Lifetime Goals: Rebuilding Physically and Mentally

Editors Notes:

7 December 1999 -

It was my fifth consecutive day without sleep. Everything hurt. Every football injury, boxing injury, rugby injury, and mental sprain caused by hours glued to an organic chemistry book flooded my senses all at once. I willed myself to stand and stretch. Crepitus, the popping sound made by joints, combined to an all-time crescendo that reminded me of fire crackers going off at the Chinese New Year. I pooled all of my remaining resources by putting one foot in front of the other until I made it to the door. I opened the door and stepped out.

At every show it was Beverly athletes that smoked the competition. I was convinced Beverly supplements might be the missing element in my contest prep. My abs were one of my most difficult areas but they came in beautifully for the contest.

I took a breath and then nearly lost my breath at the beauty of the scene. A soft blanket of mist covered the valley below. Pencil thin columns of smoke from the small cottages that dotted the countryside slowly made their way towards an ever-brightening blue sky. A small horse-drawn cart peeked out from beneath a moving elephantine pile of hay. The sounds of small sheep bleating in the distance played upon the edge of my hearing. Dwarfing the entire scene was the mountain range in the distance. The mountain had been snow-covered throughout the entire summer even when temperatures had reached 110 degrees. It gazed with an almost tangible disdain at the clouds and the valley far below its peak. The white clouds formed a loose ring around the lower half of the mountain. I mumbled something that sounded like wow as I regained the ability to breathe. Peace.

It was hard to believe that this peaceful setting had witnessed some of the most brutal warfare and human atrocities of the decade. After spending a combined 22 months in the Balkans, I was starting to give up on humanity at least in that part of the world. There is only so much that you can see before you start to doubt whether or not the people in a region of the world ever wanted to do more than slaughter each other. Other experiences had reinforced my growing doubt concerning the darker side of humanity. As I reached down every muscle in my back screamed in unison. I grabbed my camouflaged flak vest, flipped it over my head while simultaneously letting my arms slip through the sleeves. I grabbed my Kevlar helmet and placed it on my head, pulled my Beretta out, did a quick functions check and placed it into the holster. I felt for the two extra clips in my ammo pouches, my compass, and the GPS that I carried on my pistol belt. Everything was there. It was time to go.

I boarded a bus to Macedonia, smiling at the sight of Kosovo in the rear view mirror. I was leaving Kosovo burned out physically and mentally. Twelve days later I had completed my short tour in Germany and was on my way back to the United States.

I was in the worse shape of my life. Physically, I felt like I was 65 years old going on 90. I reported to the Armor Officer's Career Course at Ft. Knox Kentucky at 16.16% bodyfat, an all-time high. During my break, I had a chance to think and enjoy the simple things in life that we so often take for granted, like freedom, peace, and life. I took a hard look at myself and the people and things that are important to me. I looked at my dreams and where I wanted to go. I realized that I needed my mind to heal. I needed to rebuild both physically and mentally. And I needed to pursue some lifetime goals before life's tornado swept me away again.

One of these was bodybuilding competition. At the age of thirteen, I was introduced to the world of bodybuilding one weekend when I discovered a Muscle and Fitness magazine in the Book Corner Store in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. It was 1983. Samir Bannout, was Mr. Olympia. A photo of Samir and Lee Labrada was on the cover. Game over. The seed was planted.

Fast forward to January 2000. I saw a flyer for the Northern Kentucky Bodybuilding Competition at E-town Swim and Fitness Club. "I'm there! " What better way to see what I’d be up against when my turn came?

I’d been lifting for years and had done pretty well, managing to go from 182 to 218. The problem was - at least 16% of that was fat. I knew I was missing something. I decided to go back to the drawing board set my goals and start researching the latest developments, supplements, and techniques.

Here are the goals I set on March 15, 2000:

1. Place in the top 4 at the Gold Cup Bodybuilding Competition, October 7.
2. Reduce bodyfat from 16% to below 5 % with minimal loss of lean mass.

I also decided to go to as many bodybuilding shows as possible. The Northern Kentucky was the first in a series of five (in a 2-month span) that I would attend. At the Northern I picked up a No Nonsense Newsletter and sat down to enjoy the show. I’d attended a few bodybuilding shows in Germany. There, I’d seen maybe 5 athletes in good condition in a field of 20. At the Northern, there were a hundred athletes; nearly everyone was in great condition. It seemed that the top two or three competitors in every class were thanking Beverly International for helping them get in contest condition.

I’d first heard of Beverly International in Dr. Colgan's book Optimum Sports Nutrition, a great book that had taught me very much about performance nutrition. Dr. Colgan stated that there were really only a very few supplements on the market that actually met label claims. Of all the companies out there, Beverly International was one of the few companies whose products always met or exceeded their label claims. Dr. Colgan also stated that many Olympic athletes were using Beverly International products with outstanding success.

At the time I had automatically written Beverly International off as a potential source of supplements for me - assuming that I would not be able to afford them due to their pharmaceutical grade components. But now, I had an opportunity to research their products that was too good to pass up. During the intermission, I perused the Beverly International table. I picked up their literature and started reading. And what I read knocked my eyes out!

