We're great at taking Selfies... but we suck at Groupies!
Didn't realize our fingers look like they're touching... @TheFitBoss & Me are trying to turn into Gogeta (DragonBall-Z reference).
Fun at The Mecca! Good times with new friends!
Had to take a pic with the iconic logo at the front of entrance!
Training at The Mecca Day 2 - Had such a blast, got a 7-day free pass and went back for more! Trained legs and brought the Christmas spirit!
Ate at the renowned THE FIREHOUSE post workout! Check out the "Bodybuilder Menu!"
Post Christmas Meal
Posing Practice -- It never ends. I am trying to make it a habit to better establish that mind-to-muscle connection. Here, I am trying to control my lower back to show the striations.
Gym swag! Robert got me this awesome t-shirt for X-mas by Forged Iron Training!
Happy Belated Merry Christmas Everyone... and a Happy New Year! 2013 has been a very eventful year and is ending with a bang! So many things have happened this year that are real epic milestones in my life--asked the love of my life to marry me (and she did in Hawaii!), finally found a career with a company that I love, placed 1st in the open (and novice) bodybuilding divisions at the NPC Excalibur (not to mention 2nd in the novice overall!), and successfully launched my online coaching endeavor! I am incredibly blessed and thankful to be able to live the life I'm living. Sure, there can always be more, but I'm always thankful for what I have earned thus far. 2014 is a new year!
The past weekend was AWESOME! I already mentioned that I got to train and hang out with Sean Torbati of High Performance Nutrition, but the day after, I was able to meet and train with my Instagram fitness buddies, Alyssa Polisano (@ALYSSAPOLISANO), Jordan Grahm (@THEFITBOSS), and of course, my training partner, Robert Recinos (@CPTRECINOS). Not only did I get to train with these fine fitness enthusiasts, but at the Mecca Gold's Gym Venice! Such a thrilling, inspirational, and amazing vibe! I am definitely considering another gym membership at this location on top of my 24 Hour Fitness membership.
My FREEDOMPhase Reverse Diet protocol has been moving along wonderfully. It has been approximately 2 weeks since the 2013 NPC Excalibur, in which I was coming off of a 2100-2200 calories per day peak week diet. Luckily, I only felt like dog poop for just a short moment at the final leg of contest prep--it wasn't too bad at all! As mentioned, I was feeling so good, that I did not feel like I needed to binge eat the days following the competition. In fact, I got right back into my daily routine and even trained legs the morning after as I transitioned into my reverse diet. At the time, I was without any clear goals with competitions or where the reverse diet would take me. All I knew was that I wanted to stay relatively lean at the LA Fit Expo on the weekend of January 25-26.
My #FREEDOMPhase Reverse Diet Rules
> Increase calories by small increments of 100-300 calories weekly, or if necessary, stay stagnant and be patient
> No more than 0.5 - 1.0 lbs. weight gain per week
> Meet and not to exceed daily caloric goals
> Get at least 1g of protein per lb. of bodyweight -- for me, that's 150g+ protein
> Carbs and fat are flexible as long as I meet caloric and protein goals
Current weight: 147.4 - 150.2 lbs (versus competition weight of 148.5 lbs two weeks ago). Still to be determined. Freedom in food choices and carb/fat intake is causing unstable weight readings. But it's as expected.
After all of these exciting events have been experienced, the burning desire to continue my bodybuilding journey has literally scorched every fiber of my being--I am PUMPED to do it all over again! I believe I can be even more conditioned than I was at the Excalibur at my next show. I am deciding to maximize my metabolic capacity with a short-term reverse diet not to exceed a body weight of 150-151 lbs. Then I will begin another prep cycle for a show in early March with the INBA! I will make a solid decision in about 2 weeks time since I am about 9 weeks out from that show, I expect that it would only take 6 weeks to prep in my current condition.
More details to come, but I am incredibly excited to continue my journey with natural bodybuilding organizations like the INBA and ANBF! Thanks for reading! Have a good Friday!
hey bro, one ? you was talking about fats and carbs readings, could you explain that to me because I'm upping carbs and is it when I see a slight fat gain I would up fats instead, how does that actually work?
ReplyDeleteCarbs and fat are merely energy for the body. Fat gains occur when you are in a caloric surplus. Fat gains can occur if all you ate was protein and in a caloric surplus. It's up to your genetics as to where the fat gain occurs on your body while bulking. The rate in which fat gain occurs also depends on the rate of your bulk.
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