IN PURSUIT OF VICTORY:

(WEEK 1)  August 3, 2003

167 lbs.  7 evening cardio sessions, 600 calories each.  3 morning calorie sessions.

     This has been a good week!  Tough, but good.  Garrett is back with us, and that has definitely added some fuel to our fire.  Heavy deadlifts on back day (Tuesday) kept the week rollin'!

     My Nutrition profile looks like this:  Protein:  300 grams on all day, except high days, when it drops to 270 grams to offset the calories from the added carbs.  Speaking of carbs,  high days dropped last week to 300 grams, (that's a drop of 30 grams each of those days); low days continued to drop to: 80 grams on 3 of the 5 days- the other 2 low days are already "low" at 60 grams...no change there!

    My calories have not been this low in such a long time, but you know, my strength is only now, in the final weeks, starting to wane just a bit.  I am still able to move the same weights (or more on some movements, which is great!), but, my stabilizers fatigue early...so, I am losing a few reps at the end of some sets...This really has been an effective pre-contest, both diet and training-wise. 

     It's funny, when preparing for something so all-encompassing like a bodybuilding competition, you can review your plan, over and over, and ask yourself, "Did I leave no stone unturned?  Is there something I could have done differently?  Better?" 

     With a sport like ours, although the contest is at the end of the journey, we really compete each day, along the path; each and every meal, each workout, each cardio session, every night of posing practice in the gym - every step of the journey from beginning to show time, we perform our sport as an act of living our lifestyle. 

     Always, it is evident who has performed well during this, the pre-contest phase.  This person shows up onstage with an un-mistakable glow whose preparation was solid and complete. This year, I have to give thanks and credit to my ever faithful training partner, Derik, for pushing me just enough, but giving me the room to push myself to my own limits.  His watchful eye has taken the questions I have out of my own prep.  He knows his stuff, and has really been there all pre-contest - Thanks, Man!  I won't let ya down! 

     As the last days approach, I make my final preparations, and pack it all up for New York!  I'll be finalizing all the details:  posing trunks, posing oil and skin color, shaving, music for my routine, flight and hotel arrangements, and planning my meals away from the security of my own kitchen.  Most of these things have been dealt with already...I wanted no stress this week, (gotta keep my cortisol levels down!)  Now, it's just a matter of packing it all up, and not forgetting anything!

    Well, looks like this is it!  Another journey nears it's completion...stay tuned for the complete report next week from Manhattan, at the 2003 NPC TEAM UNIVERSE CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

TEAM UNIVERSE 2003!!

It's all said and done now, and it was an awesome show!  Congratulations to all the winners, everyone looked phenomenal!

Here they are:

Bantamweights:  Ronald Nurse

Lightweights:  Alan Terrell

Welterweights:  Chris "the Hawaiian Hurricane" Faildo.  His prejudging battle with shredded Jose Raymond for the class win was show-stopping!  It went like this:

After the symmetry round for our class, the judges first call-out was just the 2 of these guys.  Chris got the first call-out, then Jose stepped up to meet him.  They went pose for pose, and from where I stood, Jose was edging the Hurricane in hardness and detail...but, after a second turn around the compulsories, Chris had squeezed out a bit of water, and was tightening up right before our eyes!  It was too close to call!

     The judges placed the 2 obvious leaders back in the line up, then called out "the rest of us", for one round of compulsories.  We were put back into the line up, then the judges re-called Jose and Chris to the middle of the stage; the rest of the class was excused from the stage.  The crowd went crazy as Jose and The Hurricane battled, head to head for one more go-round of the mandatory poses.  When the smoke cleared, it was anyone's guess who would take the first place slot.  After the dust settled, I was handed the 5th place trophy again this year!  Below are some pics from the awesome contest coverage of www.ironmanmagazine.com.  Judge the results for yourself!

photos from www.IRONMANMAGAZINE.COM check out complete report!

Middleweights:  Tricky Ricky Jackson

Lightheavyweights:  Jeff Willet.  Jeff was in his best shape ever; full, hard, with detail everywhere, including striations feathering his lower lats, and striated glutes!  Awesome!

