Monday, September 12, 2011
2011 Competition Season
Monday, July 25, 2011
Just competed in the 3rd annual Emerald Coast Power Expo in Ft Walton Beach. Took 1st place in the Mens Heavy Weight class and 2nd in the over 50 class and 2nd overall in Mens Open Bodybuilding. All in all was a success having made improvements over my latest win at 2011 Steelworld 1st pace in over 50 class. That is the main objective is to keep making quality improvements and never go backwards.Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Update
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Reload Re-Visited
- Do a different exercise than the one you did on the main day, or do the same exercise but in a different manner. Angle change, rep range, weights, etc.
- Only do 4-6 sets for each body part trained
- Go as intense as possible, since you are only doing a few sets, the work set here should be at least as heavy than on a normal day and if possible heavier, since the volume is going to be lower.
- Go to absolute beyond complete failure, rest pause several times, then start dropping weight and going to failure until you barely move ridiculously light weight.
Reload Re-Visited
- Do a different exercise than the one you did on the main day, or do the same exercise but in a different manner. Angle change, rep range, weights, etc.
- Only do 4-6 sets for each body part trained
- Go as intense as possible, since you are only doing a few sets, the work set here should be at least as heavy than on a normal day and if possible heavier, since the volume is going to be lower.
- Go to absolute beyond complete failure, rest pause several times, then start dropping weight and going to failure until you barely move ridiculously light weight.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Road to the Nationals 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Road to the Nationals 2011
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Quote from Mark Bradley writer for the AJC
I know, I know. The Gators had a week off and Urban Meyer is too clever not to think of something. But the Urbanator has had a while now to get this offense going, and he hasn’t yet. And here’s what I know: Georgia will go to Jacksonville:
• With the better quarterback.
• With the better offense.
• With the better running game.
• Having won three in a row, as opposed to losing three in a row, which is what Florida has done.
I’m aware that Georgia’s three victories have come against three mediocrities, whereas the Gators have lost to Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State — all of which are ensconced in the Top 25. I really don’t care. I like the way Georgia is playing. I don’t think anybody likes the way Florida is playing.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
August 9 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Incorporating cardio into your training while developing lean muscle
Cardio:
- HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training aka Hellish Insane Idiotic Torture
- Steady State = Working up to your target heart rate and maintaining it for a sustained period of time
- Fasting Steady State is the best for burning body fat
- HIIT is less time consuming
First, finding your heart rates:
Target heart rate (THR). In general terms, your THR is 60-80% of your maximum heart rate. The Karvonen Method of calculating THR is one of the most effective methods to determine target heart rate because it takes into account resting heart rate. Here's how to find your THR.
- 1. Find your resting heart rate as soon as you wake up. You can do this by counting your pulse for one minute while still in bed. You may average your heart rate over three mornings to obtain your average resting heart rate (RHR). Add the three readings together, and divide that number by three to get the RHR. For example,
- 2. Find your maximum heart rate and heart rate reserve.
Subtract your age from 220. This is your maximum heart rate (HRmax). For example, the HRmax for a 24-year-old would be: 220 - 24 = 196.
Subtract your RHR from your HRmax. This is your heart rate reserve (HRmaxRESERVE). For example, HRmaxRESERVE = 196 - 78 = 118
3. Calculate the lower limit of your THR. Figure 60% of the HRmaxRESERVE (multiply by 0.6) and add your RHR to the answer. For example,
(118 * 0.6) + 78 = 149.
4. Calculate the upper limit of your THR. Figure 80% of the HRmaxRESERVE (multiply by 0.8) and add your RHR to the answer. For example,
(118 * 0.8) + 78 = 172.
5. Combine the values obtained in steps 3 and 4 and divide by the number 2. For example, (149 + 172) / 2 = 161 (You can get the same result by simply multiplying HRmaxRESERVE by 0.7 and adding to it RHR).
Incorporating your cardio into your training with the proper timing is CRUCIAL. If you do too much or at the wrong time you are wasting your efforts in your training and will not realize maximum gains and over train. Overtraining will result in a flat and stringy physique.
- Quads NO CARDIO
- Arm Day Fasting HIIT
- Rest Day Fasting Steady State Cardio – if you are behind in the BF war, do another Steady State session later in the day
- Back Day Post Training HIIT
- Hams Day Post Training Steady State Cardio – mild intensity and length walking outdoors recommended
- Weekends Optional Steady State
This is my recommendation for cardio while developing lean muscle. If you have BF (bodyfat)issues, then use fasting cardio every day until it is under control. However you need to discuss this with me before hand. This is extreme and dangerous if not handled properly and will burn up any lean leg muscle you have developed.
