nice dorian inspired pose there Stu!
Great job Stu!
… So after my posing routine, I walked behind the curtains to the side of the stage, where the other top 5 competitors were waiting lined up to follow with their 90 second routine. Cat and my brother were both there waiting with me, and as usual after squeezing every muscle (while smiling) to music under such hot lights, I was sweating and breathing damned hard. My brother asked me if I wanted him to wait backstage with me, or go sit down in the audience with the rest of my family and friends.
I told him he could sit down and that I’d be along shortly so we could get something to eat (I seriously thought I would place 2nd at best, again, you have no real idea how you look next to the other competitors, you’re just so much inside your own head on the day of the show). He just looked at me, shook his head, and said that it would be a while, as after I won the Middleweights, I’d still have the overall to deal with.
Again, my brother (and most people) always seem to have much more faith in me than I do. In hindsight though, I realize that the judging at the America 5 weeks earlier really did a number on my confidence.
As I glanced around at the other winners who had already been announced and were now just waiting for the rest of the open class winners to wrap up so the overall posedown could commence, I realized just how long I had been working towards this show. The thought occured to me that maybe I would be one of those guys who wins his Pro card in one natural federation, but never really breaks through in the really big one, the federation that even people outside the sport recognize, the one that is seen on newstands the world over.
Cat and I had already agreed that this would be the year where I just threw everything I had into the INBF shows, and really try to capitalize a bit on the noteriety I had already achieved. Now it was down to this, the moment of truth. Would I actually be rewarded for the seriously amazing improvements I had made in the 2 years since my very first contest, or would it not matter in comparison to certainly more experienced (and mostly younger) bodybuilders.
I knew that I could say without a shred of doubt that no one trained harder than I did. I also knew that while I may not have had the best genetics for the sport, that I was one damn smart mofo, and that I had knowledge and approaches at my disposal that many did not. Damn, I just hoped that what Yates always said was true, that hard work and smart training will beat genetics every time. I had repeated that mantra to myself on countless occasions the previous 5 months.
I had read and reread Yates’ books and every issue of Flex that covered his Olympia wins in an effort to keep myself in that mental-warrior state. I would find out soon enough if I had indeed done my main bodybuilding inspiration proud on that day…
S
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
And then the MC said “…and NEW WNBF Pro…”
[/quote]
Last pic is cool. You look awesome.
Reading all your posts ever since you started your first pre contest thread, I just have to say thank you for all the information you’ve imparted to myself and others on your journey. I congratulate you on all your success and your latest fantastic physique results. You really do look outstanding and you have earned every bit of it.
I remember reading that you were/are a teacher, and as a teacher myself, you have inspired me to compete in my first natural contest in October.
[quote]Random Weights wrote:
Reading all your posts ever since you started your first pre contest thread, I just have to say thank you for all the information you’ve imparted to myself and others on your journey. I congratulate you on all your success and your latest fantastic physique results. You really do look outstanding and you have earned every bit of it.
I remember reading that you were/are a teacher, and as a teacher myself, you have inspired me to compete in my first natural contest in October. [/quote]
Thanks so much. It’s always very cool to hear the influence I’ve had on other people. One word about doing a contest while teaching school,… the kids will notice EVERYTHING! When I change the color of the water in my bottle (MAG-10), it’s always a class discussion. When I swap out a mid morning protein bar for cottage cheese on low carb days, the questions start instantly, and wait until the diet start taking it’s toll on you physically, and your cheek start sinking in. Rumors that you’re sick or dying will spread all over the school! -lol.
S
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Thanks so much. It’s always very cool to hear the influence I’ve had on other people. One word about doing a contest while teaching school,… the kids will notice EVERYTHING! When I change the color of the water in my bottle (MAG-10), it’s always a class discussion. When I swap out a mid morning protein bar for cottage cheese on low carb days, the questions start instantly, and wait until the diet start taking it’s toll on you physically, and your cheek start sinking in. Rumors that you’re sick or dying will spread all over the school! -lol.
S[/quote]
Ha, thats funny man. I was getting that same kind of scrutiny at my work. Aside from people telling you you are getting “too skinny” (I dont know if you get that or not, sounds like you might if people think you are sick and dying) people will start noticing you eat the same thing every day and will notice if you waver from it at all. It can be both funny and agitating because some days you just want to eat what you need to eat and you dont want to answer 10 questions (that will spawn 10 more questions) about why you are eating it.
Aside from a select few people who I knew would be supportive, I pretty much kept my eating practices on the down low for that exact reason.
I’m a teacher also and decided to keep my contest prep on the down low at work (only telling a select few real friends… I didn’t want to be a topic of conversation on the gossip mill). I work with a staff of 4 people on a daily basis in the school library. I had to tell them about the contest, and it was amazing… every time there was a party or celebration they would ask - “why can’t you have just one cookie” or “will one slice of cake really hurt” - I’m sure they thought I was crazy for measuring my food and not deviating from the plan. Admittedly, at the end of contest prep (last few weeks of school) I was tired all the time and mentally a little scattered (however, I’m usually kind of scattered, due to the nature of the work environment)… so of course my co-workers had to jump on the bandwagon and tell me how “out of it” I’d been for the last few weeks… Yes, I was tired and a little foggy but I think people look to find faults with things they don’t understand or with people trying to accomplish things they would never (or could never) attempt themselves.
