Peter Fitschen - Contest Prep 2012

[Crazyups]

99% sure PETE took lightweights!!!!!

[Crazyups]

Ughhhh....make that new NGA Pro and overall winner!!!!M!

[Bnizzle163]

Sending this from my phone so I'll keep it short and sweet. Awewome fricking work,Pete!!

[Vanguard1965]

OMG that is awesome! Congrats Pete!! Very impressive results and well deserved!

So happy for you!

[fatboymelb]

congrats! followed along from a few weeks back. great journal!

[Trapzillaoo7]

Congrat Pete, you looked amazing!

[NaturalPursuit]

BIG congratz! physique is lookin CRAAAZY!!!

[str8flexed]

I can unequivocally state that no one worked harder than Pete for that. Period. Pete was doing full time PhD research, taking full time grad classes, and prepping at the same time. Just one of those is typically enough to break most people. He did all 3, pulling 14 hour days almost the entire prep. I don't want to hear excuses from anyone else anymore. Pete, proud as hell of you man. Honored to be part of your journey for the last 6 years

[breck1044]

It was nice to meet you Pete. You looked great. Congrats on the class win, the overall and what you brought to the stage. Good work!

[ConLaV]

You were spot on my man! newest NGA PRO! very happy for you bro

[mogs1111111]

Congratulations mate, I've been following your journals for a few years and it looks like all your hard work and consistency has paid off, well done!

[chuckles_345]

99% sure PETE took lightweights!!!!!

Ughhhh....make that new NGA Pro and overall winner!!!!M!

That is correct! I won the light weight class, open overall, and NGA Pro Card last night at the NGA Titan classic. Thanks again for all of your support through these last few weeks.

Sending this from my phone so I'll keep it short and sweet. Awewome fricking work,Pete!!

Thanks for your continued support and for giving me food porn to look at in your log during prep.

OMG that is awesome! Congrats Pete!! Very impressive results and well deserved!

So happy for you!

Thanks. I'll definately be following along with your upcoming prep as well.

congrats! followed along from a few weeks back. great journal!

Thanks for following along!

Congrat Pete, you looked amazing!

Thanks for all of your support over the past few years. You are definately someone I have looked up to in this sport for a long time now. As I told you after the show, I was convinced Scott won the whole thing after he beat Brian and Casey in the Iowa class. I was absolutely shocked when they annouced him in 2nd and knew I had might actually have a shot at the overall as he had beat Brian and Casey in an earlier class. Then I was even more shocked when I actually did. Thanks again for everything and I am looking forward to seeing you on the pro stage in Chicago.

BIG congratz! physique is lookin CRAAAZY!!!

Thanks for the support and for the interview at the start of prep!

I can unequivocally state that no one worked harder than Pete for that. Period. Pete was doing full time PhD research, taking full time grad classes, and prepping at the same time. Just one of those is typically enough to break most people. He did all 3, pulling 14 hour days almost the entire prep. I don't want to hear excuses from anyone else anymore. Pete, proud as hell of you man. Honored to be part of your journey for the last 6 years

Thanks Layne. Just trying to follow in your footsteps. You have provided me so much support and motivation over the years that I can't thank you enough. Being on campus from 6:30-7am until 5-6pm followed by the gym most of my prep was rough. Then once the semester was over, prep got worse and a lot of days were gym 6 or 6:30am, lab 8ish to 4-5, then back to gym, but through it all I never missed a workout, meal, or cardio session. I kept telling myself I needed to outwork everyone else and that if Layne could win his pro card while being in a top tier PhD program, so could I. Thanks again for everything. I wouldn't have gotten here without your guidance.

It was nice to meet you Pete. You looked great. Congrats on the class win, the overall and what you brought to the stage. Good work!

Thanks! It was really nice to finally meet you. As I told you, you looked really good onstage and definately deserved the top 3 finished in a super pro qualifier, which is nothing to hang your head about. Congrats again!

