Let the games begin! That is the only way I can think of things right now. To date this diet has been a joke. I have been dieting for ten weeks and have only lost 11lbs but look like I lost 30lbs. I have been lifting like an animal and actually breaking some of my old records while dieting, that's unheard of for me. Normally I get weaker as the diet goes on. I have been eating about 5000cals a day and have been doing minimal cardio. Like I said things have been easy. Until now...
All of the things said above are about to change. The carbs are lower, the cardio is higher and glycogen stores are not what they were in weeks past so record breaking lifts may have to wait until after the show. There comes a point in every diet when the body stops working and the mind takes over. That's why so many people can't compete as bodybuilders, the mental toughness it takes to lift heavy weight and do cardio on minimal calories is torture and a true test of how bad you really want it. Either you have it or you don't.
I am looking forward to dialing in the last ten pounds. I am sitting at 260lbs right now and have about ten to lose to get that freaky, grainy conditioning that I have been known for bringing. This last ten pounds will take the next three weeks and all the mental toughness I have. The sad thing about all of this is I look forward to sleepless nights, being weaker in the gym and being hungry all the time. Those things all mean I am getting closer and closer to the goal of winning an IFBB show. Without feeling those things, you can not be a champion so you have to welcome it or stay off the stage. I have never heard any great bodybuilder say the dieted for the show and didn't feel hungry, cranky, lose sleep or lose strength. Every bodybuilder from the very top down feels one of all of these things when getting ready for a show.
Career wise things are picking up. I have an appearance next week at GNC in Toronto, I also have a couple guest posings lined up for the fall. They are significant since one of them is my first US guest posing which makes me very happy since it means I am gaining popularity in another country which is very important. There are a couple other store appearances in the works that I am trying to finalize, these are also significant because it gives me a chance to really talk to any fans that have questions for me. Lastly, PBW radio show is on the agenda in the weeks to come as well as SuperHumanRadio, both well known radio shows that I am happy to be part of. Like I always say, if you keep working good things will happen. Its just a matter of time and patience. If you guys are interested I also did an interview with bodybuilding.com this week, you can find it through the site under articles and interviews.
Okay as for the technical stuff. My lifts are still good right now as my body hasn't really begun to drain itself of glycogen and carb stores. Some of them this past week were, 405lb barbell rows, 405lb incline press, 315lb behind the neck press, 405lb stiff leg deads. There has been one minor setback. I have been dealing with a minor quad strain but I think its almost 100% so hopefully the next time I have a blog for you I will have some good quad numbers to put up. I actually broke one of my records this week for barbell shrugs...seven plates a side! I'm working hard to catch up to the big boys. It might take me a couple years but if I can stay healthy I am going to make it happen.
On the food end of things nothing has really changed except for a slight reduction in carbs. I am still eating six whole food meals, no shakes. Steak, chicken, fish are my protein sources and brown rice, yams and oatmeal are still my carb sources. The one thing I can say about knowing when you are dieting hard. I know some of you have felt this, when you are eating a meal and in the middle of it no matter how big it is, you know you're going to be starving when you are done. Actually I'm at the point now with some of my meals when I am starving while eating..lol.
Like I tell my family though, no sympathy. I chose this life, I love this life and I want nothing more than to immerse myself in it. I have said before I am a competitor and a fan of bodybuilding and want to be more than just a one time Olympia competitor, I want to make my mark. Whether it happens this year or another I will make the improvements needed to get me to where I need to be. This is a team sport and as I said before, this week more than ever I have great friends keeping me up and one person I can't thank enough for letting me know what is at stake. She has made me believe more now than ever before how important it is to never let up!
'Sacrifice Without Regret'
Fouad 'Hoss' Abiad
