How it started vs. how it's going.
This is the result of two years of consistency in the gym, and going on 5 months of a dialed in diet.
If a fuck up like me can do this, so can you.
3 Weeks Out from my first show.
178.6 lbs (New low)
Macros:
2253 Calories
180g Carbs
74g Fat
245g Protein
Cardio: 35min x 5
It's crunch time. Every calorie I consume is now consequential. I am hungry most of the time now. Training w/o carbs sucks ass. It's getting exciting!
Dressing room mirrors hit harder.
Still have some stubborn love handle / belly fat to burn in the next 30 days.
Cardio has been increased to 35 minutes, 5 days a week. 💪
From a botched cyst removal surgery, to an infection in my quad, this week has been filled with adversity.
My body is bruised and broken.
The thought of quitting crossed my mind more then once.
Time to really put the pedal to the metal and finish strong.
3 weeks out.
9 Weeks out from my first show.
181.0 lbs
Macros:
2562 Calories
241 Carbs
242 Protein
86 Fat
Cardio:
20 min x 5
Training has gone from hitting PR's to fighting like hell to not lose strength. Lower abs starting to make an appearance. I am loving every minute of this process!
These were taken exactly one year apart.
In the first pic I was pushing 225 lbs. Sitting at 185 currently on the right.
These results have come from consistency, discipline, determination, and a dialed in diet.
11 Weeks Out, 2nd Week of Prep.
183.0lbs (-9.2)
Macros:
Calories: 2385 (-378)
Carbs: 242g
Fat: 68g
Protein: 223g
Cardio: 25min x 5
Starting to see a lot of new lines & veins come in. Slowly chipping away at the stubborn belly/love handle fat remaining.
Really dialed in rn.
Happy Flex Friday!
I had to move a lot of pictures off my phone today and went through a bunch of old gym selfies.
I was reminded to give myself some grace and not be so critical.
I've come along way.
Be easy on yourself.
It's a marathon, not a sprint.
I try and do a date night with each of my kids every month and spend some quality 1on1 time with them.
My son loves the Padres so we went and watched then play the Nationals.
My little man caught a foul ball!
These moments are what life is all about.
Fatherhood > Everything
16 Weeks Out
Weight: 185.0 (-2.4lbs)
Was told I'm still shredding too fast,
too soon ahead of schedule.
Coach added 50g rice, 15g Almond Butter, 56g Guacamole.
Cardio was dropped from 20 min 4x a week to 0.
Still have some stubborn belly fat to lose. Feeling great.
My coach has really been fantastic.
After each meal I go to his room, he takes a look at my physique and then fine tunes what the meal and water game plan going forward is.
Water intake is now 2oz with every meal and 4 oz in between meals.
This was today's progression.
14 Weeks Out from my first show.
Weight:
192.2lbs (up 7.2lbs)
Daily Diet:
2763 Calories
341g Carbs
237g Protein
69g Fat
The cessation of cardio and added calories is starting to show.
Starting prep in 10 days.
Really loving the entire process, it's starting to get real!
Do you use a machine or dumbbells for lateral raises?
Personally, I connect more with a machine.
Nice and slow eccentric with a brief pause at the top.
4 sets of 10-12, 2x Week
Since injuring my shoulder doing barbell bench presses, I only use the Smith Machine for benching.
Aiming for a nice, slow and controlled eccentric with a good stretch at the bottom with an explosive concentric and good squeeze at the top.
4 Sets - 8-10 reps - 2x per week
@ElijahSchaffer
I had sleep overs all the time growing up. Great times.
We frequently have other kids sleep over at our house, and let our kids sleep over at their friends houses.
The rule we have is we must meet their parents and visit their home before any sleepover.
You're paranoid.
Got some posing practice in last night with a great friend and coach.
I had no idea how difficult posing actually was when I first got into this.
Practice makes perfect, and each time I get more and more comfortable doing it.
30 days out!
I'm looking for an app to track my my workouts and progress with. Ideally it will have weights, sets and reps from previous sessions, as well as a way to schedule each days workout.
Preferably free, but if it's good, I'm not opposed to paying for it.
Any recommendations?
The additional 300 calories we added this week are translating into higher weights and intensity when training.
Back is really my favorite muscle to train right now, these single arm cable rows especially.
Really focusing a lot of effort on building wings & wheels right now.
Got inspired by
@jercephus
to try and give up smoking weed.
Today was 2 of complete sobriety, and it sucked ass.
I was grouchy, irritatable and slightly depressed.
After 2 rounds in the gym I felt better.
Hopefully will get some sleep tonight.
