>> Blazed's 50 Week Journey To The Pro Stage <<

[Blazed]

Well a few of you know me, but most of you probably do not since I have been pretty much absent from the boards since my last prep in 2011.

Here is my original Journey from 295lbs to 173lbs and my first 2 natty bodybuilding shows.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=111616071

I also prepped back in 2011 and competed 5 times in a 7 week span, narrowly missing a WNBF pro card in PA. Here is that prep log

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=137344053

Oct 8th 2011...INBF PA Natural Bodybuilding Championships 1st Place LHW, 2nd Place Overall....182lbs
Oct 23rd 2011....INBF NYS Natural Bodybuilding Championships 6th Place Middleweight......178lbs
Oct 29th 2011.....OCB Yorton Cup Nationals 4th Place Open Tall.....176lbs
Nov 11th 2011.....INBF World Championships 7th Place LHW......183lbs
Nov 19th 2011.... OCB NYS Natural 2nd Place Open LHW......184lbs

I have had an interesting off season.

Its been a little over 23 months since I finished dieting in 2011, I am sitting around 219-220lbs right now. I had a few bumps along the way. Mainly health issues and injuries to train around. But over all it has been a great 2 years of growth, both in the gym and life in general.

I was originally planning on prepping Jan 1st, but seeing as I am already just about 40lbs over contest shape. I feel that getting things tightened up sooner than later, while still enjoying the holidays and a few pre planned occasions along the way it will be a healthier approach.
I told myself when my weight hits a smidge above a 220.0lb 5 day rolling average weight I would nut up and get started.

I will be doing my own prep for the first few months. I shouldn't even call it prep yet. I will be eating just slightly below or at maintenance and tracking macros accurately rather then guesstimating the entire offseason. Full blown prep will start Jan 1st. I am hoping by then to resemble someone who lifts weights and doesn't live in a buffet

I wanted to start this log for a few reasons. To document my journey, improve motivation and accountability, and share with you guys. I found keeping a log on here for the first 4 years of bodybuilding has proven to be extremely helpful. I have made many good friends through these forums, and draw a lot of inspiration from reading your logs.

Onto the good stuff!!

Starting Stats
~220.0 lbs @ ~18-19% Bodyfat



Full Mandatories to follow when I actually start dieting and counting macros. It won't be pretty lol

Starting Macros
~100/~600/~200 - till I drift over 220.0lbs

80/400/225 - Starting "clean up macros" after that.

Shows

No solid plans yet, I'll be looking to start competing in May/June most likely. Will solidify some possible shows once the 2014 schedule is up.

My Main focus is going to be the INBF Hercules super pro qualifier end of June in NYC, I will be 38 weeks out as of tomorrow.

Current Split
Push/Pull/Legs with off days tossed in as necessary

I suppose we could call this day 1!!

Day 1
Morning Weight 220.0 (5 day Average - 219.8)

Training
Upper Pull

Highlights
BB Rows Strict Form 225 x 5 x 3
Weighted Pullups Bw+45lbs x 5 x 3
Lat Pulldowns 270 x 8 255 x 8 x 2
DB Curls 60's x 8 x 2
HS Iso Rows 3PPS x 10 x 3

Diet
110/550/200

Musings
Mentally ready to start the next leg of my journey. The goal this year is to embrace every single day, enjoy the entire process, and only worry about myself and beating my previous best.

Its time to #GoDerrr #TeamStriatedGlutes #Teamprocard2014 #TeamButtery

[Bloodstone79]

It's Jed......

Lookin phat as usual Pauly.

[Rypt1]

Good luck. I'm ready to follow your journey!

[Whomper107]

Long time no see my friend

[StaticZ]

Yesssssss

[rypkr]

In before pro card

[Bnizzle163]

Been waiting for this. I am excite

[The Solution]

Time to get to work
Really have to control those food cravings come the closer weeks of prep. They have gotten the best of you in the past.
Stay mentally strong and dominate.

[unleashthelion]

Really excited to follow this log, man.

[jaredmus]

this is going to be good stuff in here man!
I will be following all the way through this will provide tons of motivation for me to stay lean during my offseason starting in november after my current prep is over

[Devils]

Prolonged dieting might not be the best way to do things. I would like to see you get to 185 in around 16 weeks, and then starting again another 10 weeks to dial it in before showtime.



Get into good shape first, then start maintaining and staying at a lower set point.

[MoEcho]

Echoing what everyone else has said .. glad to have you back and I'm in for inspiration and motivation.

PS - Love your undies

Heidi

[LordMarcus6]

In for the journey brother. Can't wait

[ErickStevens]

In!

[JPlevell]

In! like emINem!

[Blazed]

It's Jed......

Lookin phat as usual Pauly.

Welcome sir!! Good to see ya in here =)

Good luck. I'm ready to follow your journey!

Thank you sir!!!

