Man does it feel good to "back on track" and working towards another competition and an actual date. I know that I will probably regret this statement when my diet will barely include any carbs again and my energy levels are going to be close to zero, but I am already excited to see how my body will change over the next 11 weeks.
After "bulking up" over the winter and having the occasional cheat meal/meals, eating "clean" and lesser amounts of food feels actually good and somewhat refreshing. I feel better and already saw a slight drop in my body weight, even though it's not visible in this week's progress picture. It helps tremendously that I am working with a professional trainer/nutritionist this time, who is constantly monitoring my progress and adjusting my diets and workouts accordingly.
Fred Smalls is an experienced professional bodybuilder who identifies my weak points and provides me with exercises to improve them. He knows exactly what the judges will be looking for and helps me to change my body accordingly.
Having him on my team makes me more relaxed and confident going into this prep.
It also helps that this year's show prep is not my "first rodeo" and I know what to expect and what I will have to endure during this journey.
At the moment I am doing High Intensity Cardio every day for 20 minutes in the morning and lift weights five times a week. Well if I count my ab workout six times.
I kept my training days the same but Fred changed my workouts dramatically. Besides focusing more on isolation exercises and increasing reps per set, he also has me doing exercises I have never heard before, let alone done before, working muscles I have never solely focused on.
Our goal was this off-season to work on my symmetry, develop my back and increase the size of my quads.
I think we are on the right track and I can already say that my body has changed a lot compared to last year.
Let's see what will happen over the next 11 weeks, when it's finally time to hit the stage again at the:
At the moment I am doing High Intensity Cardio every day for 20 minutes in the morning and lift weights five times a week. Well if I count my ab workout six times.
I kept my training days the same but Fred changed my workouts dramatically. Besides focusing more on isolation exercises and increasing reps per set, he also has me doing exercises I have never heard before, let alone done before, working muscles I have never solely focused on.
Our goal was this off-season to work on my symmetry, develop my back and increase the size of my quads.
I think we are on the right track and I can already say that my body has changed a lot compared to last year.
Let's see what will happen over the next 11 weeks, when it's finally time to hit the stage again at the:
NPC Mid Atlantic Natural Classic & Fitness
When: Saturday May 11, 2013
Where: North Brunswick High School, 98 Raider Rd North Brunswick, NJ 08902.
Prejudging begins at 11am and the finals are scheduled for 6:30pm.
Where: North Brunswick High School, 98 Raider Rd North Brunswick, NJ 08902.
Prejudging begins at 11am and the finals are scheduled for 6:30pm.
Next weekend my girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Columbus, OH to visit the Arnold Sport Festival. Even though travelling while being in the middle of a contest prep is a little difficult and requires a lot of planning in advance (meal preparation, adjusting your training schedule, finding suitable gyms, etc.) I am excited to head out there and see what the "Arnold" is all about. I have never been before, but if it holds up to my expectations, I should bring back tons of supplement samples, freebies and pictures with fitness celebrities. Maybe I'll even get a chance to meet the Governator himself.
Preparation May 11th in full effect.
