Eric's 2012 Contest Prep (9 Weeks Out & Beyond...)

[Crazyups]

5-15-12

AM Weight: 197.2
Sunday Weight: 196.4 (Down from 197.2 on Sat.)

Ehhh, weight is up a bit today, oh well. I will say this though, ever since Sunday, bein' my most "demanding" day in the gym w/Power Upper followed by 30 mins. of steady state cardio on the bike, my energy and lethargy has reached an all-time high this prep. Really starting to "feel it" as these last few lbs "fingers crossed" melt away. Actually e-mailed Layne about moving the "arms" portion of power upper to Mondays following HIIT, as per usual I'm usually 1:45 in when I get to 'em on Power Upper days. Thankfully, he was kosher w/it. In retrospect, last year's prep was torture, I can recall doin' 4 HIIT sessions of 11 intervals (1:10 total) and 3 Steady State sessions of 55 mins. per week at one point. Kinda' laughable now, considering I'm only doin' two 30 minute steady state(s) and 2 Hiit sessions (5 Intervals/35 mins. total) per week.

As I mentioned, we are starting to bring food up slowly, so I'm really looking forward to these last 7 weeks..errr...6.5 weeks! Today is a re-feed and I'm very depressed being that Wal-Mart has discontinued one of my post-workout (topped with Walden Farms pancake syrup) staples (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pictsweet-...12-oz/19477015), peep the macros on those and it's a big bag as well! However, thankfully I have a very observante and creative wife who scooped me up a ton of Archer Farms Butternut Squash bags (48 carbs for whole bag), macros are a bit higher and fiber a bit lower, but w/my up in carbs they fit in quite nicely and almost taste the same as sweet potatoes, just a bit stringier.

[adamjohn32]

see if any stores carry these: http://www.greengiantfresh.com/VA-Sw...tato-Cubes.asp

seem to be the same, might be more $ since it's not a generic brand.

[Crazyups]

see if any stores carry these: http://www.greengiantfresh.com/VA-Sw...tato-Cubes.asp

seem to be the same, might be more $ since it's not a generic brand.

OOOOOOH...very nice find!!!

[stri8ted1]

looking great for 8 weeks out.
keep up the good work mate!

[Crazyups]

5-16-12

AM Weight: 196.8

Whew, gettin' down to the skinny! Thankfully yesterday was a MUCH NEEDED Refeed!!! For about the last 4 weeks, I've actually "LOST" weight the morning following the Tuesday refeed (not so much on Saturday), so that's always a plus. Really looking forward to sending Layne my 6 weeks out pics on Friday, really noticing something different each day (Legs have leaned out even more, and hamstrings are gettin' nice & stringy), like my man Connor says "One Day At A Time"!

As for eats, I've been adding to my fats with these for the last 2/3 weeks (http://www.thelaughingcow.com/produc...t-blue-cheese/) as opposed to the shredded cheese I've used in the past. Another addiction this prep has been omelets and LOTS of 'em!!!! Typically I'll have anywhere from two to three omelets per day loaded with Mushrooms, Turkey Bacon, 2...sometimes 3 (!) Laughing Cow Blue Cheeses melted in between and LOADS of Mustard. Thank God Layne has no limit on sodium as I'm usually floating around 6, 7 grams a day, lol. Lately here has been my typical meal schedule, and it seems to be working quite well as hunger still hasn't been an issue this prep.

Daily Supplementation:

5g of Creatine
6g of Beta-Alinine
3 sesamin tabs
3 Max CLA tabs
Elastimine
HMB
Canintine-Tartrate
ALA
Betaine HCE

Breakfast:
230g of Liquid Egg Whites
3oz of Mushrooms
2 or 3 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges
2 or 3 Slices of Butterball (lower sodium, like it matters, lol) Turkey Bacon
1 Coffee Arctic Zero

PreWO
Pumpkin Pancakes (w Walden Farms)
32of PB, or 32g of Bees Knees Cinnamon Raisin PB

PostWO
See Breakfast plus (depending on the day), 1 bag of Pictsweet Sweet Potatos or 1 bag of Archer Farms Butternut Squash
ALSO, 1 Joseph's Lavish Flatbread (baked, topped with Truvia & Cinnamon) dipped in Slightly melted Vanilla Maple Arctic Zero

Dinner & Evening Snack (SAME)

8-10oz of Tilapia
14 Asparagus Spears

[Crazyups]

Decided to snap a couple "mid week" pics yesterday with some actual "food" in me post a chest/back hyper WO, lol. 6 more weeks to REALLY dial things in!! Damn, I need a tan like a mofo!!! Very pleased thus far but gotta' get those glutes diced up!! Also, I need my new posing trunks from Cynthia James (a much better cut, IMO) to get here like, yesterday!!

