Step Beyond's - 27 week contest prep begins now !!! - Page 8

Step Beyond · 03-05-2009, 08:08 AM

Hey Gang,

Sorry for being a little re-miss about my postings the last two weeks. Thanks for checking in though - greatly appreciated !!!!

Been a little under the weather and carrying a boat load of stress, so posting has not been a priority.

Just to fill you in a bit, I work in Cayman for the government and my current contract is set to expire March 31st - about three weeks away. Despite putting in my request for renewal the first week of January they have yet to tell me whether I will have a job come April 1st or not. Nice, eh?

Needless to say, with a wife, 2 kids and a mortage here in Cayman, I am a little stressed about it all. Cayman is not immune to the economic issues that we are all experiencing and one of the governments ideas to save money is to simply not renew expatriate contracts. They are also in the middle of pushing a new 'succession planning' initiative whereby they try to ensure locals get first crack at all jobs - and since my poistion is technically vacant come March 31st.............well, you get the idea.

I can understand the thought process behind the money saving measure - although it is not a great plan in my opinion, and I have lived on this island long enough to understand the notion of what they consider 'succession planning', however my beef is don't tell me I am out of work without giving me some form of notice!!!!!!!! Treat me fairly, respectfully and professionally is all I ask, after having given myself to the government for the lat 5 years - don't think it is too much to ask.

Now in reality, I am certain it will all work and my contract will be extended, but until I see it on paper nothing is guaranteed. I need to be cognizant of the fact that I may be out of work in 26 days. Crazier things have happened here, so I am still uneasy until I get proper notofication. Regrettably, Cayman is a bit of a Banana Republic at times as well, so the many measures of protection that we have in Canada or the US do not necessarly exist here. In short, there is nobody I can take a complaint or grievance to if things should turn sour. Basically S.O.L. and you are kicked off the island - kind of like Survivor!!!!

Anyway, enough of my rant - trying to be optimistic and as I said, I am sure it will all work out - I JUST WANT TO KNOW one way or the other so I can prepare!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tough being in limbo like this..........expecting to get an answer by the end of the week, of course that is what they told me last week and the week before that too ;-(

Alrighty then - despite my issues, the prep is still going well. The diet is tight - getting in all my meals as planned. The lifts are going well too - I have been using Tean Scivations Pyramid Prep lifting plan - on week 2 of that. Has taken some getting used to as in the first few weeks you are only doing 2-3 sets per exercise, at high reps. The sessions are done in 45 minutes and I don't necessarily feel over worked, which is far from my norm in the gym. As weeks pass the sets increase and the reps come down - hence the pyramid.

The scale is dropping too - staying steady on my 1 - 2 pounds per week, so all is still a GO for June 20 !!!!!!!!!!

Would have been easy to chuck it all the way I have been feeling the past 2 weeks, but glad I have stuck through it.

Hopefully get some good news this week and put this chapter behind me.

Thanks for listening gang!!!!

Have a good one...........Alex.

AustrianOakJr · 03-05-2009, 09:45 AM

I hope it all works out with the job......keep us informed. Good to see youre still on track though! Keep it up.

stayfit2008 · 03-05-2009, 02:51 PM

I hope it all works out as well,..You can always move back to the US and pick up a snow shovel,..hehe!

Step Beyond · 03-10-2009, 07:16 AM

Morning All,

Quick update on things...............

Still cracking on with things even though my 'job situation' has not resolved itself yet. Its really taken its toll on me and is affecting me big time. Just messing with my head and is a huuuuge distraction. Hopefully this week I'll find out - I better, only have 21 days left on my contract !!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to put this thing to bed, one way or the other - not knowing is the worst part.

If my job gets renewed, it will be a huge weight off my shoulders and we can get on with things and it will be business as usual. If not, then who knows - my contest plans will surely be scrapped and my family and I will likely just pack it in and move back to Canada and at least be closer to family. Been abroad for 5 years and this is leaving a real sour taste in my mouth. So needless to say, been plenty of deep conversations going on at my house and it has been very, very tough to stay motivated and focused on things. I am getting my lifts in, but they are lacking intensity and feels more like a chore than anything else. Cardio has been non-existant the last week. Diet was awful on the weekend - feeling sorry for myself and ended up diving into the kids cookies and oter snacks.

Only consolation is that I am still 15 weeks out. Most guys will not even have likely started to think about their prep and I am already 8 or 9 weeks into it and have been very solid - with the exception of this past weekend. I know once I get past this work issue I will most certainly feel revitalized - I am counting on it!!!!

