The sequel to MusclePump: Drinking from the Cup
After getting my ass-kicked at the second show I did last year, which was my second show ever, I told myself I was done bodybuilding. Not the training portion, but the competition side. Well, that was a lie. Shortly thereafter (a few good, big meals later) I committed to my training partner and myself that I would try the Ironman competition in September. It's a natural show, drug-tested, so there should be far fewer juicers on stage with me. And since last year I was in the Jr. Division, and now I'll be in the Novice Men's class, I'll need to hope that holds true. I'm 6-feet tall and I'll probably compete in the low to mid 160's. Not a big guy. But, I love competing, so here I am.
My diet starts tomorrow. I took some "Before" pictures a couple days ago and to be honest, looking at them (oddly the mirror doesn't give me the same thoughts) makes me ready for this. I ate like a horse the last year to try to put on any size I could for the next show, and it's definitely showing in my midsection. I feel like the old off-season Lee Priest. Not good.
But, I lost 42 pounds or so on my last diet, so I know I can lose the 39-41 I'll be needing to cut off this time.
Last time I cycled high/low/no-carb days. There's no way in hell I'm doing that this time. I'll stick with moderate to low carbohydrates, but the "No carb" days are out the window until it's closer to the contest.
I plan on starting my calories-per-day at 3,200 and see how that suits me. My baseline is just over 3,800 on average, so it should be a nice start. I'll gradually introduce cardio over the next couple of weeks, and eventually as I move on I'll use different Thermogenics. Probably Instone's Leanfire and Leanfire Inferno as I have those on hand.
I can't control the competition, but I can control me. I'm one-hundred percent dedicated to this. I guarantee--anyone reading this, my friends, my training partner, myself--that when I step on stage it'll be the best package I've brought to a bodybuilding stage. I'm quite likely to be the smallest guy up there, but it'll be the best I can bring. No second-guessing, no excuses. I will be the best I can possibly be.
Here we go.
After getting my ass-kicked at the second show I did last year, which was my second show ever, I told myself I was done bodybuilding. Not the training portion, but the competition side. Well, that was a lie. Shortly thereafter (a few good, big meals later) I committed to my training partner and myself that I would try the Ironman competition in September. It's a natural show, drug-tested, so there should be far fewer juicers on stage with me. And since last year I was in the Jr. Division, and now I'll be in the Novice Men's class, I'll need to hope that holds true. I'm 6-feet tall and I'll probably compete in the low to mid 160's. Not a big guy. But, I love competing, so here I am.
My diet starts tomorrow. I took some "Before" pictures a couple days ago and to be honest, looking at them (oddly the mirror doesn't give me the same thoughts) makes me ready for this. I ate like a horse the last year to try to put on any size I could for the next show, and it's definitely showing in my midsection. I feel like the old off-season Lee Priest. Not good.
But, I lost 42 pounds or so on my last diet, so I know I can lose the 39-41 I'll be needing to cut off this time.
Last time I cycled high/low/no-carb days. There's no way in hell I'm doing that this time. I'll stick with moderate to low carbohydrates, but the "No carb" days are out the window until it's closer to the contest.
I plan on starting my calories-per-day at 3,200 and see how that suits me. My baseline is just over 3,800 on average, so it should be a nice start. I'll gradually introduce cardio over the next couple of weeks, and eventually as I move on I'll use different Thermogenics. Probably Instone's Leanfire and Leanfire Inferno as I have those on hand.
I can't control the competition, but I can control me. I'm one-hundred percent dedicated to this. I guarantee--anyone reading this, my friends, my training partner, myself--that when I step on stage it'll be the best package I've brought to a bodybuilding stage. I'm quite likely to be the smallest guy up there, but it'll be the best I can bring. No second-guessing, no excuses. I will be the best I can possibly be.
Here we go.