Long time no see my friend

Dude!! I msg you on ******** every so often hoping to catch you online to catch up. Hows it going? When are YOU hoping on stage again!!! Its way over due!!

Yesssssss

W000t w000t

In before pro card

Haha Rory!! We will see what happens =)

Been waiting for this. I am excite

I am excited to have you in heree!!

Time to get to work
Really have to control those food cravings come the closer weeks of prep. They have gotten the best of you in the past.
Stay mentally strong and dominate.

Yea. Gonna have to nut up and do work this time. No slacking on PB cups

Really excited to follow this log, man.

Excited to have such overwhelming support!! Thank you for joining

this is going to be good stuff in here man!
I will be following all the way through this will provide tons of motivation for me to stay lean during my offseason starting in november after my current prep is over

You guys motivate ME!! Trust me on that.

Prolonged dieting might not be the best way to do things. I would like to see you get to 185 in around 16 weeks, and then starting again another 10 weeks to dial it in before showtime.



Get into good shape first, then start maintaining and staying at a lower set point.

Hey, I guess my thread title is a lil misleading, I dont PLAN on prepping for 50 full weeks lol.

I will be doing a clean up phase as soon as I drift over 220 till Jan 1st. The bulk of "hardcore dieting" will be ~20 weeks from Jan 1st till late May, and I hope to eat into the Hercules June 28th......If/when I go pro I shall decide if I want to do a pro debut in the same year.

Appreciate your support. Hope I can reach your level of conditioning.....some of the craziest out there IMHO

Echoing what everyone else has said .. glad to have you back and I'm in for inspiration and motivation.

PS - Love your undies

Heidi

Thanks Heidi!!! I am so grateful for all the support and kind words. Really excited to embark on this journey......took a lot of mental fortitude to hold off from prepping in 2013......but the end result should make it worthwhile.

In for the journey brother. Can't wait

Thank you sir!!! Glad to have you here as well!

In!

W000t, my brotha from another mother!!

In! like emINem!

=) Yea buddy!!!

Day 2


Morning Weight
220.0 (5 Day Average 219.9)

Sleep
7 Hours

Diet
~100/550/200

Training

Wheeeels

SLDL
45 x 20
135 x 20
225 x 10
315 x 8
365 x 5
415 x 5
415 x 5

ATG Squats
45 x 20
135 x 15
225 x 12
315 x 8
315 x 15

Leg Ext
185 x 12
215 x 12
245 x 10

Calf Raise
275 x 15
315 x 12
355 x 10

Lying Leg Curl
100 x 15
120 x 12

Done and done

Musings

Have a wicked cold but I still got a lift in and worked almost 11 hours afterward.

#teamnodaysoff =)

[jaredmus]

strength seems good going to be doing work in here paul , i hope to see some food porn in here

[Whomper107]

Dude!! I msg you on ******** every so often hoping to catch you online to catch up. Hows it going? When are YOU hoping on stage again!!! Its way over due!!

SLDL
45 x 20
135 x 20
225 x 10
315 x 8
365 x 5
415 x 5
415 x 5

ATG Squats
45 x 20
135 x 15
225 x 12
315 x 8
315 x 15

These are some impressive numbers man, your strength has really come a long way in the last few years. Glad to see there have been more productive pounds added than pounds around the waist!

As for me, I have been productive in the gym aside from cyclically dealing with overuse injuries and inflammation in the shoulders/hips every few months. Strength is at an all time high, but a contest diet is not in the cards for me right now--I'm in the process of finishing my masters and interviewing for jobs, which will determine what happens next. Very little predictability for me over the next year; I'm thinking 2015 may be game time.

[The Solution]

415 on SLDL?
Nutso

lol @ PB Cup, it went from 1 to a whole bag before we hit up that stand for greek food
Was EPIC

[Blazed]

strength seems good going to be doing work in here paul , i hope to see some food porn in here

No food porn yet, I am sure as prep progresses and I become obsessed with food I will be posting lots of pics haha!

These are some impressive numbers man, your strength has really come a long way in the last few years. Glad to see there have been more productive pounds added than pounds around the waist!

As for me, I have been productive in the gym aside from cyclically dealing with overuse injuries and inflammation in the shoulders/hips every few months. Strength is at an all time high, but a contest diet is not in the cards for me right now--I'm in the process of finishing my masters and interviewing for jobs, which will determine what happens next. Very little predictability for me over the next year; I'm thinking 2015 may be game time.

