Thread: Rantorcha's Road to...

Originally Posted by HOOPIE

1 more week RA! How ya feeling and looking at this point? I wish you the best of luck my friend! Kick arse and take no prisoners

I dont know how you kept from putting the so-called trainer in his place. At a week or 2 out i would have probably exploded on him.

HOOP! What's up brother?! Nice to see ya. I am feeling pretty good, to be honest with you. I am not sure how with all of the stress that I could be experiencing (not with prep, but with life). Actually, I am pretty impressed with myself. And, in previous preps I have felt sluggish and over-tired, etc., and during this prep I've had one maybe two days feeling that way. Go figure! Anyway, I think I am lookin' pretty good. You never really know until that day, but Eric has mentioned that I am at roughly the same weight as I had been in my previous shows and am carrying way more muscle...esp in my chest and delts.

As for the trainer, ah...it ain't worth it. It's more fun to toy with them. haha

Ok, so obviously I have missed out on some updating these last few days. What do you want from me... I am getting ready for a show?! lol

Well, Thursday and Friday were as follows...cardio first thing in the morning and kick ass workout in the afternoon.

Saturday was NUTS! I woke up at 5am and did my first batch of cardio, then went down to see my cousin who is STILL in the damn hospital and spent some time with him. My mom and dad met me there and left after a while to take care of some personal stuff they are helping me with -- some call it retail therapy...I call it filling out an apartment. ;D Later in the day, I did my afternoon cardio session and did some more stuff with my parents until a friend of mine came over. I had the GAUL to try to go to a movie! lol We ended up going to see the Terminator movie and it was pretty good, but from being up since before the crack of dawn, I actually dozed off a couple of times. HAHAHA

Sunday was more of the same...I woke up and did my morning cardio, went to Starbucks , went tanning, then went to Home Depot for a couple of things. Later, my mom came over to help me with a few more things; I did more cardio; then I went to see Eric to talk about our Final Week preparations. I did some posing for him and I could see he was devising our plan as I was posing. I spent the rest of the evening chilling and actually ordered “Taken” on demand. Pretty good stuff.

This morning, I got up early to hit the gym for my final training sessions. Even though I wasn’t quite going all out, the weights sure felt heavy to me!! Whew! I got through that and during cardio started to labor a bit getting through it, but I made it!

I am really excited now, but patient, for Friday to get here. It should be a fun week!!

Originally Posted by rantorcha

Ok, so obviously I have missed out on some updating these last few days. What do you want from me... I am getting ready for a show?! lol

Well, Thursday and Friday were as follows...cardio first thing in the morning and kick ass workout in the afternoon.

Saturday was NUTS! I woke up at 5am and did my first batch of cardio, then went down to see my cousin who is STILL in the damn hospital and spent some time with him. My mom and dad met me there and left after a while to take care of some personal stuff they are helping me with -- some call it retail therapy...I call it filling out an apartment. ;D Later in the day, I did my afternoon cardio session and did some more stuff with my parents until a friend of mine came over. I had the GAUL to try to go to a movie! lol We ended up going to see the Terminator movie and it was pretty good, but from being up since before the crack of dawn, I actually dozed off a couple of times. HAHAHA

Sunday was more of the same...I woke up and did my morning cardio, went to Starbucks , went tanning, then went to Home Depot for a couple of things. Later, my mom came over to help me with a few more things; I did more cardio; then I went to see Eric to talk about our Final Week preparations. I did some posing for him and I could see he was devising our plan as I was posing. I spent the rest of the evening chilling and actually ordered “Taken” on demand. Pretty good stuff.

This morning, I got up early to hit the gym for my final training sessions. Even though I wasn’t quite going all out, the weights sure felt heavy to me!! Whew! I got through that and during cardio started to labor a bit getting through it, but I made it!

I am really excited now, but patient, for Friday to get here. It should be a fun week!!

Not long now RA.
Cant wait for the pics, I know youre bringing the best you can be to stage.
I'll be texting Eric that late afternoon!

All we need to do is get some sub-Q water out of you and you should be right on time. This is always the most challenging part, but the plan is devised and already in motion. The goal is to present the "best OVERALL package" on stage, and this is what I am after!

It sounds like all your hard work is paying off Rant!!

You can do this, we are all pulling for you

Originally Posted by gopro

All we need to do is get some sub-Q water out of you and you should be right on time. This is always the most challenging part, but the plan is devised and already in motion. The goal is to present the "best OVERALL package" on stage, and this is what I am after!

I am ready, my brother! It is TIME!

Originally Posted by Balin

It sounds like all your hard work is paying off Rant!!

You can do this, we are all pulling for you

Thanks, Balin. That's very nice of you. I will certianly do my best, but I will tell you that I am already at my all-time best, so everything else will jsut be gravy.

Well, the changes keep on coming today! It is interesting what coach is doing to me and I am starting to get more and more excited. Look, I don't know how things will turn out, but I will be at my all-time best come this Saturday. Whether that translates into anything, we'll see. I am just happy about everything related to "my story" over the last 20+ weeks. It has been a real trial of my entire being. And now, no matter what, I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor!

