Competition Podcast with Jon and Jared

Quick post and then let you guys listen to the great stuff that comes from Jon, Jared and myself getting on the mic together.

Just got in from the 2013 Fitness Summit in Kansas City. 2 words… Glute off.

Had a great time. Got to meet several of the peeps I’ve had the pleasure of doing podcast with, in the past(Goodman, Rog, JC, Andy, Dick, Kellie, Bret and more). Got A LOT of new information thrown my way (who knows if any of it will stick). It was really energizing to be in that place, showed me how far I have come and how much further I can go. These guys minds were running 90 to nothing with all the information the had to give and how quickly they could analyze a question laid before them. The women’s segment and the  nutrition talks were especially beneficial for me.

Might do a full post on the summit later but for now I will leave you with the audio on the competition and my latest phrase.

World Domination through Positive Motivation.

http://discussionswithdao.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/the-jack-n-out-connection-31bt-physique/

 

See you in the Darkness

 

Wednesday’s Physique Prep Log- 10 days out

Today started early for me… weighted in @ 154.5 again

5:00 BCAA taken after waking up

6:50 200 mg of Caffeine taken

8:00 1/2 gallon of water done

12:30 1 1/2 hours of mowing

1:30 1 gallon finished

2:30 Quest bar eaten

2:40 Pre- workout taken (C4 today)

2:50 workout-

1. Back Squats- 4 sets
2. Leg press- 3 sets
3. Leg Extensions- 3 sets
4. Standing Leg Curls- 3 sets per leg
5. Ab circuit done 3 times- Plate oblique, Decline Crunch, Bar Twist, Hanging Knee Raises, Bent Arm Dumbbell Pull Over
6. Walking- 10:00 (max incline)
7. Weighted Calf raises- 4 sets

5:00 Tanning- 12 minutes

5:30 11 oz of chicken and 1 1/2 cups of broccoli w/ one slice of cheese, Multi taken with this meal

6:00 1 1/2 gallons done

8:00 6 turkey sausages, 6 mini rice cakes and 2 quest bars (I had one more than normal)

10:50 2 gallons done

 

Starting to come along

VEINS that is all…

Not really, today was rough as far as length and being out in the sun depleted. Things picked up when I got back in the gym and my squat was feeling pretty good. Not as strong as I would have like, as I only got up to 225 today, but it was acceptable and I’m leaning up more each day so I could care less at this point.

Next week is going to be sick and I hope some of you folks around the Louisville area will come hang out.

See you in the Darkness

Tuesday’s Physique Prep Log- 11 days out

Started out Tuesday morning weighing 154.5… so my weekend weight is gone.

Had veins in my abs throughout the day and hopefully more so when I begin tanning more.

9:00 am- 500mg of BCAA & 200 mg Caffeine

9:25 am- 1/2 gallon of water done

10:15 am- Pre-workout downed

10:30 am- Workout

1. Flat Bench- 4 sets
2. Superset- Dumbbell Floor Press & Dumbbell Incline Press- 3 sets
3. Superset- Dumbbell Incline Fly & Push ups- 3 sets
4. Cable Cross- 4 sets
5. Bar Tricep Pushdowns- 4 sets
6. Dumbbell Standing Two Arm Extensions- 4 sets
7. Dips (chest)- 4 sets
8. Standing Calf raises (weighted)- 8 sets
9. Bike- 20 minutes

12:00 pm- 500 mg of BCAA

2:00 pm- 1 gallon of water done

3:45 pm- 2 quest bars- had a meeting run over, so grab these bad boys on the run

6:00 pm- 1 1/2 gallons of water done

6:15 pm- Tanned for 12 minutes

7:30 pm- 10 oz of chicken, 1 cup of broccoli, 48g of ON whey

9:00 pm- two 4 oz beef patties, two rice cake,  1 tbsp of peanut butter

10:30 pm- 2 gallons of water done

Today was a good day, starting to dry WAY out. Tomorrow will be squats with low carbs, which is always exciting. Who knows, could be fun.

That meeting that I had today was with our local D1 gym and it looks like I will be able to train my local clients there (fingers crossed)

Also, signed up 3 new clients today. So all in all a pretty good day.

Like this and let me know what you would like to know.

See you in the Darkness

Weaknesses… I have them

I want to talk about my greatest weakness and one I was reminded of on 3 different occasions last week. Now this weakness is not an internal struggle. This weakness is one that has carried over from my past self. The skinny ectomorph that I was in my younger years has stayed with me in one area…

THESE… and I’m not talking about the Nikes

My calves have always been small, like extremely small. So small, in fact, that I have been mistaken as  using a pair of chop sticks as walking stilts.

I get reminded quite often from people just how small they are. This doesn’t offend me or make me mad, no it’s a constant reminder that I have  improvements to make to my body. It’s that driving force behind “why I workout.” From the beginning people told me I was too skinny and would never be able to “beat my genetic hand” and while I’m no monster, I’m most certainly proud of the physique I have achieve over a decade of working out.

