Final Week

So, its 5:34am and I can't sleep, can any of you guess why? That's right I am absolutely starving and I also can't seem to get out of my head that I didn't write my blog this week. It seems that when I am this crazy into the diet every little loose end needs to be tied up or I just can't seem to relax. So I figure now is as good a time as any to get my ass up and write you guys some nonsense about my week. As for the starving part, I already took about ten minutes staring into the fridge and realized god hasn't created any calorie free foods since yesterday and closed the door, I feel much better now....

Anyway, training is going as well as can be this week. I mean if you are doing everything correctly you can't expect to be lifting record numbers at this point. Actually if you are doing everything right you should just be happy to really get through the number of sets and reps you have set out for yourself. That's pretty much where I'm at. I get to the gym, take a deep breath and plow through set after set without thinking about it until I am done. If I stop to think I am finished, stopping means restarting again and at this point I can only get myself fired up once.

Cardio sessions are actually much better than I thought they would be. I have a StairMaster at home so I do my morning empty stomach cardio at the gym and I do my night cardio in my apartment. It works out well for me that way, they are only two thirty minute sessions since I was already in pretty good shape from the last show.

Food. What can I say about food, its the ultimate drug. I find myself sitting and daydreaming about foods I used to eat as a kid for some reason. I think my emotional attachment to food is unhealthy....ya think...lol. I was telling my girlfriend this story just the other day. As a child growing up with four siblings and a father who was a welder and a mom who was a stay at home mom, things were a little on the poor side. I mean don't get me wrong we always had everything we needed but never the extras that most kids have.
Growing up the only cereal in the house was Corn Flakes, no Reece Puffs, Fruit Loops, Cap'N'Crunch, none of that. So I used to add my own healthy dose of sugar to the Corn Flakes to make me feel like a kid...lol. Anyway one of my favorite things to do growing up was to fill like a big Salad bowl full of Corn Flakes, cover them in milk and sugar and then throw them in the fridge. I know, I know that's gross but Oh so good. Everything gets all soggy and the Corn Flakes soak up most of the milk. After about thirty minutes in the fridge its time to put in a good movie, watch a football game or whatever and just enjoy.
Point is I have come to realize that the Corn Flakes taste like shit but the point is I have been daydreaming about food so much I have even started dreaming about food all the way back in my childhood. I know, I need help...lol.

This last week is all about focus though and finishing up the last bits of work to make sure I look my best. I have already started to pack for my two weeks away and my hair and wax appointments are coming up. Oh yeah that should be fun, I'm getting my body waxed, don't worry its only gonna take about five hours...lol. I already asked the esthitician if she could stop in the middle so I could eat a meal...lol. As for my hair on head it shouldn't take too long to get through that part of things since most of it is slowly going away. I haven't decided how I am going to cut it yet but there isn't too many choices when its falling out faster than its growing so I will let the hair stylist do her thing and hope for the best.

I guess that's about all the rambling I have this week. I have cut my music, almost packed and have done all my homework. Now I just have to go write the test and see if I pass. The Olympia qualification has still be out of reach to date so I'm gonna see if I can make that happen this weekend. Be sure to watch as I think it will be web cast on Pro Bodybuilding Weekly. Okay its 6:00am now, I'm gonna go drink a ton of sugar free Kool-Aid and hope that gets me back to sleep!

Sacrifice Without Regret,
Fouad Abiad

Refocused and Ready for Battle!

