Listen up and hear the burning truth …
If you are in the market for a fat-burner, there things to take into consideration before you yank something off the shelf and plunk your dollars down. What things? Like your tolerance level … how does your body respond to stimulants like caffeine and ephedra. Yes, ephedra-based products like my all-time favorite (legal that is … LOL) Stimerex-ES are still available for purchase in some states like Texas. If your body does not respond well to products such as green tea, coffee, and soda which contain significant amounts of caffeine, then you should opt for other weight management products like carb-blockers such as BSN “Cheaters” or appetite suppressants such as hoodia or glucomannan.
Many East Asian cultures have been using glucomannan fiber for over a thousand years. In the case of weight management, glucomannan has the ability to hold an extraordinary amount of water, which in essence promotes a satiated feeling. I don’t see a problem in taking such supplement as it is a derivative of a plant and not synthetic. I actually sell a ton of this product to high school and college level wrestlers who are desperately trying to keep their weight down but are having difficulty with starvation … I completely understand their plight as I have had many instances when I have had to refrain from eating just to make weight for competition. The crazy things well all do to be the very best at what we do … so friggin’ ironic.
As for carb-blockers or any kind of nutrient blockers for that matter, they work in a sense that they inhibit the portion of digestion, in this case mastication (chewing) in which amylase is suppose to break down carbohydrates prior to being swallowed. Once in the stomach, the theory goes on to explain how foods that are not broken down into small enough units for absorption are simply passed through the digestive tract … as if it is a simple and painless process. I don’t know about you all, but I have never had a minor case of diarrhea … LOL. Nonetheless, a lot of people do not mind the discomfort so long as they are able to eat whatever and whenever they want. What is my take on this? I find it hard to believe that a supplement can persuade the digestive tract to absorb one thing and spare the other, in this case carbs. To me, its just another case of taking a little bit of truth and stretching it for all its worth.
Supplements to “Soup-Up” Your Game
Another year, another resolution, but hopefully this time will entail a better game plan. Time and time again the same mistakes are made from the very start, dooming any chance for fitness success. What are these repetitive mistakes? Believe it or not, the first step to a successful New Year’s fitness resolution has nothing to do with buying the latest fat burner, or best protein powder, or a gym membership. Rather it entails ensuring that you have a solid foundation of a quality multi-vitamin & mineral. Multi-vitamins and minerals ensure that your body will be able to function at its optimal level from both a nutritional standpoint and also a physical standpoint. Vitamins & minerals are essential for cellular metabolism, growth, and overall maintenance of health … this is true whether you exercise or not. However, participating in physically strenuous activity such as exercise only increases your need for such nutrients. True, there is a lot to know and understand before you take the leap of faith into fitness, but don’t fret. Knowing everything is not the answer … knowing what is essential to fitness IS.
I have to admit, I didn’t know much about supplementation when I started bodybuilding. Heck, I didn’t know much about vitamins & minerals throughout my youth and most of my amateur bodybuilding days PERIOD. So then, how was I able to be so successful? I learned from an amazing strength coach in high school early on that heavy weight training was the driving factor in physical self-improvement. He beat in my head that no matter how much or how well I ate, none of it would really matter if there was not a need. I didn’t realize it then, but I certainly know now that whether the goal is increasing strength or size, or both, hardcore training dictates overall progression. So are vitamins & minerals necessary? You betcha’ … so read on and find out why.
Although vital to the nourishment and maintenance of human cells, vitamins & minerals do not provide energy to the human body. Rather, they are vital to the chemical reactions that occur within the human body to release energy. Eating a properly balanced diet is essential for these chemical reactions to occur regularly and effectively so that an optimal quality of living can be achieved. Of which and how much of each vitamin & mineral is not universal, but don’t fret as the FDA (Federal & Drug Administration) has a guideline of how much an average individual needs. In fact, all brands of multi-vitamin and mineral complexes carried by retailers such as The Vitamin Shoppe have at least the recommended FDA amounts. Once you have established a strong base of multi-vitamins and minerals, the next step in my opinion is to make sure that you have a source of EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids). EFA’s are essential nutrients that are congruent with quality living, but must be ingested as the body cannot produce or manufacture them. How important are EFA’s? Without them, you would not be able to think, see, hear, reproduce, run or even move a muscle. Enough said. I am not going to go in-depth into their countless functions, so please do your own research and learn more about how they can help you individually. I firmly believe that supplementing my diet with a quality Omega-3 fatty acid has increased my ability to run 4-6 miles daily without joint pain. I literally tried everything from chondroitin to MSM, and nothing seemed to work until I added Omega-3’s into my nutritional plan. Many could argue that I am able to run because I have dropped so much body mass in the last year since my retirement. Perchance, as I have dropped about 25 pounds of muscle … but I am still 190 pounds of solid muscle. I still shouldn’t be able to run 4-6 miles daily at 5’5” and 190 pounds.
