Since my initial post when I mentioned I’d be doing the Greater Gulf States Bodybuilding Championships this year, it’s been a while since I’ve written anything.  A lot has happened over the past month and as a result, a lot is going on now.  For those of you who know me, bodybuilding is a huge passion of mine and I’m continually pursuing my passion, trying to make improvements each year.  I’d like to talk personally about a couple of things that many of you may not know.  I’m like all other bodybuilders in the sense that training, diet, sleep and supplementation are a constant thought and focus everyday.  Where I’m different than most bodybuilders is the fact that I have somewhat of an entrepreneurial spirit, which comes from my fiancee who is a true entrepreneur.  Together, we are constantly trying to think of ways to maximize and leverage our skills, both online and offline, to better ourselves and our community.

What happens when you try to do that?  Stress!

I’m currently in a full-time job that requires a lot of mental focus – reading, writing, conference calls, video conferences, etc…  It’s the nature of the beast in an office environment.  Like most people, I’m not quite cut out for that type of workspace so I’ve been looking for ways to get out of that and still be able to support myself.  Each day when I get out of my full-time job, it’s time to hit the weights, grocery shop, cook my food and contribute to Be Fit NOLA, and our other fitness endeavors, as much as possible.  There are truly not enough hours in the day.  It’s always been a goal of mine to be employed in the health & fitness industry full-time – that’s a goal I’ve never forgotten and it’s ingrained in my mind which is why I’m doing everything I’m doing right now.

The unfortunate part about this hectic life I’m currently living is the stress that comes with it.  As you know, stress is not something beneficial for anyone, especially a bodybuilder.  I recognize this stress and I try my hardest to keep myself focused, organized and settled but sometimes things can get a little overwhelming; I’m sure many  of you can relate to that piece.  In bodybuilding, you’ve got to be on your “game” because your competitors are working just as hard, if not harder than you are.  In my mind, I always think that my intensity in the gym is never high enough so I’m always pushing myself to the max.

As you can probably tell by everything I’ve written up to this point, things will gradually reach a boiling point, or point of exhaustion.  When this happens, I try to take some down time.  I know my body pretty well and it will tell me when I need to take a break.  I’ve been going non-stop for years, both in the Marine Corps and in Iraq.  It has, in a sense, become a way of life for me.  I’m getting older now though and I’m getting to the point where I’m ready to begin toning it down a notch and benefiting from all the years of hard work I’ve put in – I can finally see that light at the end of the tunnel which is a great feeling.

Being in New Orleans has become a blessing in disguise for me because of the exponential opportunities that exist here.  I plan on taking advantage of that!  I’m still in off-season training right now and I’m still on par to compete this summer at the Greater Gulf States.  I have one last trip next week with the Marine Corps before I can fully settle into a more subtle routine where I can focus better on my diet and training giving myself some much needed consistency.

Keep an eye on me as I’ll begin to reveal my upcoming plans and my continued pursuit of bodybuilding!