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I’ve just finished 2 weeks of solid Cellucor use – the Extreme Muscle Growth System.  The results I’ve seen are pretty impressive.  Let me explain a little more and provide some background, which I’m sure many people can relate to in one way or another.

Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been inundated with work and several other fitness related projects.  I knew I wanted to compete in 2010 but after the New Year rolled around my weeks & months turned into what felt like one long day.  And, with that, time began to fly by.  I was traveling quite a bit with my Marine Corps support position which made it hard to stick to my meals and training so I was at a standstill.  That is until Cellucor and I began to talk…  It was the type of motivation I needed; a breath of fresh air.  It had helped me get back into my old spirits and realize there was still hope to compete this year.  

I   began to use the products and immediately felt a difference from one particular supplement in the stack called M5 Extreme.  Without getting scientific, and to make it easy to understand, M5 Extreme is essentially a preworkout creatine & nitric oxide supplement.  There are ingredients in this formula that act in synergy which allows the body to drive more creatine into the muscles, stimulate vasodilation for better pumps and increase oxygen rich blood to the muscles.  It also improves mental focus and clarity.  (The below video demonstrates and explains in a little more detail.)

I immediately felt the difference incorporating this product into my regimen because prior to using this stack, my mind was a place of unrest; no matter what time of the day it was and no matter what I was doing, I was preoccupied with certain things happening in my life.  By taking M5 Extreme prior to my training (about 30 mins before), it was as if time stopped for that brief moment while I was training.  I was able to crank the intensity up and get back into my old habits of good ole’ high intensity, balls to the wall lifting.  It truly made me realize how bad I was lacking in that department.  I’m always skeptical of products that claim they’re the ‘end-all-be-all’ but I can attest to this product’s true claim to be extreme.

So, for the update:  since I’ve been using the products, I’m up 7 lbs, numbers are up on all lifts (especially squats), body fat has decreased by 2% and energy is still high when training time rolls around. I don’t post numbers here for lifts because I’m not one who keeps a log and writes during training – not my style. Plus, I’m constantly changing my routine around so each workout has a different flavor. You might ask, “How do you know your lifts are up then?” Answer = “When you’ve been training for years, you know how much you’re able to lift on certain exercises. When all of the sudden your able to pick up heavier weights and then do more reps, it’s pretty obvious. If I’m normally working with the 100lbs dumbbells for an exercise then all of the sudden I’m able to crank out reps with the 110s and 120s, you do some evaluation to figure out why the increase. In this case, it’s pretty easy for me (I mentioned it above).

This has gotten me primed so I can begin getting into pre-contest training and diet in a few weeks.  As much as I’d like to post photos now, I learned my lesson last year and will post pics after I get into my prep so I can do a more comprehensive post. I’ll start throwing cardio in and begin using thermos in about a week or so. 

Until then, I’ll keep on training hard, keeping my eye on the 2010 Mr. New Orleans title!  Look forward to keeping you guys posted on the progress leading up to 26 JUN 2010!

***Coupon Code – LA10 for discount***

Not too long ago I discovered GASP and Better Bodies clothing; Swedish-made fitness & bodybuilding attire through a company called Fit Gear Republic (FitGR). This stuff has huge appeal to the fitness industry worldwide and over the last few years it’s slowly becoming more visible in the United States.  How does this apply to bodybuilding and fitness?  For all of us hardcore fitness and bodybuilding athletes, gym attire matters. Before stepping into the gym we need to feel comfortable with the clothes we wear; some people like to wear baggy clothes and some like to wear tight, revealing clothes. Let’s face it, virtually none of us just throw on clothes that aren’t comfortable to hit the gym in; just doesn’t happen.  The bottom-line is, the more comfortable you feel, chances are the better your training session will be; look good, feel good = train great.

Wade Warren, CEO of FitGR, and I ended up meeting through Facebook. FitGR has developed a fairly large web presence, to include Twitter and MySpace, where fans and customers can easily communicate and stay up-to-date with them. After getting to know Wade, and learning all about Fit Gear Republic (as well as GASP & Better Bodies) I thought it would be a great idea to spread the word through an interview with Wade.

Nearly everyone who is familiar with bodybuilding recognizes Branch Warren; Branch is the definition of what GASP stands for – extreme, hardcore and intensity:

Q: Thanks for doing this interview, Wade. There seem to be a lot of questions about GASP & Better Bodies now that it’s becoming more mainstream in United States fitness community. I truly hope this interview will shed some light to the this unique product as well as your unique company. For those people who do not know what Fit Gear Republic (FitGR) is, can you please explain it?