Whats going on everyone. It has been a tough road to this point for many different reasons but things seem to be coming together nicely. This week was one of reflection and refocus. After the Houston Pro Show I realized I hadn't dealt with my poor performance. This week I took some time out to think about what happen and how I can make it better in the future, I also took some time to let it go!
I am two weeks out from the Tampa Bay Pro Show now and I am tighter than I was for Houston already. I weighed in this morning at 245lbs and plan on dropping more if I can. One of the mistakes I made leading to Houston was playing the size game but not trying to catch any other athlete but more so with myself. I wanted to come in as big as I could and still be in shape, the problem was I didn't have my shape that I was recognized for last year.
So what am I doing differently you ask? When it comes to training in the gym with iron I have tried not to change anything. That is one equation that I will not mess with. I still am lifting as heavy as I can and trying to keep the volume as high as possible without over doing it.
Cardio has gone a drastic overhaul and if someone asks me after the show what I did differently, cardio will be the main culprit. I have gone back to basics with my cardio, in the past I have never been a treadmill or bike kinda guy. I always stuck to my old companion the Stepmill or Gauntlet, that's the moving stairs for those of you who don't know. For the Houston Chad and I had my cardio set up at 45min once a day first thing in the morning. I was on the treadmill the entire prep because I was seeing my weight drop so I thought it was all the same. Man, do I stand corrected. Being on the Stepmill the last couple weeks has really etched in some of the lines in the lower body I am really known for, it burns like a bitch especially when you trained legs the day before but it has to be done. The second change to my cardio was splitting my cardio into two sessions which is also something that I have always done. I am doing two 30min sessions instead of one long 45min session. The extra 15min isn't really whats doing the trick, its more the timing. First session is done on an empty stomach in the morning and the second session is done just before my last meal, which has no carbs in it by the way. So essentially I am burning most of the small amount of carbs I have had during the day and going to bed with my metabolism cranked. Welcome to the world of no sleep...
Now, there is some good news. Like I said I am refocused and am void of distraction. For the Houston I was always looking for food, I just wanted to eat all the time and I don't know why because I am not that kind of dieter. I generally flip the switch and then there is nothing left to do except follow the plan. For this show, I have gotten that militant attitude back. My girlfriend came here this weekend and I even cooked her my famous Penne with Blush sauce (which if you didn't know I would kill anyone of you for if it wouldn't hurt my show prep...lol). So as far as food goes it has become more for fuel again and less for fun, I guess getting mopped at a show will help you realize whats important.
On the same not my girlfriend has become more understanding of my situation and she actually doesn't hate me this week so it has been a little easier to focus on the task at hand. I know it has to be hard on them dealing with our cranky asses, so I have been doing the best I can also to make her life less miserable. Its a two way street I guess but either way you look at it, if we are okay I can think more clearly about the things I need to be doing.
I have also been trying much harder to be nicer to the people around me, be it, close friends, family or just the dude in the gym who was in the wrong place at the wrong time...lol. Its a tough thing to do but a conscious effort has to made or I will drive everyone crazy.
On the crazy side of things, I have also curbed my craziness into one corner I think. I used to be on the net buying anything and everything I could get my hands on. Lately though it seems to be all directed toward my car. This I don't feel so bad about. My car is like my hobby or my release and since I can't go out and have a few drinks then I might as well enjoy modifying my car. I have an 05 Mustang GT and this past week I had it lowered, this coming week I am adding a few more goodies to it. When its done I will give you guys a good shot of it so you can email me some of your opinions.
Anyway, now I am rambling. The Tampa show is going to have the like of Dennis James, Darrem Charles, Toney Freeman and Mark Dugdale to name a few so I guess you guys see what I am getting at. If I stand a chance against these Olympians I better show up at 100% or else I will just be another fan but with a better seat than most. To all of you getting ready for the North Americans or the Canadian Nationals, keep slammin that weight and to my peers in the IFBB, its all good, have that piece of pie, no ones lookin...

Sacrifice Without Regret!
Fouad Abiad

Too Long in the Hole.

