I'm not competing in November 2011. I've looked at my progress and although I have made big strides in fat loss, I don't feel I'm in the shape or condition to pose onstage. I still have too much body fat...from contest ready bodybuilder point of view. The actual percentage is probably still in the high teens and at this point the only way to get it low enough to see abs and real muscle definition is a crash diet of nothing but protein powder and/or tuna and water for the next 6 weeks. Not about to put myself thru that kind of torture and even if I did, there is no guarantee of success. Sure, I'd lose fat but I'd go thru living hell and in the end probably appear pretty flat onstage.
So, I am not giving up on competing or training. Its still something I want to do and will do. The earliest will probably be May of 2012.
What I've learned so far:
Preparing for a contest is hard. Much harder than I anticipated.
Preparing for a contest takes a lot of concentration both in and out of the gym - you have to stay focused.
My general diet is much, much better now. I'm at a weight and bodyfat percentage that I could easily maintain.
I have to go back to the workouts that work...for me. Switching out different workouts that I see on the internet is a sure way to stymie any progress. Doing something different just to be different is valueless...in this case. (Can't say that in all cases cause the world is not black & white but shades of gray). When it comes to muscle growth and fat loss I know what works for me and what does not. So why did I switch? I bought into the promise that the workout would be a quicker route...a short cut.
There are no short cuts. And I need to remember that.
The competitive schedule for 2012 hasn't been put out yet. When it does, I'll post the new date. In the interim, I go back to training and training and training.