You were spot on my man! newest NGA PRO! very happy for you bro

Thanks for your continued support over the years!

Congratulations mate, I've been following your journals for a few years and it looks like all your hard work and consistency has paid off, well done!

Thanks for following along. I had no idea how many people were following along with all of my old training threads over the years until recently. Backstage, there were several people who to my surprise had seen my pics and had been following my logs. Thank you all for following along.

[chuckles_345]

Mission Accomplished! As most of you know by now, I won the Open Lightweight class, Open Overall, and NGA Natural Pro Card at the NGA Titan Classic in Des Moines, IA last night.

Since last night, I have received more phone calls, texts, and ******** messages that I could have imagined. I am extremely humbled and I thank all of you for your support over the years. I had no idea there were so many people following my journey. Who would have thought that a 125lb 16yr old kid who took dead last in his first show in 2004 could become a 26yr old natural pro bodybuilder in 2012. It has been a long journey and I want to thank you all for your continued support.

Moving forward, I still have 1 more ameture show this year, The NANBF St. Louis Natural on July 7 in St. Louis, MO. It is an IFPA Pro Qualifier and one of the largest ameture shows in the country every year. Win, lose, or otherwise, this will be my last ameture show. Following the show, I will begin preparing for a pro debut in 2014. I will need to make a lot of improvements if I want to step on the pro stage.

Thank you again for all of your continued support.

Peter

[Vanguard1965]

You need to post a picture of you onstage with all your hardware!

I also keep picturing you with this big grin on your face that just won't go away and rightfully so!

[triplewhammy]

Happy for you bro!

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the IFPA honor Pro Cards from other orgs such as NGA so you wouldn't need to compete in that one? I guess I also thought that they wouldn't ALLOW you to compete in an amateur show now that you are a Pro in NGA...

Well, either way I know you are gonna keep grindin!

[chuckles_345]

You need to post a picture of you onstage with all your hardware!

I also keep picturing you with this big grin on your face that just won't go away and rightfully so!

I'll try to get a good write up on here full of pics tomorrow if I get a chance.

Happy for you bro!

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the IFPA honor Pro Cards from other orgs such as NGA so you wouldn't need to compete in that one? I guess I also thought that they wouldn't ALLOW you to compete in an amateur show now that you are a Pro in NGA...

Well, either way I know you are gonna keep grindin!

According to the IFPA website, they do not honor NGA pro cards won after December 31, 2011. In addition, I have not yet competed as a pro in the NGA so I good to go. Furthermore, I have all of my fees paid, wife and I have time off work, hotel set, etc. so I'll do this last ameture show and then start training my ass off so I don't get laughed off the pro stage in 2yrs.

[Bnizzle163]

Once again, awesome work, my friend. I look forward to a full write up and pics when you get the chance!

[jpfaherty]

Great job bud, can't wait for pics!

[fltallpaul]

IT's already been said but here is on more "great job"

Wether or not you won was irrelevant as you improved and got on stage at your all time best. Not to mention everything you had going on while prepping. Inspiring!

[adamjohn32]

i posted to your FB, but I'll say it here... great job Pete, way to OUTWORK. Your whole prep has been a testament to finding that balance between life and bodybuilding and making every second of every day count, inspirational for sure.

[chuckles_345]

Once again, awesome work, my friend. I look forward to a full write up and pics when you get the chance!

Thanks! Full write up should be coming shortly.

Great job bud, can't wait for pics!

Thanks! Pics and videos will be in the write up which is coming shortly.

IT's already been said but here is on more "great job"

Wether or not you won was irrelevant as you improved and got on stage at your all time best. Not to mention everything you had going on while prepping. Inspiring!

Thansk Paul! You are one of the people I have looked up to in this sport for quite some time and that means a lot coming from you. Even though I've already won my NGA pro card, I'm still pushing to get leaner and bring and even better package to the stage in 12 days in St. Louis.

i posted to your FB, but I'll say it here... great job Pete, way to OUTWORK. Your whole prep has been a testament to finding that balance between life and bodybuilding and making every second of every day count, inspirational for sure.