I read of transformations that were absolutely incredible. Transformations that I had been taught would take 8 months to a year were occurring in 8 to 12 weeks for the Beverly International clients. Of course, I was still skeptical. But I took the literature home and conducted some more research. The next week I attended to another show in Terre Haute, Indiana. Once again the Beverly International athletes smoked the competition. I was becoming more convinced that Beverly International supplements just might be one of the missing elements in my own contest preparation.

I don't have a comparison photo of my back for the rear but I couldn't believe what I saw in the mirror the night before the Gold Cup!

I was becoming more and more convinced that Beverly International supplements were the missing element in my contest preparation.

Two weeks later, at the Derby Classic in Louisville, it was again the Beverly International clients with whom I was most impressed. I got the opportunity to talk to Roger at the end of the show and was able to set up an appointment.

On 13 April, I drove up to Beverly International for my first consultation. I discussed my goals, had my bodyfat composition checked, and posed for the first time in front of an audience. I had been following my own diet since 15 March. And by 13 April I had already hit a wall. I’d stopped dropping fat. The telltale signs of catabolism were already appearing: decreased strength, fatigue, and reduced ability to recover between workouts.

At that first consultation Roger discussed my posing and assessed my physique and body composition. He stated that he would like to see me compete at 187lbs. I didn’t think that was possible. I felt that 187 was way too lean for me. However, I was not going to argue. My methods sure hadn’t produced any trophies.

So, I sat, took notes, and listened. Roger discussed my eating plan and then asked me a question: "Why so much soy protein?" I answered, "I’m a vegetarian." He responded as he smiled; "Now you tell me." I could see the wheels turning in his head. He was assessing whether or not I was worth the effort. There are not too many vegetarian bodybuilders out there. We present a unique set of challenges to the sport. I was extremely relieved when he said that we needed to go into his office so that he could create an eating plan. I caught a gleam in his eye as he came up with the first eating plan. He recommended Mass Aminos, Ultra 40, Ultra Pak, Glutamine, and Muscle Provider.

Here is one of the amazing things that happened within the first 12 hours of using Beverly International supplements. (I’m not sure if I told you before but at that time I was also training for a half marathon.) I’d unhappily been watching my strength drop as I increased my total miles each week.

I started using the Mass Aminos, Ultra 40, Muscle Provider, and the Ultra Pack on 16 April. I didn’t train that day but the next morning I awoke feeling absolutely incredible. I noticed immediately that my upper pecs had filled out. In fact, my entire physique had filled out. The constant muscle burn that I had experienced was gone. I had more energy. I also noticed that the upper part of my quads had already gained a level of definition.

I was in shock. But, wait! It gets better. We ran 8 miles that morning and later on that evening I went to the gym. I hadn’t done any flat bench presses for two months. Everything was on the incline - I couldn’t bear to watch my flat bench poundage go down week after week. But that was before Beverly International.

So I started my training schedule that night with the flat bench press. After a two-month layoff, daily marathon training, and 5 or fewer hours of sleep each night, I benched a lifetime high of 335lbs! My previous all time high had been 310. As I stated earlier, I had watched my strength drop for the last month. Now, my strength was going through the roof. All my lifts went up. I felt better than I had ever felt before. I was on my way.

Here are some notes I made in my training journal for the period 13-April to 23-May-2000:

• Energy level improved significantly (from 6 to 9 on a scale of 1 to 10.) Reason – Ultra 40 and Mass Aminos. Completely surprised at the strength and power increase during a leaning phase.
• Immediate vascularity improvement in the traps and upper chest area. Separations deeper than I have ever experienced appeared within three days.
• Bench-pressed 335 for 1, personal best. I would have never expected that during a leaning phase. Felt strong enough to lift 345. I attribute that to two separate things. First of all the Ultra 40 tablets increased my energy level in an unbelievable manner. Second, the change in my diet. I had my best workout this year. The pump was unbelievable.
• Separations in the upper quads appeared immediately. It’s been years since I have seen that kind of separation in my upper quads. Change in eating plan, better supplements, and running are the reasons for this immediate improvement.

Early in my contest prep I was worried about my almost non-existent upper pecs. With the help of Muscle Mass BCAA's I not only maintained all of my mass but also added to it considerably

• Muscle fullness increasing in spite of training for a half marathon as well as doing additional cardio. Unexpected results as far as muscle fullness is concerned. The Muscle Provider is working well. Recovery time is getting shorter which has always been a serious problem with me. Now, I am experiencing shorter recovery times in spite of not using creatine, which reduced my recovery time in the past.
• Progress as far as fat loss is concerned has started again. My upper two rows of abs are visible. My waist is getting smaller. Bodyfat is continuing to drop.