Where should I start, training, diet, life, craziness, relationships? I guess I will start with the most important reason for this blog and that is training and diet. I haven't had a cheat meal or day in a little while so I am currently pretty close to where I need to be for the stage. I weighed in at 249lbs this morning and I know I only need to get to about 245lbs before I load up. I think Chad is bringing me down nice and slow which is great for the physique but is wreaking havoc on my mental state...lol.
It isn't easy walking around at 3-5% body fat when that isn't what your body is comfortable with. I mean, some guys are naturally shredded so they probably don't feel weak or sluggish on a daily basis but when your naturally supposed to be around 8-10% and you are forcing it down it gets hard to operate.
Needless to say training has been less than stellar over the last week. My training partners tell me we are going hard and I am pushing the hardest I can but it just feels like nothing is happening. I am so used to lifting heavy all the time that when I don't I feel like I am slacking. Anyhow to make up for the lack of weight being pushed I have incorporated some other things into my training like, drop sets, negatives but most of all more volume and almost no rest between sets. There is nothing like doing 30 sets for legs with no rest in between....jeez, it was a good one though.
The diet hasn't changed, I am still on steak, chicken, rice and potato's and like I said before it feels like just enough to keep me alive. There is something I need to explain to those of you who have never been on a contest diet though. The meals haven't changed in a while but I honestly feel like they are getting smaller and smaller. Every time I eat the meal seems to be done before I have even realized it. Good thing there isn't anyone here video taping me, maybe I am simply inhaling my food like a slob and I just don't realize it. Regardless, it seems like its never enough.
On the career front, I finished up my second photo shoot of the year earlier on this week. I think it went well, I was in good shape and felt confident that I gave all I could give. I cut water for the shoot, not drastically like I would for a show but enough so that I couldn't drink water for half a day before and the day of. I don't know how many of you have tried to lift weights when dehydrated but a 45lb plate no longer feels like a 45lb plate, all of a sudden it feels like a wheel of a big rig! The article we shot was a squat article so I have to admit half way through the shoot I was done and I mentally had to push my body through. The shoot was with MuscleMag International and it was for an article and a cover. I have to keep my fingers crossed though because covers are never guaranteed and all it takes is a hot chick with a lot of plastic to give me the bump...lol.
One last thing I have to tell you guys about so you know a little more about the glamorous life of an IFBB Pro. I'll start from the beginning. I need you to know that before Wednesday night I hadn't had a good nights sleep in about 6 weeks. Anyway, so at some of the shows and expos there are fans that are there for autographs, pics and swag and I appreciate everyone one of them but I'm sorry, it stops at my front door.
On Thursday morning I was finally getting some good shut eye when the phone rang at 7am. I ignored it and tried to go back to sleep but no more than 2 minutes later the phone rang again. So I answer it and low and behold its a fan asking me for pictures! I asked him how he got my number and he said he couldn't tell me but he wanted to know if I had some pics for him. I may be 300lbs in the offseason but listen, that shit creeped me out big time. I told him not to call my home ever again, I may have used some other words but that was the gist of it and then I hung up. So get this, the guy calls back right away begging....please can I have some pics he says....I couldn't believe it. I gave him a good piece of my mind and luckily for me he hasn't called since. So anyway I guess that means I am getting somewhere in my career since I have my very own IFBB stalker now?!?
Lets see did I leave anything out. Oh yeah, my social life is in the toilet..lol. My girlfriend hates me again this week, my friends don't call me anymore because I am too much of an ass to them and I haven't been out in three months. I am not a huge party guy or anything but I love a good drink from time to time and lets just say its been a little too long since I got a little release.
All of the complaining above doesn't matter though because I wouldn't trade my career for anything. It is hard but I am doing something I love and even though the working months are really hard, the offseason is all mine. At the end of the day its all about what I am willing to sacrifice....

Sacrifice Without Regret.
Fouad Abiad

Another Week Another Battle!

Hey y'all, sorry I'm late with this weeks blog, things are a little hectic and I am trying to keep my head on straight while getting ready for Tampa Bay. Thanks again to all of you for your encouragement and thanks for taking the time to read my nonsense blog...lol, half the time I am so depleted I don't even know what I am writing so if it makes sense to any of you then I am well ahead of the game.

Alright lets start with the serious part, the training and diet. Training is still very good since I ate so much after the show it still feels as if my muscles are full enough to lift good poundage's. I am training as heavy as I can, I would say its about 80% of what I lift in the offseason so I am content and don't feel too weak. Most importantly I have really shortened up the rest periods in between so i can really increase the burn and etch in more detail.

The diet, what can I say about the diet, its the same old shit...lol. Chicken, steak, Rice, Potato all in small enough amounts that I am able to stay alive but am barely able to function, gotta love the way the precontest prep really tests what you're made of. I have returned to the weight I was just before dropping water for Houston so I have a few extra pounds to shed and then I should be good. The toughest part now is the waiting game, I can't wait to hit the stage again and try to move up.