[mattjansen]

Looking AWESOME man, crazy to think what another 6 weeks will do!

[Crazyups]

Looking AWESOME man, crazy to think what another 6 weeks will do!

Thanks Matt!! Gotta' admit though, this week has been the roughest (w/energy-lethargy), which is weird, cuz Layne upped my food slightly this week. However, W/O's and lifts were actually UP, compared to last week. When you get this whole prep thing figured out, LMK!! Hope you're health is better!!!

[Vanderdd]

Damn bro killing it!

[Crazyups]

Damn bro killing it!

Thx kindly 1nce again!! LOOOONG Way to go 44 more days!!!

[Gibson5521]

Hey Eric,

Do you supplement with bcaas at all ?

[Crazyups]

Yes sir, half scoop Xtend bw meals and 1 scoop sipped during and PWO

[TheNaturalOak]

throw some tanner on that physique and its lights outs.

Lets keep it rolling, I am excited!

[fltallpaul]

Your conditioning is something to admire, well done!

[adamjohn32]

not much more to lose, plenty of time to do it. motivational for sure Eric.

[Crazyups]

Coming from you two it means a ton!!! I still got a WAAAAAY to go though IMO!! I can't lie though, this week has been HELL, not quite sure why, but my ASS is draggin' outside of the gym. Yet, lifts and strength is up IN THE GYM this week. Weird, huh?

[mattjansen]

Yes sir, half scoop Xtend bw meals and 1 scoop sipped during and PWO

Is this something that you have to calculate as apart of protein macros or does layne have you hit a total + xtend?

[mattjansen]

Coming from you two it means a ton!!! I still got a WAAAAAY to go though IMO!! I can't lie though, this week has been HELL, not quite sure why, but my ASS is draggin' outside of the gym. Yet, lifts and strength is up IN THE GYM this week. Weird, huh?

I experienced this too once we started to increase cals, the morning was harder to wake up, gym performance was better but the rest of the day due to increased hunger I was dragging. I was able to lose the last 10 lbs i needed to lose while increasing but it didnt get any easier with the way I felt

[Crazyups]

Is this something that you have to calculate as apart of protein macros or does layne have you hit a total + xtend?

No Matt, I'm just consistent w/it..Layne has already calculated it into my macros

[Crazyups]

I experienced this too once we started to increase cals, the morning was harder to wake up, gym performance was better but the rest of the day due to increased hunger I was dragging. I was able to lose the last 10 lbs i needed to lose while increasing but it didnt get any easier with the way I felt

Yeah, we actually upped food a bit again today. I'm scheduled to do my first show here in AR (put on by Joe Wilson) on the 30th of June (tomm. marks 6 weeks out), then I'll met w/Layne about possibly doin' St. Louis the week after (July 7th, pro qualifier). However, Layne feels that I'm pretty close to bein' "stage ready" this far out. I actually hit him up today about possibly of doin' Tulsa (Fred Rowlett's show, which is only about an hour and a half from my home) on the 9th of June. Not gonna' hurt my feelings at all if he doesn't want me to do the show in Tulsa on the 9th of June and just continue with the initial show which is June 30th. However, at this point we're trying to keep the "fullness".

I will say this though Matt, yesterday I was completely zoned out. However, I made it A POINT to down at least two gallons of water today. With the heat picking up down here, I feel a LOT better today w/ the increased water intake. I was actually, more than likely, a bit dehydrated this week.