Once you have established a solid foundation of a quality mutli-vitamin/mineral/EFA complex, the next step is to find a quality protein formula that will foster your individual fitness goals. If your goal is to gain mass and your build is thin, then it is my recommendation that you select a “mass formula” … that is, one that contains at least a 1/1 ratio of carbs to protein, preferably 2/1 ration in my opinion. I think that protein is over-hyped as I don’t believe that the human body can break down and absorb more than 40-45 grams of protein on a regular basis. There are many “mass formulas” that push 60-grams per serving, which is over-kill in my opinion. The most important variable to gaining mass is QUALITY TRAINING. If you don’t break your muscle down adequately, then there is absolutely no point in saturating your bloodstream with nutrients. You will be essentially pissing and shitting out your hard-earned money … and the residual that stays behind in your system will be converted to and stored as fat.
Everyday, I hear guys bitching and moaning about why their pecs and quads are not getting bigger while their dicks seem to be shrinking as their stomachs eclipse their groin area. Okay Sherlock, perhaps you are taking in a whey blend that has WAY too much sugar and filler-crap in it. Stop selling your hard efforts short and spend the extra bit of money on a better quality protein blend. A quality protein blend should at the very least contain quality whey isolate, micellar casein, and some egg protein. Why? Not all whey isolates are equal. Whey isolates (90-98% protein) are more expensive than whey concentrates (70-85% protein) because of their purity and their higher biological value, which amounts to better assimilation and subsequent muscular growth. Egg protein is today, as it was when bodybuilding first started, the best and cleanest source of protein available. When separated from the yolk, which is mostly cholesterol and fat, the egg-white is as lean and clean as you are going to get. During my years of competing, I dieted strictly on egg-whites and chicken breasts. I refrained from shakes as I did not trust that their ingredients were clean or lean enough to separate me from the rest of the competing field. I have yet to run across a bodybuilder, figure, or fitness competitor that has told me that they did not notice a stark difference in their physique once the shakes were eliminated from the dieting protocol. The micellar casein is vital once the whey and egg isolates have been digested. Unlike typical milk casein, micellar casein is not denatured and is ultra-filtered without the use of chemicals, which increases its bioavailability. From an anabolic standpoint, micellar casein is slower digesting which makes it ideal for those who want to use it as a pre-sleep protein supplement.
I wrote an article on how to structure a sound nutritional plan a few months ago, so I am going to spare the details and divulge deeper into why proper supplementation goes synergistically hand-in-hand with a proper training regimen. Am I making a lot of hullaballoo about nothing? I never said that I was going to re-invent the wheel. Sure you know how to eat and train … I’ll give you that benefit of the doubt. As what BASF once claimed in a national commercial about their products, my guidance won’t show you how to eat or train … my guidance will show you how to eat and train BETTER.
I literally accomplished a lot with very little supplementation (legal and illegal) in high school and throughout most of my bodybuilding career, but I wonder sometimes how much more dominant I could have been had I utilized supplements like creatine, essential fatty acids, L-arginine, BCAA’s, and such. Now that I have spent a fair amount of time working for The Vitamin Shoppe, I now understand the role and importance of such supplements from both a competitive and non-competitive point-of-view. Why didn’t I invest more time discovering this in my youth? Again, I was taught how to expect more from myself from a very early age so I naturally developed a negative attitude towards over the counter products, and definitely supplements from “under the counter” as well … LOL. Without a doubt, had I known then what I know now I would have been even better. I am a firm believer in destiny and that everything has a purpose in the whole grand scheme of things. Much like how an Existentialist believes that how we think is ultimately determined by our overall life experience or experiences, I similarly started my philosophical journey through bodybuilding with a sense of disorientation. I was “confused” because I was limited in experience, but as my experiences increased, I too became more enthralled with wisdom. As I look back today, I can see how the chaos unravels as I discover truths about me and how everything affects me inside and out. Most importantly, I can see and understand how we are all alike in our mission to live life with purpose and completeness. Please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email with pertinent questions regarding my works. I was once told that the dumbest question is the one that is left unasked … what may I ask is your question?
