Holding myself accountable...Shredding log to the stage

[jpfaherty]

It was purely emotional eating. VERY stressed between work, family, buying new house, the prep in general. I wasn't craving anything, but I was always an emotional eater. I got over it the next day, I screwed up, man up and deal with it.

BUTTTTTTT Another Speed Bump, well two of them.

First: I injured my shoulder. Cannot even pick up my left arm. Cannot train, and I am 5 weeks out....
Second: I have the Flu. Now being sick, I can still push through workouts, I have in the past. But that is not the bad thing...when a diabetic gets sick blood sugars skyrocket and insulin resistance is retardedly high.

My blood sugars have been 300 for the past like 3 days, insulin levels have quadrupled if not more. Just spinning my wheels progress wise. I cannot do that being 5 weeks out!!!!

I am already behind schedule. I am waiting to hear back from a few people. But there is a show in PA on August 24th. 14 Weeks and 4 days.

If I stay at my current leanness, and let my body recover, get back to normal. And then allow myself a longer period of time to prepare.

I feel like I can do the show I have planned, but I am going to have to rush into the show...who knows, lose muscle, look flat and stringy.

IDK

some people are saying to do the PA show, others (like wife and mother) say I look good and I can do it. But they also do not know the process of all of this.

What do some of you guys think.


sorry for wall of text

I think you're really close to being contest ready but you're also VERY close to emotionally breaking. Even if you don't think that's the case, from an outsiders perspective it's pretty easy. You already binged one night based on emotion and now your body is telling you that it's not liking what you're doing to it (blood sugar + flu). If you want to compete in 5 weeks do not do anything drastic or you may regret it long term.

You've done so well up to this point brah, just do what you feel is best for your long term health. We can't be the judge of that

[The Solution]

Its not up to us bro. You work with an IFBB Pro, that is why you hired the guy. Ask your coach, he is the reason for your success and the guy that dictates your future with your support. Use him.

Remember there has to be "Balance" while prep is serious, you have to factor in your family, friends etc.. if you are emotinally on the edge of breaking and you need to back down and gather your sanity than put it off.. and push for a future show. use a week or two to baseline and diet back down hard to get yourself together and healthy.

What show in PA? anywhere near me on the west coast of PA?

[xStevenx]

I think you're really close to being contest ready but you're also VERY close to emotionally breaking. Even if you don't think that's the case, from an outsiders perspective it's pretty easy. You already binged one night based on emotion and now your body is telling you that it's not liking what you're doing to it (blood sugar + flu). If you want to compete in 5 weeks do not do anything drastic or you may regret it long term.

You've done so well up to this point brah, just do what you feel is best for your long term health. We can't be the judge of that

It is funny you mention an emotional breaking point. Like I am normally a pretty even leveled emotional person. In high school i suffered from depression bad!

This is the first time since high school where I feel like I am in that same mental state.

Over training is def a part of it. I really push myself, but not only that, the stress from family, work, house, and life in general on top of the stresses of training pushed me to that "over trained" or "over stressed' mark. I never get sick and I have the damn flu

Its not up to us bro. You work with an IFBB Pro, that is why you hired the guy. Ask your coach, he is the reason for your success and the guy that dictates your future with your support. Use him.

Remember there has to be "Balance" while prep is serious, you have to factor in your family, friends etc.. if you are emotinally on the edge of breaking and you need to back down and gather your sanity than put it off.. and push for a future show. use a week or two to baseline and diet back down hard to get yourself together and healthy.

What show in PA? anywhere near me on the west coast of PA?

You mention balance...that was a big thing I have noticed, with everything it has put a lot of stress on my relationship with my Wife. Which contest prep will do and is expected, but not to the point it got too. It got in the way with work, doing sales you have to be high motivated and ready to go. Feeling like I have been, I was dreading going to appointments.

There is more to life than bodybuilding. Family, friends, career, then bodybuilding. So attacking a show later on will allow me to balance this all much better.

The show will be August 24th, NPC Pennsylvania State in Allentown, PA

After talking with Fak, this is the best option. We can get ready for rochester in 5 weeks, but we do not know how my body and diabetes will react when depleted and loading. This will allows us to get ready a bit early, and do some "testing"

So I will send Fak my pics tomorrow, we will slowly add cals in bit by bit just to try and get back to a baseline, get refreshed and back on prepping.

Starting prep with as lean as I am now, will be MUCH easier and less cardio needed to get to the stage

Over the past few weeks we learned what my diabetes does not like and will not handle.

Thanks for the support guys.

Just right now, with all the stress I cannot take it. Lead me to over training, I hate walking around just feeling like crap. So move into the new house in a few weeks! That will be a big pile of stress off my back.