Haha, I def have improved over all strength since 2011. Right now I am sick and training around a nagging shoulder injury so I am not trying to overly push myself to failure. Just a few short months ago I pressed 5x5 @ 280lbs, pulled 515 x 3 conventional and 415 x 11 SLDL, and squatted 400 x 5 ATG. Def some big numbers compared to what I was doing in 2011

415 on SLDL?
Nutso

lol @ PB Cup, it went from 1 to a whole bag before we hit up that stand for greek food
Was EPIC

Hopefully I can get some of these injuries healed and gain a lil more strength goin into prep

Day 3

Morning Weight
220.6 (5 Day Average 220.16 ) If we stay around here for a few days without drifting back under 220.0 its go time =D

Sleep
8 hours

Training

Upper Push (Meh workout due to bad cold)

Strict Flat BB Press
45 x 20
95 x 15
135 x 12
185 x 10
225 x 8
245 x 6
245 x 6
245 x 6

Cable Cross Over (Top to bottom)
60 x 12
70 x 10
80 x 8

Bottom to top
60 x 10
70 x 10
80 x 8

Tricep Rope Pressdown
80 x 12
100 x 10
120 x 10
120 x 10

DB Shoulder Press
50's x 12
60's x 10
60's x 8

Side Lateral Raises
35's x 12
40's x 10
40's x 8
35's x 11

Upright Rows
100 x 10
100 x 10
100 x 7

HS Incline Press
45per side x 12
70per side x 10
95per side x 7

Pec Deck
180 x 12
210 x 9

Done and Done

Musings

Was contemplating not going to the gym today since the cold is getting worse...... but decided that if I am gonna bum around and watch football today, and maybe go to a street fair just for the deep fried oreos and funnel cake. I might as well improve my nutrition partitioning a bit

[Vanguard1965]

Got to get in on this log!

[StaticZ]

SLDL
45 x 20
135 x 20
225 x 10
315 x 8
365 x 5
415 x 5
415 x 5

ATG Squats
45 x 20
135 x 15
225 x 12
315 x 8
315 x 15

wtf strong

rep'd

[The Solution]

but decided that if I am gonna bum around and watch football today, and maybe go to a street fair just for the deep fried oreos and funnel cake. I might as well improve my nutrition partitioning a bit

Nice macros here bro

[Blazed]

Got to get in on this log!

Welcome!

wtf strong

rep'd

You are gonna pass me very soon =)

Nice macros here bro

Actually went to the street fair and ended up not getting deep fried anything lol.....just didn't look that appetizing. Gonna look back on this during prep and laugh.

Macros were actually light yesterday......~75/400/180 ish if I had to guess

Passed out around 8 PM, woke up 4 hours later and now I can't sleep. Gymin in 4 hours or so. Hope to fall asleep again as I have a 13 hour shift after the gym.

[Devils]

Haha, I def have improved over all strength since 2011. Right now I am sick and training around a nagging shoulder injury so I am not trying to overly push myself to failure. Just a few short months ago I pressed 5x5 @ 280lbs

Hopefully I can get some of these injuries healed and gain a lil more strength goin into prep

DB Shoulder Press


Side Lateral Raises
Upright Rows
Pec Deck

What specific shoulder injury do you have? Why are you doing ^ these exercises?

[Blazed]

Seems like a recurring brachial plexus issue. I have no issues while lifting, but when I stand at work for a significant amount of time, I get some wicked debilitating pain in my neck/trap/delt. I comes and goes but has been nagging me for a while. Problem is that I can't consistently reproduce the issue.

[Blazed]

Day 4

Morning Weight
219.0 (219.9 5 Day Average)

Sleep
7 Hours

Diet
100/550/220

Training

Upper Pull

Lat Pulldowns
90 x 15
120 x 12
150 x 12
180 x 12
210 x 10
240 x 8
270 x 8

Neutral Grip Lat PUlldowns
270 x 6
255 x 8
240 x 8

HS Iso Rows
1pps x 15
2pps x 12
3pps x 10
3pps+25 x 8
3pps+25 x 8
3pps x 10

DB Curls
40's x 12
50's x 10
60's x 8

Reverse Grip BB Curl
80 x 8
80 x 8
80 x 8

Horizontal Lat Pull down
140 x 15
160 x 12
180 x 8

Seated Cable Rows
180 x 12
210 x 10
240 x 8

Pull UP
BW x 5
Bw x 5

Musings

Good workout considering I still feel under the weather. Was very happy to weigh under 220 today....looking to hold off that drop in macros as long as possible. We shall see what happens going forward =)

Worked 13 hours after the gym today, tired as can be. Tomorrow Legs @ 6:30 AM followed by a shorter 7 hour shift.

I am anxious to see the full 2014 show schedule posted on naturalbodybuildingevents.com I need a bunch of potential shows to look at for next season =)

[Vanguard1965]

Solid session and grats on getting below 220! Funny how little milestones like that make all the difference.

[Blazed]

Solid session and grats on getting below 220! Funny how little milestones like that make all the difference.

Thanks buddy! At this point its about STAYING under 220 rather then getting below 220. I am waiting till I get over 220 to start cleaning up my diet. Till then its #gainsofpeace

[JPlevell]

Killing it in here man!! Look at those macros too! Damn!