This is a journal of my training, supplementation, and diet. Downstairs in my private journal I share more personal observations, experiences, thoughts, opinions, musings, ramblings, and what I perceive as reality. This has been a crazy year in all respects. Last year I competed probably for the last time. Winning the OCB New Hampshire Natural Overall at the age of 51 1/2. Preparing for this show squeezed every ounce of energy, both mental and physical, out of me. I also ran through the entire gamut of self doubt I usually embrace at contest time. "I'll never do well". "I will embarrass myself". "No way I can stay on this diet", "Why am I doing this?", and every other debilitating and self destructive notion in existence. But in the end I was champion once more. The oldest competitor to win an overall in a OCB show, defeating guys 20-25 years my junior. I reached a body fat level of 3.38%, lower than at any previous time in my career. Ninety 94th show.
It took a toll. I developed ongoing nerve problems which led to other symptoms, ultimately prompting my decision to not compete anymore. Around this time, my younger brother OD'd, and was found by his girl friend. In my 28 years of sobriety, it was the first time I had the bottle of beer in my hand with the top screwed off, staring at the golden, carbonated elixir of death. I don't know why, but I didn't take that first sip. The sip that would've killed me in probably less than a week. But for two months I couldn't eat and couldn't train.
After this, I got back into a good routine, and probably was overtraining but I needed the release the gym provided for my heart and head. This journal will be about how a 53 year old pro grand master bodybuilder trains and eats. Not only will I maintain what I have, but I fully expect to make continuous progress in the muscle building department.
Hopefully it could provide some insight on how I seize the training opportunity, utilizing training protocols I enjoy the most. For us older guys and gals, never let age be a limiting factor in ANYTHING you do or set out for. Enjoy the ride, and glad to have you aboard.
Tomorrow morning is leg day. Yippie!
Without Struggle, There Is No Victory
Threaded Mode