Did my cardio in the morning and will be training this afternoon. Looking forward to rockin' another day and sticking it in the books. I took tomorrow off in addition to Friday to run some errands and take care of some things (packing, cooking, etc.) without needing to stress in the evening or Friday morning.

I'll keep ya posted on how today's training went.

Hey RA go kick some major arse this weekend and bring home that PRO card....Wish you the best of luck my friend.

Originally Posted by HOOPIE

Hey RA go kick some major arse this weekend and bring home that PRO card....Wish you the best of luck my friend.

Same here RA, wishing you all my best, I'll text the little fella late sat afternoon!

Go Rant Go !!!!

Good luck man

Knock 'em dead, Rantorcha.

how about an update

Sorry about not getting an update out until now. Things have been crazy since the show, including my baby girl's birthday on Sunday - the day I got back. Then Monday, work was a biz-nitch.

Well, the show is over; the travel is done and everything is finally in the books! Here's my quick synopsis of the show....

First of all, if you ever decide to compete, you MUST do either the NC or the TN show run by Ox Body Promotions. I have seen my fair share of shows and NO OTHER show is run as well as these (at least the NC show was!). The athletes were treated extremely well, the expeditor was excellent and well timed, and there were about 5 people backstage to help with pumping up and putting on your sheen before hitting the stage. That's amazing sicne the show has grown to more than 60+ competitors.

As for my performance, I was bummed with 4th place, but I am ok with it. I deserved it. By all accounts, it was a very tough 10-person class and at least half of the judging panel had me in 3rd. I will say that it has given me more fire to continue to compete, though. Also, for some reason, right before I go on stage I get really nervous and when I am out there, I seem to have a hard time holding my poses like I should (at least I feel that way). No matter how much practice I have, it still happens. That is something I need to address before hitting the stage again.

Anyway, I was pleased with my posing routine...it was actually a lot of fun.
FUNNY STORY (Actually, this story pissed me off!) -
I did my posing routine and it rocked the house (not my words; and the crowd applause told the story). The promoter came back stage and told me, "Don't go too far. I am pretty sure they are going to give you the Best Poser award". Only the HW class was left. The last poser, some Russian dude, brought out two chairs and at the end of a tremendously mediocre routine, did a Jean Claude van Damme split between the two chairs. The promoter came to me and said, "Hey, let me go check on that Best Poser thing again". Two seconds later he came back and said, "Yeah, they are going to give it to the other guy...sorry". OH MAN WAS I PISSED! Happy for the Ruskie, though . Oh well. Those are the breaks I guess.

All-in-all, it was a great time. I was able to finally hang with several people in the PRRS family (Rick, Anthony, Cat and, of course, Eric). I had a great time with my sister and uncle who came to support me; and it was a wonderful experience. I know what I need to do to improve my physique and we'll take it from there.

I need to send a special thanks to my friend and coach, Eric. With my physique, he always has a ton of work to do to get me in shape due to my body type and even though I was only able to pull out 4th place, I was in my best overall package ever. Thanks coach for everything you do for me - and not just the plan for the show - for being the consumate friend, sounding board and motivator. You are the best!

The fourth best out of ten outstanding physiques is nothing to sneeze at. That's like coming in dead last at the Olympics - people forget that means you're the tenth fastest person IN THE WORLD. You've done something that most us us lack the balls to do, and for this you have my respect.

Nicely done.

Now, the important stuff: WHAT DID YOU EAT WHEN IT WAS OVER?

Nice going, dude! You should be proud! The 4th place was down to the judges, but you know for yourself that you've never been in better shape and that lasts. Can't wait for pics!

I was extremely proud of Rantorcha! He looked excellent, and 4th in a class of 10 open men looking for their pro card is nothing to sneeze at. The only thing that ticked me off is that in my hotel room first thing in the morning he was extremely dry, with incredible separation in his thighs...which he has never been able to achieve before. However, between that time and the time he stepped onstage a nice film of water overtook his physique, blurring some of the finer details. My opinion is that his nerves did him in somewhat. Thus, this needs to be addressed for the next show, which is the Universe in November. Had he been onstage in the same shape he was early in the morning, my guess is he would have been in second and battling for first. But hey, that is life!

In a lineup as tough as that, 4th is quite an accomplishment! Way to go buddy!

Originally Posted by gopro

I was extremely proud of Rantorcha! He looked excellent, and 4th in a class of 10 open men looking for their pro card is nothing to sneeze at. The only thing that ticked me off is that in my hotel room first thing in the morning he was extremely dry, with incredible separation in his thighs...which he has never been able to achieve before. However, between that time and the time he stepped onstage a nice film of water overtook his physique, blurring some of the finer details. My opinion is that his nerves did him in somewhat. Thus, this needs to be addressed for the next show, which is the Universe in November. Had he been onstage in the same shape he was early in the morning, my guess is he would have been in second and battling for first. But hey, that is life!

In a lineup as tough as that, 4th is quite an accomplishment! Way to go buddy!

