Checked in at a weight of 148.5 lbs. Last minute, I decided to compete in both Novice & Open.
With an old client and amazingly supportive friend, Robert "Leancinos," after my spray tan and glaze.
From the posterior.
My #1 Supporter and Inspiration -- My Fiancee.
Most Muscular Pose on Stage.
Side Tricep Pose.
I can't believe it... What a pinnacle moment! I am so happy!!!
My client and old friend, Justin, and his girlfriend, Carly, came to support!
Jeremy, an old friend, came all the way from our hometown, San Francisco!
After the show, we went to CPK and I destroyed the place. Then I went home, and destroyed the fridge. I must've had over 6000 calories that day! There used to be a 8" x 8" brownie cake in that pan. Abracadabra!
The day after... My body was LOVIN' all those extra calories! I ended up training legs the morning after the competition because I felt so good--the perfect contest prep diet. One of my favorite bodybuilders, Dorian Yates, always trained legs the day after his competitions. FUN FACT: Dorian and I share the same date of birth -- April 19th.
By the end of the competition, I had won 2 trophies and am now qualified to compete at the national level!
First Place, 2013 NPC Excalibur Men's Unlimited Bodybuilding Lightweight Division
First Place, 2013 NPC Excalibur Men's Novice Bodybuilding Lightweight Division
It was a last minute decision to compete in the Novice division again. Last year, I competed at the 2012 NPC Excalibur and won First Place for the Men's Novice Bodybuilding Lightweight Division; but I figured, I'd give it another go since I did not win the Overall. I'll let the images above tell the story of contest day, but this is a great segue way to my future plans. The chances for a Lightweight, especially a natural, winning the Overall are slim to none. With my 2013 NPC Membership Card expiring at the end of the year, I'm just going to let it be.
My decision in choosing the lifestyle I want to live is in no reflection of how I feel towards steroid use. I just prefer the natural approach and in order for me to compete at a leveled playing field, I'll need to change the field in which I am playing in. It is bittersweet because I have met so many good people and amazing athletes with NPC, but I've got to do what I feel is the right. I'll be looking for natural organizations to compete in next year.
I will be implementing a slow and conservative reverse dieting plan to stabilize my metabolism. All in the while, I will continue to focus on my legs, especially the outer sweep through narrow stance squat and press movements. Depending on which organization I would like to join, I will probably consider competitions from the Summer months until the end of the year.
One thing I am looking forward to is the LA Fitness Expo which will take place at the end of January at the LA Convention Center. I don't know how or what, but I'd like to get more involved in the fitness community in some way, so this is a great platform for me to network with people from the business side as well as the social side. Why not, right? I love all things related to bodybuilding. I originally set out to compete at the 2014 NPC Ironman Naturally which is held at the Fit Expo, but that would mean I'd have to renew my NPC Membership Card. With the intention of wanting to switch organizations anyway, it didn't seem like a feasible choice to renew for just another show.
The next few weeks or maybe even months, this blog will follow yet another cycle from cutting to bulking to cutting back to bulking. Each time I revisit a phase, I will try to do it better and more efficiently. Everything I do will have a reason with some sort of scientific observation or data to support that reason. Please continue to follow me as I begin another chapter of the life I have chosen to live.
Thank you for your support and readership through it all!
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