Sharing and Caring is the best form of Thanksgiving for the Holiday season.
Thanksgiving Day 2008 … I used it to reflect on and be thankful for all of my blessings, but Thanksgiving Day is also a time for me to think about ways to make a difference in other people’s lives. I was taught at an early age to share with others who are less fortunate. After all, we were less fortunate for many years as my parents struggled to make ends meet as foreigners in a new land. I am thankful today that there were so many people in America who cared enough to take my entire family of 9 individuals in and care for us like their own. My father never hesitated to donate to charity and give of himself to help others in need. Through his numerous examples of philanthropy, I realized that is in giving that we ultimately receive.
I like to use this time of year to plan for the New Year … not in terms of what I am going to accumulate, but rather how I am going to help others see the good in each other and themselves. What are you going to do with your time? You can be like most people and go out and get caught up in the commercial aspect of the holidays … or you can be like me and try to immaterially touch other through simple acts of caring and sharing. Of course I am going to give gifts … but I am going to take it a step further. I am going to make a conscious effort to try to give a greater number of gifts that continue to give. How? I am going to try to be more courteous when I am out an about. I was out today near a popular shopping area in southern California and the scene was sheer pandemonium … people running into, over, and through one another without regard for anything, much less anyone. Every year during this time, I make a conscious effort to slow down enough to share a simple smile with hopes that it will act as a stone hitting a pond. It will amaze you how many ripples can be caused by a small irregularity such as a smile or some other random act of kindness. As far as I am concerned, the world is as crazy or as loving as you want it to be … but you must first be the catalyst for positive change. Stop waiting for others to do what you know is the right thing to do. Don’t be afraid of going against the grain and being a leader by setting a positive example for others to emulate.
Please share your experiences of love and kindness with me and others throughout this holiday season. Many will struggle financially, spiritually, or emotionally this holiday season. Let us all work together to keep it all together.
November 23, 2008
With “Turkey Day” just days away, I can’t help but be astonished at how quickly this past year has literally flown by. Let us all not forget the true meaning of “Thanksgiving.” For me, Thanksgiving Day is a time to stop worrying about what I don’t have or can’t have and reflect on the many ways that I have been blessed. I truly believe that we as a people worry far too much about the future and things that are beyond our influence that we tend to forget about ways that we have and can influence others to become better and happier people. As the holiday season progresses, try not to get too caught up in the commercial side of it and focus on the meaningful aspects … just remember that it is not about what we are going to get others or what others are going to get us. It should be about getting together to share and care … with the simple gifts of love, kindness, forgiveness, and understanding.
My blood runs red as yours does … I just don’t settle for mediocrity!
I have been receiving a lot messages and emails inquiring about how I have managed to stay successful through the years. I have to admit that every time I read about my “success”, it bewilders me a bit because I know deep down that I have been through as many trials and failures. People … I AM NOT PERFECT! I don’t come from another planet so what makes you think that I am so much different than you. The whole point to my bloggin’ is to let you know that you TOO can achieve your dreams if you just FOCUS and GIVE IT YOUR ALL. At the end of the day, the catalyst that shoots you to the top will be your mental approach versus just relying on your physical abilities.
Am I saying that genetics is not an important trait? NO! What I am saying is that you can have perfect genetics and waste it all away by not having the right mental approach. I think having the “right” frame of mind is just as important, if not more important than having phenomenal physical capabilities. I have blogged before about the importance of VISUALIZATON, but what I am talking about here goes far beyond that. Having the “right” frame of mind entails being keen enough to not only see weaknesses but to make necessary revisions. What weaknesses am I talking about? I am talking about PRESENTATION (pump, color, sheen), and especially POSING. My point is that there are many non-genetic intangibles that you can improve on that will significantly improve your chances of winning. You just have to be opportunistic enough to recognize and capitalize on breaks that WILL come your way.