Anyway, enough griping. I did take some pics last night thinking that may make me feel a bit better and it did.

The posing is awful - haven't done any in over a year and need to brush up on that big time. I was also doing the pics by myself with the timer on the camera, so I was running back and forth trying to get them done, so they are not necessarily quality pics. But anyway - here goes.............

I'll try and dig up some pics from last year and do a comparison.

Any and all criticisms are welcome and thanks for listening to me vent guys.

Step Beyond · 03-10-2009, 07:19 AM

Had a few extra pics, figured I'd throw them up as well..............

Can almost see an ab if you look close ;-)

Step Beyond · 03-10-2009, 07:21 AM

Not sure why some pics turned out huge and the others small................downloaded them all the same way .................?????????????????????

Step Beyond · 03-10-2009, 07:28 AM

Posting these one's just as a reminder to myself where I started from about 18 - 19 months ago and where I ended up in April 2008. Try to spark that motivation and bring a better overall package this time around.............

I just love that vein in my forehead ;-)

ProWrestleFan · 03-10-2009, 08:11 AM

Nicw pics man! Nicw to see a fellow tall guy as well! I think I am going to start cutting down. No show or nothing, want to see if I can do it first.

stayfit2008 · 03-10-2009, 10:06 AM

Pics look great! Dont worry about the job situation! You are a survivor! You have skills that can be applied anywhere! Even if it means moving into another location,..But I think everything will resolve itself! Canada is very nice as well!

Step Beyond · 03-11-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stayfit2008

Pics look great! Dont worry about the job situation! You are a survivor! You have skills that can be applied anywhere! Even if it means moving into another location,..But I think everything will resolve itself! Canada is very nice as well!

Thx Chris.............I know it will all work out in the end - always has a way of doing that...............just the 'waiting' part that is killer................knowing one way or the other you can plan and adapt to things, but being in limbo just reallt frags things up.............

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProWrestleFan

Nicw pics man! Nicw to see a fellow tall guy as well! I think I am going to start cutting down. No show or nothing, want to see if I can do it first.

Hey Bro, Thanks for stopping by..............ya, we should start a 6 Footer + club or something.....lol.......this is definitely a game where having all this height is not an advantage, especially for natties, unless of course you have been lifting for 20 years and have managed to fill out the entire package.....lol...............otherwise, just seems to take forever to put on decent LBM..........guess just more to fill out...............keeps it challenging though.............

Cronos1247 · 03-11-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Step Beyond

Thx Chris.............I know it will all work out in the end - always has a way of doing that...............just the 'waiting' part that is killer................knowing one way or the other you can plan and adapt to things, but being in limbo just reallt frags things up.............

Hey Bro, Thanks for stopping by..............ya, we should start a 6 Footer + club or something.....lol.......this is definitely a game where having all this height is not an advantage, especially for natties, unless of course you have been lifting for 20 years and have managed to fill out the entire package.....lol...............otherwise, just seems to take forever to put on decent LBM..........guess just more to fill out...............keeps it challenging though.............

Too challenging! Borderline frustrating lol, hate my height. The pics look awesome, I've been lurking and watching your progress, it's good to see despite all the personal things going on your able to keep up with it. Hope everything works out well for you!

Step Beyond · 03-11-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cronos1247

Too challenging! Borderline frustrating lol, hate my height. The pics look awesome, I've been lurking and watching your progress, it's good to see despite all the personal things going on your able to keep up with it. Hope everything works out well for you!

Much appreciated bro..................much like your quote says - if it doesn't kill ya, it will only make you stronger.........that and there is always somebody worse off than you, so shouldn't bitch too much, sometimes just need to vent and get it outta ya though............................

and likewise - best of luck with your goals - you have a come a long way and should be very proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!! some days we just need to keep a little perspective on things and remember where we have come from and where we want to get too and in the end it usually all works out............have a great one....L8R.

Quickfire · 03-12-2009, 01:26 AM

Still waiting for the invite to come to the islands for some HIT.

