July 27-31, 2009

What a week! I found it extremely difficult to get up this morning with the sun nowhere to be found so I decided to sleep in.  Probably was the best decision since my glutes, quads, and hamstrings are still sore from reppin’ out the squats with 620 pounds.  Work flew by since it was shipment day … gotta love sifting through and sorting 40 totes full of sports nutrition and everything in between … LOL.  I chuckle about it today, but I recall being unnerved by the thought of being on my feet and working for more than 6 hours at a time.  Looking back today, I am so glad that I found the courage to let go of the surreal world of professional bodybuilding and to return to normalcy.  I thought about my many blessings today during my 3.5 mile run and it made me feel extremely thankful and happy.  I hope you all have the same sense of balance and optimism.

My apologies … I have been MIA.

Hello everyone!  I apologize for the long delay since my last post, but I have been extremely busy as of late.  I am back in the “9-to-5 grind” once again so any time I have left after that is spent in the gym or outside running.  What do I do with my time?  I am managing the Vitamin Shoppe in Huntington Beach 5-days per week and am still a Senior Writer for Status Fitness Magazine.  For all of those who are wondering if my physique will ever grace the competitive stage again, my answer is a resounding “NO.”  Although I do miss having something to train hard for and dedicate my efforts to, I don’t miss the shenanigans of the IFBB.  I work too hard and am too passionate about the sport of bodybuilding to let a bunch of idiots tell me that I need to work harder, which basically means I should take more steroids, growth hormone, and insulin to keep up with the rest of their circus.  Once gain folks … I am a bodybuilder, but bodybuilding will never mean more than my life.  Simply put, I have walked away with my life intact and have so much to look forward to.  It is so ridiculous how so many people will allow their egos to overtake their common sense.  It is no secret that professional bodybuilding (even at the amateur level) has deteriorated so much in the last ten years that it is no longer about hard work and dedication.  God forbid the participants train hard.  Today, it is more about who is willing to push more chemicals through their veins.  Where the fuck is the talent in that?  It requires no intelligence and pure absurdity to justify going to such extremes measures to walk away with a fuckin’ trophy.

I recently perused flexonline.com to see the talent at this year’s USA Championships.  For those of you who don’t know what the USA’s Championships are about, it is basically a national level stage for top ranked amateurs from all over the states to compete for their pro cards.  I have a special fondness for the USA’s because I captured my first national crown there back in 2002.  I recall being so excited about the whole thing, and especially about winning.  Back then, I am certain that most of the physiques present were products of sheer hard work and determination.  The “roided gut” look that is prevalent today was not as prominent.  Additionally, only a handful of guys back in 2002 were utilizing insulin.  Today, I firmly believe more than half of the guys take insulin and probably as much as 3 out of every 4 are taking growth hormone … EVERYONE is taking a steroid of some sort.  So sad!  Such a profound hypocrisy to be pushed as a symbol of health and wellness, yet be all about all that is unhealthy.

I know I am ranting right now, but I just want you to know why I have been absent for so long.  It seems the more I stay away from the sport, the healthier and happier I become.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love the sport of bodybuilding as it literally saved my life back in 2000.  Do I still keep up with my health?  ABSOLUTELY!  I am NOT one of those typical IFBB pros who disappears and re-emerges as a mere figment of their former selves.  Like whom?  Tom Prince, Mike Morris, Shawn Ray … should I continue?  You will NEVER get that out of me.  I am still holding nearly 200 pounds of muscle mass even with my 3-5 miles of daily running … and that’s with a 7.5 mile per hour pace.  Yes, I said running!  Don’t believe me?  Come out and join me!  I know … I know … running is suppose to burn a lot of muscle mass.  I once believed that also.  I have been running at that pace ever since I retired from the sport more than 2 years ago. Hell, I was running even as I trained for my IFBB shows … just not for as long of a distance.  My mission today is to demonstrate to you that you can do it all and should do it all.  Life to me is about having balance and maintaining balance. Never forget that your heart is the most important muscle, as it helps feed the muscle that you are desperately trying to produce.  Knowing that, why the heck would you push chemicals through your body that will ultimately weaken your heart and eventually kill you?

I will be in attendance, as I always am, at this year’s Muscle Beach Labor Day Classic.  It is a wonderful show that has remained true to the cause … to educate and celebrate true health and wellness.  If you love it and it is good for you, then it should NOT take your life away.  Peace!