Now for most of you up and comers who think BBers have it easy let me give you my schedule for the next little while. I finished a show on the 4 & 5th of July. I have a shoot on the 16th then another show on the 9th of August. From there I shoot again on August 12 & 13th then the next show is the 15th & 16th of August, wait its not over, then I get to shoot again on the 17th, 18th, 19th & 20th.

So what is the point of all that? Don't think its a cake walk because the better you get the more work it takes. I didn't realize when I was coming up, I thought I would turn pro sign a few contracts and then sit on my ass but think again brother, it only gets harder and harder the higher you climb. Mind you I'm not complaining, I love what I do but I am just giving you dreamers a heads up about the reality behind the scenes.

Now aside from the in the gym my life is in shambles. For some reason I can't stay off Ebay, all I do is log on to try to find new things to buy and this is a direct result of the diet because I'm not like this in the offseason. Don't ask me why it makes it easier to diet when you're buying things but it is. So far I have bought a new laptop, home entertainment center, camcorder and I still have three months of dieting left...my god, I'm gonna have to make it big just so I can support my precontest shopping habit...lol.

Anyway, sorry for being late with the blog this week, to all of you who are doing shows coming up, stay strong, don't cheat and keep busting ass in the gym. Remember, when you think you're training hard there is someone killing themselves to beat you too!

Sacrifice Without Regret!

Fouad Abiad

Ready for More...

Whats up everyone. Its two days after the Houston Pro show and as you all know by now I was seventh place and not satisfied with my placing. Lets talk about getting to the show...lol. My plane left on Wednesday morning for Houston, walking through Detroit Metro airport all I could see was Bagels, Cinnabuns, Chocolate bars and Sandwiches. So after fighting the urge to eat all of those things I found my way to my gate scaring half the public because I am an abnormally large arab man with a mohawk...lol. I do my best to smile but I don't think it helps..lol
I boarded the three our flight in good spirits then we hit a storm, just as we were about to land the plane picks up again and we get redirected only to sit on a tarmac somewhere else for an hour and a half before being able to come back to our original airport to land. So I missed a meal and was pissed. Then the cab ride from Houston airport to the hotel was about forty-five minutes and eighty bucks later and that pissed me off. Then the hotel didn't have a microwave for me that they were supposed to have and that pissed me off. Then I had to change rooms because there was no fridge and That pissed me off. Anyway after all was said and done I was checked in and pretty pissed off.
From there on things turned around. My girlfriend showed up the next day and helped me calm down by helping me prepare food and cleaning up and things like that. I slept a lot Thursday and ate every couple hours making sure I was nice and full for the battle Friday. There in lies the problem, I ate too much. I have added about 8-10lbs of muscle since the last show and trying to fill it out became a chore and I went a little overboard.
I hit the stage on Friday at a full hard 249lbs and I was the first one out to do my free posing, I felt big and hard. After I went off I had to wait for twenty-one other guys to go and as I waited I could feel the pump spilling out over the muscle and I was losing it as I stood there. By the time I was ready to go back out for comparisons I had spilled over and it was evident that I had tried to fill too much.
After all was said and done I received a good crowd response, a good response from bodybuilding insiders and tons of support on the muscle forums to go with my seventh place finish. I am unhappy with my placing but am happy to know that most of the public noticed my gains and sees my potential now its up to me to put it all together in Tampa.
August 9th is just under five weeks away and since I have been eating ice cream and pizza for the last three days I guess its time to get back to work. I plan on hitting the stage in Tampa a big, shredded 244lbs and hopefully this time I won't miss the mark.
So I want to thank everyone of my fans for there support and I also want to apologize for letting you guys down. I know a lot of you made predictions and I did my best to make them come true but I just missed the timing a little, don't lose faith I will be back to show what I am really made of. Thanks for having my back y'all.