I have been successful on the competitive stage because I will not only recognize an opportunity to distance myself from the field, but I will exploit it to the fullest. What do I mean? It will surprise you how very little sleep the average competitor gets during the last week prior to competing. Why is this important? Without sleep, there is no rest … without rest, there is no recovery. This is a “double-whammy” since stress of any sort will result in water-retention. My advice is simple. Rest and relax because the battle ahead will take its toll. Secondly, do not do any photo-shoots prior to competing. Again, the stress is not worth the little return. Just stop and assess your goal. Did you come all this way for a photo-shoot or did you come to compete and win? When you win, the photo-opportunities will naturally be there. Last but not least, DO NOT eat SHIT food prior to competing. Being carb-depleted is not an excuse to be RETARDED. I cringe every time I see competitors exhibit poor self-control. My peeps who compete … please listen up! That shit is not going anywhere. It will be there the day following the show … it will be there a year from now … what the fuck is your hurry? Tell me if I am wrong, but you aren’t you suppose to fuckin’ win before you celebrate?
Let us NOT forget that I have been successful off the competitive stage as well. Many people do not know this fact about me, but I was a hard-working and diligent scholar before I was any kind of bodybuilder. As much as I enjoyed working out, I had to make sacrifices to keep up with my grades and my scholarship. I hardly trained my first semester, but I learned quickly how to prioritize my schedule and make time for the most important things in my life. Once I got my priorities straight I was able to increase my workout schedule to three times per week … every week. The important lesson that I learned my first semester in college was that there is always enough time for the things that we NEED to do versus the things that we WANT to do. The mental aspect of life keeps popping up and will continue to challenge me throughout the course of my life as it will test yours. My challenge to you is to be rational and clearly think through your tough decisions. So ironic how quickly we can ruin years with one stupid, careless reaction versus the countless years it may take to make a positive lasting impression.
I did not know a single thing about the sport of bodybuilding until after I completed my undergraduate studies. It was right after I received notice of my acceptance into medical school that I learned of this crazy, but intriguing sport called “bodybuilding”. I befriended a rising IFBB star named John “Tank” Sherman who told me I should give it a try. I recall the transition from low reps with high weight to high reps with moderate weight. One simple phrase sums up this transition best … “FUUUUUCKIN’-A!” One of my first bodybuilding workouts proved to be one of my worse workouts ever. I recall leg-pressing 600 pounds for 30 reps … at least that was the goal before I passed the fuck out at around 24 … LOL. That initial workout taught me quickly the importance of adequate nutrition and rest. As a powerlifter, I could eat virtually anything and get away with it. Although I was always the leanest competitor at the meets, I was definitely not eating to be lean. A typical pre-contest meal would be spaghetti and meatballs or burger and fries. How ironic that I would go from one end of the nutritional spectrum to the other just by changing sports … LOL.
For the last time my friends, if you are looking to Fitness, Figure, or Bodybuilding as a hobby and you have a job to support the interest, then go for it. If you are barely making rent and are having a tough time budgeting then my advice is to step back and wait before taking the plunge into the sport. The sport WILL break your budget. I am not saying that it can’t be done because it has been done before. However, the stress of having to worry about your checking account will make it that much more difficult for you to focus on the task at hand. The sport is not going anywhere. It will be there when you are ready. Your chance to become professional will probably come only once in your lifetime so make the most of it. Don’t make it any harder than it has to be.
What did my transition from powerlifting to bodybuilding teach me? It taught me that no matter what I do, the sacrifices and challenges ahead are only short term and that the possibilities ahead are endless when I can see beyond my fears. During high school and college, I feared being asian and failure most. Sounds stupid right? I grew up in small southern city called Port Arthur, Texas. Need I say more? There were so many other gifted athletes and I was always reminded of the fact that I was asian. So how did I overcome those fears? My coach just told me to stop fighting everyone else and try to focus on besting my individual goals. Was that good advice? It was GREAT advice! I shifted my focus from trying to break meet and state records to just increasing my personal bests. I learned to “step outside the box” by focusing within “my” personal box. Before too long, my personal best crept up on and eventually surpassed the meet and state records. Can you do this? As long as you breathe the same air I breathe, dream to be the very best, are willing to bust your ass, sweat some, cry some, yell some and most importantly are willing to accept that your best (each and every time) is yet to come … you have a GREAT chance.
