In 
my last article I discussed the beginnings of my own personal journey to compete. I covered how to know when you are ready to make the commitment to step on stage.
So you’ve given it thought and decided you’re ready to compete; now what? Well, there are a lot of things that you need to be aware of with regards to nutrition, training, coaching, etc. And while there are many articles about those subjects—and I may even touch on them at a later date—there is one thing that isn’t mentioned often which I feel it is a very important piece of advice. If you are preparing to compete in your first show and you have never attended a contest in person, you need to attend a show!
One
common occurrence that seems to accompany the competitive lifestyle is the yo-yo effect, or that of experiencing extreme highs followed by extreme lows! Anyone who has been around this realm for even a small amount of time witnesses this and honestly, it does not have to be this way!
Extreme swings not only hurt your physical gains, but also your mental outlook, health, career, relationships, etc. So why do these extreme swings occur?
Working 
as a trainer for 13 years, I’ve heard the word “overtraining” thrown around a lot. Your average gym-goer can be fearful of “overdoing it” as they are afraid of overtraining and thus making their hard work counterproductive.
Yet is it possible to overtrain? And if so how does one do it and what exactly does it mean? Consequently, is “overtraining” a myth or not? Overtraining by definition is training so hard that it exceeds your capacity to recover. So, how do you avoid this and where do you get the most “bang for your buck”?
Congrats .JPG)
on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
I was always a fan of bodybuilding, but my body type and look are more suited for success in the men’s physique division. It’s hard not to consider competing when several of your co-workers (I work as a personal trainer) have competed, and everyone continually asks you, “so when are you going to do a show?” Prodding from my co-workers and my current coach (national-level bodybuilder Eric Posejpal) pushed me into my first competition...
Are
you Ready to achieve a New Level of Success? – “Breaking the Mental Inertia”
What do Olympic athletes and other pro athletes know or do that normal athletes don't? They know as much or perhaps a bit more than most athletes with regards to training regimen, nutrition, and mechanics; however, they behave much differently. They do what they know, and master each aspect of training. The aspect that Olympic and other pro athletes master is their mindset.
Are you ready to achieve a new level of success in some aspect of your life?
AIM
TO TAKE 10,000 STEPS A DAY
In one study, where men reduced their daily steps from about 10,000 to less than 1,500 (without changing their diet), their visceral (belly) fat increased by 7% after just 2 weeks.
Get a pedometer and try to increase the number of daily steps you take.
Take stairs instead of elevators; walk instead of driving.
Stand up and walk for 30 steps every 30 minutes. If you have a sedentary job, consider getting a treadmill desk...
I 
would like to thank everyone again. The response I have received since I started this 3-part series has been incredible. I appreciate you guys telling me your stories and letting me know how powerful this has been for you. I've had quite a few of you tell me how a light bulb went off after reading the first two parts. The realization that it wasn't your fault, but your coaches fault that you weren't in shape in time for stage or for looking better the week before. Here are some more bodybuilding myths:
Eat every 2 1/2 hours or your metabolism will slow down...
Another
major NPC show is in the record books. A solid lineup of well over 100 Men's Physique competitors took the stage in hopes of earning their IFBB Pro card. There were 6 height classes for the open class, two height classes for Masters 35+ and a single height class for the Masters 40+ group. Julian Jean took the Open Overall Title while the Master's Overall went to Shawn Labega. When it was all said and done, the top two placers per open class earned their cards. In addition, the Master's 35+ overall winner and 40+ Masters champ earned pro status as well. In a hard fought battle, the following men earned their IFBB Pro Cards:
Class A
1. Artem Dolgin 
2. Evan Gryka
Class B
1. Huan Nguyen
Class C
1. German Pacheco
Class D
1. Ani Saliasi
2. Marcus Brito
Class E
1. Rodney Razor
2. Chad Demchik
Class F
1. Julian Jean
2. Sharif Reid
Masters Overall 35+
Masters 40+
1. Anthony Brigman
To all of the competitors that put in the blood and sweat to get on the stage in NJ no matter what placing you walked away with, Congratulations!
For complete contest results visit: http://gallery.rxmuscle.com/index.php?contest=68
The
United States of America has an obesity problem. Shocker, right? Clearly you weren’t surprised by this fact, but you might find it interesting to know that obese people may be addicted to food. That’s right, addicted to food.
Now that I have your attention, let’s discuss.
One
of the major differences between a physique athlete and a recreational gym user is the attention to detail. One metaphor I often hear is that we are like sculptors working on a piece of art. Like any masterpiece it is important to pay attention to the details. No painting or sculpture of any note would be held in high esteem without remarkable attention applied to the finest brush stokes or the use of tools as thin as a needle to carve out the final details with immense precision.
Completing 3 sets of seated or standing calf raises at the end of a brutal leg or back session may suffice for most, but to really stand out on stage, the physique athlete needs a little more. Great calves will show clear separation between the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius and a clear V-shaped soleus but what’s more, you will also see details and cuts on the calves even when viewed from the front!
Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate,
or HMB as it is better known, is a naturally occurring metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine which has become a very popular supplement within the bodybuilding world. HMB is known mainly for its ability to reduce the protein breakdown which occurs during intense and heavy weight lifting, but it also contributes to increased lean muscle mass, greater strength, greater endurance and more rapid muscle recovery. Additionally, HMB has been proven to decrease body fat as well as reduce LDL blood cholesterol levels...
Due to the recent interest in the Ab Article by Todd Abrams and all of the questions I get on the subject, I have decided to bring you some more info on the subject of ABS.%20(1).jpeg)
Whether you are a competitor, just the average fitness junky or beach goer looking to stay in shape, everyone wants a killer mid section. It is said “Abs are made in the kitchen and sculpted in the gym” which is very true.
Over the next few paragraphs I will break down the different parts that make up your abdominal area and leave you with a sample workout that targets each group. The truth is that everyone has abs. The difference is that many times they’re hidden under a layer of fat just waiting to be exposed. Once dieted down to under 10% for men and 13% for women, abs will appear.
What’s
the best post workout meal? Not Pop Tarts!
If you've read any of my other articles you've probably realized by now that I definitely take the "geeky" approach to training. In today’s article I want to explain the science behind post workout supplementation, its importance, and to examine some commonly practiced methods.
"Bro-Science" has come up with all sorts of crazy post workout methods. Some of the ones that I've heard of that don't make very much sense to me are chocolate milk, oats and whey, snickers bars and whey, donuts and milk, and what seems to be the most ridiculous to me is the infamous Pop Tart and whey. The Pop Tart method seems to be a mid-west thing. I've never heard of it in all my years in California, but it is routinely practiced here in the Mile High city.
There
are so many myths, stories and folklore on how to achieve a perfect toned, tight midsection or the so glorified “Six Pack”. Many self-proclaimed gurus out there today are marketing how to become the next Greek God with ripped and shredded ABS in the next 30 days and are making millions off our quest to have everything now.
So how do we achieve this magnificent six-pack? What are the best tips for getting a ripped and shredded midsection? I am really glad this question did not contain the word ‘fast’ included in it because like they say “Rome was not built in one day” and so isn’t your body. Getting ripped basically means you have enough muscle to be seen with a low body fat percent. So the best tips I can give people to lose unwanted body fat are the following:
When 
do you know you’re ready? How do I even get started on my journey? If you’re like me, you probably asked this question to yourself time and time again . Every competitor has to start somewhere, but how do you know where to start? Where do you go? When do you know it’s your time to take the stage?
I’m here to share my “in progress” journey; my trials and tribulations, successes and failures and everything along the way...
In
my first segment I was on a train bound for NYC to meet up with Mike Lyons and Adam Silver of Silver Model Management. It was just two days after winning my class at the NPC Rhode Island Championships and I was doing everything in my power not to eat everything in sight! I ended up having a great meeting with Mike and Adam and I am now in the process of updating my portfolio so that I can start getting some modeling work as a Silver Model. I feel very excited and feeling blessed to have such an amazing opportunity.
The
IFBB Greater Gulf States are in the record books. In his pro debut, Jeremy Buendia pulled out a 1st place and qualified for The Olympia. Earning points towards that goal are the remaining Pro's that placed in the Top 5 out of the total 21 that took the stage. The Top 5 are as follows:
1. Jeremy Buendia
2. Alex Carneiro
3. Stephen Mass
4. Jason Poston
5. Tyler Anderson
Congrats to all of these hard working MP Pro's and their dedication to the sport!
This weekend is the next opportunity for one fortunate Men's Physique Pro to solidify his spot on the Olympia stage. Four other competitors will find their way into the Top 5 and earn points towards that same objective. There are a total of twenty IFBB MP Pro's taking the stage tomorrow at the Greater Gulf States in Louisianna with thoughts of the O on their mind.
On the stage tomorrow you will see:
Tyler Anderson
Jeremy Buendia
Alex Carneiro
Jonathon Cetera
Matt DuBois
Shane Eslahi
Miguel Frank
David Gonzalez
Sean Harley
Sheridan Hause Jr
David Herskovitz
Keenon LeBlanc
Sean Marshall
Stephen Mass
Chris Mercadel
Steve Mousharbash
Jason Poston
Greg Romero
Jonathan Sebastian
William Sullivan
For full contest pictures be sure to check the following link frequently: http://gallery.rxmuscle.com/index.php?contest=302&year=815
If
you’re a fitness competitor or someone who’s taken their body to a place most haven’t, then you know the commitment and focus it takes to get “cut.” Sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears are all part of the process. But, does it mean you can’t have social life while dialing it in?
There
are several truisms in life that if followed will certainly lead us down a path of happiness, success, and fulfillment, at times they may seem difficult. In reality though, each time we stray from these is where things go wrong and really get difficult. One of the foundations on which all other things are built is the principle of “Always Doing OUR Best.” This is something that may take a bit longer at times, but in the end it saves us so much time and allows us to ultimately be fulfilled by what we have done!
With 
the summer creeping up on us once again many of you will want to hit the beach, local swimming pools or walk the streets without a shirt. This is Fine, but you shouldn’t be doing this if you have nothing noteworthy to show. So how do you get your abs to look sculpted? All you have to do is follow the simple circuit routine and they will be ready in time for the sunshine.
Subscribe to RxMuscle on Youtube
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|||
