Getting My Kicks on "Route 66"
Friday, February 27, 2009
"Get Your Kicks on Route 66," often rendered simply as "Route 66," is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961 and The Rolling Stones in 1964. The song's lyrics follow the path of the U.S. Route 66 highway, which used to run a long distance across the US, going from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. There was even a popular TV show in the early 60's with the title, "Route 66."
I chose the name of my new Journal because like the song's title, "Route 66," I will be 66 years-old the next time I step onto a bodybuilding stage and I plan to "Get My Kicks" along the way by having a fun time preparing for my next Professional competition.
My 27th contest overall and final contest of last year was the 2008 NPA Nationals and Masters Universe in Ft. Lee, Virginia. I won my fifth Best Poser award at the show and placed 2nd in my age group. I had also placed 2nd at the 2008 FAME Masters Pro World Championships in Toronto, Canada two weeks earlier.
While I entered both events in my best-ever condition, in each case I was bested by a competitor who was less conditioned than me, but was several pounds heavier. Not one to lick my wounds and and cry "foul," I was determined to get to work to bring my own "bigger" package to the stage next time.
I am in my 8th month of a lean mass gain program designed to add as much muscle as I can while keeping the usual accompanying additional fat in check. I am eating more (clean diet) and am lifting very heavy (for me) in the gym. My weight on June 28, 2008 was 140 pounds. My weight this morning is 160 pounds. I will stay around this weight until it's time to cut for my show, the 2009 FAME Master Pro World Championships, in Montreal Canada on June 13. I believe I can come in hard and lean at around 150 pounds, 10 pounds more than I did this year.
I was around 6% body fat on stage for my last two shows. I was cut and defined, but, small. I may have to give up a few percentage points in fat in order to "look" bigger at 150 pounds. I'll make that decision when the time comes.
For the last year, I have been a full-time Certified Master Fitness Trainer at the Birmingham, Alabama YMCA. I average around 28 hours of personal training sessions each week. Five of my clients are training with me to prepare for their first bodybuilding competition. I have one middle weight and four heavy weights. Their ages range from 24 years-old to 50. I have all of them working the same training plans that I am using for my own training. I always tell my athletes I don't make them do anything I can't do. They are all preparing for a contest I am promoting on July 11 in Birmingham, Alabama, the 2009 NGA Alabama Natural Open Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Model Championships (Pro Qualifier). It's possible that I will have all five of my competitors on stage in the Novice Class.
Starting next week, I will post my training regimen for my contest and tell you how my five athletes are coming along in preparing for their first show. I am a contest judge, but for this show, I will not judge, but will host the 2009 NGA Alabama Natural Open as Master of Ceremonies.
I hope you find my journal interesting and useful as I continue "Getting My Kicks on 'Route 66.'" By the way, I will be 66 on April 28.
Friday, February 27, 2009
"Get Your Kicks on Route 66," often rendered simply as "Route 66," is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961 and The Rolling Stones in 1964. The song's lyrics follow the path of the U.S. Route 66 highway, which used to run a long distance across the US, going from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. There was even a popular TV show in the early 60's with the title, "Route 66."
I chose the name of my new Journal because like the song's title, "Route 66," I will be 66 years-old the next time I step onto a bodybuilding stage and I plan to "Get My Kicks" along the way by having a fun time preparing for my next Professional competition.
My 27th contest overall and final contest of last year was the 2008 NPA Nationals and Masters Universe in Ft. Lee, Virginia. I won my fifth Best Poser award at the show and placed 2nd in my age group. I had also placed 2nd at the 2008 FAME Masters Pro World Championships in Toronto, Canada two weeks earlier.
While I entered both events in my best-ever condition, in each case I was bested by a competitor who was less conditioned than me, but was several pounds heavier. Not one to lick my wounds and and cry "foul," I was determined to get to work to bring my own "bigger" package to the stage next time.
I am in my 8th month of a lean mass gain program designed to add as much muscle as I can while keeping the usual accompanying additional fat in check. I am eating more (clean diet) and am lifting very heavy (for me) in the gym. My weight on June 28, 2008 was 140 pounds. My weight this morning is 160 pounds. I will stay around this weight until it's time to cut for my show, the 2009 FAME Master Pro World Championships, in Montreal Canada on June 13. I believe I can come in hard and lean at around 150 pounds, 10 pounds more than I did this year.
I was around 6% body fat on stage for my last two shows. I was cut and defined, but, small. I may have to give up a few percentage points in fat in order to "look" bigger at 150 pounds. I'll make that decision when the time comes.
For the last year, I have been a full-time Certified Master Fitness Trainer at the Birmingham, Alabama YMCA. I average around 28 hours of personal training sessions each week. Five of my clients are training with me to prepare for their first bodybuilding competition. I have one middle weight and four heavy weights. Their ages range from 24 years-old to 50. I have all of them working the same training plans that I am using for my own training. I always tell my athletes I don't make them do anything I can't do. They are all preparing for a contest I am promoting on July 11 in Birmingham, Alabama, the 2009 NGA Alabama Natural Open Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Model Championships (Pro Qualifier). It's possible that I will have all five of my competitors on stage in the Novice Class.
Starting next week, I will post my training regimen for my contest and tell you how my five athletes are coming along in preparing for their first show. I am a contest judge, but for this show, I will not judge, but will host the 2009 NGA Alabama Natural Open as Master of Ceremonies.
I hope you find my journal interesting and useful as I continue "Getting My Kicks on 'Route 66.'" By the way, I will be 66 on April 28.
