Tuesday, July 3, 2012

What's NEXT?!?!?!?!

Competition went well; I won my division and finished behind another person who is far more experienced in bodybuilding. So needless to say I learned A LOT. Bodybuilding thus far has truly taught me about UPS, DOWNS, struggles and accomplishments that I am able to continue to apply to all facets of my life.

Well now that I have accomplished that goal of competing I am setting another goal. I want to continue to compete. I am setting myself up to continue doing so whether it is for another competition in October or compete again next year. However, since I know how it feels to compete I want to know how it feesls to have my Bacherlor's Degree. My goal is to complete my BS in Organizational Leadership NO LATER THAN March 2013. I have all my classes mapped out and scheduled in order to achieve this it is a matter of EFFORT + DESIRE = GOALS ACHIEVED.
I AM BACK!!
So I began my return to the gym yesterday. I was anticipating it for quite some time. Between vacation and the competition I was away from the gym for 11 days and I thought about it almost everyday, but the physical and mental rest was much needed. Allowed me to regain myself, whatever that means to you it probably meant the same to me.

So, yesterday I started off with a Back workout and it was AAAWESOME. I busted through that and abs, felt great! I am still on that W4L training and the results are continual.

This blog is supposed to be about GETTING RIGHT! Well I felt like I indeed made this happen. Yeah I wanted to win my division and overall for the competition but more than anything I set and met a goal. A goal that I dreamed of for several years but NEVER APPLIED myself to achieve it; therefore, I was always GETTING LEFT behind.

I challenge you the reader to set yourself a goal that may be slightly challenging and complete it. Remember challenging for you could be as simple as setting a goal that you have struggled to achieve and finally achieving it. Goals are meant to be an achievable obstacle for the individual it should never be able to turn in to a complete road block or brick wall.  
DP

Thursday, June 21, 2012

What you cooking????


2 days... I can smell it…………………
Your either cooking some delicious FRIED FATTY GOODNESS ( I just like saying that)  or it is my office mates fruits and candies that they have brought back from FRANCE. , If its not your cooking then it definitely is the smell of  the stage, the atmosphere, the anxiety floating in the air, the tanning sprays, the oils, the fears of those who are not as prepared.

Final prep phases tonight = I need to get a haircut, shave, tan, prepare the remainder of my meals and most importantly practicing my posing and finalize my routine. Sure I am nervous, but I am getting EXCITED. The excitement is taking me way pass the nerves and will continue to be that way up until it is GO time. I don't know if I will be nervous, but to tell you the truth, probably not I want this. AT this point I have done all that I can to set the bar high.

The contest is only 2 days away. I am looking forward to Friday because it is that much closer to Saturday. IT has been a week of counting down the days for that 1 big moment, that 1 big opportunity, I am Eager.  

Like Eminem said WILL YOU CAPTURE? Or Will you LET IT SLIP! OFC I am going to go out and CAPTURE! Its mine for the TAKING, make me KING!!!
DP
2 days(Thursday) I Can Smell It…......….
1 day (Friday) I CAN TASTE IT…….......

0 DAYS SHOW TIME LET’S GO!!!!!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

3 DAYS COME ON................


There goes the neighborhood. I have been good up to this point, but BAM it hits me. I am ready to get it on. My buddy had to pull out of this contest because of his back and he is asking me if I am ready. YES I am ready! I was ready yesterday and now that you brought it up I am ready right NOW. I have talent and I want to showcase it. I want my hard work and dedication to be on display and judged by complete strangers. I want to be told I was excellent here and bad here.


      I want to walk across the stage with stage lights reflecting off of the bright shimmer of my muscular body into the eyes of everyone, like I am an angel breaking through the clouds. : )

Am I ready, who is he to ask me this? I have been dedicated to this for the last 14+ weeks. I have been sacrificing so much just for this 1 shining moment. Hell I do not know how I will finish, or how I will truly feel, but I do know this much once its all said and done no one can take away what I learned because I LIVED IT and if you LIVE IT, it becomes your EXPERIENCE and NO ONE can take that away. NO one can take away the lessons learned. Granted it has been a roller coaster (there it is again), but whose life isn’t we all ride on one it just may be called a different name.
Mine is the DP EXPRESS!
DP

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

4 DAYS.. Its not cloSE ENOUGH

Today is Tuesday 4 days before its SHOW TIME/ GO TIME!! I am not nervous, but I do feel something building in my gut.

