Hello Everyone!
This past week I competed in my second show this year which was the NPC Tampa Extravaganza. I weighed in as a Light Heavyweight and there was one other guy in class. It was a smaller show then expected but this was my first NPC show so it was to my benefit. I didn't want to pick a big show otherwise I would be knee deep in something I wouldn't quite be ready for. But I won my class and was in the running for the overall and came up short. But besides competing this was a great weekend for myself and bodybuilding. When considering the peak weak side of things, it was done a little different, since my body has been going up and down the past two weeks, so getting full wasn't the problem it was just a matter of getting dry which I couldn't match last week, but not everything works like its suppose to especially when your dealing with the human body. I just made note of everything as far as what I felt worked and what didn't work so I can really nail things in a month when I compete at Collegiate Nationals.
Not only was it an NPC event it was a Pro event as well. One of the first pros I saw was Santana Anderson, a Canadian guy and surprisingly from Facebook and the forums he knew my name. Me and him talked a good handful of times over the weekend and he was a very cool guy. And while I can go into detail about all the pros I met, I'll just name everyone I spoke to or came across; Marcus Haley, Frank McGrath, Jason Huh, Ben Pakulski, George Farah, Andy Haman and Mark Alvisi. If it wasn't for Frank McGrath I would have forgot my trophy.
Now that the show is over there are multiple feelings running through my mind. I'm tired and exhausted cause of the back to back weekends. Excited that I have won both of my classes in back to back weekends, but even more excited cause I set foot on the big stage in 4 weeks in Pittsburgh to be in front of my family. The Pittsburgh show is going to be intense for so many reasons but I'll explain that in another blog. Competing is so damn fun and stressful at the same time, but until the next show I'm just going to try and continue to make improvements and just add more detail to the physique.
Until next time I'm The Big Big Wolf signing out....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21mkBW5r-2o&feature=player_embedded
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Universe Recap And More
Its official I am the 2X Junior Heavyweight Champion of Musclemania Universe. Its competition time and one thing I have learned from competing you meet tons of cool people who are pretty much similar to you, in respect that were all gym rats just trying to get better everytime we compete. And the biggest rivalry was me and Chris Wescott, this is of course a friendly rivalry. Everyone who's know us from before understands what going on. But when people in the audience watch us shove elbows during prejudging they were quick to make assumptions and think we were at war but rest assure its all fun and games.
All my family managed to make it down, including my Aunt and her friend from Texas. I'm glad my competitions can get so much of family together, while I'm cutting water and carbing up the rest of the time they almost treat it as a mini vacation.
Prejudging was on Friday, and I made a small but not to costly mistake. I didn't put enough oil on before I went on stage. I was ready to get things going at 3 o'clock as they were suppose to but things got a little delayed and we didn't get on stage until closer til 4. So in that time my skin just sucked in all the oil and I didn't appear like I should of. But this is only my second show so somethings are just a learning experience.
Finals were Saturday and I made the adjustments I needed with the tan and color. The music this year wasn't as loud as last year for some reason, so when they called my name my family went into an uproar of screams I almost missed the beginning of routine.
But some of the bigger things I'm taking from this weekend were pros and fans of sport telling me how much they admire my physique. Not that I'm trying to come off like I'm bragging but as bodybuilders you judge yourself by how you look in the mirror and like I tell people all the time "Your always small in the mirror!" So when I do get compliments or comparisons it definitely brings a sense of accomplishment to what I work so hard for. Ironically the comparison I heard this week MULTIPLE times was that I look reminded people of Victor Martinez. I find that very ironic because the final two weeks and days leading up into prep I re-watched his week of the Road to the Arnold. Victor is a great guy, who has over come a lot in life where people would have simply gave up, but he continues to push and is almost making a new name for himself. From my perspective I'm just trying to make a name for myself. Its not even Monday yet so I'm waiting to get photos and try to upload some video my family managed to get.
Enjoy the video, as I enjoyed it early and late nights doing cardio.
All my family managed to make it down, including my Aunt and her friend from Texas. I'm glad my competitions can get so much of family together, while I'm cutting water and carbing up the rest of the time they almost treat it as a mini vacation.
Prejudging was on Friday, and I made a small but not to costly mistake. I didn't put enough oil on before I went on stage. I was ready to get things going at 3 o'clock as they were suppose to but things got a little delayed and we didn't get on stage until closer til 4. So in that time my skin just sucked in all the oil and I didn't appear like I should of. But this is only my second show so somethings are just a learning experience.
Finals were Saturday and I made the adjustments I needed with the tan and color. The music this year wasn't as loud as last year for some reason, so when they called my name my family went into an uproar of screams I almost missed the beginning of routine.