• I am continuing to see improvements in skin thinness. The Bev ZMA is working too well. I am sleeping almost too deeply.
• Recovery time is still improving.
• Muscle size is starting to decrease in some of the major muscle groups. After running the marathon, I will check to see if the muscles regain size.
• Pinch check abdominal and waist areas are showing fat losses. Body fat reduction in these areas is going well. These areas started higher than other areas; therefore they will take longer to reach goal levels.
• Completely surprised at the progress that I have made in this short period of time.
• At this rate, I will be able to compete before October, maybe as early as August or possibly July. The supplements are the best that I have ever used.
• I am backing off the cardio right now. I am sticking to four cardio sessions each week. Duration for each cardio session is 30 – 60 at 70-75% THR. I need to stop losing leg mass. I have lost two inches in about two months. I attribute the mass loss to the high volume of running we were doing to prepare for the marathon. I am reducing the amount of running that I will do in order to stop losing more thigh mass.

Weak Areas

1. I will start focusing on leg training again once my physical training test is over. My legs are my weakest point. (Once Beverly International starts selling body parts I will purchase some bigger legs ? )
2. My arms are also a weak point. I need to maintain size during this leaning phase and then add size during the gain phase. I am confident that I will be able to improve once I switch to a gaining diet.
3. Abdominal area contains a higher percentage of fat than other areas on my body. I will continue to push the eating plan and supplements as well as cardio.
4. My traps need to be bigger. I will focus on them now and throughout the gaining phase.
5. My upper pecs are non existent. I have been focusing on them for a while now. I am starting to see them better as a result of the change in supplements and the change in diet. I still need to improve.

On May 23, I went back for another consultation and body composition analysis. I was down to 8.99% bodyfat. In a little more than two months I’d lost 18 lbs of bodyfat! And my strength was actually increasing!

Roger added Ultra Size to my supplement program and increased the protein. I picked up my supplements and went to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for another military school. I stayed with the same diet for two more months and returned for another consultation.

1. Pump is unbelievable. Out of this world. Incredible. Stupendous. Freakish even.
2. Muscle burn during exercise is almost nonexistent.
3. Strength levels are soaring. I feel as if I just started to really train. I feel as if I am cheating by being this strong.
4. Recovery is between sets is much better. However, since I was so greedy to train heavier once the burn that normally sets in never actually set in, I of course overdid my training by increasing most of my lifts on chest and back day by 25 lbs. Of course the joints were not used to this so they were sore. However the muscles were screaming for more.
5. Range of motion towards the end of the set is just as good as the beginning of the set. No range of motion degradation as muscle fatigue increases within a set.

31 August came and I went in for another consultation. I was now in the low 6’s. My lean mass had increased! Was it the Muscle Mass? I was now up to 196. I was right on track with our projected bodyfat loss based on my goal of getting down to below 5% for the Gold Cup Classic on 7 October. I knew that I was going to make it. I was still getting stronger by the day. Roger made some slight adjustments to my eating plan and supplement plan as well. I continued to use Ultra Size as I prepared for the show. My posing had improved considerably but still needed more work.

23 September rolled around. The show was two weeks away. I went for my final consultation. I was confident and more than happy with my progress. My bodyfat was now at 5.35%. I knew I was going to make my goal of less than 5%. And I was happy and still full of energy! However, it was game time now. It was time to execute the final two weeks of preparation. Here is the plan Roger laid out for me the week of the contest.

I flew into Louisville (by now I was stationed in Louisiana) and drove to Erlanger. I had been a little smooth all week. In all of the previous pictures, my legs and my back had been smooth. My weight had still not dropped below 193. When I reached the hotel and took my shirt off to apply the Pro Tan, I stared in disbelief at what I saw in the mirror. Even my back was ripped! I was unbelievably happy. I could not believe how I looked. I was ready.

7 October was a highlight in my life. I placed third in the novice heavyweight class in the NPC Gold Cup and 3rd in the light heavyweight class of the Kentucky Bodybuilding Championship. I had to find space to carry the trophies back on the plane. I could not stop smiling.

In less than a year, I’d rebuilt my body and healed my mind. I’d worked with two of the most wonderful people God has put in my path. I regained my faith in humanity. I truly have been blessed. In closing, I would like to thank God for watching over me and allowing me to achieve a dream. Next, I would like to thank Roger and Sandy for taking a chance and working with me in spite of the challenges that I gave them. I am completely convinced that I would not have been able to compete without their invaluable guidance and friendship. I can never thank them enough or repay them for what they have done for me. I know without a doubt that I am a Beverly International client for life. Also, I would like to thank the Beverly staff for their inspiration, personal example, kind words, and honest assessments.

I’d also like to thank Joni Lee. Joni and I had an appointment at Beverly the same day. Seeing her that first day at Beverly International was the icing on the cake. Her transformation was remarkable. I knew now – without a doubt I had made the right choice. Seeing her in person, then reading her story in the No Nonsense Newsletter provided me with even more inspiration as I prepared for my own contest.

If you would like to compete as a bodybuilder, or if you want to improve your health and quality of life then contact Beverly International. Allow Roger and Sandy to give you the blueprint to a better, healthier life. Take the first step and call them. You will be glad that you did.

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