I have 2 more workouts left in my week, Shoulders and Legs. Shoulders/ Cardio tonight Legs/ Cardio tomorrow morning. Then the water depletion begins. Low Carb and Maximum of 1 gallon of water started yesterday. I did not realize how much water I drink until I was restricted, OMG!!!
SO far I am feeling well, and I am a little slow motion in regards to my thought process and movement. Although I did have a great day back work yesterday, but posing right afterwards fatigued me, but I have/ had to dig deep.
I have been working on my routine as well, wow, it is fun but it is like sprinting 400m, for those who know what I mean.

My attitude has not been the best, but I have stepped back several times and realized the direction I was going and shut my mouth because I was not thinking clearly. I have a great support team in my wife. So far I am enjoying this journey; I am enjoying it because it is a CHALLENGE and I will not QUIT!

EFFORT (QUITING not POSSIBLE) + DESIRE (CHALLENGE) = GOALS ACHIEVED

4 days(Tuesday) Not close enough………..
3 days(Wednesday) Come ON………........
2 days(Thursday) I Can Smell It…......….
1days(Friday) I CAN TASTE IT…….......

0 DAYS SHOW TIME LET’S GO!!!!!

DP

Friday, June 15, 2012

REASONS & EXCUSES

So 8 Days left. I am a little tired/ fatigued. I do not know if it is mentally or physically. I think it is more physical than mental; however, sometimes it boils over and becomes mental. For instances, yesterday was a LEG days for my workouts. Now I have enjoyed LEG days no matter how much pain it has put me through, but yesterday I had a lot of REASONS not to do it. Let me show you my thought process.
Hmmm, thinking to myself,
  • REASON # 1 “man I am tired and I have a lot to do today, I can do it tomorrow when I get back”… Procrastination will win here. = EXCUSE # 1
  • REASON #2 “I don’t want to be sore tomorrow, I have a long flight” … Long flights suck no matter what. = EXCUSE # 2
  • REASON #3 “physically I don’t feel like I can do it, I am tired,”… Your competitor agrees you are too tired, you might get injured. = EXCUSE # 3
  • REASON #4 I can just jumble my schedule around to fit it in this weekend.” … Weekend really, after being gone for 2 weeks, be reasonable. = EXCUSE # 4
As you notice all my REASONS are essentially EXCUSES for not getting in the gym and BUSTIN MY A$$ in order to be better than the next man come June 23rd. I am not sick, I am not broken, and nothing is holding me back from working out except pure LAZINESS. I sucked it up and took the Green Mile stroll to my torture chamber known as the gym on LEG DAYS. You know what……. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. Sure my legs are fatigued today but that would have happened no matter what since I am traveling. I feel better mentally today knowing I did what I felt I was supposed to do.
DP

Monday, June 11, 2012

12 DAYS

DID you MISS ME?!?!

Oh my time has flown since I last Blogged. Sorry my mind was not on sharing my trials and tribulations with the world, but what else is the purpose, DUH.

So here I am. I am currently on assignment for my reserve unit, which means I am not at home. I will be gone from home for a total of 12 days and my contest is 12 days out. The only thing normal is my workouts. My DIET has changed, and let’s just say... I have GONE FISHING and GARDENING!!! I have learned some valuable lessons while I have been away.

1.     Getting away is nice but FAMILY SUPPORT is the BEST

2.      Even when things are not normal, find ways to make it seem normal

a.       For example I bought a Lil’ Foreman and make all my meals in my hotel

b.      I ensure I still get my workouts and cardio in

3.       EFFORT + DESIRE = GOALS ACHIEVED

There it is again. I have applied a Lil bit of Effort to my Desire and I am that much closer to my GOALS ...WOW....

