so i have switch my focus to the obvious bodybuilding show coming up in 8 months. its going well, but my body is adjusting to the new training style. i have always went for strength rather that the looks of the muscle. so for instance on a bench press i would do 75% of my one rep max for 5 reps then i would do 85% for 3 reps and 90% for 2 reps and on my max day i would do my one rep max one time. now what i am doing is lighter weight for higher more controlled and focused reps. for instance last night we did chest and i did a quick warm up set for 25 reps and then during my working sets i focused on tearing the muscle fibers with slow controlled motions for 6 sets of 6-12 reps. and then after i get done with my compound lifts (bench press, incline bench press, decline bench press) i focus on isolation movements and in these isolation movements my main goal is to move as much blood into those fibers that i just broke down in my compound lifts.... yea yea yea i am officially a pump chaser! my body has taken a beating over the last week i haven't been this sore in a long time. i am not saying this is more difficult that strength training. but it is different and more taxing to someone who hasn't done it. also i am trying to bring my body fat % down as far as i can by Nov. there are a couple reasons behind this first of all going for 15%ish to 5%ish in 4 months would be insane and dangerous. also i want to get down to lower body fat % as soon as possible because i want to see my problem areas and see what areas i need to make bigger and also what areas i need to build up to be proportional. so my goal is to get down to 8-10% bodyfat by novemeber that way i would still have 5 months to adjust my structure and i would have more time to safely cut down to 5% come competition time. so yes the dieting sucks for those of you who are wondering. i had my last hoorah on Saturday at our cookout. i am now on a strict plan and its not fun. its not that i am hungry all the time its just the scheduling of meals is tough. but it will be well worth it. all in all everything is going well. i like the change in training styles and the focus i now have is amazing having a goal makes training more fun and more intense.
on a side note... i have had several people come up to me and ask/ tell me "i dont see how you will be ready" "do you think you will be ready" "8 months is a short time" well to those of you asking me that. my response is a human body can be made in 9 months. the human body can be changed in 9 months as well. will it be easy no. will it be given to me no! but come march 21st i will step on that stage and be in the best shape of my life period. i will leave you with something Arnold once said. when a reporter was interviewing Arnold one time he said "i would never want to look like you" Arnold's response to that was "good you never will" not everyone is cut out to do things like this in life. i believe i am. and not because i am the most gifted or the most talented or the best looking. but i am damn sure going to work the hardest and because when i set a goal i make it a mindset rather than just a thought. bending the bars of cant is what i am the best at so keep doubting i like having nay Sayers to prove wrong.