Congrates Ramiro
Eric&RA...I'll be in Fl, in Oct, dates 5-12th, Orlando is the place, so Ra if you want grab Eric and your daughters we can all go to Sea World...

Congrats Rant!!! That sounds like a stiff competition show, be proud

And wish your daughter a happy belated birthday for me!!

GREAT JOB RA!!!!!

Proud of you my friend you did an awesome job!

Originally Posted by Built

The fourth best out of ten outstanding physiques is nothing to sneeze at. That's like coming in dead last at the Olympics - people forget that means you're the tenth fastest person IN THE WORLD. You've done something that most us us lack the balls to do, and for this you have my respect.

Nicely done.

Now, the important stuff: WHAT DID YOU EAT WHEN IT WAS OVER?

Why, thank you Built. That's really nice of you to say. I sincerely appreciate it.

As for my food...I had a couple slices of pizza at the after-party, but when i got back to my room I tore into a tin of cookies and brownies that my best friend sent to me at my hotel. Then, when I got home, i had a burger at my daughter's bday dinner!

And it tasted like GOD didn't it?

How do you feel now - reborn?

Originally Posted by Gazhole

Nice going, dude! You should be proud! The 4th place was down to the judges, but you know for yourself that you've never been in better shape and that lasts. Can't wait for pics!

Thanks, Gaz. I am proud, but not near satisfied. November is coming soon.

Thanks to everyone!!! It was a tough weekend in some ways, but really fun all-in-all.

I am taking this week off and staying relatively near my diet, with a little treat here and there. Nothing too crazy...since Tuesday anyway. lol I am back at it concentrating seriously on certain bodyparts leading up to November's show.

Well I decided to take a week off after going 20+ straight weeks of training and 16 weeks of strict diet and cardio. I allowed myself a little leeway with my diet to get out all of the “demons” I had inside me food-wise. I have to say, I was really in desperate need of some serious relaxation, rest and recuperation. Luckily, I got it and by Sunday I was ready to hit it again.

Nothing too drastic has changed with regard to training, other than me trying to do a better job of concentrating on the muscle worked and fine-tuning my abilities to walk the line of training heavy and making the muscle do the work. I re-read the core principles of the Power/Rep Range/Shock program as I normally do when I return to the gym because inevitably there are some “bad habits” I pickup during the course of training. My biggest thing is tempos and I will do a better job with that. I am starting with Rep Range so I can sort of ease back into training. I don’t like to go balls out like normal on that first week back, or else I won’t be able to move all week from soreness!

So, to recap the last couple of training sessions…

MONDAY
Chest
Hammer Incl Press
Incl DB Press
Dips
Cable Crossover

Delts
Seated DB Press
Standing Side Laterals
Face-down on bench Rear Delts
Run-the-rack side laterals

Abs
V-ups
Incl Sit-ups

Cardio
20 minutes on the Stairmill

TUESDAY
Hams
Lying Leg Curl
Stiff-leg Deads
Seated Leg Curls

Glutes
Jeffersons (ala Kai)
ss/ Abduction Machine

Quads
Leg Ext
Walking Lunges
Leg Press

Calves
Leg Press Raises
Seated Raises

Cardio
20 minutes on Treadmill

I must say, this was a great start to the week. I am off tomorrow, but I am already devising my plan to Thursday’s BACK DAY!!!

Originally Posted by rantorcha

Well I decided to take a week off after going 20+ straight weeks of training and 16 weeks of strict diet and cardio. I allowed myself a little leeway with my diet to get out all of the “demons” I had inside me food-wise. I have to say, I was really in desperate need of some serious relaxation, rest and recuperation. Luckily, I got it and by Sunday I was ready to hit it again.

Nothing too drastic has changed with regard to training, other than me trying to do a better job of concentrating on the muscle worked and fine-tuning my abilities to walk the line of training heavy and making the muscle do the work. I re-read the core principles of the Power/Rep Range/Shock program as I normally do when I return to the gym because inevitably there are some “bad habits” I pickup during the course of training. My biggest thing is tempos and I will do a better job with that. I am starting with Rep Range so I can sort of ease back into training. I don’t like to go balls out like normal on that first week back, or else I won’t be able to move all week from soreness!

So, to recap the last couple of training sessions…

MONDAY
Chest
Hammer Incl Press
Incl DB Press
Dips
Cable Crossover

Delts
Seated DB Press
Standing Side Laterals
Face-down on bench Rear Delts
Run-the-rack side laterals

Abs
V-ups
Incl Sit-ups

Cardio
20 minutes on the Stairmill

TUESDAY
Hams
Lying Leg Curl
Stiff-leg Deads
Seated Leg Curls

Glutes
Jeffersons (ala Kai)
ss/ Abduction Machine

Quads
Leg Ext
Walking Lunges
Leg Press

Calves
Leg Press Raises
Seated Raises

Cardio
20 minutes on Treadmill

I must say, this was a great start to the week. I am off tomorrow, but I am already devising my plan to Thursday’s BACK DAY!!!

Good stuff bro. On to November!