1st MASSage...

Let's face it, there's no cool way for a guy to enter a spa... It's kinda like there's no cool way for a girl to pee standing up- there's just rules embedded in our DNA that are unbreakable.

In recognition of my Birthday Week efforts, Carrie wanted to treat me to a 2 for 1 spa deal where we got side by side massages...

Now I figured, Jay Cutler gets deep tissue work done quite often, so I can take a bodybuilder's approach to it, right?

I walk in, and the extremely soft spoken receptionist greets us. I notice the smell of peppermint and lemons. The air is warm, moist and quiet- there's cucumber infused water pitchers everywhere. I'm convinced it is physically impossible to be angry in this lobby.

We're led to our room with 2 beds, pure moods on blast so hard that I think that an Indian Chief with a coyote is about to hop out the closet. We're told to disrobe and make ourselves comfortable by two of the masseuses- who both probably dont weight 200 lbs combined.. We're asked if there are any areas we'd like them to focus on- from the unforgiving deadlifts and rack deadlifts, I know my lower back and traps could use some TLC. She then asks what intensity I'd like, giving the options of light, medium, or "deep." A man of pride, I can't say anything but deep, so away we go...

I lay face down and they return, and I am treated to some scented oils that really relax me.

Then it begins. I dunno if while I'm laying down with my face in the padded massage face cut out they slight 100lb rub master is switched with a lumberjack with really soft hands, but suddenly I'm getting manhandled.

I musta got the ol' bait n switch cuz she was kickin my butt...

I was going in expecting a relaxing experience, but really it turned out to be quite the challenge- I was still about sore from my Friday chest workout, and I swear she could feel where I needed work. Until she hit my quads- she worked them joints so hard I didn't know if I wanted to cry or laugh- I was digging my nails into my side in order try and not giggle. After trying to just bite my lip and bear it, I had to tell her to pump the brakes on the IT bad work though- that stuff was NO JOKE.

Now I'm back home and Im so relaxed, it's unreal. Let's see if it helps loosen me up for leg day tomorrow. I couldn't imagine going the day after squats.

Shadow of my former self...

This weekend I was hanging out with some of my extended family.
The number one topic of discussion when I haven't seen family in a while is bodybuilding. Either uncles or cousins will want to size me up by asking me how much I bench (and they're usually baffled that I dont bench), or they want to know how they can get back into fighting shape (don't we all?)

My good cousin John was singing my praises and bragging to other family that under shirt lies a beast, an impressive one at that. "This guy is cut like u wouldn't believe!"

Here's where the off season shame of a bodybuilder comes in. I see the pro ball players, big, strong, fast, and cut up all year long.TO's got 99 problems but his 6-pack aint one...

As a competitive bodybuilder, I am in the best shape of my life one or two times a year, and decent shape the last half of my prep, usually 8 weeks out of the year. The rest of the time, I am a complete blubbery mess. Ok, not really, but I am definitely nothing close to what I've looked like on stage. When you open the door to muscle gains, a hint of fat usually sneaks in with it. Depending on your genetics, some get more fat than others. I'm what they'd call a mesomorph (although I used to think I was an ectomorph, or hard-gainer, but I was just not eating enough.) Ironically if your fat gets too high it will also inhibit muscle growth, so it's a fine balancing act.

Call it luck, (good for me, bad for her), but when I met Carrie, I was in the middle of my first contest prep. I remember telling her, "Don't get used to this, I dont look like this all year long."

But being the good woman she is, she hasn't minded my less chiseled physique.

I am my harshest critic. Reading the mags and websites etc. I hold myself to a pretty rigid standard, probably against guys who are like me, only in shape a small window of time. Hell look at Lee Priest. It's nice walking around looking like a beast, and it's pretty disconcerting when the shirts that were tight loosen up, but there's got to be a happy medium!

Lee Priest, ~300 lbs
Lee Priest, 200 lbs

Here I am, more than 6 months later, and I think my deep seeded fear of the treadmill has subsided. I find myself employing the tabata method , followed by 30 minutes of moderate intensity (3.0 mph, 10% incline) cardio 2-3 times per week. I'm even doing abs, even though it bores me to complete death (but is helping on my big exercises like deadlift/squat.)

Diet wise, I'm getting my protein in, and tracking it on my iPhone, but I'm still eating what I want. Deprivation is not something I'm good at.

I look at my contest pics, and would love to walk around like that all the time- but I remember all too well what it took to get there. So for now I'll let people think that I'm walking around like TO, until I can figure out a more humane way to get the physique to brag about- I'll just learn to live with the guilt.

Got $3 Million I could borrow?

If you know anything about me, is that I love music.

I wake up in the morning, hop in the shower- music on the radio or on the cd.
I drive to work, music in the car.
I get to work, music on my iPhone or from the PC.
I go to the gym at lunch and have my Rammstein fed to me via iPod shuffle.
Then back to the work pc.
Then back to the car.
Then dishes at home with an apple tv with 20,000+ songs.

