[quote]OatsNMilk wrote:
Stu at 8:53!lol[/quote]
aw shit, that’s 30min from me…I wish I knew that was going on
1st- Holy crap! I had no clue that was anywhere online -lol. It was actually a few months into my prep for my first contest, and getting posing advice from the Dragon Slayer himself was a damn cool experience
2nd- How the hell did you even recognize me from the 1/25th of a second I was even on screen?! -lmao
S
I enjoyed watching your video’s from Colorado.
Good luck with your off season, I will be following this thread.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
1st- Holy crap! I had no clue that was anywhere online -lol. It was actually a few months into my prep for my first contest, and getting posing advice from the Dragon Slayer himself was a damn cool experience
2nd- How the hell did you even recognize me from the 1/25th of a second I was even on screen?! -lmao
S[/quote]
How was the experience there in general? I’m not sure I get a full grasp of whats going on there and/or if it was just a one time thing. Like I said it’s only 30min from me so maybe it would be worth it to check it out if pro’s lift there.
[quote]pumped340 wrote:
How was the experience there in general? I’m not sure I get a full grasp of whats going on there and/or if it was just a one time thing. Like I said it’s only 30min from me so maybe it would be worth it to check it out if pro’s lift there. [/quote]
When I first was considering trying my hand at competitions, I would go to as many seminars as I could find. Training and posing with Gaspari, Kineseology, training and competing with Cordova and a few other WNBF pros, Animal Barbell Club get togethers just to talk shop with other trainers, and of course the usual CSCS review/continuing ed seminars just to brush up on my ‘real science’ knowledge. I believe the particular clip you posted up was the first time Rich had one of his ‘Dragons Den’ seminars. It was at Apollon Gym in NJ, which was a very well stocked facility, which I believe Yates does occasional training of clients at. Anyway, as you can see from the video, Rich had a few of his signed competitors on hand, and everyone was split into groups which worked with each Gaspari athlete.
Even now, with the knowledge and status I’ve attained, I still go to seminars and get-togethers whenever I can. You can always learn from others, even if they’re at, or even below the level you think you’re currently at yourself. That’s actually why I’ve been trying to push the little NY/NJ training gatherings I’ve been doing the last few months. Training with someone with more experience than you (or even just different approaches than you) can be a very enlightening session.
S
[quote]Doh wrote:
I saw that you mentioned you’re still going to school in synergys thread i think…? if you dont mind me asking what are you in school for?[/quote]
Lol, almost missed this… no, I TEACH from Sept - June. With 2 Masters degrees (and god knows how many extras class credits after that!) up on my wall, I am done with school! Besides, having summer’s off is just perfect after competing each Spring 
S
Stu, don’t want to clutter up the thread here but just wanted to let you know that I think I’m going to compete next year. I liked what I was able to accomplish with my diet this year (you were a big help in that believe it or not) and I think it will give me something to keep my “eye on the prize”
I finally decided to bite the bullet… I Realized there is no “best” time to compete, That I will never be “big enough” to compete, and just need to try and bring in the best possible package I can bring in, and support my fellow lifters to do the same.
You have been one of the guys on here that have been really inspirational to me, and I thank you for that. Hopefully I can do the same for others in the future.
And if you ever want to train at the MetroFlex in Long Beach, CA … You’ve got a room to crash in 
(Fully loaded gym Prowlers, Racks, Strongmen stuff… You know you want to!) I’ll even supply the FINiBARs!
Hope you are doing well brother, keep up the good work. You are a great asset to our sport and these boards.
Wish i could get together with some TNationers and train once in a while that would be quite fun. Also how do you find out about the seminars? Searching them on google? Word of mouth? i would like to find some in my area.
Hey Stu, what would you say was been your biggest surprise in preparing for your first contest? I imagine when I eventually do a competition (waaay in the future) I’ll have to start 20-25 weeks out since I’ve never even been below 10%.
[quote]Lonnie123 wrote:
Stu, don’t want to clutter up the thread here but just wanted to let you know that I think I’m going to compete next year. I liked what I was able to accomplish with my diet this year (you were a big help in that believe it or not) and I think it will give me something to keep my “eye on the prize”
I finally decided to bite the bullet… I Realized there is no “best” time to compete, That I will never be “big enough” to compete, and just need to try and bring in the best possible package I can bring in, and support my fellow lifters to do the same.