Can't go to work tomorrow, been vomiting, feel like death. Gotta get some calories back in me, get some rest. The second I feel refreshed it is back to work!

Thanks again guys, the journey continues!

[The Solution]

Dude, we have been boys since meeting each in in life multiple times. We are here to support you, and not tap your on the back and give you BS man, we are here to tell it like it is. If you arent ready we arent going to say you are, not only does that cost you placement in your show and aggrevation, but it also saves some stress and relief overall.

Do work man, You know were boys. Cant wait to run into you again at the O / Arnold.

[xNerve]

holy **** I finally found another type 1 diabetic. Just read about 6 pages of this and I dont know ehere to start. Please clear your inbox or pm me man, fellow diabetic with soooooo many questions.

[xStevenx]

holy **** I finally found another type 1 diabetic. Just read about 6 pages of this and I dont know ehere to start. Please clear your inbox or pm me man, fellow diabetic with soooooo many questions.

PM Sent

Well actually going to train today! Had almost 4 days of no lifting, most of which was spent on the couch or bed. Woke up this morning and I still feel sick, but I feel like I can kill it today.

Changes my routine to what has always worked for me in the past. 3 on/1 Off, low volume with high frequency. Everything is hit 2 to 3 times per week, based on being a week or strong bodypart.

[xStevenx]

14 Weeks out
2013 NPC Pennsylvania Classic

Started the morning off with 30 mins of cardio, lower intensity than before, only keeping heart rate around 120.

*Now this log will not be as "exciting" how I do this routine, I really only count reps on the first set which is to failure. Subsequent sets are taken to failure, with a weight a little bit lighter, and failing in a different rep range*

Sets Typically look like:

SET 1 - 5 to 9 Reps
SET 2 - 8 to 11 Reps
SET 3 - 10 to 15 Reps

Oh yea! Felt SOOOOO good to get back in and slamming the weights today!

Hit Chest, Back, and Calves!

Incline Smith:
255 x 5
Really struggled on that last one, felt like triceps and shoulders took over, may start with 245 to 250 next time I hit this exercise

Flat DB Press:
95's

Dips: BW=174
BW + 45

Pullups: BW=174
BW+25lbs x 10
4 more sets after that

2 Arm DB Rows:
75 x 10
70

1 Arm DB Rows: Jeff Alberts Style

75 x 8
Man those felt great. You saw my vid of rowing the 175s. Reps were not to bad either, but in order for me to progress safely, I had been searching for a way to do these that was more difficult. And wow, these felt great!

Seated Calves:
5 Plates x 12
5 Plates
5 Plates

Pic from after workout


Legs tomorrow. SQUAT SQUAT SQUAT!

[xStevenx]

13 Weeks & 6 Days Out
2013 NPC Pennsylvania Classic

Well this whole day has been spent packing and cooking. Have to go out of town for work, so I cooked up 18 meals, plus my supplements, clothes, gym clothes, cardio clothes, work clothes haha. Prepare to prevail!

So it was LEGS today! Had a great workout, pounded it out in about 40mins. Again, I am playing with training in different ROMs, a lot of constant tension.

Hi-Bar Squats:
315 x 6
285
255

Smith Front Squats:
185 x 15
These felt great, found the sweet spot in the ROM, quads were on FIRE!

Hack Squat: 4 Second Negative
180 x 12

Standing Leg Curl:
100 x 7 Per Side
90

DB SLDL:
120 x 9
110
These feel great, but I am real strong in it, so I am doing very long negatives, with a hold at the bottom.

Glute Ham Raise:
BW x 12

Then a few sets of abs.

Tomorrow, I have a 5.5 Hour drive in front of me.....not to excited. But after getting to the destination and getting our booth set up, I will be too tired to train haha. Also have to go out with everyone for 'Happy Hour' even though I do not drink.

So tomorrow AM I am going to hit shoulders/arms/calves fasted. Well at the start, but I will drink my Carbion with my Aminocore while I kill it.

[TakedaShingen]

That is a mean looking base to "restart" prep with. 14 weeks out...you're gonna look mean as f*ck.

[xStevenx]

That is a mean looking base to "restart" prep with. 14 weeks out...you're gonna look mean as f*ck.

Thanks man. Took a bunch of pics. It is crazy what 3 days of being relaxed on the diet does.

Like I wasn't eating dirty, but A LOT of carbs and A LOT of fats (i love trail mix) so very high insulin levels, VERY high and the foods I ate, I put some chub back on my section. Some water, we will see

But we brought cals and carbs up just a bit, not sure when Fak will start bringing them down again