My blood runs red just like yours … I live and I learn just as you should. Tonight (November 13th, 2008) I came home after 10 hours at work and all I wanted to do was lay down and chill in my bed … but I didn’t. I got my ass up and chose to be better. Sure my bed is probably the most comfortable bed in the world, but I have plenty of time to sleep and rest … I am, however, limited to how much time I can live. Exercise is synonymous with my life as air and nourishment. Even as I lay here after a grueling yet empowering squat session at the gym, I feel absolutely amazing. Staring down a bar loaded with 600 pounds of raw steel is one thing … hoisting it on your shoulders is quite another. But I love it! To me, there is nothing worse than walking away from the gym or a task thinking that “I should’ve” or “I could’ve” … I want to leave with all questions answered. How did it go? 600 for 2 1/2 reps, as the last one took me down. Of course I used the power rack and had the safety bars engaged. Needless to say, I walked out of the gym with no regrets and pure adrenaline racing through my veins. OH YEAH BABY … I’LL DEFINITELY BE BACK FOR MORE! Striving to become better and stronger is very exciting to me. I do not allow fear of the unknown to paralyze me … I allow it to drive me to succeed. My challenge to everyone is to open your minds, your hearts, and truly believe that you are capable of great things. Keep in mind that in order for you to crave success, you must first be willing to taste it. Good evening and many thanks for reading. Please feel free to write me if you have a topic that you would like for me to expand on.
Eryk Bui … free Q&A Seminars coming your way!
Hello Everyone. Just wanted to announce that I may be making a guest appearance at your local supplement store in the near future. Seems my newsletter has gained a lot of attention lately and more people want to know more about my training philosophy. As fate would have it, some of my subscribers are supplement store owners who are convinced that their customers, YOU, will benefit greatly from experiencing me first-hand. I started a monthly newsletter a few months ago (www.myomax.com) to promote my soon to be released book detailing my philosophy on training and life in general. I will be at the Vitamin Shoppe in Huntington Beach, CA, also known as “Surf City” this weekend for a 3-hour seminar that will include a Q&A segment and also a training segment. All are invited to attend … even personal trainers who want to polish up on their training technique are invited to come out and support the health fair. I would like to thank the store manager “Alfonso” for the invitation.
At the end of the month, I will be in New Bedford, MA for a similar event. I hope to see everyone there 
If you would like to book me for an event in your hometown, please sign up for my newsletter at www.myomax.com and you will be able to correspond with me directly. �
Eryk Bui … 12 months post-IFBB.
It has been a year since my retirement from the IFBB and professional bodybuilding and “migh-o-migh” a lot has changed in terms of my physique. I am no longer lugging around 200+ pounds of body mass and it feels absolutely wonderful. At 5’5” and about 225 pounds in the off-season, it was next to impossible not to mention extremely uncomfortable to be “normal” … running, jumping, doing other things besides weight-lifting and posing on stage. Today, I am an athlete of 180 pounds of solid, lean, and agile muscle. I always start my day off with either an hour of stationary bike cardio, or a brisk outdoors run of 3-5 miles … all the while being able to post a 400+ pound bench press and 600+ pound barbell squat in the weight-room.
The “real” challenge for me was to be able to maintain my training intensity and strength while reducing my body mass to support a more athletically versatile frame. A year later and over 30 pounds of solid muscle lighter, I can safely proclaim, “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!” I now have the frame to take myself into the next phase of my professional career, which will involve print advertising and hopefully Hollywood. I am confident that my physique today best represents mainstream health & fitness. Most importantly, my physique portrays and blares out the positive message that “real” people can be strong and achieve phenomenal “natural-looking” physiques without having to look like an “oaf” or jeopardizing their health.
How did I achieve this? I would be inaccurate and untruthful if I said that it was all sheer hard work and determination. The “missing links” that ultimately transformed my physique were quality supplements that fortified my nutritional plan. I owe a great deal of thanks to Markus Kaulius of Magnum Nutraceuticals for his excellent work in developing a line of nutritional supplements that don’t just promise, but deliver. The supplement stacks that Markus recommended for me acted as powerful catalysts in transforming me into the “super-athlete” that I am today. The best term to describe how I feel today is “super-human” as my physical abilities have literally defied most if not all laws of physical limitations. Everything that I have been told that I would not be able to do with a lot of muscle mass I am not only doing, but doing extremely well. Don’t just take my word for it … take the “Magnum Challenge” and experience it for yourself.