I was talking to my wife and we were trying to figure out once you reach your goal where do you go? OFC the simple answer is create a new goal, right, but what if the original goal was unexpected. The answer is actually simple we just fail to see it sometimes, because we as a society believe that our goals always need to be upward and forward, but why can’t they be lateral to our current GOALS ACHIEVED. Let’s say I lost 20lbs and that was my goal, where do I go from there? How about turning my new body in to a more toned me? In 12 days I will have competed in my first contest, I will have lost 30+ lbs, I will hopefully have made my family, and friends who supported me proud of what I did, but where do I go from there? I have some ideas, but that will be saved for another BLOG. Oh I don’t want more than just competing in this bodybuilding contest, but you will have to stay tuned to see if I have reached that goal.
DP

Friday, May 25, 2012

Reflecting on the Memories!

Well it is the unofficial start to summer. Many people will be traveling this weekend to create Memories with family, friends or just to have something enjoyable to reminisce about. My fondest Memories of this weekend are the Backyard BBQs my father traditionally puts on. 50 or more people would show up for some FREE GRUB. Oh the smell of charcoal and lighter fluid cooking up some tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone ribs along side BBQ chicken, hamburger, hot dogs. Oh and the sides: potato salad, Mac n’ cheese (homemade), greens, rolls, oh the list goes on, I am STEADILY SALIVATING. Can’t forget the numerous people that would show up, family, friends, neighbors and complete strangers, everyone was invited. If my father seen some one in the streets while surveying the down town area he would send them an invite, it didn’t matter who they were. Oh how I miss those days.
Well this is the first year my father is not doing his Memorial Weekend BBQ for the first time in years, I can’t even remember the last time he did not do it, its got to be 20+ years. Good thing I have the Memories.



Other Memories I have are of my fellow service members. Man you guys (men and women collectively) helped me to develop in to the man I am today. Some of you have lost your life fighting battles in lands foreign; whereas, some of you are able to still fight on and to all of you I SALUTE this MEMORIAL WEEKEND. The moments we shared I will forever embrace, remember and pass on to my kids.  Without your DEDICATION to service, your HONOR and your SELFLESS acts I would not be able to carry these Memories, shedding a tear!
DP

Thursday, May 24, 2012

SLOW MOTION & 3

Today was just one of those days. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. My Lil’ Girl was sick so she did not get to go to the daycare/ summer camp. I was at work with 100 things to do and only did a small bit of it, Why, because everything was in slow motion. Sure I could have done more, but just when I was more proactive, things moved slower. There were only 3 of us at work today but all of us felt the same. Maybe it is because a 3 day weekend is lurking and I am excited to be off for all 3 DAYS! I don’t know why I am excited, I already have a whole list of household chores that need to be completed, both inside and outside the house. Did I mention I need to bath all 3 dogs, once again there goes that 3. After the 3 day weekend I have 3 days of work and then I leave for San Antonio, damn that 3 again!

Reflecting on this blog, I have a lot of things to do in increments of 3. So to all of you who are reading this after 3 tomorrow, you might not read a blog from for another 3 days. Who knows I might change my mind but I have 3 people to entertain, 3 dogs to bath, 3 days off of work, and 3 days to get ready to go out of town. Oh and in 3 weeks I will be in final prepping stages for my Bodybuilding contest. LET’S GO!
DP

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

DYING

OK not like literally, figuratively… Yesterday, I got to the gym and was excited to be in the gym, but something was a little off. I couldn’t tell right away so I ignored it. I began my workout doing pull-ups. Pull-ups are my absolute favorite exercise, you can ask anybody. I love PULL-UPS and any variation I can come up with or see. Completed 1st set and all of a sudden I just felt dead. I mean NO ENERGY no life in me, no edge nothing. It was almost as if I had not taken a day off from the gym. So I LEFT the GYM!

NAH LOL, I am playing, I pushed through the workout, I am not going to let that be a deterrent. I have a goal and I am going to meet it, but I had to mentally dig down because I could have laid it down and taken a nap. I felt good afterwards but during whoa, death.

With that said no food no energy right? Well my caloric intake is low, especially for me. I am still eating 6 meals a day (for those of you who didn’t know) but I burn through those calories quick. (Man what I wouldn't give for a BIG OLE' HEARTY MEAL!!!)  Once I burn through them I am starving, but I have to wait my 2-3 hours to eat again.  I cannot eat too soon and if I eat too late I am missing a window of opportunity to fuel my metabolism. Oh and for those that don’t believe in the frequency of 6 times a day, you need to try it and see if it helps achieve your goals. I BET if you eat right it will help.  