Wade Warren: Fit Gear Republic is an online retailer of clothes designed for people, men & women, who consider fitness to be a big part of their lives. We are the Largest Provider of GASP and Better Bodies in the USA. Fit Gear Republic (FitGR.com) was founded in 2007 by me, Wade Warren, in order to provide the brands GASP and Better Bodies to the USA. FitGR is also a brick and mortar “showroom” for the clothes. For locals and visitors to the Dallas, Texas area, it’s a great way to actually see and touch the clothes in person.

Q: What made you decide to start FitGR as a business?

Wade Warren: I’d seen the GASP clothing on athletes in trade magazines and thought it looked so great that I wanted some. I couldn’t find it anywhere in the USA to purchase it. So I created such a place with Fit Gear Republic.

Q: Is there a reason the GASP and Better Bodies line of clothing is more expensive than regular fitness apparel?

Wade Warren: Both of these brands are made by the same company, Swedish Fitness, in Stockholm, Sweden. They design then create the clothes for the specific wants and needs of a particular group of people. And these clothes fill a gap that simply did not used to be filled. A lot of work goes into that process. And it’s done without compromise. The ultimate intent is that these clothes be for only a few… not for everyone. They are just for those folks that understand the value of what GASP and Better Bodies represent.

An issue of REPS Magazine had a great point no so long ago. It talked about the top 10 or so ways of being motivated to work hard in the gym… and reason number 4 was to “Get GASP.” There’s something about this gear that has a tendency to motivate in just the right way.

Q: Do you sell anything other than GASP and Better Bodies apparel?

Wade Warren: On occasion we’ve injected some other brands into the mix. We are about providing our customers with uniqueness, desirability, and great quality. Any brands that stick must follow these guidelines.

Q: Are there any misconceptions of what FitGR is?

Wade Warren: I don’t think so. You see most people find us the first time they do a search for GASP. They’ve seen the clothes on athletes in magazines or on others in the gym… and they find just what they were looking for here. We always maintain the entire assortment of GASP and Better Bodies gear at our online store.

Q: Currently, you only have one store. Is there any intent to expand Fit Gear Republic to other locations?

Wade Warren: We really have a store… everywhere. The beauty of the online store is that it brings all products wherever the shopper is. But as for Brick and Mortar stores go… Yes there is intent to do that. I envision Fit Gear Republic stores in areas of the country where fitness and bodybuilding tend to have concentrations of hardcore fitness people.  Dallas, TX area is just our starting point.

Q: How often do you travel to fitness & bodybuilding venues?

Wade Warren: We do our best to be at the larger national shows such as Olympia and the Europa shows, as well as some of those in and around the Dallas area. We end up doing about 12 shows a year. It’s where our customers are, and it’s a great opportunity for them to see the clothes for the first time in person. They often pick some up there or go back and order what they saw online at FitGR.com.

Q: What is the #1 thing you’d like for people to know about FitGR?

Wade Warren: The single most important message that I’d like for people to know about FitGR is that our priority above all else is for our customers to have the best experience possible. That they can count on us to be on top of the products, the systems that provide them, their orders, and any special needs they have. That they can count on us for Hardcore Customer Service… always. These clothes deserve that kind of backing. That’s what we do.

Thank you so much for the great interview, Wade.  I wish you and your team plenty of success this year as you continue to do great things within the fitness community.  You’ve got a great thing going and I don’t see that changing.  Given the direction Michael Johansson has, I see great things ahead for you.

Well, there you have it folks. If you have any other questions and would like to contact Wade, or his staff, about any other information you can do so by going to the FitGR website; Wade just recently added a new feature to the site that allows people to talk to someone live.

The vision Michael Johansson, creator of GASP and Better Bodies  apparel, has for his clothing line is to stay true to the intent behind his creation – remain unique and continue to uphold the standard of hardcore training.  This brand of clothing represents a lifestyle.

Hours upon hours of eating, dieting, supplementing and training,…all year long. You’re a few weeks out and you look and feel incredible. You don’t see how you can lose your upcoming competition. Then, the final week rolls around and the science of the human body comes into play more than ever. You’re carb depleting/loading, water depleting, sodium depleting/loading. Finding the right mix for your body is crucial here. Having done my first competition not too long ago, I understood why everyone told me the first show was a learning experience. If you’ve never competed before there’s no way to know what to expect on how your body is going to react to this last week, especially if you’ve chosen the wrong approach.

Some people who are genetically gifted can simply reduce their calories (regular diet) the final week and then the last couple of days bring the calories back up; essentially, this whole time eating the same foods. On the other hand, some of us have to truly figure out what works and what doesn’t. This could potentially take a couple of years. Everyone’s body responds differently so you can’t just take what someone else did and think that’s going to work for you. Newsflash – IT WON’T WORK!