I have attached my current training split and the supplemental recommendations that were given to me by Markus Kaulius, chief-formulator of Magnum products. Please use them as only rough guidelines as individual results will vary. Either way, you will undoubtedly become a better and healthier you.
NEW-BUI TRAINING SPLIT
Monday
Chest,Biceps, & Back
3-5 mile out-door run AM
30 minutes cardio following PM training
Tuesday
Shoulders, Quads, Hamstrings, & Triceps
3-5 mile out-door run AM
30 minutes cardio following PM training
Wednesday
OFF (Abs & Calves)
50 minutes on stationary bike AM
50 minutes on stationary bike PM
Thursday
Chest, Biceps, and Triceps
3-5 mile out-door run AM
30 minutes cardio following PM training
Friday
Shoulders & Back
30 minutes cardio following PM training
Saturday
OFF (Abs & Calves)
50 minutes on stationary bike AM
50 minutes on stationary bike PM
Sunday
OFF
50 minutes on stationary bike AM
50 minutes on stationary bike PM
SUPPLEMENTS
Training Days:
Magnum Heat 20 minutes before every run and cardio session.
Magnum DNA, Big-C, A-Bomb, and Thrust 30-40 minutes before weight-training.
Magnum DNA, Big-C, A-Bomb, and Quattro (2 scoops) post-workout.
Non-Training Days:
Magnum Heat, Big-C, A-Bomb 40 minutes before cardio session.
Magnum DNA and Quattro (2 scoops) 30-40 minutes post-cardio
Magnum Thrust after last meal.
MEALS
7:00AM
Magnum Heat
7:30AM
3-5 mile run
9:00AM
Magnum Quattro, DNA, Big-C, A-Bomb
10:00AM
6 egg-whites
1 cup of cooked quick-oats
1:00PM
6-8 oz grilled chicken breast
1 cup of cooked rice
garden salad
4:30PM
6-8 oz grilled chicken breast or Tilapia or Orange Roughy
1 cup of cooked rice
6:00PM
Magnum Heat and Thrust 20 minutes prior to exercise.
Training
7:00PM
Magnum Quattro, DNA, Big-C, and A-Bomb
8:30PM
New York Steak
Garden Salad
Magnum Thrust
Sorry for the absence … I am currently helping friends and clients get ready for the NPC USA’s!
Hello everyone! I will be Las Vegas this weekend for the NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships. As always I expect to see a ton of talent battling it out on stage for what I consider the “West Coast Nationals” as it seems to draw the most competitors from that region. I got a glimpse of some of the talent last weekend at the NPC Los Angeles Championships and can definitely say that the USA’s should be a great one to watch.
I really miss competing as an amateur as I had the most fun during that period of time between 2002 and 2004. I also miss being around the wonderful people of the sport and sharing my knowledge with them … attending the LA Championships last Saturday was a truly nice experience. I was able to catch up with old friends and make new ones in the process. My current physique is just about identical to what it was when I won earned my pro card back in 2004 at the Nationals. Attached are some photos that I took earlier, which is basically of me after 2 1/2 days of carb-depleting. No, I am not getting ready for a show. I am actually doing it as a show of my support for one of my good friends who is competing this weekend. I am also doing it to see how far I can push my “clean” physique. I am very pleased with how my body has responded to the challenge and it should inspire others to follow suit. Before anyone out there misconstrues me, THIS IS IN NO WAY AN ATTEMPT AT PASSING JUDGEMENT WITH ANYONE OR ANYTHING, it’s just an alternative to consider.