Well its time to suck it up, find the energy and head back to the gym. I got shoulders today. Let's see if I can get it done in 45 minutes or less. Going to be tough but hey just another challenge in order to reach my goal.
DP

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

4 Weeks 4 Days

Man the weeks and days are dwindling down and I have a lot on my plate before the show. Hmmm, going TDY for 2 weeks, finishing up 2 classes while gone, staying focused on my diet and workout while TDY.  The packing for this trip is going to be REEEEEE DIC U LUS, I will definitely have to inform you guys what all needs to be packed prior to going.  Once I return I will be 1 week from contest time and 9 days from family vacation = more packing.

I am ready for today’s workout. I am Feeling Great. I completed some cardio at lunch time, man I really have not found that love for cardio like some people have, it like watching paint dry; however, I do LOVE the results it helps achieve. I guess that is what is called Sacrifice.

Out of the last 14 days I have only rested from the gym 2 days. I had to take yesterday off, although mentally I did not want to, because I would’ve had bad repercussions if I kept going. The gym today will be a little strange, a buddy that is usually there will not be there as he decided to join the Air Force Reserve, proud of him. Today is a back workout day. I love back days.  CAN’T WAIT (in my Bart Scott voice). It takes a strong back to make a person stand tall and that is exactly what I plan to do on JUNE 23!!!  I know in 4 weeks 4 days I will have given my all; I will have made sacrifices, adjustments, and put in max Effort in order to get in front of complete strangers and say judge me. Sure there will be some constructive criticism given to me but I will be prepared to take it, besides nobody is perfect, but I will BE DAMN if I don’t come close.
DP

Monday, May 21, 2012

EFFORT

 
 
Effort!  What is effort? Effort is hard work. Effort is pushing myself 100% in order to accomplish a goal. Effort is giving my all even when I have nothing left to give.
 
Man what a week/ weekend. 7 straight days in the gym but today I will need to take off. Not because I want to, it’s a matter of ensuring I don’t break myself down too much and end up sick and unable to workout at all.

I went to the NPC Jr. USA Championships in Charleston, SC this past weekend. Mind you this was my first bodybuilding show I had ever been to; I had no clue the amount of work that these athletes put in to preparing for this one moment.  It was definitely cool to get a first hand glimpse of this the bodybuilding community when it is SHOW TIME, simply Amazing! Man, the things these athletes put themselves through in order to be judged by a third party person and told your work and effort earned you a PRO CARD or Thanks but you need to try again next year. Makes you wonder how they pick themselves up in order to do it again?!

Ray Lewis said it best, ... it is all about EFFORT!! “Effort is between you and you” … you know whether or not you gave it your all. Don’t be mad at your results if your effort was not 100%, who can you blame, who can you fault? I know my perceived perception of my failures has been strictly because of my efforts did not meet my desires. 
Bottom line is this – Stop complaining, Don’t quit, Push Hard and you will achieve your goals.
 
EFFORT + DESIRE = GOALS ACHIEVED….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07fhOVQ9wEA

Are you OK with "Being Mediocre"?

EFFORT: Myron Rolle = Rhodes Scholar; Jacob Tucker = Small Town College Dunk Champion, Shawn Wolfe = Natural Bodybuilding Champ 


 DP

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Leader/ Leadership

We all have a concept of what  leaders are and how they should act depending on what they are to lead… But it is fascinating to me that some of these “leaders” are solely leaders because of their title.

As defined by Dictionary.com leader... is a person or thing that leads
As defined by Dictionary.com leadership… the position of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group.

The reason why I defined the two words is because based on these definitions anyone can be a leader. By these definitions a person given the title of Manager can be a leader when a goal or objective is met and they are the lead. Did that manager guide, critique, help, or jump in and assist the group, or did that manager sit in an office and just ask if each task was/ is done

For me, being a leader is more intricate than that. A leader not only leads you to the ultimate goal, but a leader guides you, watches over you, critiques you and is willing to do anything his or her subordinates are doing. A leader is willing to stand up for his or her subordinates. A leader understands how hard the people around him or her work. A leader’s INTEGRITY is never questionable. A leader knows that without the subordinates he or she does not and will not exist.

