentaries and was immediately impressed. I am not an experienced bodybuilder by any means, but I am beginning to understand the sacrifices that it takes to succeed in this sport. In these documentaries the life of a bodybuilder is put out there with no bull****. It’s hard, and at times even scary to fathom what these guys go through for show time.

The discipline that has to be followed for these types of shows and contests immediately is portrayed from the beginning. From start to finish I had to watch them all straight through because the story was so touching and so truthful. Even though Dave Pulcinella never received his Pro card (which I truly believe he should have) he shows us all that with determination and an iron will you can overcome all obstacles.

Truly, I was touched by this story. Bodybuilder or not, you have to admire Dave’s sheer drive and commitment to the sport. It made me want to go crush iron after watching it. I only hope that my will can be as strong as Dave’s in the future as I progress in this addicting sport.

I was especially impressed by the last portion of the film with Dave’s new girlfriend.  As tough as it is for male bodybuilders in the sport, women have an even more difficult time with acceptance.  She is most inspiring to all of us.
Overall Score 10/10  (Amazing job Mike Pulcinella)

It grows within me each day.  The hunger.  It’s like a pain in my stomach.  It started out as something that was going to get me chicks and grew into something entirely different.  It’s not about women, it’s not about looking my best.  It’s about being more.  Being more than people expect me to be in the only fashion that I can fathom how too.  People expect me to be the average guy.  The one that is just like all the others.  I don’t want to be this, I bring above average work and dedication to my average form to create my own character.

I’m so much more than people know me as.  True.  I have a tendency to be somewhat introverted in my ways.  Ear phones in and my mind focused on the task at hand.  I don’t allow many people to bother me.  Maybe this comes across as a person who is rude or not nice, but as I have found my niche in this sport, I have found a home within myself.  I was always longing for more clarity of where I belonged.  I have found my home under barbell.  It’s so much more to me than just lifting some heavy ****.  It’s the focus that I bring 24/7 lifting or not.  To think that there is so much further to go and that my body will become what I make of it, is something that I cherish each day.  I control who I am.  No one can tell me no.  No one can tell me what I can and cannot be.  It is up to me to assume responsibility for who I am.  The naysayers can have their cake, I’ll take my chicken breast.

I’m more than the path has to offer.  I plow new and interesting roads along the way.  I break free from conformity and follow the road that the strong-willed dare take.  With a true heart I set out on my quest to grow.  Each small goal bringing me more and more hunger.  I must feed the beast its hard earned dinner.  When is more enough?  To a bodybuilder….never.

I now train consistently with a training partner.  Most guys at the gym see me training with her and I can sense their look of puzzlement.  "Why is a guy that trains so hard and balls out training with someone not as strong?"  I’ll tell you why.  It comes down to passion.  All of my training partners have pretty much abandoned me because they said I train too hard, or too often.  This woman that I train with now especially loves leg day with me.  Who in their right mind would LOVE my leg day?  I’ll tell you who.  A person who has even more drive than me, and that’s what it’s all about.  It’s not about how much weight you lift, it’s about the determination to create the best version of yourself possible.

In the last 6-8 weeks that we have been training together her progress has just astounded me.  I push her just as hard as I push myself (which is pretty ****ing hard).  She joined me on my birthday for my balls out leg day, and she now joins me even more.  I have pretty much laid out a diet for her that gears more towards losing bodyfat.  She has some extra weight on her that she will lose, but wow, when we first started doing squats all she could do was 10 pounds on each side.  Now she is doing 135 for reps.  That’s amazing.  That makes me feel so good inside to have a tremendous affect on a person’s life.  I have even convinced her to try and do a show next year with me.  We will both be virgins to the whole bodybuilding show thing.  Our first time so to speak.  She’s no where near ready (I’m not either), but with proper diet and training, I do believe I could get her there.  She has the drive, patience, and strength.  Most importantly she is like me in that she keeps her mind open to all types of training styles.  She’s still a bit apprehensive when it comes to spotting me and pushing me by yelling at me.  I keep telling her to yell at me and say "get that weight up you little bitch."  She’ll grow into it, though, I’m sure.  I just don’t want her to give up.  So much has been accomplished since she started training with me.  She already told me that with her personal trainer at the gym she doesn’t push her like I do.  Finally, a training partner that hangs with me, and doesn’t give up.  Who knew that it would be a female that would out-work all the guys that I have trained with.  I’m going to try to encourage her to get on bodyspace so that she can track her progress like I do.

I hope I can have an extremely positive affect on her.  If I can train her and get her looking the best she ever has it will be something that will make me proud.   Something that I can say that with hard work, intelligent eating, and determination a person can achieve.

This video gets me pumped just thinking about all the sacrifice.

Well, tomorrow is my birthday.  No plans.  The only plans I have made are a brutal ass leg workout.  My birthday present to myself is going to be the most brutal leg workout that I have ever put myself through.  I’m pretty ****ed up.  That’s my birthday present?  Yeah, I know what the hell is my problem.  "You should be out celebrating another year of life."  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yadda, yadda, yadda.  

It’s interesting how priorities change in life.  Maybe it’s the fact that what I want out of life has changed.  As with any evolution of the mind and body there is hopefully a sense of self-worth.  Never forgetting the days it rains outside and you still commit all that you are to your goals.  It is the days that we think that we would do better just staying home that matter the most, that prove our diligence and honest hard work.  The word "commitment" has meant different things to me over the years, but never so much as now.  To find the honor within myself to fulfill each day with a passionate determination.  What I mean is, no matter how rough the world treats me, no matter the task, I approach it with a calm, patient mind, but attack with an iron fist.  

That is the only way I know how to do things anymore.  This is the only way I know to be who I am.  What matters most is that I look forward to creating the best version of me possible.  It’s out there somewhere.  I know it.