No more searching and dreaming… I found the answer – I found Beverly

My journey toward becoming the tall class winner of the Mr. Natural Illinois 2001 contest began with an email to Beverly in December of 2000. At that point, I had been weight training for nine years, and competing for a year, but had never achieved top-notch condition

When Chris sent us the photo at left he stated that his condition was already equal to his previous best. (Right) Look at the huge difference in hardness and separation from following the Superior Beverly System!

I wrote to Beverly and told them I wanted to compete in the NANBF Natural Illinois. Fifteen weeks out from the show I started their Phase 1 diet at 220 and 12% body fat. I had 27 lbs of fat! Yikes!

The Phase 1 diet was protein intensive. I was used to eating more carbs and the going was a little tough at first. The only starchy carbs included were one-half cup of oatmeal at breakfast and a one-half cup of brown rice at lunch. I called several times to complain to the Beverly staff about being hungry. Each time, the answer was the same no matter who I talked to. With proper supplementation, I’d get through this phase with all my muscle, and more importantly, would make the metabolic shift from being a sugar/carbohydrate-burner to becoming a more fuel-efficient fat-burner. Basically I had to tough it out, and trust Beverly’s expertise.

I was also making an important shift in my mindset. I had to get away from measuring progress by the scale. The more my weight went down, the more I worried. I realized I was getting caught up in the old-fashioned mindset that if I was losing weight, I was getting too skinny to go on stage. Steven fired off a question to me several times that put things in perspective. “Chris, are you getting ready for a powerlifting meet, or a bodybuilding show? At 220 and 12% you still have at least 20 lbs of fat to lose.” To lose fat I had to drop weight and I wasn’t losing lean muscle, in reality, the fat was melting off.

After six weeks on the Phase 1 diet, it was time to start getting sliced. I was already in better condition than I had been in previous shows, but now it was time to go the extra mile. My Phase 2 diet cut out all starchy carbs, except for two strategic carb feedings before bedtime on Monday and Thursday nights. I added two additional supplements that were critical to retaining lean muscle – Muscularity BCAAs with meals, and Muscle Mass BCAAs during training.

The Muscle Mass BCAAs were incredible! At 6 weeks out I started seeing tremendous changes. My legs were improving, my weight stabilized and my strength started increasing! Just when everything was going great I developed a sharp pain in my knee. I immediately started taking Beverly’s Joint Care. Within a week and a half, my training/cardio regimen was back at full strength and I proceeded to cruise into my first show at the absolute fullest and hardest that I’d ever competed. I just wanted Beverly to get me into shape - I never imagined that Beverly supplements would make me feel better at the same time!

Two weeks out, my focus was on taking my physique to an even higher level. My training intensified but since I had no more fat to lose I cut out cardio completely and replaced it with additional posing practice. I followed the “final week countdown” laid out by Steven for the week leading up to the show. He sent me a detailed formula that got my skin so tight it felt like “saran wrap.”

At last came the culmination of seventeen weeks of hard work and dieting, the day of the Natural Illinois. I was really looking forward to this show, because not only was I in the best shape of my life, but my friend Sue Bergman was also competing. Sue had already achieved her best ever condition and won a show last fall with the help of Beverly. (Her story is chronicled in the Newsletter Vol. 7 No. 1). But an off season Beverly plan helped her add 6 more pounds of muscle and she improved on her previous best contest condition. For a natural female that is phenomenal!

I was so relaxed from the security of the Beverly System that I enjoyed an awesome night of sleep before the show (for the first time in five competitions). That got me off on the right foot to what turned out to be a great day. I’d never had anyone even mention my conditioning before, but on this day my extreme conditioning is all people were talking about. I cruised through the day in my best condition ever, and won the Tall Class! To go along with my excitement, Sue won her class and the overall.

I am extremely pleased with the seventeen-week journey that I followed with the help of Beverly. However, with the end of one journey, begins another, as I am already looking forward to my next competition next spring. I am sticking with Beverly products the entire off-season to assist in reaching my goal of adding 8-10 pounds of quality muscle. There’s no doubt that Beverly is the best product to use before a show, so it just makes sense Beverly is the best thing to use in the off season too.

I would also like to take this space to thank my wife, Jennifer, for all her help in preparing me for the two shows, and for putting up with me during my dieting. I attribute a great deal of my success in 2001 to her.

Meal #1
1 whole eggs + 5 egg whites
6 oz. turkey or chicken breast
1/2 cup oatmeal before cooking

Meal #2
Protein Drink: 2 or 3 Scoops Ultra Size and 14-oz water
or
6 oz chicken breast, 1 small apple

Meal #3
8 oz. chicken (before cooking)
6 oz. sweet potato or 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup vegetables (broccoli, etc.) or 
salad with 2 TBS. Low Cal Dressing

Meal #4
Protein Drink: 2 or 3 Scoops Ultra Size and 14-oz water
or
8 oz chicken breast, 1 small apple

Meal #5
8 oz. 93% lean beef, chicken, turkey, fish
1 cups vegetables
Salad: 2 pcs Romaine Lettuce, ¼ Tomato, ½ Carrot, ½ cup celery, ¼ cucumber
2 TBS. Low Cal Dressing or 1 tsp Flax Oil, 2 TBS Vinegar, herbs

Meal #6
Protein Drink: 2 Scoops Muscle Provider, 4 strawberries and 14-oz water
or
6 oz chicken breast, 1 cup vegetables

Meal #1
5 oz. lean beef or Turkey
6 egg whites, 2 yolks
1/2 grapefruit

Meal #2*
Protein Drink: 2 scoops Muscle Provider, 1 tablespoon Flax Oil, 4
strawberries, 12 oz water
or
6 oz can tuna or 5-oz. chicken
3 egg whites, 1 whole egg
1 tomato

Meal #3
8 ounces chicken (weighed prior to cooking)
4 cups salad (lettuce, tomato, carrot, cucumber, green peppers, etc.)
2 TBL Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 TBS Sunflower Oil (or other vegetable oil)
for a dressing

Meal #4
6 oz can tuna or 5-oz. chicken
3 egg whites, 1 whole egg
1 tomato
or
Protein Drink: 2 scoops Muscle Provider, 1 TBS Flax Oil, 4 strawberries, 12
oz water

Meal #5
8 ounces lean meat (chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef, etc.)
2 cups vegetables

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