What disgust me is that people put in Leadership positions forget who and what got them there. Sure the subordinates do not remain the same; HOWEVER, SUBORDINATES keep you GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. If you do not know how that is possible then you are NO LEADER.
DP

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Roller Coaster

So, I feel great today. Yesterday’s workout went well and cardio thus far today has too, so I am on a high right now. Shoulders workout tonight, one of my favorites! I stepped on the scale after cardio and was somewhat pleased as to what it said. I am about 6 lbs heavier than what I need to be at competition and I am hoping I make it. I know in the end I should be but not being there now makes me uncomfortable. I guess that kind of reverts back to yesterday blog... I want it now!!! it is pointless to have it now because then I will be really light for the contest which would not be good AT ALL.

Reflection on the last 2 days is simply explained metaphorically as a ROLLER COASTER ride.

We see  ROLLER COASTERs (challenges) and pick which ride one to ride . On the chosen ROLLER COASTER there are ups, downs, superfast sections, slowed down portions, twists and turns that can and cannot be accounted for. Some of it we enjoy some of it makes us sick to our stomachs, but as we persevere (although we are not in control) through it the ride is over before we know it and all is well. Similar to life we place our selves in situations that have consequences, some known, some unknown, but remember PERSERVERENCE will get you through. You had a vision in the beginning just because the ride is not the way you expected doesn't mean that the end result will not come out the way you desired.

Note to self keep picking ROLLER COASTER, but remember behind every turn, every dip, and every climb there is a lesson to learn, but once the lessons are done it is time to pick another ROLLER COASTER.

DP

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Progression

Well, last night I took some progression pictures. Well so much for the motivation ;( As I reviewed them I found myself more critical of myself... Oh this looks wrong, this is not even, and maybe I should concentrate on this or that. Well guess what DUMMY you are not the trainer and your trainer has given you guidance on how and what to do. Who am I to try and adjust myself, I only got myself this far by listening and taking the INSTRUCTIONS from some one that is far more knowledgeable than me. If I was able to get this far without the guidance of my trainer I would have already got it done.

So I guess in hindsight this is similar to other aspects of life. Like many people I want results yesterday with today's one time effort, versus seeing the big picture in which it took many little goals and challenges I had to overcome in order to make legitimate progress.

Today's wants will be tomorrow's past and therefore it will by my His - Story.

The saying goes... History repeats itself, but does it have to? Technically NO, the only thing that history repeats are life lessons and the only way you see those lessons as being the same is if you never learned from it to begin with.

Lesson for me today is simply this.... I did not have a bad yesterday, matter fact it was great: I made more strides towards my ultimate goal and if I keep going my goal will be obtained and I will be able to show the world that I am truly a SUPER HERO. Ok not so much a super hero but I can show that anyone is able to accomplish a goal simply by Persevering. We all have bad moments/days don't let the Bad Moments/Days Define the Real You.

DP

Monday, May 14, 2012

6 Weeks

So, you may be wondering what in the world would I have to blog about?! Well quite frankly nothing. This is probably the best way for me to vent out my frustrations on my journey to my first Natural Bodybuilding show. Trust me sometimes it just helps to say things out loud, well blog versus blurting them out, someone may think I am crazy. I am currently 6 weeks out and have been dieting and exercising for the last 8 weeks in order to prepare.

Let me tell you DIETING is no Joke. It is not and has not been as hard as you may expect. Granted the pleasures of FATTY FRIED GOODNESS are missing from my regiment but it is amazing what you can do at home with a Foreman. Additionally, I am an avid milk lover I had to surrender that as well, ugh, but my physical results have been Phenomenal.

Anyways, back to these 6 weeks. What makes the journey most difficult is TIME MANAGEMENT. Some things have to be sacrificed and some things have to be prioritized. For instance, like most of you I work full time, I am married w/ 2 kids and I attend school full time, so where is the time for weightlifting & cardio. Hell I don't know but I find it. Remember 1 hour of working out is only 4% of my day so 2 hours is only 8% so I got time, just have to prioritize & organize. 

DP