End of a new beginning.

 The end of a new beginning

So this chapter is now closed. I went through a long process from where I started to learn about shaping the body, I ended up on stage, and it was probably one of the better accomplishments that marks an important part of my life, and the discovery of a passion. Since then I have gone to compete a second time, learning how to lean out even more. After my second competition I went on to try to put on mass, with my body type my caloric intake for energy expenditure, balanced incorrectly, I ended up putting on a lot of fat in the process, leaving me back to where I started. I understand the importance of good teachers and mentors to obtain success so I began to seek out and work with one of the best that I could find, this person was Paul Anthony. In the process I learned new methods, of training, and what I did in 6 months the first time, took less than 3 months, but man was it tough. I don’t think I worked that hard before, and yet I was still unable to fulfill the full demand of what Paul required me to do.

 

The Competition

Now here it was, show day. I was back stage, and I looked at the competition, and I know we all our worst critics, but I did what I could to stay in the game. Adrian, a competitor who got his pro card that night was my main company; he was also there at my first competition helping me work out some of the confusion. When it was show time, I felt I wasn’t hitting my poses correctly, and the calls to turn right seemed so fast that there was no time to re-adjust. This is where lack of posing practice on my own time really showed. After the first half I felt alright about the time on stage, even though I was the smallest guy in both categories. I came back in the evening show, and I was beginning to regret putting a weight cap on my training as the guys I was competing with were much larger than me. I ended up carbing up before the second part of the show because I wanted to fill in a bit since these guys were huge, I thought this would help. The people there that came to watch me said I lost my cuts in the second half although I looked a bit fuller. Bad trade of for sure. Although neither of these I am sure was the true reason for my loss, as it was more than likely I needed more training 

time before entering onto the stage with well-trained individuals.

 

The Loss

 

I had no doubt leaned out, and I weight about 6 lbs more in muscle than the last time I was on stage, but this wasn’t enough, I still placed in the bottom of the pile. I was a bit burnt but I understand it takes failures to succeed sometimes you take two steps forward and one step back. I can only look as stories like Thomas Edison, and Michael Jordan to understand that failure is actually success in disguise, only if you understand the lesson. It would be easy for me to blame my circumstances of having to train with the new born, running a business, still in school for my degree, not enough time ect. ect. But excuses don’t teach any lessons, it only makes us worse when you don’t own your losses. I failed and that’s the end of it, all I can do is ask, what is the lesson, and what is good about this? My answer? I needed to be more prepared, not entering in a competition with a miracle transformation less than three months  and take the stage by storm, realism is very important, if I had no arms I probably wouldn’t play basketball. Secondly, if there is a map that has been proven than it’s probably a good idea to follow it to a T, if you want to get to your destination. What is good about this? Well, I now also have a marker for where I never want to be, ever again, I know that if I don’t learn the lesson than I will be doomed to repeat it.

 

The Gain

None the less I have gained so much more than I have lost. The journey was the real reward, I now have one of the greatest teachers in body transformations, in my opinion, as an acquaintance. His cheerfulness and high energy is remarkable in itself and something I need to learn is to loosen up. I have always been quite introverted by nature so for me to get on stage in front of a crowd definitely is an accomplishment in itself for personal growth.

I have increased my fitness knowledge, and I am more than ever ready to put on size with less mistakes of starting over. I have expanded more so in my knowledge base as well as my personal development. I feel great and look great, than I ever have in my life, how can I complain about that. I have had so much great support, as always, from mentors, family, friends and fans that always inspire me to perform at higher levels. Thank you guys!

 

What’s next?

I will definitely be doing another competition, Chuck Thomson, a gentleman in his later years has competed 80 times and I see him at every competition. An inspiration to me that says I can do this for the rest of my life. For now though I am going to train for size, focus on the business, and how I can better serve everyone who walks in the doors with the ambition to have health and fitness for themselves.

It truly is those who start of at the beginning and chase the impossible that inspire me, and that’s from the jogger that hits the pavement, to the guys starting with 10lbs. at the gym. Everyone who hits the gym goes in with the thought to improve, and that is very commendable.

Those who I want to thank is the Tony Robbins Company who coach me in business and life and help me with strength of character and personal growth, Dream Body for bringing me back to my best physical state of being, my mother who always pushes me to be more than average, my wife, who makes the toughest climbs a bit easier, my friends (this is every client as well) and fans for the loud voices who make me feel like a super star no matter where I place. You guys are all amazing. You guys are the real superstars.

Of course the WBFF for always putting on a great show. The supplement industry, Rock Solid, Magnum Nutraceuticals, Protein Goodness, BPI, Vemma, Dymatize, Cytosport, and the rest of the industry that help me push my gains and level of performance to new heights. Thank you!

Next year I will be back and I will crush it! :)

After the Calgary show I wanted to get back on a stage. I began training with Paul closer towards August (First Photo). The second photo was after competition October 13. (Amazingly quick transformation in such short notice. Thanks to Dream Body and Paul Anthony) Paul says to me "Now image what you could have done if you did your cardio" Lol Paul is awesome.