You have been one of the guys on here that have been really inspirational to me, and I thank you for that. Hopefully I can do the same for others in the future.
And if you ever want to train at the MetroFlex in Long Beach, CA … You’ve got a room to crash in (Fully loaded gym Prowlers, Racks, Strongmen stuff… You know you want to!) I’ll even supply the FINiBARs!
Hope you are doing well brother, keep up the good work. You are a great asset to our sport and these boards.[/quote]
Thanks Lonnie, that’s always very cool to hear. Believe me, when I started my first contest countdown thread 3 years ago, I had no clue how much of an impact it would have on people, whether it helped them to try competing themselves, maybe they just learned a bit about implementing diet and training approaches borrowed from me to achieve better results, or even if it was just an entertaining thread to check up on every week or so.
Since that first thread in '09, I’ve had people recognize me at contests, found me on facebook, and even sought me out as a prep coach (that part is especially complimentary). Now that I’m on the ‘other side’ of things (as a 2x natural pro), I do realize that I have a hell of a lot more credibility when it comes to helping people out, and it is something I don’t take lightly (“with great power…” -lol)
I look forward to your competitive endeavors, and as far as coming to Cali, I’ve already chatted with Barachiel about Cat n’ I taking a trip some time in the future. I’m sure we could get a good handful of T-members to meet up in Venice for a good time!
All the best brother!
S
[quote]ryanbCXG wrote:
Wish i could get together with some TNationers and train once in a while that would be quite fun. Also how do you find out about the seminars? Searching them on google? Word of mouth? i would like to find some in my area.[/quote]
Back when I started searchingg around for info, you used to see a lot of ads for ‘WNBF Pro Seminars’ or ‘camps’ in Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness magazine. I know of some Pros from other federations do this as well (usually posing classes are easier to find). There are also a couple of web sites (naturalbodybuildingevents I think) that will actually serve as bulletin boards for pros, promoters and competitors alike to post up information on.
I’m not sure where you’re from, but the owner of a very large/well equipped gym out on Long Island has been discussing with me the idea of giving seminars starting this Fall. Of course he realizes that his client base would be interested in this sort of thing (handful of competitors as members as even as trainers). I doubt many Planet Fitness folks would care to have a "Pro’ come discuss various aspects of competing.
Google around a bit, try to find promoters or even other competitors in your area and I’m sure eventually you’ll be able to track something down.
S
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
[quote]ryanbCXG wrote:
Wish i could get together with some TNationers and train once in a while that would be quite fun. Also how do you find out about the seminars? Searching them on google? Word of mouth? i would like to find some in my area.[/quote]
Back when I started searchingg around for info, you used to see a lot of ads for ‘WNBF Pro Seminars’ or ‘camps’ in Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness magazine. I know of some Pros from other federations do this as well (usually posing classes are easier to find). There are also a couple of web sites (naturalbodybuildingevents I think) that will actually serve as bulletin boards for pros, promoters and competitors alike to post up information on.
I’m not sure where you’re from, but the owner of a very large/well equipped gym out on Long Island has been discussing with me the idea of giving seminars starting this Fall. Of course he realizes that his client base would be interested in this sort of thing (handful of competitors as members as even as trainers). I doubt many Planet Fitness folks would care to have a "Pro’ come discuss various aspects of competing.
Google around a bit, try to find promoters or even other competitors in your area and I’m sure eventually you’ll be able to track something down.
S[/quote]
I am from jsut outside the twin cities in MN. I live in WI though jsut across the boarder
I will try some internet sites and what not. Thank you for the help stu. If i was anywhere near by i would be there for those seminars.
I will say that the internet gives you a pretty good avenue to reach out to other Pros. During my first contest prep, I was having constant email correspondence with Brian Whitacre and Jim Cordova, certainly two of the best resources any competitor could ask for. Also, I was reluctant at first, but there are some good videos out there, even just things you can find online.
Of course There is always something to be gained from getting together with other people to discuss common goals, so I recommend reaching out to others in your gym, or even online people in your vicinity.