[quote]Thunder Cat wrote:
I’m a teacher also and decided to keep my contest prep on the down low at work (only telling a select few real friends… I didn’t want to be a topic of conversation on the gossip mill). I work with a staff of 4 people on a daily basis in the school library. I had to tell them about the contest, and it was amazing… every time there was a party or celebration they would ask - “why can’t you have just one cookie” or “will one slice of cake really hurt” - I’m sure they thought I was crazy for measuring my food and not deviating from the plan. Admittedly, at the end of contest prep (last few weeks of school) I was tired all the time and mentally a little scattered (however, I’m usually kind of scattered, due to the nature of the work environment)… so of course my co-workers had to jump on the bandwagon and tell me how “out of it” I’d been for the last few weeks… Yes, I was tired and a little foggy but I think people look to find faults with things they don’t understand or with people trying to accomplish things they would never (or could never) attempt themselves. [/quote]
Cat, is that you!? Welcome aboard here, cool to have another (award winning) competitor amongst us.
I was lucky to actually be working with some serious lifters (by random chance really) so the environment was a little more supportive, but of course there are always people who are seemingly trying their best to get you to break your diet. Its very odd psychology, but it exist for some reason.
Obviously you were able to deal with the issue, and I’m sure having the Mighty Stu around the house (please tell me he doesn’t make you call him that…) helped both of you guys support each other. I know significant others are sometimes the MOST destructive and unsporting, so having another competitor at the house probably made it a nice safe haven.
[quote]Lonnie123 wrote:
Cat, is that you!? Welcome aboard here, cool to have another (award winning) competitor amongst us.
I was lucky to actually be working with some serious lifters (by random chance really) so the environment was a little more supportive, but of course there are always people who are seemingly trying their best to get you to break your diet. Its very odd psychology, but it exist for some reason.
Obviously you were able to deal with the issue, and I’m sure having the Mighty Stu around the house (please tell me he doesn’t make you call him that…) helped both of you guys support each other. I know significant others are sometimes the MOST destructive and unsporting, so having another competitor at the house probably made it a nice safe haven.
[/quote]
Thanks Lonnie!
LOL, Stu let’s me call him Stu
That’s cool to be working with serious lifters, it’s always motivating to hear what other people are doing and exchange workout ideas/stories. It’s funny, doing this contest has also made me more interested in my brother & his friends strong man workouts and contests (they do some insane training!). The people in my gym have been supportive and so complimentary. I usually see the same crowd (mostly guys) every day - and I think I gained the respect of most of them - they see me there day in and day out, working out just as hard and for as long as they are.
Stu has been the most supportive of all! He never pushed me to do this or even asked if I was interested in doing it. He simply let me be. Once I decided to do a show, Stu was 110% supportive. He gave me all the tools I needed to succeed (training & diet plan). There were some stressful moments during this prep (a couple of times when my weight loss seemed to stall) and Stu had to readjust the plan. At those moments I had a few little “freak outs” (which I felt bad about)- but he was the only person in my life who could truly understand why I was stressed, overwhelmed, or worried - since he’d been there a number of times before. He also was the only person to understand how tired and life consuming this becomes during the last few weeks.
I’m glad I now can truly relate to Stu and understand what he goes through during a contest prep. When we started dating he was at the very beginning of a contest prep, and I keep thinking back and asking myself “how did he hide this so well?” - we would go out to eat, and he would hang out late with my friends and I, and I never knew how tired and hungry he must have been - until now! He has since told me that he would have to re-calculate his meals and save calories for when we went out, so everything seemed “normal” to me.
Thats awesome that you guys get to take something that could potentially be a deal breaker for a relationship and have it bring you guys closer together. I can’t wait to see what you both can accomplish together in the coming years, I see big things for the both of you.
You both have such great attitudes about this whole thing, and it is enhancing your lives and others around you which is really what it is all about. Great to have you on board here.
THANKS Lonnie!! 
This forum is so supportive & informative, I’m glad to be a part of it!
[quote]Thunder Cat wrote:
THANKS Lonnie!!
This forum is so supportive & informative, I’m glad to be a part of it![/quote]
Awsome to have you here! Very much looking forward to reading from many more preps of yours and Stu in the future!
Cheers, PA
[quote]Thunder Cat wrote:
THANKS Lonnie!!
This forum is so supportive & informative, I’m glad to be a part of it![/quote]
Welcome to the forum!
Glad your here, people look at me weird when I mention that I frequent a bodybuilding forum (even lifters) but this site really has heaps of cool people with a wealth of knowledge to share, I have learned so much here.
So inspiring. Keep killin’ it Stu. 
Just got my pics from the show’s Professional Photographer, and although they’re pretty sizable (I’ll have to scale 'em down), I wanted to show a decent shot from the Middleweight Finals (Top 5). Definitely the toughest class I’ve ever been in.
S
(I’ll get more pics up when I can spare some time. Heading out now to enjoy some 10 cent hot wings at the local bar… damn how I’ve missed sh-t like this! -lol)
S