You’ve got to do your homework, talk to other people who have a similar frame and metabolism and read…read…read! Even when you’re working with a coach, it’s important to read because it will help you better understand why you’re body is going to make the changes it’s supposed to make. Your body is so clean and pure during this last week that anything you put into your mouth will make your body respond in some way and that way will be very visible – to everyone! A recent example of this was Tony Freeman at the 2009 Mr Olympia. Prior to the show he bumped his knee on a coffee table. He had to do something so he took a motrin. What happened? It slowed his metabolism down and he ended up competing with a full stomach and a slight film under his skin. He didn’t place well as a result.  All that hard work to be set back by one little pill.

There are great resources available that explain the final week in great detail. One book I found that I truly enjoyed reading was Justin Harris’s Comprehensive Performance Nutrition. It’s a quick reference Q&A guide that’s easy to read and follow. For my show last year I worked under Tim Gardner with Team Body Tech; Tim’s a wealth of knowledge and has brought many amatuer athletes to professional status. I learned a tremendous amount from him last year and I look forward to continue working with Tim and being part of Team Body Tech.  I recommend to anyone who is a novice and is serious about competing to enlist the professional services of a coach; it’s priceless, even if it’s just to get started. I’m not sure what competitions I’m going to do this year but I can tell you I’m most definitely still learning. If you feel you already know everything, you’re set-up for failure. There is always room for improvement and in this day and age with bodybuilding, you’ve got to stay on top of your game!

4 weeks out from the competition!

I’m into my final weeks of preparation for my upcoming bodybuilding competition so I’m beginning to spend a lot of time posing.  When you practice your posing, it’s like doing another training session; it’s physically exhausting.  After each training session I’m trying to spend about 20 minutes going through the mandatory/compulsory poses.  I’ve been doing this by myself which has been difficult.

What I’ve learned over time is many people say they’re a bodybuilder but when it comes down to the fine details of what makes a bodybuilder a bodybuilder, they’re clueless.  A prime example of this is posing.  I’ve found very few people who can pose properly.  Every person has their own spin on it and each one conflicts with what someone else says.  When you try to point something out about they’re posing they get defensive and say, “This is the way it’s supposed to be done.”

People tend to overlook the posing aspect of bodybuilding, which is very shocking to me because posing is the culmination of all the hard work in the gym and in the kitchen.   All the months of lifting heavy, eating an abundance of calories, then the dieting, repeated cardio sessions, tanning, shaving, etc…  Some folks go on stage and have a great looking physique and mess everything up because they don’t know how to pose.  What ends up happening is someone walks away with a bad taste in their mouth and talks about how the judges are messed up.  Granted, sometimes there is controversy in competition and politics can come into play, but at the amateur levels many people miss the boat on how important posing is.  The bottomline is, you have to be able to effectively display what you have and capitalize on your strengths.

My current dilemma: I’m at a disadvantage right now because I’m currently living in New Orleans , LA and my team (Team Body Tech) and Coach (Tim Gardner) is in Tampa, FL.  What we’ve come to rely on over the past few months are photos, emails, phone conversations and text messages.  In a perfect world, I’d be there where they are, training together, attending the team meetings, posing together, allowing my coach to have eyes on me all the time so fine tune adjustsments can be made.  Well, this isn’t the perfect world and I’m not able to do that right now so I have to be clear in my mind what I’m supposed to be doing because there are so many outside influences.

What I’ve been doing over time is listening to what people say, carefully observing their posing, making critiques in my head of what I shouldn’t be doing.  In a sense, I’m watching others to observe their flaws to make sure I’m aware of how bad it looks so I don’t make those same mistakes.  That seems kind of bad but it’s what helps me put everything into perspective.  When my coach tells me not to do something and I see others do it, it becomes very clear to me.  I’m a very observant person and when it comes to bodybuilding, I’m locked on like a laser beam because this is my passion and I want to be the best at it.

Since my show is nearing I’m in the process of putting my music together.   I’ve never done this before so I’m watching videos and listening to various soundtracks to determine what will best suit me.  This is my first show and I plan to keep it simple.  I’ll be going into this show with confidence and an extremely shredded physique so I want to use that to my advantage.  I don’t want to make everything more difficult than it has to be with trying to put a dancing routine together with my music – too much at this stage.  That will come with time, and I’m definitely looking forward to it.

To all the amateurs out there, don’t let the outside influences overwhelm you.  Get a clear picture of what you’re trying to do and stick with it.  If you don’t have a coach, do your research and homework.  Communicate with other people and watch them for weaknesses and flaws.  This will help give you a mental picture of what not to do because you’ll remember firsthand how bad it looks.

