Today is 7 July 2015. That means that I have exactly 10 days until I step onto the stage in Pittsburgh, PA for the National Masters Bodybuilding Championships. I believe I’m going to be in the best shape of my life and if I “POSE” well I will hold my own. My coach, Justin Dees has been pushing me to be posing multiple times per day to make each move smooth and every transition seamless and all poses perfect. Justin, has set the bar very high for my physical conditioning and the look needed to excel on stage. Each session with him is like a very quiet “ass kicking” to elevate my game and to put in the required work. To all challenges I try to meet and exceed the expectations of my coach.
The days now are ones of personal desperation and focus in the gym. The day of “CONTEST” is here. Nothing is being left to chance. The workload continues to go up. The diet is strictly adhered to. The supplements are never missed and neither are the meals. Rest is a requisite component but often sleep escapes me due to the anticipation of the Contest’s closeness on the calendar. Nearly all of my waking thoughts are on my upcoming performance in Pittsburgh. I “WILL” be in great shape. I “WILL” pose well. I “WILL” hold my own against some of the best in this country.
I’ve taken an entire year to prepare for this show. My weight a year ago was 173 lbs. and my body fat going into the show was 5.2%, This year I weigh 187 lbs. and my last body fat measurement found me at 4.5%. This week I would like to drop my body fat percentage to 3.5%. Thus, I stay the course that has brought me this far. As hard as it is, there is no other way to attain the look needed to blow away the competition.
In the last year, my wife has been my faithful partner. She trains with me. She pushes me just by her presence in the gym. She cooks for me and insists I don’t cheat when my coach Justin outlines a plan for eating. Recently, it was discovered that I didn’t have sufficient range of motion in my hips to do the necessary twists during posing. Justin, gave her instructions on how to increase my hip flexibility. Boy, this woman is a Sadist. She took the instructions seriously by stretching my hips and waist as I lay on the floor. So hard did she push, pull and stretch me that through the pain my hips began to open up. Now, when I pose and a twist is required, I can do it quite easily. Thank you honey bun for the pain and now the success. In addition to her obvious flare for inflicting pain on me, she also insists that I pose for her at least once per day so she can critique the posing and give her feedback. Sometimes I am so tired that posing is the last thing on my mind. However, no excuses are accepted and I always arise to pose for my precious wife. In fact, she has sooo ingrained the posing routine on me that as soon as I finish this blog that ‘s what I will do though she is at work and cannot be here to watch.
This is it! The Nationals and my blood is boiling with excitement. I will be ok until I’m standing at the foot of the stairs awaiting my name to be called. Heck, I’ll even make it through the pre-judging ok but the evening show which involves music is a bit different. I will be posing to a rendition of “PHANTOM
OF THE OPERA”…I will have it perfect by the time I hit the stage but it’s still a bunch of stress for me.
This is a blog to catch you up. Again! This is OUR TIME. We can attain anything with a solid want to, plannning, and tons of effort. Wish me the best because at this level it is all uncharted waters for me.
See you on the other side
Doug
Six Pack and Senior 