[Crazyups]

Yeah, we actually upped food a bit again today. I'm scheduled to do my first show here in AR (put on by Joe Wilson) on the 30th of June (tomm. marks 6 weeks out), then I'll met w/Layne about possibly doin' St. Louis the week after (July 7th, pro qualifier). However, Layne feels that I'm pretty close to bein' "stage ready" this far out. I actually hit him up today about possibly of doin' Tulsa (Fred Rowlett's show, which is only about an hour and a half from my home) on the 9th of June. Not gonna' hurt my feelings at all if he doesn't want me to do the show in Tulsa on the 9th of June and just continue with the initial show which is June 30th. However, at this point we're trying to keep the "fullness".

I will say this though Matt, yesterday I was completely zoned out. However, I made it A POINT to down at least two gallons of water today. With the heat picking up down here, I feel a LOT better today w/ the increased water intake. I was actually, more than likely, a bit dehydrated this week.

WELP, after talking with Layne, my "6 Weeks Out" just turned in to "3 Weeks Out" lol, Time to get it!!!....even more!! Show #1:

[BaFtub]

This dude is LEAN!

[Crazyups]

This dude is LEAN!

^^^^Classic case of pot calling the kettle black!! Hope you enjoyed the mix BTW!!

[jaredmus]

looking crazy dry man keep pushing hard, condition is great!

[adamjohn32]

yeah buddy, can't wait to see you all tanned up

[Crazyups]

Me too!!! Kinda glad Layne ok'd the Tulsa show!!! Looking forward to "2" peak weeks in the next month, lol

[Crazyups]

5-20-12

Morning Weight: 196.2 (NEW LOW!!)

So, after a 7100mg sodium REFEED yesterday comprised of a TON of Joseph's Lavish Bread dipped in Arctic Zero, a sodium loaded lunch of Mama Fu's Chicken and Rice, a Mama Mary's "Fruit/Greek Yogurt Pizza" and loads of other goodies, I hit a new prep low this AM, lol. Isn't that the way it usually works? I was CHUGGING the water yesterday as well, prolly around 2.5 gallons.

So, as I mentioned late in the week, Layne and I decided to also shot for a NANBF show in Tulsa in exactly 3 weeks, which cuts my prep time for my initial show in half (Arkansas Naturals, another NANBF show is June 30th). So my mindset has dialed in even more, and honestly I'm kinda' freakin' a bit as well. You know, the typical "am I lean enough", "am I big enough", etc. However, I don't really count peak week, so realistically I've got two weeks to get my glutes just a bit more diced!!

For now, Layne has actually upped my carbs even more. I asked if he wanted to up my cardio, etc after we decided on the Tulsa show June 9th on Friday. His reply is "everything is goin' according to plan, no changes", so with that bein' said we'll see where these last two weeks take me! Honestly, I am pretty amped and ready to do some damage!! Here are my current macs and I'm only doin' Two 35 minute HIIT sessions (5 intervals) and two Steady State sessions on the bike (cardio hasn't changed one bit the entire prep!!)

Low Days:
260p/175c/60f

Two Weekly Refeeds (on Leg Days)
235p/280c/55f

Fiber is always 40+

Lifts are staying the same, if not better and with the show fastly approaching I'm grinding those last few reps out even more!!!!

[Crazyups]

On a side note, but to catch a **** ton of hoops today. Gotta' pull for the Pacers playin' in my company's arena (Bankers Life). Also, snapped some random veinage, post UPPER(!) power today, lol. The other is Post WO, one thing I've found and something to keep in mind "pre-stage" is the effect of Bacon (lol) on my vascularity. Also, the wife made me get a tan, she said she was tired of walking around with someone so "sickly looking" lmao....I love it!!!

[Frankdaddy]

CRAZY good spot to be in, glad to hear about the early choice of competing. I am sure in many ways it is great to be able to compete earlier than planned. I for one have to find shows after my first one because I know I won't be able to dial it in, keep mass, and fullness at the same time before hand. I look forward to seeing how your plan goes with your situation of being ready really early, and staying full. It will be quite the abormal experience, and i'm glad I get to see how it's handled.

[Crazyups]

Thanks Frank, I admire ur lifts and strength, and I gotta tell ya': those mountains in ur progress pics make me miss home, lol. I drive thru WV on my trips back home to visit my Moms who lives in Greensburg, PA