It is crucial not to over train if trying to develop great legs. Can’t emphasis this enough. Also carbs must be eaten to fill out muscle bellies and help burn body fat.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
July 23rd 8 days out Biloxi
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
17 days out from Biloxi
Friday, July 2, 2010
BodyBuilding/Strength Training Glossary
Drying Out - Encouraging loss of body fluids by limiting liquid intake, eliminating salt, sweating heavily and/or using diuretics.
Partial Reps - Performing an exercise without going through a complete range of motion either at the beginning or end of a rep.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Bringing Up Weak areas of Back
My upper and middle back are my strengths so I don't need to focus much attention there, just keep hitting that area with the same intensity. But this train of thought has brought me to realize that I have not been separating the back into different areas of training; the weaknesses as though they are priorities. So I'm going to break the back down and re-focus on the weaker points and de-prioritize the strengths.
The back is made up of four different areas: the upper lats, the lower lats, middle back and lower back. The upper lats include the teres major muscle which gives you the v taper. It's best hit with movements such as wide grip pull ups (my favorite) and wide grip pull downs. Wide gripping rowing exercises also hit this area to some degree.
The lower lats provide the appearance of back width all the way down to where the lats meet the waist. Exercises that focus on this area are reverse and neutral grip work that are performed with shoulder width grip, such as pull downs and pull ups, as well as rows done with barbells, dumbbells, T-bars, cables and machines. The straight arm pull down and pullover also hit the lower lats.
The middle back includes the middle and lower traps and rhomboids. The best exercises that target this area are seated rows with a wide grip in which you pull to the chest, not your mid-section. Also you can use dumbbells by taking an overhand grip and bringing the weight far out to your sides (not tight to your sides). Regular rowing exercises in which you bring the bar to your midsection (as opposed to your chest) also hit this area to a high degree, but for more thickness in the middle, make sure you incorporate a wide grip, bringing the bar high on the torso. The very best exercise for this area and for overall back thickness is the barbell deadlift done with strict form.
The lower section is the erector spinae muscles or lower back. Exercises that tend to work best for this area are stiff legged dead lifts, good mornings and back extensions. These moves work best for this area if you allow a slight rounding of the back, unheard of in most other exercises for good reason so you need to lower the weights a bit. This area is my weakness and I will focus much of my attention to. I am going to do some of these exercises twice a week to firm up the lower back.
A good approach to specific area back training is to rate your back into these 4 areas from 1-4, 1 being the weakest and 4 being the strongest. Then arrange the exercises where you are doing the weakest parts first in your back training and the strongest last. Or you can have two back training days where you train the weak parts earlier in the week and the strongest at the end of the week.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
How Bad Do You Want it
As I have went through this prep I have had countless people compliment me on the discipline I show through my training, diet, and overall regiment. While I admit I appreciate the fact that people see my hard work I consider it a prerequisite to being a successful bodybuilder. You see when I started seriously bodybuilding about four years ago I decided I was going to be a pro. With that decision I also understood the commitments I would have to make in order to make such a lofty goal a reality. I understood that bodybuilding is a marathon rather than a sprint. What that means is that the gains are not going to happen overnight and the biggest key is being consistent day in and day out. So have I achieved my goal of professional status yet? No, but unlike the beginning a lot of people can see that it is just a matter of time. I have proven day in and day out over the last four years that I am serious and that is proven by how much my physique has changed. Hell, at the Border States in October of 2008 I stepped onstage at a weight of 242lbs and this year I am in much better condition the week of my show weighing in at 267lbs. If I can continue to progress like this I will achieve my goal of professional status by the time I reach 30 years old.
What is the point of all this rambling about myself? The point is I decided that I wanted something, understood what it would take to achieve that goal, and implemented the proper steps to make it happen. The previous sentence is what it takes to achieve any goal you make. I’m not going to lie, when I am dieting my patience for people falls greatly and one thing that drives me nuts more than anything is people who say they want something but are not willing to make the needed sacrifices to succeed. Obviously in my line of work I hear most about peoples goals that involve the way they want their bodies to look. They come to me and explain what they want and that they are willing to do whatever it takes to see their goals through. At that point I explain what they will need to do from diet, training, cardio, rest, etc.. Excited they run off to have the body they have always dreamed of. The problem is that excitement fades quickly and the excuses begin. My favorites are: Work has been really tough, I have kids, I travel all the time, I can’t eat whenever I want, I am having relationship problems, I have been so stressed, etc… BULLSHIT! Just stop it already. At least do yourself the service of admitting that obviously you don’t want it bad enough to make the sacrifices needed. We all have problems, family, significant others, and jobs. Those who work around these things no matter what succeed and those who use them as excuses fail.