Heavyweights:  Skip LaCour.  Amazing condition!  Skip told me he was 2 lbs heavier this year...He was shredded and full!  His hamstring/glute detail was incredible!

Overall winner:  Jeff Willet takes it all!  He was pushed hard in the overall by Chris Faildo, who was a definite crowd favorite.  (More than 20 of his fans/family travelled with "the Hurricane", all the way from Oahu, Hawaii, to support his return!)  Skip was shredded, but it was Jeff's complete package of fullness, detail, balance and size that gave him the nod for his pro card.  Sincerely, Great job, Jeff!!!

Here I am, outside, Saturday a.m., between prejudging and finals.

	These are shots from Sunday morning, after a great meal the night before, after the show, and a very comfortable buffet breakfast that morning... I have not cheated too crazy; I'm hoping to avoid the rebound bloating that comes from a tough depletion/dehydration.  Let's hope I can avoid it!  At the point of these photos, I'm 182lbs, and I feel pretty good...I'm not looking forward to the plane ride home!

Monday, 8/11/2003:

     The plane ride was relatively uneventful, but we were delayed at the airport for almost 3 hours prior to boarding...my energy levels were low, despite a handful of chocolate covered peanuts...but, I finally made it home safely! 

REFLECTIONS:

     This year's prep was smooth.  I achieved my best-ever level of conditioning.  I've improved on my arms, delts, and quad sweep.  All in all, it was a very positive experience.  Although my final placing stings quite a bit, I realize that we play in a very subjective game.  All I can do is control my own final preparation, the rest is up to God! 

      I'm back on my diet today, with the exception of a handful of Hershey's Miniatures.. mmmmm!  Starting tomorrow, it's back on track...this bodybuilder may be setting his sights on a THE NPC BORDER STATES, a regional level show here in San Diego, as a middleweight,  6 1/2 weeks from now!

I'll keep ya all posted!

Thanks for the emails and awesome support!

Pete C.

(WEEK  5) Sunday, 8/24/2003:

     After a healthy bit of cheating, which included some cookies and a couple deli sandwiches (I was craving a roasted turkey on italian bread...mmmm!), I'm back on track.  5 weeks to go until the NPC Border States.  Over the past 2 weeks since the Team U., I gained a fair amount of water, I swelled up to 185lbs the first 2 days after the show!  I shed the water weight fairly easily after re-starting my cardio and jumping right back on my diet.  My weight eventually stabilized at around 172-3lbs.

     Last monday, 1 week post-show, I started cardio according to my previous plan for 6 weeks out (evening cardio, 6 nights per week, a.m. cardio 4 x/ week.)   I've jumped back onto my diet plan right away, but I've allowed myself some gentle cheats as bonus calories, should I have any cravings. As relaxation from the rigors of pre-contest dieting, I've done some body-surfing with Derik for part of my evening cardio sessions, instead of being stuck in the gym every night - what a blast!  But, now, it's time to nail every detail,  I'm back to 2-a-days for cardio.  

  Nutrition:  protein, 300gms; carbs: h-300gms, m-120gms, l-80gms. 

     Training is rockin' again, I've got my focus drilled on this show...so, after a 2-week relaxation phase, I'm ready to KEEP ON ROLLIN', BABY!

See ya next week with training updates, and pic's of my 3-weeks-post-Team U/4-weeks-out condition!

Pete

(WEEK  4) Sunday, 8/31/2003:

171lbs.  Cardio:  11 sessions this week, 600 calories per session.  Last week, at 5 weeks out, I was 172lbs, and did 8 cardio sessions, 500 calories per;  I've only lost 1lb, but it's mostly water...I've got to tighten up the program,  so this week I'm bumping my cardio back up to the baseline as noted above.  last week, energy levels were a bit low, but I've rested alot with this, the long weekend...Now, I'm ready to sprint these last 4 weeks to the stage! 

  Nutrition:  protein, 300gms; carbs: h-300gms, l-80gms (I dropped the medium day as a part of the adjustment this week).  

 Training:  The weights continue to be heavy, strict form, squeeze all reps, focusing on the feel; avoiding injury is a priority at this point, while fighting to maintain every ounce of muscle possible.     

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