My Thought in the Dark is, don’t let your weakness be a reason you don’t succeed. Don’t let all the naysayers be the reason you don’t achieve your full potential. You will never be able to control the voices, but you can control how they affect you. If I had let them get to me, I would still be an extremely skinny kid, living out what they had thought to be true.

You create your own way and path. You will run into weakness that might slow you down, but don’t let them keep you down. You have to work your tail end off and continue to make improvements in yourself. That is the only way to change yourself. Hard work and deaf ears sometime will be your strongest ally in this battle for greatness. Do what you must to achieve and leave all the doubters behind.

The Dark in need of Support

7 weeks in and…

Yeah, I am pretty happy with where things are heading. I’m down 20lbs from the start, which normally would have terrified me, but really just showed me how much crap weight I had packed on. Thankfully I’m seeing fruit of my labor over the past 7 months with my shoulder development and even seeing some results on the last 2 months of tricep work. My diet is still not “clean” by anyone’s standards, but I’m tracking what I eat and my week over week improvement can’t be denied by anyone. None of my lifts have taken a hit since the beginning, the only sad thing thus far is me having to remove my deadlift because of my hernia injury flaring back up (don’t worry it is awesome now). Still not doing much cardio. About 60 minutes a week and that is mainly at home on the bike when I’m bored. Macros sit at 170g protein, 100g carbs and 60g fat of lifting days and then 170g protein, 40g carbs and 80g fat on non-lifting days. If you have any questions about the cut or anything else training, like this post and comment.

Thought in the Dark

This week I want to highlight one of the greatest people in my life and something I will be doing for her in the coming days.

My mom, has been involved in foster care for over 18 years and with my dad, has fostered over 50 children within the realms of our house. These children have come in from all walks of life and with all kinds of different stories. My mom has treat each and ever one of these kids like one of her own. They become part of the family on the first day they arrive and they are cried out on the day they leave her arms to go to their forever families. This has given me great perceptive on taking care of people and what a little love can do for someone, even a child, in need.

My mom has asked me to get a team together for her “Walk for the Waiting.” As my mother told me, “this walk is to benefit waiting kids in foster care!! There is a critical need for foster and adoptive families for children both in Arkansas and around the country. Funds from the walk will help The CALL, Immerse Arkansas and Project Zero reach waiting kids.” All of these are foster care organizations, just FYI.

My mother loves these children and has instilled this love into each one of her own kids.

So now there is this walk and where there is some way for me to help kids while being physical active I’m there. Now I know you are super pumped imagining me power walking this course and are wondering “how in the world can I help?”

This is me… powerwalking

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN

This is a fund raisers and here is my thought.

I want to raise the most money out of any of the walkers there. I’ve got the most boss fitness community behind me and I know you guys have got huge hearts. I would love it if you guys go to my teams/personal site below

http://www.ministrysync.com/event/website/?m=1292369

and record an online gift. It can be in any amount and you can remain totally anonymous if you choose to, but I would like it if you didn’t. Because after this is all said and done and we raise more money than any other team I want to personally thank each and ever one of you on a post race J-N-O Connection. Also as a special bonus those who donate (which is tax deductible btw *wink wink*) I will allow you to pick something for me to do. Can be during the walk or at my local gym, ANYTHING.

So please, everyone at least check out the event and if you feel led, give a little something to help out these children. Oh and if you donate please make yourself a member of my walking team. Team name is, Blackout Squad, of course. Obviously you will not be there to walk, but I would love to show everyone there all the support I get from you great folks on the interwebz.

Ok. Enough of all the love and mushiness. Back in the dark and back to another week getting more shredded. Hope all of yall are ready to get some extreme work done and as always…

See you in the Darkness

Sacrifice

I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.
-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

This is what I look for in  clients, workout partner, and even friends.

Someone who is willing to give things up, make tough decisions in order to move themselves or others forward.

This is something so easy for people to talk about but so very few are willing to make, especial in the  fitness realm. Too many times I have heard someone say “I’m going to lose 30 lbs this year if it kills me” , only to find that 2 weeks into their journey the thing that “killed” them was their lack of willpower to stay away from McDonald’s double cheese burgers.

In my opinion, nothing should be held in higher regard than ones willingness to sacrifice in order to achieve a goal.  When you get to the point that nothing,  can stand in your way, then you are truly going to be an unstoppable force. When words and excuses become only weakness in your eyes, then you will be ready to take all that this world has for you. When a “day-off” become something that the “dreamers” take, then you can advance ahead of all of them. You will become a different person, a stronger person. Someone with actually ambitions and a willingness to go after something full force. This will make you person that  people can look up to  and know you will accomplish all that you put your efforts into finishing.

But none of this can begin until you realize that it takes sacrifice. There will be uncomfortable moments and you will have to throw wants aside. You won’t be able to make everyone happy. You will have to make your choice with your end goal in mind. This may make you unpopular,  it may even make you hated by some, but at the end of the day you will achieve far more than they can even dream.

So ask yourself, is it worth it?

Do you have the strength to make those sacrifices?

Greatness is before you, what are you willing to sacrifice to grab it?

I want to know what you have had to sacrifice to achieve something in your life or what you will be giving up to achieve something in the future. Leave it below and remember to make this week great!