Duckcall's SHORT off season then back to the stage

[duckcall]

177.0 new prep low 5 lbs heavier then what I competed at April 16th. Still a little over 9 weeks out!!


Back bis*

Db rows 70 110 140x8 150x6x6x7

Machine rows life fitness 195x8 210x7x7x6+2

Pull ups BWx10 +25x5x5 BWx8

Straight bar curls 95x10 115x6x6 95x

Preacher curl machine hammer grip 100x8x8 110x7x8

Pull downs 195x9x8x8

[duckcall]

Shoulders heavy calves

Bb shoulder press 135 135 185x5x5x5x5

Db shoulder press 70x8 80x5 90x3 80x6+1

Db side raises 35x10 40x7x8x8

Face pulls on pull down 100x12 120x7x8x8*

Seated calf raises 3platesx15+25x12 4platesx11x11x11

Then ran through all the poses.*

[duckcall]

Cardio abs

Stairmaster 30 mins *425cals 190 floors

Abs
2 exercises 4 sets*

[duckcall]

Cardio

30 mins elliptical killed it today over 400 cals. Today is a refeed day.*

I'm a little disappointed in the slower weight loss. As I couldn't gain weight on 3300 cals yet can't lose it on freaking 2300 cals.*

Also I thought I was 9 weeks out nope today marks 10 weeks out. I haven't made up my mind if I'm happy about the extra week or sad i have another week of dieting.*

[duckcall]

Well guys i don't know how to say this so i will just get to the point. Im sitting here with a lump in my throat and water in my eyes. I just don't have the heart to do this again right now.

I have been killing my cardio and killing my workouts but its been out of pure will power. My heart hasn't been in this prep since day 1 but i told myself to give it a month. I have and my feelings haven't changed.

I feel like i have let everyone down especially berto but i just can't keep pushing when my heart isn't there. I know it sounds like a cope out to not put in the work if you think that so be it, I'm just not ready to go threw this again.

Thanks to everyone who has followed along the way.

[bwelch1985]

dude...you JUST competed a few months ago! prep is extremely time consuming, physically/mentally demanding, and just generally stressful for the vast majority of us. as much "fun" as it is, i don't think i could do it any more often than once every two years or so...it's just too big of a commitment.

enjoy your offseason and come back bigger and better whenever you're ready!

[areya2005]

dude...you JUST competed a few months ago! prep is extremely time consuming, physically/mentally demanding, and just generally stressful for the vast majority of us. as much "fun" as it is, i don't think i could do it any more often than once every two years or so...it's just too big of a commitment.

enjoy your offseason and come back bigger and better whenever you're ready!

I'm with you here! I've been dieting for 22 weeks now, with 3 more to go, for my show that's coming up. As much as it tests my dedication, will-power, etc., and I'm always successful, I'm just burnt out. I mean, reverse dieting is pretty much the same, just feels a little better with the extra calories.

After my show, I'm going to reverse diet and only let so much fat come on so I can do this same show next year with only a 16 week prep. After that, I'm easily going to only compete every two years or so.

As much as I hate to say it, while it's easy to keep a life/BB balance in the beginning, at 8 weeks out, it's not so easy and not worth testing either.

[duckcall]

Thanks for the kind words guys. Its not the the dieting thats hard given it sucks its not hard. Im just so mentally and physically drained its un real. I haven't had a break in i cant even remember how long.

I dieted for nearly a year for my last show. Went from 250ish to 172. Didnt take a break keep my workouts intense and reverse dieted to about 178-180.

The last time i started dieting for a show i was really looking forward to getting my diet going. This time i was really dreading it. So thats how i knew this wasnt going to last. Even though i told myself id give it a good month to see if I came around. Just didnt happen this time. Going to take a good amount of time off and do the same show i did this year, next year.

Its just time to take a step back and live a little. Salmon season is just getting started then hunting season is going to be in full effect. Its time to enjoy life a little. Given me a and berto are going to do a little reverse to get me back to where i was a month ago. Then im going to lax a little on weighing every gram of food. You can believe one thing my workouts will never be lax lol.

[areya2005]

I think it's a love/hate sport. There's obviously love for it, but it's just not wise to continue to compete right now, both mentally and physically.

As much as dieting sucks, part of us like the mental agony and challenge; that's why we do it. But we're still only human and can endure that for only so long.

I think there will come a time in your training, while your browsing for show, etc., where you'll be like, "I'm ready," and bounce into it with the heart and passion that is REQUIRED for dieting.

Best of luck to you man!