Sobriety, I'm finally here.
Friday nights for me used to be a black out drunk shit show.
I wouldn't remember most of the night, and would be so hungover Sat., I would spend all day laying in bed, or wake up & start drinking again.
Tonight, I'm sober, cuddled up on the couch watching a movie w/ my kids.
I am super stoked for a filet mignon refeed tonight. It's legitimately been 4 months since I've had a steak.
I am seriously considering trying to cook this bad mam-a-jamma in the air fryer.
What do you think?
Just a quick pump at the gym this morning. I was told to *not* train with any intensity today and to take it easy.
Woke up holding some water after playing 2 softball games last night. Hopefully it'll be gone tomorrow.
One day out!
Time to finish strong 💪
This IG DM really made my day. This is from the biggest guy in my gym.
His size and work ethic, day in and day out, have inspired me greatly since day one.
Now I've inspired him to compete for the first time.
You never know who you'll inspire by sharing your journey.
If you're on here shaming people on TRT, I hope you're at least being consistent and also shaming people who take Ozempic to lose weight & those who inject botox to look younger.
You're not though. It's only buff men with physiques you envy but are too lazy to have for yourself
I can't tell you how many times I haven't felt like going to the gym, only to log on to X and see some of you all's motivating and inspiring content, then go and hit the gym hard.
Thank you all for being here and inspiring me.
I got the 10 reps I was going for, got greedy and went for 11.
Nope. Not today!
I'd never failed a leg press before so I had no idea how much I was about to get squished.
I was fighting for my life.
Thankfully it was minimal squishing, and only a broken blood vessel.
I had no idea that competing in a bodybuilding competition included slamming vodka shots at 5:30am.
Getting the party started early!
(We used it as a diuretic as I'm still holding some water this morning)
Ridiculous chest pump tonight!
Clocked in at 188.2 pounds this morning.
Coach said I was shredding too quickly, so he added 350 calories and cut my cardio to 20 minutes 4x week.
19 weeks out from my very first show. Feeling absolutely incredible right now.
I have pretty much cut all news and political discourse here on X since I started seriously training for my show.
No more doom scrolling or bickering about culture wars and politicians.
Now I just spend most of my time here scrolling and complimenting half naked men. 😳
Early morning basement cardio session ✅️
I hate cardio so much that I've truly come to love it.
Its become a non-negotiable part of my daily routine.
The feeling of accomplishment after doing something I hate for 35 minutes is awesome and really sets the tone for the day.
@LegendaryEnergy
If you spent the same energy you're currently using to mock and ridicule, at finding a wife and having children, you wouldn't be such a bitter man.
Say what you want about Vivek Ramaswamy, but he's married with 2 kids.
You are a childless, wifeless burden to society.
This is my current pre-workout stack.
1 scoop Bricked Up Blue Magic
1 packet Gatorlyte
50mg Sildenafil (Viagra)
1 Banana
The pump with this stack is insane.
Truly one of the most esthetically pleasing physique's I've ever seen.
The amount of hardwork and discipline required to obtain this level of conditioning is absolutely insane.
Make sure to follow this legend.
My prediction: He's going to win. A lot.
Today is the day we make our debut on the big stage.
I truly feel like this is only the beginning of a much longer journey ahead. My dream to achieve a world class physique and take my bodybuilding career as far as I can, is only just getting started.
The goal today is to soak
Good morning you beautiful people!
Memorial Day Weekend 2024 is upon us.
What are your plans this weekend?
My son's both have baseball tournaments, and we've been invited over to a friend's for a BBQ tomorrow.
No burgers or beer for me, sticking to the plan.
15 Days Out!
Meal 3 (Post Gym)
150g 🐔 Tenders
80g COR
15g 🍯
1 🍌
Today's Carb convoy continues right along!
This is the first time that honey has ever been added to the menu. It adds a nice sweet touch to the chocolatey COR and banana.
COR is not as tasty w/o Almond Butter.
I almost grabbed the handles and bailed on the last rep. I convinced myself that I had one more in me, went for it and got it.
Also, don't judge me. That was well within the 5 second rule. 😆
Walking down the beach and showing off the hard work I've put in the gym, is one of my favorite things to do.
Having half-naked women ogle me, as if I'm some kind of snack, fuels my ego and self-confidence.
I love the attention that my physique brings.
I used to be rather intimidated by the biggest guys in the gym.
Their size and intensity they tend to bring can be unnerving.
I've gotten to know a lot of them, and *without exception*, they're the kindest, gentlest, and most humble guys there.
Don't judge a book by its cover.