Sacrifice Without Regret,
Fouad Abiad

One Week Out

Oh baby, its right around the corner and I can't wait. The diet is crappy, training is losing its intensity since I am so low on energy but my motivation to keep bangin' is higher than ever. I am currently sitting at 251lbs in the morning, dry and empty. I can't wait to carb up in a few days and see what my body looks like when its not depleted.
The diet has been relatively easy as far as the prep goes (I never cheat) but as most of you competitors know some of my relationships have been strained. I have a tendency to alienate myself from the world when I am dieting. I know its wrong but its the only way I know how to get it done. Most of the people in my life to this point have been around for so long they just ignore me when I'm being an ass but unfortunately I hurt some people in the process. My sister and I had it out because of my stupidity and ignorance, since then she has forgiven me because I admitted I was a jerk. My poor girlfriend has had to deal with a Fouad she's never seen before. We met in the offseason so she knew happy go lucky, buffet eating, fat Fouad, only to run into dieting, regimented, selfish, moody Fouad. I feel sorry for her because I want to do more for her but I just can't make it happen right now. Luckily for me she has endured all the nonsense and will be there for me next weekend.
I have been reading a lot of the bodybuilding boards and have noticed that some people have mentioned me as a top five contender at this show, hell, some even have me winning...lol. I have to admit, I have my daydreams of getting the first callout and winning the show, as a competitor you have to visualize those things. As a realist I also have to visualize the possibility that I may get the last callout, anything can happen and I think one should be ready for anything. At the end of the day its only one battle in a war of a career, so whether I win or lose I have to come back to fight again. Like my dad used to say, as long as you fight your hardest and do your best you will always feel good about yourself.
Personally I feel like this is by far the best I have ever looked. I am as hard or harder than I was last year already but I am ten pounds heavier. I really feel like that extra ten pounds could be the difference between fifth and third, or maybe even first!
Thank you to all of you who supported me, my friends, my family and especially my girlfriend who has been through hell and back and only has a week left till she gets the fat happy Fouad back (even though it will only be for a few days since I have three more shows to do...eek for her).
The next time you guys here from me will be post Houston so wish me luck, I will do my best to represent you Canada. There is nothing left to do now, the music is cut, the posing trunks are packed, the contracts are signed and all the blood, sweat and tears have been shed. All there is left to do is hit the stage and rock the house!

Sacrifice Without Regret!
Fouad Abiad

Two Weeks Out

Okay, its finally starting to happen. Usually when I diet for a show I start getting weaker around the four or five week mark. This year I have made a conscious effort to lift as heavy as I could for as long as I could leading up to the show. I figured this would help keep more muscle as well as keep me more full and for all intensive purposes it has worked.
Finally at the two week mark I am now noticing a significant loss in explosive power. For those of you who compete you know that the last four weeks before a show is all mental. Your mind tries to play tricks on you, telling you that you are too small or too weak, that your losing too much weight, that your not doing enough, etc., etc., etc... The ones who can control these thoughts and stay focused are the ones who become champions.
The hardest part of controlling that mental fight is when you are ready to step on stage but still have to wait. Now at the two week mark, I am ready. My weight this morning was 255lbs and I believe after dropping water I could hit the stage in the best shape of my life. The problem is now I have to wait two weeks and control my mind so I don't deviate from my program. So on the diet end things are smooth and couldn't look better right now, I just have to lift a little lighter so I don't hurt myself.
This week was good for career highlights. I found out this week that I will be doing a photo shoot at MetroFlex in Texas in a few weeks with Johnnie Jackson. My favorite gym of all the ones I have been at is Gold's Venice and I have always wanted to train at Temple Gym in England but MetroFlex will come into a close third and will be a highlight of my career to this point. JOJ is a great bodybuilder and to be part of that shoot with him will be as rewarding as the venue.
The Ontario Championships (provincial show) were this weekend and I had a chance to attend since I had a client and a friend competing in the show. I want to thank any of you who were there and are reading this for all your support and kind words. I don't think some of you understand the significance of your support. For some of you to tell me I am an inspiration and that you read my blog every week made this all worth it. Some others told me that they were counting on me to put Canada back onto the bodybuilding map. That's a ton of pressure but so flattering I will do everything in my power to be the one to represent Canada in the bodybulding world and show people that us Canucks can bang with the best!


Sacrifice Without Regret!
Fouad Abiad