I’ve wanted to compete since my early teens… and now I am 37 years old. It was always a someday thing in that time, until at one point, I actually just gave up the thought altogether. My interest and passion for bodybuilding has come and gone, but obviously it has always come back, and this time pretty good!
As said elsewhere, I have been of BB and wanted to look like a bodybuilder since age twelve. I always thought my genetics were subpar. Now I’ve realized that although they are not the best, they are decent or maybe even pretty good! At least that’s what I think; I think that if they were piss poor then I wouldn’t be able to look they way I do.
I have always wanted to blend my academic credentials, nutrition/dietetics and being an RD, with my passion for BB, to help others get in shape. But I thought that no one or few people are going to take me seriously or value my services if I have not gotten shredded at least once in my life, which is no easy feat. Granted I could help those who need medical nutrition therapy for medical disorders and remain employed in my 40 hour work week in healthcare. But to develop a brand, to brand myself, I’ll have to jump through hoops myself. And the final kick in the ass was the realization that in my thirties, I want to have a kid soon, which I am working on. And once I have a kid… well, I am not going to be thinking of competing. Perhaps I will compete in a few shows until a kid actually pops up (I want to), but after the kid is born, I want to be on my way in helping people with diet and training, expanding my You Tube channel, and at least TRYING to monetize this hobby/passion in a number of ways.
There’s a lot more to write, especially those things that hampered me from moving forward with such endeavors. But for now I will leave this here. I can expand later.
Brick, not enough words to thank you my brother
I started leaning at 16% bf , but im feeling worse now, like im less dense now, everyone is asking if im still working out and i lost about 4,5 kg in 5 or 6 months , i mean this is steady and low right?? Im at a plateau now and im afraid to decrease more my macros or change my training routine, what im doing for now is (did lose a little bit of strenght but not feeling bad when training)
a- legs
b- chest
c- back
d- delts and arms
repeat
rest every sunday
4 to big muscles and 2 to 3 to small ones
This is such bullshit. I was a PGA Pro, and tour players would bash me because the checks I cashed were small - how could I possibly teach people when I only played mini tour events. But, I gave Zach Johnson’s wife lessons, and she told me that I explained loft to her in ten seconds and Zach had tried for two weeks. He plays on the tour, yet I explain it better.
There is a difference between teaching and doing, but it’s not that big of a difference.
I intend to get a CSCS, and being lean and jacked would clearly establish some credibility. But, I could play golf and shoot 75 as well.
I think there is a difference between establishing credibility and marketing.
But, If I am an idiot, my advice will carry little weight.
This will totally change your life. I have two, and I am blessed in that they are awesome. Both of my kids are happy and healthy, and wickedly smart, and self sufficient at ten and thirteen. And, I take no credit, I am just totally lucky. For what it’s worth, I was forty when my first was born, so, you’re in good shape at thirty seven.
Love what you do and you never work a day in your life.
It’s phenomenal watching you go through the contest prep. Keep rocking Bro!
In thinking of your sequencing ideas, how would you lay out a leg day if all one has is a garage gym setup (just DBs and a BB, also a trap bar and SSB)?
Bonus points for a back workout… only free weights, rings, and a pull up bar
By people saying I was not chubby or fat at the time of my first pic, or even co-workers saying I was lean or skinny at the time, it shows people have no clue!
I know I’m neither Brad nor Stu, but I bought all my own equipment and had a basement gym for years! (barbell and DB handles that you put plates on). I’d still be doing this if I hadn’t fallen in love and moved in with the lady. I came up with some pretty good workouts…so…I guess it depends on how much weight you have to use.
Because you are only going to use free weights, your lower back is going to come into play a lot more on back day, so keeping the workout intense and short is the key. I would lay something out like so:
WARMUP (don’t go to failure, just get blood flowing):
Barbell or DB Stiff-Legged Deadlifts/Romanian Deadlifts
Single-Leg Lunges
WORKING: (just play around with sets and reps…I would typically do 3-5 working sets, depending on the exercise)
Back Squats (focus on pushing through the hells)
Front Squats (more focus on pushing with the toes)
Heavy Lunges (spread the focus between the heels and toes)
Romanian Deadlifts (focus on pushing your thighs apart constantly, up through the heels)
Calf Raises
**sometimes I would do a ridiculous superset of Back Squats into Romanian Deads. This ALWAYS keeps the workout short haha **
**I began spreading the intentional tension (where I focus with squats, etc) because it’s harder to work angles and what not with only free weights sometimes).
32 lbs difference between these pics,.. and Brick was considerably leaner starting out than most people online who guestimate how much they’d weigh onstage if they ever decided to compete.
I saw Jason Poston post this yesterday. He claims a 26lb difference between top left and right. I can’t imagine that’s true, curious on your thoughts. If so, I’d hate to think what I would weigh in at on stage.
People don’t realize how much “weight” (fat?) is hidden (maybe not the best word) in between and over their muscles. This is something that really only becomes increasingly evident as they approach true contest levels of conditioning. There have been instances where an individual might have naturally thicker abdominal development, and in their own mind believe that they are indeed leaner than they really are. Obviously that’s fine for people just looking to be able to claim they’ve got a six pack, but as you can see in Jason’s side by side comparisons, there is quite a big different in his overall appearance. Just think about how he would fare onstage looking like he does in the first photo, and you’ll know what I’m getting at.
Yep! Also, that second picture might have been very close to contest after depletion. During my last show I lost 5 pounds of scale weight during peak week alone just from depletion and water loading.
It’s always less than you think you would lol. When I got to my guesstimated stage weight during my prep, I realized I was way off and still had a ways to go, as most first time competitors find is the situation. I once heard on a great podcast, whatever you THINK your stage weight will be, subtract 10 pounds and then hopefully that’s a closer guess. But really it’s just a guess until you do it.
It was always a someday thing in that time, until at one point, I actually just gave up the thought altogether. My interest and passion for bodybuilding has come and gone, but obviously it has always come back, and this time pretty good!