Thanks! I've been following along with your prep as well. You are definately going to make a run at it this year. Looking forward to seeing the final product.

[chuckles_345]

NGA Titan Classic Write Up:



Friday:
I woke up early Friday morning and here is how I was looking:

http://sports.webshots.com/album/583008476pONYDb

After taking progres pics, I ate, finished packing, and headed to the gym for 1 last pump up workout. We loaded up the car and left for Des Moines around 8am. We arrived in Des Moines about 2pm which gave me enough time to check into the hotel and eat some food before heading to my drug test and weigh in. I weighed in at around 163lbs which wasn't much heavier than 2008; however, I knew I was leaner. It could have just been a different scale also. Either way, I headed back to the hotel after weigh ins, shaved, and spent a couple hrs relaxing. About 7pm we started applying the 1st 2 coats of dream tan and I stood around without clothes until ~10ish when I went to bed.




Saturday Morning:

I woke up Saturday morning with a slightly smeared tan that needed some more coats and touching up. I did a little pump work, ate some food and looked like this:

http://sports.webshots.com/album/583014565haXXtv

In my opinion, I was more full than Fri, but not as tight. Pre-juding didn't start until 12:30pm and we did not have to be to the venue until noon for the athletes meeting, so I spent the morning relaxing, eating food, and getting my tan touched up. At one point, I made the mistake of going online and looking at the pics of some of the big name ametures I was going to be competing against that day such as Scott Michaels, Brian Mauer, Tim Jorgenson, and Casey Floyd, all of whom had taken runner up for their pro cards in the past couple of months. This was a really bad idea as I started to get into my head and lose confidence. Nevertheless, my wife was able to talk me off the ledge and we headed to prejuding.






Prejudging:

Everything went really well with pre-juding overall. I timed all of my meals right and looked great. I knew my class was going to be tough because I had Scott Michaels in my class who was straight up peeled. We came out onstage and numerically I was in the center. We went through a round of poses and they moved Scott into the middle next to me to run through poses again. At that point I figured I was top 2, probably 2nd, but I posed my ass off and hoped for the best. Afterwards, everyone was telling me I was top 2 and that it was close. I figured I was 2nd and was extatic because I was going to take runner up for a pro card in my 1st contest in 4 years. Here are pics from prejudging:

http://sports.webshots.com/album/583013791CxXnXL

Here is a video from prejuding. Thanks to Brian Ahlstrom for shooting this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyugI...&feature=share






Night Show:

Between shows, I headed back to the hotel and relaxed, talked to Layne and got my plan of attack for the rest of the day. Got back to the venue for the athletes meeting, timed everything the same as at prejuding and looked good. As I was getting my tan touched up, Scott Michaels beat Brian Mauer and Casey Floyd in the Iowa class and I assumed he was going to win the whole show. When our class was up we hit our routines. I posed to the Crimson Tide soundtrack and it went really well. We came out for awards and they started calling off 5th, 4th, 3rd. As expected, it was Scott and myself standing their at the end. I wished him luck figuring he was going to win and was absolutely shocked when they called Scott in 2nd. I had just won my NGA pro card.

After my class, I headed backstage and got my tan touched up quick. I pumped up as Brian Mauer won the open middle and Casey Floyd won the open heavy. When Brian and I were backstage pumping we were talking about how we followed eachother on the boards for the better part of the decade, both just won our pro cards and were about to go at it in the overall. Once the heavyweight class was done we went out and battled it out. I had an absolute blast being in the overall and I had no clue who was going to win it, but didn't think it would be me. When they called me as the overall winner I was in absolute shock.