Step Beyond · 03-12-2009, 03:20 PM

Quick update on things.................job issue has still not worked itself out yet...........still waiting.............trying to keep it outta my mind though............actually took Tuesday and Wed off from the gym.........think I was perhaps overtraining a bit, along with the added stress issues I could just not bring myself to go and lift..........was actually driving to the gym on Tuesday, got there and left before going in - it was that bad of a feeling..............anyway, think the 2 days did me a world of good.....was very excited to go today and felt somewhat rejuvinated.............had a good delt workout and squeezed in a few arm exercise in between to make up for missing them yesterday.........good workout - great pump an dfeeling like my old self again.................still using the Scivation Pyramid plan, so this week is Workout A - 15, 12, 10, 8 reps on each exercise..............highlights as follows........really focusing on proper form and squeezing the reps out...........feeling spent by the end of these sessions.................and I was worries that the high rep stuff wouldn't be challenging.....ha...........its killer..........

Military press
155 x 15
155 x 12
135 x 10
135 x 8

DB Lat Raises
30 x 15
30 x 12
25 x 10
25 x 8

Cable - Rear Lats
#4 x 15
#4 x 12
#4 x 10
#4 x 8

BB Shrugs
225 x 15, 12, 10, 8

DB Shrugs
100 x 15, 12, 10, 8

Haven't done any cardio in over a week, so I am going to try and get out for a walk tonight.

That,s it, that's all.............L8R..........

Work-Hard · 03-13-2009, 07:19 AM

Peak Pyramid is a hell of a routine. I felt the same way when I started it. Your under 16 weeks, time to buckle down and stay consistent with the cardio. I know its tuff when you have other things on your mind but if their is nothing you can do to control it, I wouldn't worry.

Step Beyond · 03-13-2009, 02:47 PM

Just in from the gym...............back in the swing of things...........sweaty puddle of goo - in a good way .... ;-)

Leg workout - program 'A'.

Squats
275 x 15
275 x 12
225 x 10
225 x 8

SLDL
275 x 15, 12, 10, 8

Leg Extensions
135 x 15, 12, 10, 8

Leg Curls - plated
#7 x 15, 12, 10 , 8

Threw in a few ab exercises as well. Good lift - felt strong. Had trouble with the staits when I was leaving, so that is a good sign ;-)

Will take teh weekend off from lifting and catch up on some quality rest - try to get som LIT cardio - at least one session.

Have a great weekend everybody !!!!!

Whomper107 · 03-13-2009, 03:18 PM

It is admirable that you are persevering through all the job issues. I am a college student myself, so I can't claim that I know how it is, but I feel your pain nonethless bro. Looks as if you are falling back into your groove though. You've done a good thing by allowing yourself so much time ahead of the contest, I think in spite of the barriers you are having to cross, things will turn out fine. Best of luck with the next few months, I'll be watching.

Step Beyond · 03-23-2009, 01:20 PM

Hey Everybody,

Long time, no post.

Just wanted to give an update to those of you that had been following along.

I have decided to terminate my prep for the show I had planned on June 20, 2009. My job situation hasn't improved and I have been giving a 90 day extension to the end of my contract which expires on March 31. This means my employment is up June 30, 10 days after my show.

Theoretically, I could do it, but the way things work here in Cayman, if you don't have a job you can't stay. So, it is not just that I am losing my job, but rather I am losing my opportunity to live here as well. I could try and and find other employment here, but my wife and I have decided that after being abroad for 5 years, it is time to return home to Canada with our 2 young kids. Needless to say teh grandparents are ecstatic ;-)

So, over the next three months I will be tying up things at work here, searching for a job and house in Canada and preparing our property here for rental. Plenty to do in a short period of time and needless to say, committing to a prep will just not be possible.

It is not that I do not want to do a prep or I am fed up with the life / situation / stress / discipline / commitment, that a prep affords, it is just really bad timing for one right now and as anybody who has done a prep knows if you are not 100% committed without major distraction and unconditional support and time, that things are going to work against you.

I plan on competing again - I will compete again. In fact, what I am planning is a long term plan and spend the next 2 years bulking properly and coming back at age 40 and clean up in the Masters Division ;-)

Anyway, just wanted to let everybody know what is happening and whatte situation is. Thank you all for reading and for all of you that have provided great support, encouragement and advice over the past several months to me. I don't think there is a greater forum section than this particular one!!!!

Best of luck to everybody and I'll still be lurking ;-)

Alex.

stayfit2008 · 03-28-2009, 07:18 AM

Any updates on youre job status? Hows things buddy?

Blazed · 03-28-2009, 09:03 AM

He just updated in his last post >..<

Best of luck. Canada ain't so bad, ay?

stayfit2008 · 03-28-2009, 10:02 AM

G'Dam,..and I was hoping we could do a competitive run along the sands like Rocky and Apollo Creed!!!