Bodybuilding has been good to me and I still love and believe what it really stands for … respect for, admiration for, and a celebration of life. I recently telephoned Jim Manion, NPC President and IFBB Chairman, to apologize and set the record straight as why I became disgruntled after most last pro show (2007 Europa Super Show). Mr. Manion has always been kind and respectful to me, so I do owe him an apology for offending him. He has worked tirelessly through the years to make bodybuilding as popular as it is today, and for that we all owe him a great deal of gratitude. Make no mistake about this either, I AM NOT DOING THIS TO TRY TO GET BACK INTO PROFESSIONAL BODYBUILIDNG. I have retired and have no plans on returning to the competitive stage. However, I will always do my part to promote bodybuilding as best I can off the stage. I learned years ago to never say “never,” but for now I am content with being offstage. I know there will be some “a-holes” out there who will try to misconstrue my genuine and sincere apology to Mr. Manion as a way of “kissing ass” as many have done to get back into the scene. I was rash and too quick to pass judgement in attacking the organization as a whole. I should have taken my grievances to Mr. Manion personally instead of over-reacting as I did. It was a meltdown based on the fact that I was angry with being left out on stage while everyone else got compared. Why the IFBB panel did this will remain a mystery until they speak out. I’m over it. Let’s just move on. There are some others who I don’t owe an apology to as they have attacked me verbally and are judged accordingly. John Lindsay describes the NPC and IFBB as a collective family. With this in mind, I am likened to the “wild child” who gets caught up in his emotions and reacts without rationale. Now that the dust has settled, I guess it time to come back home and be a part of the family again. I AM a bodybuilder … always have been … always will be!
It is with great hopes that Mr. Manion will call me or sit down with me to discuss what WE ALL can do to make bodybuilding shine brightly once again. My voice is one, but I do believe that I am just the beginning of a louder collective voice that will induce a positive change that will resound for years to come. I am a bodybuilder and I can’t change that, which is best supported by the popular bodybuilding phrase that states, “Once the bug bites you, you will never walk away the same … you will always have that itch.” As funny as it sounds, it is quite true. Bodybuilding is a choice to take care of you so you can take care of others around you. Win, lose, or draw, WE ALL should strive to communicate with others about, and be great examples of, how to live life to the fullest. Take care everyone and hope to see some of you in Las Vegas. Mr. John Lindsay ALWAYS attracts the best talent and does a phenomenal job of putting on the best show in town.
2008 4th of July Muscle Beach Bodybuilding & Figure Classic …
As mentioned in my last blog, I judged, and guest posed at the 2008 4th of July Muscle Beach Bodybuilding & Figure Championships yesterday. The spectator turn out was great as usual and the talent was competitive. Joe Wheatley does an awesome job of attracting a wide variety of athletes to his shows … from newbies all the way up to national level NPC competitors. All in all, I think it is an excellent show if your goal is to have fun and learn more about the sport of bodybuilding.
While I was there, I was asked the following question by a competitor: “Does it hurt me on the NPC competitive platform if I participate in contests that are not sanctioned by the NPC?” In other words, this competitor wants to know if it hurts him politically to crossover between organizations. As silly as it may seem, it is a very good and valid question since he does compete on the state level with the NPC. As much as I wanted to present a clear answer, there really isn’t one. Why? I am one to believe that talent is talent and at the end of the day, you will prevail at any level and with any organization if you are truly that good. On the other hand, I have seen Jerome Ferguson look really good on the NPC national stage and not win his class. What this a political message? I happen to think so. After all, why else would the NPC issue letters to “their” athletes warning them of repercussions? Did this really happen? I recall receiving one only a few years ago while I was an amateur. As I said earlier, do it because you love to compete and want to just have fun on stage. Don’t ever lose sight of the fact that competitions are really celebrations of your triumph in self-improvement.
“The worse thing that I can be is just like everyone else.” Arnold Schwarzenegger
If you want to be the best, then you have to at least train, dedicate, and believe in you. I get so many questions about what I had to endure to reach the pinnacle of my competitive dreams and goals. This blog is to encourage my friends who compete to join my mission to change the sport of bodybuilding back to its once healthy form. There are so many shortsighted and hateful bigots in the industry like Bob Chicerillo, self-proclaimed IFBB athlete’s representative, who use propaganda to form lynch mobs against those who challenge the establishment for the good of the whole. The one thing that I find ironic and contradictory in having been a part of the two largest organizations in amateur and professional bodybuilding (NPC and IFBB respectively), which is essentially governed by one common entity, is that as much as individual competitors are expected to follow suit and be just like every other member, the absolute measure of greatness in the respective organizations still center around being uniquely different than everyone else. Arnold Schwarzenegger says it best with the following: “The worse thing that I can be is just like everyone else.”