Here are some pics from the night show:
http://sports.webshots.com/album/583018119anmAvW

Here is a video of the overall thanks to Brian Ahlstrom for taking this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqHTA...&feature=share





After the show, I talked with Layne and we decided to still do the NANBF St. Louis contest July 7 because I already had everything in and it was in a different sanction; however, I would no longer be doing the NGA Alabama Open on July 14 because I had already won my NGA pro card. Since I had another show in 2 weeks, I only had 1 plate of pasta after the contest and then got right back on the diet Sunday. I got my plan from Layne yesterday for the next 2 weeks and it is the same with a few minor tweaks. We are going to try to bring me in sllightly leaner and see what happens in St. Louis. Win, lose or otherwise, it will be my last ameture competition. After the NANBF St. Louis, I will give myself some good food, then reverse diet and prepare for an NGA Pro debut in 2014.

Thank you again to everyone who has followed my journey over the years and given me support. It really means a lot to me. Best of luck in all of your bodybuilding and fitness journeys.

[jpfaherty]

Awesome write up! Congrats again! Your midsection is money in the frigen bank!

[Vanguard1965]

Yes great write up and I agree your midsection really stood out. Good luck in St. Louise!

FANTASIC JOB! Congrats!!

[chuckles_345]

Awesome write up! Congrats again! Your midsection is money in the frigen bank!

Yes great write up and I agree your midsection really stood out. Good luck in St. Louise!

FANTASIC JOB! Congrats!!

Thanks guys! Going to try to tighten up some more and bring it in St. Louis. I know the St. Louis contest is typically stacked. In fact, Mike Martino won the overall last year and has since won a pro show and taken top 5 in a couple others. Also, all 5 of the top 5 in the increadibly stacked tall class won pro cards later in the year so I know it will be tough, but I'm going to bring what the best package I can, let the chips fall where they may, and then get to work on my offseason.

[chuckles_345]

6-25 Monday: Upper

Weighted Pull Ups:
1. 70x7
2. 70x6
3. 70x5

DB Bench:
1. 100x6
2. 100x6
3. 100x6

Chest Supported DB Row:
1. 90x8
2. 90x8
3. 90x8

Weighted Dips:
1. 90x9
2. 90x7
3. 90x7

V Bar Pulldown:
1. 200x10
2. 200x10
3. 200x10

Seated Side Raise:
1. 40x10
2. 40x8
3. 40x8
4. 35x12

Preacher Curl:
1. 95x8
2. 95x6
3. 75x15

Cable Pressdowns:
1. 180x10
2. 180x10
3. 160x12






First day back to work after an exciting weekend and I had to be in by 7am. Worked until 4pm, managed to get my LI cardio in around lunch time. Got to the gym 4:30ish and everything felt heavy. I hadn't had a hard workout for ~10 days before this one and it was a little rough, but I told myself that I am a pro now and I need to train like it and pushed through. Tuesday will be a long and busy day on campus followed by a heavy lower body workout.

[chuckles_345]

11 Days Out Update:

Weight: 159.4lbs



Hit a new prep low this morning and am weighing 2lbs lighter than 11 days out from Iowa. Hopefully this means I am tightening up some becasue standing next to Scott Michaels and Brian Mauer showed me how much leaner I need to be in the hams and glutes. Heavy legs tonight and then Layne's peaking protocol starts tomorrow. I'll be doing the same thing for the most part this time with just a couple small modifications.

[musclemass22]

Just wanted to say congrats again Pete! I had so much fun at that show and the overall was awesome. I agree with the above posters.....your mid-section was lights out! Told you I was super jelly of that thing!! For anyone that hasn't persoanlly met Pete....CLASS ACT!! Humble, hard-working, and a great physique. Congrats again and keep in touch..........I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon---Brian Mauer

[Quelly]

dude, huge congrats, welcome to the pros, one more, kill it!

[Frankdaddy]

I have stated it over on ********, but you deserve it as much as possible for the hard work and pro physique that you brought this season thus far. Congrats, and keep up the hard work, it has paid off for you this round. Like you told me before that each year you focus on improvements, and hopefully that will bring a respectable physique each time to the stage, and I would lay money down you will keep the word!!!!