Good Luck
S
It woudl have to be online since i workout through my basement
Thanks again stu. Look forward to reading more of your stuff. Love following your thread.
Well, I had wanted to write a bit about what I’ve been doing, and considerations going into which of two bodypart splits I’m going to adopt Sept 1st, but just a few days ago I found out that my current gym (been there the last 5 years) will be closing “for 3-4 weeks” to address a whole slew of building violations that have been avoided for almost four years now.
I don’t know how much I’ve mentioned this in the past, but the gym, while it does have pretty much of what you would need to get a decent workout in, is owned and run by two individuals (‘business men?’) who don’t have the slightest idea how to run a gym, or even how to use one.
This has led to a constant state of equipment needing repairs, and very poor choices in any new items that were purchased. The owners have known that this was coming as they have basically avoided addressing any of the ‘issues’ for a while now, and despite having much more notification than the gym goers, were still selling memberships the day before they so politely put up a sign informing members of the situation.
While I’ve never hidden my lack of love for the gym itself, there are a good core group of friendly, serious trainers who show up every night, and I can only assume that through our mutual dislike for the owners, have bonded over the years. Over the last few days, I’ve seen members screaming and cursing out the owners, people demanding their money back (I’m another ‘lucky’ one who’s already paid up until next Summer), and everyone taking bets on whether the gym will ever open again at all, or if the owners will attempt to sneak out from under their debt (and we’ll hear stories of how a moving truck pulled up in the blackness of night and loaded up all the equipment that still works).
In the meanwhile, along with everyone else, I’ve got to worry about where to train. Living in a part of Queens, where street parking is no easy task, has made this gym the only reason I can train on a daily basis (I live a few blocks away). As I won’t be starting work (teaching) for 2 weeks, I’ll be able to drive to an excellent facility out on Long Island where the owner comped me a membership (I designed a diet and training program for him). Unfortunately during the school year, driving there and back in rush hour traffic would easily amount to an hour and a half tacked onto my day which already starts at 4:30 am. After that I figure I can make use of the NYSC 30 days for $30 deal (There’s a NYSC that’s 2 miles away, so I could walk until the weather gets really bad). After that (5 weeks?) if the gym’s not open again, I’ll have to seriously look into my options… damn, as much as I disliked that place, convenience is a hell of a perk.
S
Hate to hear about this problem. I hope you’ll manage to find a decent gym in proximity. I can’t imagine a problem like this would compromise your results in preparation.
So best wishes, good luck with finding an alternative for the school season.
Could you work out at your school gym? I could see it being a little annoying working out with the students but it would probably save you a lot of time.
There’s no way I could get a decent training session in at a school gym. I already get a constant barrage of questions from high school kids at private gyms, and the last thing I need is for my students to see ‘that side’ of me when I’m training. The crazy thing with this current situation is how much whispering is going on as to whether the place really will re-open in 4-5 weeks, or if they’ll just vanish with everyone’s money.
The owners are saying that they’ll reopen, and that they do not want to close down, but there are just so many little tidbits to the story. I actually spoke yesterday to the guy who was initially going to buy-out one of the owners and really fix the place up. He told me that not only were there years-outstanding violations, but that the current owners owed months worth of back rent (it’s a very large facility, $25K/Month rent!), only 10% of the customers renew at the end of their first year, and there have been several instances where various bills have gone unpaid and utilities have been shut down for periods.
All that aside, the convenience of the gym is without peer, and that’s what keeps coming up in conversation. Despite all my whining and moaning, I really hope I’m wrong about the doors never opening again.
Sooooooo I’ll be driving out to Long Island in a lil bit with my Anaconda all mixed up, a handful of Finibars to munch in the car, and a foam roller to carry with me (amid odd looks of course) into another gym to train legs… ahhh I have such memories of every contest prep at that old dungeon 
S
Hopefully if the place is convenient enough for enough people some lifter/businessman will take over the gym and fix it up.
Sucks to hear that happened, but I’m sure you’ll get through it. It’s great that Cat is now “on board” as well, as she will most likely be supportive/come along with you to new gyms instead of rag on you about how silly it is to drive all the way out to LI to train.
you should buy it