My challenge to everyone reading this is to take a long look at the goals you have in your life and look at what you are doing or not doing to support them. Maybe you will see that you are not showing the discipline necessary to be a success. At this point you can honestly decide how badly you want to be successful. Most likely you understand what needs to be done so it should really just be a matter of deciding whether or not you are willing to follow through. If you are going to go for it please do yourself the service of giving your goals everything you have and if you decide you are not willing to make the needed changes to your life don’t hesitate to quit. This is your life and these are your goals. The people around you will love you whether or not you achieve them. But please, please, please, don’t tell me how badly you want something with words just to let your actions show me different. I ask again, What do you want?? Do you want it bad enough???
It’s only a matter of time…
Dusty
What Do You Want? How Bad Do You Want It?
As I have went through this prep I have had countless people compliment me on the discipline I show through my training, diet, and overall regiment. While I admit I appreciate the fact that people see my hard work I consider it a prerequisite to being a successful bodybuilder. You see when I started seriously bodybuilding about four years ago I decided I was going to be a pro. With that decision I also understood the commitments I would have to make in order to make such a lofty goal a reality. I understood that bodybuilding is a marathon rather than a sprint. What that means is that the gains are not going to happen overnight and the biggest key is being consistent day in and day out. So have I achieved my goal of professional status yet? No, but unlike the beginning a lot of people can see that it is just a matter of time. I have proven day in and day out over the last four years that I am serious and that is proven by how much my physique has changed. Hell, at the Border States in October of 2008 I stepped onstage at a weight of 242lbs and this year I am in much better condition the week of my show weighing in at 267lbs. If I can continue to progress like this I will achieve my goal of professional status by the time I reach 30 years old.
What is the point of all this rambling about myself? The point is I decided that I wanted something, understood what it would take to achieve that goal, and implemented the proper steps to make it happen. The previous sentence is what it takes to achieve any goal you make. I’m not going to lie, when I am dieting my patience for people falls greatly and one thing that drives me nuts more than anything is people who say they want something but are not willing to make the needed sacrifices to succeed. Obviously in my line of work I hear most about peoples goals that involve the way they want their bodies to look. They come to me and explain what they want and that they are willing to do whatever it takes to see their goals through. At that point I explain what they will need to do from diet, training, cardio, rest, etc.. Excited they run off to have the body they have always dreamed of. The problem is that excitement fades quickly and the excuses begin. My favorites are: Work has been really tough, I have kids, I travel all the time, I can’t eat whenever I want, I am having relationship problems, I have been so stressed, etc… BULLSHIT! Just stop it already. At least do yourself the service of admitting that obviously you don’t want it bad enough to make the sacrifices needed. We all have problems, family, significant others, and jobs. Those who work around these things no matter what succeed and those who use them as excuses fail.
My challenge to everyone reading this is to take a long look at the goals you have in your life and look at what you are doing or not doing to support them. Maybe you will see that you are not showing the discipline necessary to be a success. At this point you can honestly decide how badly you want to be successful. Most likely you understand what needs to be done so it should really just be a matter of deciding whether or not you are willing to follow through. If you are going to go for it please do yourself the service of giving your goals everything you have and if you decide you are not willing to make the needed changes to your life don’t hesitate to quit. This is your life and these are your goals. The people around you will love you whether or not you achieve them. But please, please, please, don’t tell me how badly you want something with words just to let your actions show me different. I ask again, What do you want?? Do you want it bad enough???
It’s only a matter of time…
Dusty
Friday, May 28, 2010
PROPER POSTURE
Posture plays an important role in all our daily activities, standing, sitting, walking, and exercising.
Proper posture:
- keeps bones and joints in proper alignment
- prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently allowing the body to use less energy
- prevents pain and injury
- improves body appearance (belly looks flatter too)
- promotes self confidence
Good posture involves training your abs, back, hams and shoulders! Thanks Hammer for helping me train for proper posture!