But some of the bigger things I'm taking from this weekend were pros and fans of sport telling me how much they admire my physique. Not that I'm trying to come off like I'm bragging but as bodybuilders you judge yourself by how you look in the mirror and like I tell people all the time "Your always small in the mirror!" So when I do get compliments or comparisons it definitely brings a sense of accomplishment to what I work so hard for. Ironically the comparison I heard this week MULTIPLE times was that I look reminded people of Victor Martinez. I find that very ironic because the final two weeks and days leading up into prep I re-watched his week of the Road to the Arnold. Victor is a great guy, who has over come a lot in life where people would have simply gave up, but he continues to push and is almost making a new name for himself. From my perspective I'm just trying to make a name for myself. Its not even Monday yet so I'm waiting to get photos and try to upload some video my family managed to get.
Enjoy the video, as I enjoyed it early and late nights doing cardio.
Monday, June 13, 2011
A Year to Grow; The Ferocious Wolf
As I write this blog I am currently in the depletion stages of my preparation for Musclemania Universe. It is the same show that first started my bodybuilding "career" for lack of a better term. And while I could have competed in several other shows last year I decided it was best to take some time off and truly grow. And as I take progress pictures week after week these last couple of them I am happy with my decision and glad to see I made gains everywhere, yes my arms got even bigger. Some of you may know this or not but IFBB Pro Seth Feroce has been doing my prep and I can say that is the best decision I made so far in 2011. And while he is very intelligent when it comes to training and nutrition he has been a mentor for this journey in the sport of bodybuilding.
We started to work together around 10 weeks out, and the gains I have made with his help are unreal! Sometimes as competitors we get stuck in our own train of thoughts or theories for dieting and training, so having someone like him definitely was a learning experience. Our may focus was bringing up my shoulders, quads and hams. I would go into detail of how but that's why I pay him the big bucks. A few weeks ago I sent him some photos and he called and was basically told me he was surprised how my legs looked, and to keep it up. For the doesn't lie or bullshit with me by any means. To counter that there has been a few times in prep where I'm a tad flat sent photos over and his exact phrase was "You look like shit!" But from there we develop a different plan and go back into action, some people under estimate the changes a body will or will not make during a diet. This is chemistry and nutrition tied into one, but the kicker is everyone is different. Sometimes you drop/raise carbs and expect to get a certain effect and your body says screw you, this is happening instead!
And while I took a year to grow, you have to be careful and not over diet and end up in the same point you ended up before, which would be the ultimate fail in my opinion! At this point we can count the hours until weigh-in, and prejudging. I am excited as can be and really want to hit the stage and show off this year of hard work and improvements, after all this is bodyBUILDING, not bodyMAINTENCE.
Until next time, Big Bad Wolf signing off....
I plan on shocking the world just how Phil Heath did at the 2010 Arnold Classic, even though he didn't win this probably the most controversial decision in the past season or two of bodybuilding. Also check back as I will be uploading photos and videos all weekend. Thanks for all the support from everyone out there.
We started to work together around 10 weeks out, and the gains I have made with his help are unreal! Sometimes as competitors we get stuck in our own train of thoughts or theories for dieting and training, so having someone like him definitely was a learning experience. Our may focus was bringing up my shoulders, quads and hams. I would go into detail of how but that's why I pay him the big bucks. A few weeks ago I sent him some photos and he called and was basically told me he was surprised how my legs looked, and to keep it up. For the doesn't lie or bullshit with me by any means. To counter that there has been a few times in prep where I'm a tad flat sent photos over and his exact phrase was "You look like shit!" But from there we develop a different plan and go back into action, some people under estimate the changes a body will or will not make during a diet. This is chemistry and nutrition tied into one, but the kicker is everyone is different. Sometimes you drop/raise carbs and expect to get a certain effect and your body says screw you, this is happening instead!
And while I took a year to grow, you have to be careful and not over diet and end up in the same point you ended up before, which would be the ultimate fail in my opinion! At this point we can count the hours until weigh-in, and prejudging. I am excited as can be and really want to hit the stage and show off this year of hard work and improvements, after all this is bodyBUILDING, not bodyMAINTENCE.
Until next time, Big Bad Wolf signing off....