If you don’t have a hired cook, than you should feel like one with part time duties as a dish washer! My fiancee (Ann) gets a kick out of calling me “the kitchen bitch”. I’d love to defend myself, but unfortunately, she’s right (she’s a pro at being right). Call it a cliché but the saying is true – a body isn’t made in the gym; it’s made in the kitchen.

Diet is everything to bodybuilding, yet, funny enough, I hardly get asked about my diet. The more popular questions are: “What supplements do you take?” and “What type of workouts do you do?” Look, going to the gym and knocking out a good, intense workout is relatively easy. Taking the latest and best supplements money can buy…again, pretty easy. Spending countless hours everyday prepping and preparing meals, going grocery shopping a few times a week and eating every two hours…now, we’re getting to the hard work, dedication and focus that separates the weak, the skinny, the fat and the hardcore bodybuilders.

Food Is Fuel for the Body

Besides the grueling work and time involved in preparing your meals there’s also another small factor that pretty much sucks; there is little variety or room for actually enjoying the food you must eat/consume. I’m not kidding you, by the time I’m done eating and cleaning up – I might get an hour before it’s time to do it again. Food is fuel.

How about some plain brown rice and chicken…4 times a day? How about broccoli, everyday? Well, if you’re going to be a bodybuilder than you better get use to it. Okay, so maybe you can sometimes change the chicken to beef, or maybe fish, but it’s all still the same because there’s no butter and not much flavor. You’ll find that in bodybuilding “burned” is good seasoning!

Prior Planning and Preparation

Piss poor planning and prior preparation will lead to missed meals, incomplete nutritional balance and prolonged catabolism. Diet should be developed based on desired goals and results. Ultimately, people should eat every 3 hours, or so, to keep their metabolism up. By eating on a schedule like this, the body is able to maintain a positive nitrogen balance which is key to building muscle.

For those who bodybuild, there is no shortcut around diet. The bottomline is, diet is the staple of any regimen. It doesn’t matter what supplements you’re taking or how great your workout is. If diet isn’t a primary focus than the results yielded will be limited and you will more than likely end up overtraining.

Now that you realize how important diet is to becoming and being a bodybuilder; we’ll discuss food, nutrition, preparation tips, and perhaps even share recipes…hey, you too will become a good “kitchen bitch”.

The Exception: There are some people out there who are true genetic freaks. You’ll see them eat whatever they want and remain shredded while displaying a world class physique. Not everyone is that blessed. Those of you who are not have to ensure you work extra hard because these genetic freaks will be the competition when you finally get up on stage.

If people really want to gain positive, realistic results they’ll stop spending crazy amounts of money on the newest supplements that make unrealistic promises and get back to the basics; proper diet and nutrition combined with a strict workout program and a solid supplement profile.

In the making...defying all odds!

In bodybuilding everyone has a beginning. The difference between most people is how that beginning begins. For many, they go about it somewhat blindly and learn through trial and error, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, others recognize the importance of having a bodybuilding coach from the get-go.

There are a number of reasons why having a bodybuilding coach is extremely beneficial:

Diet – is the key ingredient to a successful bodybuilder. Without a proper diet all the training in the world, and even the greatest supplements on the market, won’t give you a first class physique.A coach can design a meal plan specifically for your body type, body weight and goal. This is done quickly and without much thought because, as the coach, he or she has that knowledge readily available to share with you. The key is to get the right amount of quality ingredients to fuel the body and help it recover. After all, you are what you eat.

Training – can be easily overdone equating to overtraining. Overtraining can lead to injury, joint pain, illness, fatigue and even a loss of muscle mass. For beginners overtraining is a commonly made mistake because he or she always thinks more is better; I was that beginner. Everyone has strong and weak points in their physique so a coach will develop a program that will bring up those weak points giving you a symmetrical physique. Again, depending on a person’s goal, a coach will formulate a training routine to build mass or decrease body fat. Expect the workout to change frequently. This will keep the body from adapting to a specific workout; therefore, allowing for more muscle growth and less plateaus.

Supplementation – is just that – supplementation. Althought supplements are a staple in any bodybuilding regimen, they cannot replace food. Picking the right supplements can be tricky because there are so many new products on the market each claiming to be better than the next. The advertisment of products can mislead someone to purchase products that don’t coincide with his or her goals. A coach can prescribe the right supplements to take, how much and when to take them. In many cases you’ll find yourself taking a lot of the basic stuff that’s been proven to work time and time again. This is where diet comes back into play. When your diet is on par you don’t need all kinds of fancy stuff – you simply need the basics to supplement with your normal meals or pre and post workout.

