No adversity can slow this train (Journey to the stage in 2012)

[jpfaherty]

Yup, the show is inching closer and closer. I'm 40 days out!

I've definitely surpassed any of my prior preps in terms of leanness. I hit a prep low this last Friday of 171.0 lb (this is first thing in the morning, flat and dehydrated). After some hydration, I'm usually about 176lb. . This time last year, I was almost 10lbs heavier at 180.6lbs. I'm finally seeing some glutes.

I still follow IF and don't eat until after my workout (about noon each day). I've been keeping up my strength (actually gaining) until this last week when my pressing (bench) finally was a struggle. Overall, I'm happy but definitely not taking my foot off the pedal. I'm starting to see better quad and hamstring separation but need to keep pushing to bring it just a tad more. I even saw a quad vein the other night and I've never had vascularity in my legs.

My first show is 9/27 (smaller show) and the second one is 10/18 (a pro-qualifier)

Sick man!! Sounds like everything is right on schedule!! Excited to see the final package.

[IK9]

Sick man!! Sounds like everything is right on schedule!! Excited to see the final package.

x22

[Rypt1]

Sick man!! Sounds like everything is right on schedule!! Excited to see the final package.

x22

I'm definitely in new territory in terms of lows for weight and lean-ness.

Wednesday 9/10 - 17 days out!!!

I'm NOT dead, I'm still in prep and at 2.5 weeks out

weight = 166.0lb

Finally took some pics. They are on my bodyspace. I couldn't get them on a photo hosting site from here at work since they are all blocked, so take a gander if you get a chance

My pushing strength has gone to pot so I know I'm getting lean. I've finally got hammies in and glutes coming in, I'm so excited.

Calories on low days are around 1650kcal. I'm carb cycling and having a refeed twice a week with one minor one at around 2000kcal and then a bigger one at around 3500kcal. Only about a week and a half of real work and then onto peak week!

[jpfaherty]

Just took a peak, lean man! Nice and lean. Great work!

[Rypt1]

Just took a peak, lean man! Nice and lean. Great work!

Why thank you! I feel so tiny, though. I'm pretty flat in those pics with no pump. It is amazing how much a pump improves how you look.

You are looking amazing as well. Keeping me motivated. I know that anyone else that is competing is going to give 100% so I gotta give it my all.

[Rypt1]

9/12 - LPP WK#10 (legs B) - 15 days out!!

weight = 165.4lb (matches yesterday's prep low)

I started prep 22 weeks ago at 204.6lb, so I'm down 39.2lbs. That comes to an average of 1.78lbs per week over 22 weeks. At 14 days out the last time around, I was 172.6lb, so I'm 7.2lbs leaner. My guess is my stage weight will right aroud 175-176lb since I step on the scale first thing in the morning fully dehydrated and flat. I average about 2 gallons of water per day throughout prep.

Today is a low carb, high fat day with a total of 1850kcal (220g P, 100g F and 40g C). I've been doing this once a week for the past 5 to 6 weeks. Tomorrow is a refeed where carbs will be around 500-600g, Fats will be as low as possible and Protein will be around 180-200g.

Workouts have been decent overall except for pushing movements (bench mostly). I've been staying in the 8-12 rep range for the last 10 weeks. Volume (mostly a reduction in # of sets) has come down as needed.

Todays workout

hack squats
4pps+25ps x 10
3pl +25ps x 14
3pl x 14

front squats
100 x 27

seated leg extensions
175 x 18
140 x 11 (TUT set)

seated leg curls
156 x 12
86.5 x 18

glute kicks
122 x 12

cable leg adductor
40 x 12
42.5 x 12 x 2 sets

seated bent-knee calf raisesl
2pl x 20
1pl + 25 x 21

weighted ab ball
bw+60 x 10
bw+55 x 12 x 2 sets
bw+45

cardio has been a mix of LISS and some MISS here and there. Mostly kept to 30-35 minutes a day, one cardio session.

[Rypt1]

9/16 LPP WK 11 (pull B)

10 days out!!

weight = 166.4

Only 10 days to go. Tomorrow is my last leg workout and I'll start tapering down cardio and ramp up more posing practice. I feel really good about where I'm at.

Today is a small refeed at 1910kcal (lower days have been around 1600kcal). Basically my last refeed before carbing up next Wednesday. I found that I always look my best two days after a refeed. Typically my large refeed is on a Saturday and I look my best on Tuesday, so I'll go for the same plan into my show with my big refeed on Wednesday to look my best on Saturday.

Not gonna change much in terms of nutrition, though and water intake will remain high throughout.

[jpfaherty]

Wow! 7lb difference is certainly going to show in your physique on stage. Shredder!

[IK9]

Wow 160's... Lean af!

[Rypt1]

Wow! 7lb difference is certainly going to show in your physique on stage. Shredder!

Wow 160's... Lean af!