One could argue that it was the luck of the draw that I was subjectively awarded the 2002 NPC USA Light-weight Championship because it was my first opportunity and hence politically not likely, but it happened and it was unanimous. One could also argue that it was also luck that I was able to nail my conditioning perfectly, but then again arguing against a fact is just plain senseless. In combining two popular clichés to make my point, no matter how you slice the pie, the proof is all in the pudding. The key to my success is always thinking outside the box and ensuring that I am doing the things that others are not willing to do. That’s how I am NOT like everyone else. That’s how I differentiate myself off-stage so that I can be differentiated on-stage.
Team sports stress the importance of working together and in unison to accomplish a common goal. In contrast, achieving greatness in sports like bodybuilding is a product of a collaborative effort from within an individual. The “team” is comprised of a balanced combination of mental, physical, and psychological toughness. What is toughness? As mentioned in one of my numerous blogs, toughness is a perpetual journey that involves dynamic stimuli from physical, mental, and emotional stress factors. An individual’s ability to adapt and respond with efficiency and precision is what determines overall toughness.
So then why are so many competitors afraid to step beyond the arbitrary boundaries set before them? Competitors have a difficult dilemma to face in expressing their concerns and objections since finalists are subjectively determined by an NPC/IFBB governed panel of judges. I can only speak for myself, but I am firm in my stance that without the athletes, there can be no show. Never have I been the type to “brown nose” or use political means to achieve anything inside or outside of the sport as nothing is really achieve in the process. It is never an easy decision to go against the grain and stick up for what you know to be right, especially while facing fears of being politically “black-balled,” but then again, how gratifying and fun can something possibly be when you know in your heart and mind that the end product has been achieved through unsafe and artificially enhanced means. Who cares about what Dick, Harry, John or Jane does … just do what you know is right and fair. Even in defeat, you can walk away proud knowing that you did everything within your natural abilities. I can’t speak for any of you out there, but I can say this without a doubt … the thing that wakes me up early and inspires me to try harder and work harder and ultimately become better is the challenge of the unknown. I actually don’t mind the haters because I want them to keep telling me that I can’t do it, and that I am not good enough. Fuck ‘em … I’ll just keep doing it and doing it and doing it well while they bobble, weave, and heave in my wake!
As the heading to my blog states, it is in the very essence of the sport to standout. Since when did “standing out” mean just bigger in size? There are three main criteria for judging in bodybuilding: symmetry, muscularity, and conditioning. Bigger does not guarantee that any of the three criteria will be met. In fact, “bigger” often times means worse. Not only is it harder on your body physically, but it also becomes exponentially more difficult to “dial” into competition shape. I know this for a fact, because it takes far less time to achieve superior conditioning now that I am much lighter than I was when I was competing as an IFBB Pro at a bodyweight of 200+ pounds. Why is this so? In a nutshell, it is much easier to track calories in and calories out when there are less meals to deal with. I am consistently eating no more than four square and balanced meals daily, and my body maintains 180-185 pounds even though I run at least 3 miles daily and do 40-70 minutes of extra cardio on a stationary bike … and that is not even including my weight training. Can you do this? I don’t see why not. I am not from the planet Mars and I certainly bleed and sweat like you do. So stop the friggin’ excuses and focus on putting the right pieces of your fitness puzzle together. I have just completed a book that any aspiring bodybuilder newbie, national level, or pro can truly appreciate. It covers everything from proper training mechanics, to “pre and post” contest dieting, to posing, along with many other valuable topics. Best of all, it is for all athletes, not just bodybuilders. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again … “No matter what your sport is, bodybuilding is your base and source for information on proper nutrition and training.”
In closing, I would like to invite everyone out to Venice Beach this Friday for the 4th of July Muscle Beach Extravaganza. I will be guest posing and judging the event so of course it will be fun-filled. Before I forget, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” to my son Austin … he turned 11 today! Attached at the bottom is a glimpse of my recently finished book. It will be released soon for your viewing and reading pleasure so stay tuned. Also, please visit www.myomax.com for pertinent information on my soon to be released book. All the best to everyone … please have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