Motivation – helps with keeping your intensity levels up. People tend to lose motivation when they don’t see the results they are looking for. They’re not seeing the results they want because their diet is off, the training may not be designed right or they’re taking the wrong supplements. Having a coach can get you on the right track and help you dial all of that in; therefore, giving you the results you want. Then, when you go into the gym to train you begin to see the transformation taking place which pushes you harder and harder each day.

In the beginning, or even at the advance levels, there are many benefits to having a professional coach you through the learning process or introduce you to new concepts in lifting, nutrition or supplementation. It’s a learning experience and allows you to grow from there. After the initial coaching cycle you may find that you’ve learned so much you don’t need to hire a coach again. Or, it’s quite possible it’s inspired you enough to begin to read and do your own research on reaching the goal you have set in mind.

Trying to dial it in for the 2009 All Forces Classic!

I’m inside of 8 weeks for the All Forces Classic in Tampa, FL. Training and diet is beginning to intensify. For novice competitors this is where things start to get challenging because the final 8 weeks, or so, are all about dialing it in and making sure you peak at the right time for the show. I’m relying on my coach to make sure I’m on the mark since this will be my first show.

As a member of Team Body Tech, I’m under the tutelage of Tim Gardner (aka…the Architect.) I began working with Tim in March 2009 and this learning experience has been priceless. Most of the knowledge I’ve gained in the sport has all been self taught and I’ve learned a lot through experience. I thought I knew a lot but when I started working with Tim I realized how much I didn’t know, specifically training and diet.

Right now I’m on a strict diet and supplement plan coupled with an intense training program. Since I’m in New Oreans, LA and Tim is in Tampa, FL, he relies on me sending him photos every Monday morning, first thing. He assesses the photos and makes adjustments to my diet and training where needed so things are constantly changing, which is good. The constant change helps keep the workouts exciting, not boring, but also doesn’t let my body’s muscles get use to a constant routine.

I didn’t have a coach when I was training to compete in 2001 (which didn’t happen) and having a coach now, I see a number of mistakes I made in my diet, supplementation (timing) and training. Some examples of mistakes I made were 1) not taking enough amino acids throughout the day and in my diet, 2) not getting enough variety of lean, solid proteins throughout the day, and 3) overtraining, to name a few. The way I feel right now, even though somewhat carb depleted, I can tell a huge difference because my strength isn’t falling nor is the muscle mass I’m holding. Instead, my bodyfat is decreasing and my striations and seperations are beginning to show more and more.

I’m a tall guy so I have to carry a lot of muscle mass to be competitive. Since I don’t carry the huge amount of mass to overshadow the other competitors right now we’re relying on my symmetry and conditioning to bring home a win. I forgot to mention Tim is also an NPC and IFBB judge so he knows what to look for in a bodybuilder, which is an added benefit for me.

For those of you who are unsure about what you’re doing, it may behoove you to invest in getting a coach, at least initially. It will be a great learning experience and will help you build on what you already know. Tim tells me, “I’m driving this train, you just do what I tell you to and we’ll win the show.” That in itself is a great confidence booster.

The new Jay Cutler DVD, All Access, has been released. All Access is a very good documentary about the life of Jay Cutler, a world champion bodybuilder. What makes this video so interesting is to see how Jay has revolutionized the bodybuilding industry. He has combined his dedication and passion for the sport with a business savvy approach to build his own empire, while at the same time being an Ambassador for the sport.

Over the years, bodybuilding has slowly improved – its improved image has enabled the sport to become more mainstream. World champion athletes, like Jay Cutler, have helped the sport flourish and gain a more positive outlook; many people don’t think of bodybuilding as an extreme sport but it is. All Access shows the day in the life of Jay while he trains, eats, answers mail, competes, visits with family and enjoys down time. It’s hard to believe a bodybuilder can have such a huge fanbase but when you see the video you get to see it and it’s truly amazing.

Jay shows what it takes to be a champion bodybuilder; bodybuilding is a lifestyle and that requires 24 hours a day dedication. Activities each day revolve around eating meals and training. Sleep is often interrupted by the need to consume calories (fuel) for the body. As contests near, the intensity of the training, diet and posing increases due to calorie deficit and low carbohydrate consumption. This is where the extreme aspect of bodybuilding takes shape.

A day in the life of Jay is not a normal one but it’s extremely interesting and provides a good source of motivation. Jay’s comments really hit home with true bodybuilders because not just everyone has what it takes to be successful. Sacrifice is often routine and precision is key.