I keep the soundtrack to life rolling, because to me, music is like ranch- adding it to anything makes it instantly better.

You can feel this guy's pain- he's given his whole life to something and it's as if the world doesn't care. There's a lot of bodybuilders who can feel his pain (giving your all to something and only have your efforts recognized by a small, marginalized faction of the athletic world.)

If only I had $3 million...


The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

If you cant find work in your meaning...

find meaning in your work.

I've oft flirted with the prospect of training people and helping them achieve their health and fitness goals, but science is my trade.

Today I read that Randy Pausch, who recently died of pancreatic cancer, took 2 drugs, Avastin and Tarceva, that my company discovered.

When he passed I felt a great sadness, but knowing that the effort my company put forth may have extended his life for even one day, but likely many more, brings me peace and imbues my daily toiling with much more meaning.

I believe when you change your body you can definitely change your life; I can't say that I'll never pursue the training gig, but helping a skinny guy get buff or a fat lady get skinny will never hold a candle to giving a good man more time with his family.

2008 NPC San Jose Recap

This weekend I took Vernon to see his first Bodybuilding show. When I told him over the phone that we were going, he put the phone down and ran around in excitement. The kid loves it as I touched on back in February.

I really wanted to take him because I knew it'd be a rather small show, and he'd get to meet a few big names.

The first was 8 time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. When he first got there, people were saying he was charging 10 bucks to take a photo with him. I have all the respect in the world for him, but the current Mr. Olympia doesnt charge, so why should the dethroned champ do so?
I got slick and sent Vernon over, knowing that Ronnie would feel to guilty to charge a lil kid. Then I snuck in for the photo op. Well played if I do say so myself.

Next was the X-Man Toney Freeman. He's 6 foot 2, 300+ pounds. Really nice, and no, did NOT charge, LOL.

Later I ran into Jeff Rodriguez, a really cool Natural Bodybuilder, who has been featured on Muscular Development and is actually a local guy who trains out of Oakland. The funny thing is that when you see him in his clothes you'd never think this guy was as huge and ripped as he is, but the guy is super freaky and is able to achieve a level of conditioning that rivals even the most chemically enhanced competitors (check out his freaky tricep.) In fact one time when he was back stage getting ready to go on, the security guard told him "Sorry son, only competitors back here."

We spoke for about 10 minutes and he even offered his number so we could get a training session in once he's done with his prep for the Team Universe, the most prestigious natural competition, where the winner turns IFBB Pro.

After seeing the show started, Vernon was really impressed by the Novice Middleweight and Novice Overall winner, so he decided he wanted a photo with him.
This is where the moment of the night happened.

He walks over to the guy, and asks "can I take a picture with you, you're cool!"

"Of course lil buddy!" and he proceeds to grab vernon's arm so he can put him into a pose (as shown below.)

Shortly after the Greased n Grossed out incident!

But before he's able to turn vernon around, vernon's disposition goes from star stuck fan to grossed out kid- The middleweight's mix of posing oil and tanning spray got on vernon's forearm and he stopped, gave the guy a "what did you just do to my arm" dirty look, then proceeded to look at, and consequently smelled his arm much to the delight of the middleweight's family and friends. John and I havent laughed that hard in a long time. I guess I forgot to warn him that the champ might be greasy. LOLx10!

This is the turnip picture. When pointing to Dexter Jackson's Enlarged Traps, Vernon asks "are those his shoulders, it looks like he has apples under there!" I was like naw dude, those are turnips! haha So he's doing his best impersonation, toothy grimace and all.

And of course the incomparable Ed Corney:
When I told him Ed was Arnold's old roommate and training partner, Vernon was in awe. Then he shook Ed's brick of a hand. Admiration ensued.

All in all it was a good time.

On the way home, vernon tells me: "I want to get big, will you be my coach?"

I had to break the bad news that he'd probably have to wait a few years to train hard n heavy so he doesnt stunt his growth (I hope he doesnt end up in my class, the kid has way better genetics!)

Little does he know that training has already begun!

RTY Bday Photo Recap

It started with drinks with Michael

When Chuck Norris Gets Hungover, He Doesn't Throw Up, He Throws Down
AKA
Anyone Can Piss on the Floor, but Chuck Norris can Shit on the Ceiling...

Then on Thursday, Dinner at Front Porch

I can't front on the front porch!
Too Much Chickeny Goodness!!!

It's a Nice Day for a White...

Friday: Straits @ Santana Row/Kanye/NERD/Rihanna/Lupe Fiasco

Strait Delicious!
Water break during Rihanna's set

That chick stole my hat, and looks better in it!

Saturday: Drinks at home and Dancing at Kitty's

Who shot ya?
Where my ladies at?
Look me in the eye when I'm talking to you!
Which eye? It doesnt matter!

John's Shirt was so Hood (maybe if it had a hood it wouldn't have happened?)

Lemme smell your face
(Smells good)