Thanks guys! I'm definitely bringing my best package to the stage this time around, so I already consider this prep a success. Hitting the stage is just the "cherry on top"

[jaredmus]

any pics man lets see what the almost final package looks like

[Rypt1]

I currently don't have any pics, been super busy this week (help peak week fly by). I'll have plenty at the show, though

Had a busy weekend. Did on last hard cardio this past Saturday as me and my oldest ran in a 5K for a middle school fundraiser. Very hilly course, kicked my butt but managed to beat my 13 yr old by a few minutes (and she's in cross country). Those HIIT sessions have really helped. Had a small bump in carbs on Saturday and tapered down a bit Sunday. Today and tomorrow are low carb as I hit some upper body glycogen burning workouts. Last workout is Wednesday and then I start with my refeed/load on Wednesday. So I somewhat frontload and then taper down carbs by the end of the week and keep watch on how full/flat I look.

Weight this morning was 166.0lb (a low for a Monday). Feeling good about this week and looking forward to this weekend

[jpfaherty]

Bring it home brotha!!!

[deltpecx]

Is this Peak Week?

[Rypt1]

Bring it home brotha!!!

Will do sir! Your inspirational prep has definitely helped in this final push.

Is this Peak Week?

Yup, the show is this Saturday!

Weight = 164.6 (matches prep low)

Got one more day of low carbing before the fun begins. I'll plan on carbing up on Wednesday after my last training session. Cardio was a light elliptical workout this morning, my last one before this contest. Got my poly on Thursday and tan on Friday. Getting real, real fast.

[IK9]

Sneak peek pics?

[Rypt1]

Sneak peek pics?

Unfortunately I have no pics right now as I've been very short on time with work and the kids. I'll have plenty, though, from show day and I'll get those out as soon as I can.

Wednesday 9/24 - 3 days out!

I'm 3 days out from the Natural Badger Classic in Menomonie, WI. I'm 3.5 weeks out from the Northern States Natural Classic in Elk River, MN.

weight = 163.6lb (prep low!!)

I'm 7lbs lighter from my low from last year's contest (flat and dehydrated as I weigh myself first thing in the morning)

I'm definitely feeling flat and tired from the last few days of glycogen burning workouts. The workouts are done, though, and let the carb up begin. Today will be around 600g of carbs and I'll step down over the next few days and watch how I feel. It will likely take 1000g to 1200g to spill over but I'll play it safe to start.

Got my poly late tomorrow and the tan application on Friday morning and pre-judging is on Saturday morning!

[IK9]

600g carbs.. Hello Christmas!!

[Rypt1]

Had the 1st of my two shows this past weekend, the Natural Badger Classic

1st Submasters
1st Novice Tall

I challenged for my first overall which was very exciting. I lost but people told me it was fairly close. The guy I lost to ended up winning the Open Short and the Open Overall, so he was more than deserving and he looked great

4th Open

I was hoping for top three here and would have put myself at least 2nd. I actually lost a place to a guy that I had beat in the Novice division. Talking to the judges, they said my posing was right on but that by the third time I had to come out for posing (Submasters and Novice division were prior), my physique had changed somewhat. I wasn't sure how to process that. They said my leg details were becoming blurry and were very crisp in the first two go-rounds. They said I should maybe go in the back and lay with my legs up. I thought this was total bro-science as the blood would rush right back into my legs when I would get upright. In my opinion, I probably should just narrow the divisions I enter to one or two. Not sure if some kind of nutrition change could be made to keep me from holding more water as I pose longer. Overall, I was very happy with how I did and could definitely see improvement versus last year.

I'll be a bit delayed in getting pics up. My Dad took 150+ pics with his camera phone and every damn one of them was blurry. My wife got some shots of the night show, so I need to download those. I should also be getting the show's photographer pics in the next day or so.

I have my next show in 3 weeks, The Northern States Natural in Elk River, MN. I plan on Sub-Masters and open only

[deltpecx]

Huge Congratulations! Well Done!

[jpfaherty]

Had the 1st of my two shows this past weekend, the Natural Badger Classic

1st Submasters
1st Novice Tall


I have my next show in 3 weeks, The Northern States Natural in Elk River, MN. I plan on Sub-Masters and open only

Congrats!!

And, good call on the classes!

[bcapprentice]

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing the pictures.
And now on to greater and better things! The next round of contests that is!

[jaredmus]

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing the pictures.
And now on to greater and better things! The next round of contests that is!

Could not say it better

[vmatt21]

Get 'er done!!

[IK9]

Gooood chit

[Rypt1]

Huge Congratulations! Well Done!

Congrats!!

And, good call on the classes!

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing the pictures.
And now on to greater and better things! The next round of contests that is!

Could not say it better

Get 'er done!!

Gooood chit

Thanks guys! Finally got some pics:









On the end/right on this one

[Rypt1]

Some more pics:









On the far right (before being moved to the middle)

[Rypt1]

still more pics

open class


open class


winning Novice class


2nd from the right (black trunks)


submasters/masters combined (took 1st)

[IK9]

Pics look great! Great job!!

What are the plans going forward from here?

[jpfaherty]

Nice pics dude! Looked good

How did that dude in novice get 4th place? (green trunks) He's a beast!