I plan on shocking the world just how Phil Heath did at the 2010 Arnold Classic, even though he didn't win this probably the most controversial decision in the past season or two of bodybuilding. Also check back as I will be uploading photos and videos all weekend. Thanks for all the support from everyone out there.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
I Signed Up For This
We are just about 7 days out from Musclemania Universe and I get more and more excited about the moment as it approaches. Before I can set foot on stage I have to face the depletion stage and the carb load which for some people can be difficult. The depletion sucks because you have to go about your every day on the least amount of calories possible but on the other hand the carb load gets you bloated, stuffed full and you just don't want to eat that much food. Last year I was excited for the load until I had to eat 1000g of carbs divided into 10 meals and after about the 3rd meal I realized that is wasn't going to be fun or easy, also while having water restriction. And while some people read this and think its crazy, for one yes it is crazy and number two, I signed up for this! My biggest mental focus and concentration during this whole entire diet is that I signed up for it, I want to be a bodybuilder, no one forced me to start a diet, do cardio, pose and pretty much be a hermit for several weeks to months of the year. I will be honest it can suck, cause I all I want right is french toast with strawberry syrup! But I'll tell you what in 7 days its not going to suck going through my poses and getting pumped up back stage to take on the competitors of Musclemania Universe to defend my title.
Just like last week I'm going to leave another clip of probably my favorite bodybuilders, he was one of the guys I first started to follow online that really got me into competing, and his story is similar to mind. The clip itself just reminds me that if you work hard and your the best at what you do, it definitely pays off.
Until next time I'm The Big Bad Wolf signing off.....
Just like last week I'm going to leave another clip of probably my favorite bodybuilders, he was one of the guys I first started to follow online that really got me into competing, and his story is similar to mind. The clip itself just reminds me that if you work hard and your the best at what you do, it definitely pays off.
Until next time I'm The Big Bad Wolf signing off.....
Monday, June 6, 2011
Last Heavy Leg Day
Right about now I am sitting two weeks out from the Muclemania Universe to defend my title as the Junior Heavyweight champion and couldn't be more excited. I am ready to hit the stage with crazy package that I have spent the past year busting my ass to achieve. This time last year I was entering this show for the first time and no idea what to expect, and funny enough this time around I think I am more excited any anxious then ever to do this. For those of you who don't know what exactly is my show schedule for you I will give you the rundown.
-Muclemania Universe June 17-18
-Tampa Extravaganza June 24-25
-Collegiate Nationals July 22-23
So I have an eventful scheduling coming up. I'm typically not a fan of doing lot of shows but to qualify for Collegiate Nationals I have do 1 NPC show prior to Nationals. But lets not get ahead of ourselves here. My focus right now is the Universe!
Today will be the last heavy leg day, then I will hit legs one more last time before depletion then the fun really begins. My leg workout today will be hard and heavy and probably look something like this.
1.Squat
2.Leg Ext
3.Leg Press
4.Vertical Leg Press
5.Lunges
Since it is the last workout I want to include lots of drop sets with a lot of squeezing I want to really bring out every last striation and bit of separation possible. Nothing to intense cause I'm not going to truly build muscle being on a caloric deficit but the intensity still needs to be there, my strength definitely hasn't gone down one bit, but I attribute that to a good diet and executing things the right way.
I will include this YouTube link to my one of my favorite DVD's, it's a trailer but the first 10 second give me goosebumps everytime. For one, its Ben Pakulski and I would love to have wheels like that and two, its just a pretty insane squat for him to be 2 weeks out, the same point I am at.
Need motivation? Watch this!
Until next time this is the Big Bad Wolf signing out.....
-Muclemania Universe June 17-18
-Tampa Extravaganza June 24-25
-Collegiate Nationals July 22-23
So I have an eventful scheduling coming up. I'm typically not a fan of doing lot of shows but to qualify for Collegiate Nationals I have do 1 NPC show prior to Nationals. But lets not get ahead of ourselves here. My focus right now is the Universe!
Today will be the last heavy leg day, then I will hit legs one more last time before depletion then the fun really begins. My leg workout today will be hard and heavy and probably look something like this.
1.Squat
2.Leg Ext
3.Leg Press
4.Vertical Leg Press
5.Lunges
Since it is the last workout I want to include lots of drop sets with a lot of squeezing I want to really bring out every last striation and bit of separation possible. Nothing to intense cause I'm not going to truly build muscle being on a caloric deficit but the intensity still needs to be there, my strength definitely hasn't gone down one bit, but I attribute that to a good diet and executing things the right way.
I will include this YouTube link to my one of my favorite DVD's, it's a trailer but the first 10 second give me goosebumps everytime. For one, its Ben Pakulski and I would love to have wheels like that and two, its just a pretty insane squat for him to be 2 weeks out, the same point I am at.
Need motivation? Watch this!
Until next time this is the Big Bad Wolf signing out.....
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