Transformation Challenge

The Decision: So I've decided to sign up for a few bodybuilding.com challenges before.  Most of them have fizzled out before they ever get going.  Being active duty and trying to commit to any obligations outside of work is a giant pain.  Impossible, no.  But it's frustrating to be going along planing your meals, having access to a full gym to have to fly to training or get underway and have no kitchen and limited equipment.  This year isn't going to be any different, but I have a better idea of when those trips will be and I can plan accordingly.  This time I am going to see it through.

Prep: I just placed an order for some supplements.  I don't get too fancy on what I like to take.  BSN SNYNTHA-6 protein, Cyto Carb, creatine, a multivitamin and some BCAAs (when I remember) are all I take. And of course Swedish fish as my post work out carb!  Can't forget the Swedish fish. This is actually a big change from what I used to take.  Previously I used all kinds of bars and weight gainers to try and pack on some muscle.  It worked at first. But you have to keep in mind anything would have worked to help me put on muscle.  I was about as close to skin and bones as you can be without having some serious issues.  Some of them are still really tasty, if you haven't tried powercrunch bars you are missing out! Now I try to get most of my requirements from real food.

Starting Point:  I'm begging this challenge somewhere between 176 and 180 pounds. It's hard to say exactly where as over the holidays I've lost some weight but I don't know how much. I also just got over a 24 hour stomach flu that did not help my gains. I'll be posting regular photo updates on my bodyspace page here.

Wish me luck.

New Year's Goals

It's time to make those New Years Resolutions again. Actually, I'm not big on New Years Resolutions, I figure if you want to commit something just go for it. This year however, traveling for the holidays has thrown my diet out the window and put all workouts on a hold for the last two weeks. Safe to say now that I'm back home its time to get back on track.

One goal that had alluded me for years is reaching the 200 pounds weight goal. At 6'3", trying to complete in any bodybuilding category below that is difficult to be competitive. So there's one, hit two hundred on the scale. Next is compete in at least two competitions this year.

With these goals my biggest road block has consistently been my diet.  I don't have the appetite to eat as much as required to get to the weight I want to be.  I'm just not that hungry.  One thing I have just started doing is to prioritize better.  I don't have an issue getting myself to the gym, I don't even have a problem doing the exercises I need to do instead of the one I want to do. But eating enough is s constant struggle.  To improve this I will be taking to the scale before I leave for the gym each day. If I'm not at the weight that I think I should be at I will have an extra meal before I leave.  If i want to go to the gym i will have to eat first.  If I'm not getting in my meals, or maybe just not getting enough to eat at each meal I'll see it on the scale have to eat before i go to the iron church.  This will force me to eat more before I can go do what I really want to do which is pick up heavy things and put them down.

Happy New Year, I hope 2015 brings you your biggest gains ever!