WAR- More pics

Yes I'm in cabo, but somehow these pictures made it out of the war zone. Hopefully video of tribal scream to follow.

Mr. Olympia Cometh!

For the first time since I got into bodybuilding a few years back, I will be missing the live broadcast of the Mr. Olympia Contest, which is taking place this weekend in Vegas. Currently Jay cutler is looking for his 3rd title. In the 40+ years of the contest only 11 men have been crowned mr. O.

They are:
Larry Scott (2x)
Sergio Oliva (3x)
Arnold (7x)
Franco Columbu (2x)
Frank Zane (3x)
Chris Dickerson
Samir Bannout
Lee Haney (8)
Dorian Yates (6)
Ronnie Coleman (8)
Jay Cutler (2)

This weekend Jay's got his work cut out for him. With Victor Martinez and my beloved Kai Greene out due to injury, his top 3 Threats are:

Dexter Jackson

Dennis Wolf

Phil Heath:

Here's my ideal top 6 (if bodybuilding judging were fair, don't get me started)
1 Dennis Wolf
2 Phil Heath
3 Dexter Jackson
4 Jay Cutler
5 Melvin Anthony
6 Toney Freeman

Here's how I think it'll actually play out
1 Jay Cutler
2 Dexter Jackson
3 Dennis Wolf
4 Phil Heath
5 Toney Freeman
6 Melvin Anthony

There's this thing in the Mr. Olympia contest where you supposedly have to "Knock out the champ," meaning if you're only slightly better than the incumbent, you will likely lose.
With all the competitors coming up and making great improvements, it'll be exciting to check my phone on monday to see if one of the young bucks was able to overthrow the king! I can't wait!

WAR

The best part was I got paid to do this.

Some sports are highly technical, calling on a series of complex movements and actions to achieve a desired result. Tennis, basketball, baseball are in that category.

Other sports are more basic, relying on brute force to achieve victory. Yes, there are techniques, but when the rubber hits the road, it's distilled down to power. Sport gets no more basic than that.

On Friday, my company held a pentathlon, and I was tapped to participate in the athletic portion. One of the athletic events was a 6-person Tug-o-War.

There is just something primal about grabbing a rope and dedicating all of your might to pulling your opponents in a direction they wish not to go. Perhaps because I can picture all of humankind's ancestry participating in the same game for eons- cavemen probably passed time by playing TOW.

Being the resident musclehead, there was a lot of pressure on me to pull out a W. There are some stereotypes that bodybuilders are all show, and that the muscle they pack on doesnt parlay into real strength. Perpetuating that preconceived notion was no option. I'm also that guy with a bit of a reputation around the gym, so with many fellow gym-goers, as well as gym staff on hand, a lot of eyes were definitely on me.

I went ahead and added fuel to the flames by cutting the sleeves off my shirt. It was like the taking of the glove and slapping the other teams in the face, challenging them to a duel. When I showed up with my hachimaki, dark sunglasses, dark gloves, camo pants and sleeveless team jersey, it was like painting a big target on my chest.

The headband reads "I Will Pass the Test"

To prepare for this contest, I prepared like I was heading to the gym. I took my double shot of espresso about an hour before, grabbed my gym ipod, chock full of death metal and screamcore and headed to the field, and started filling my belly full of rage. I paced on the sideline, like a beast on a leash, waiting to unload on the poor soul that decided to come to work that day.

I had never really played tug of war in my adult life. My teammates and I dug our heels into the grass and prepared to weather the storm. My forearms seared with a slow burning pain and my back, thighs, and glutes were about ready to call it. If a team gained an inch of ground, I let out a scream as we wrestled back control. WAR was definitely a fitting moniker on this day.

For 4 rounds I gave each bout my all, falling to the ground backwards each time the opponents were pulled across the victory line. Pride was on the line.

24 teams became 12. 12 became 6. 6 became 3, and then 2 and then 1. When the dust settled the Toxic Avengers were victorious. And I wanted to puke... for about an hour after the finals... but I didnt.

Gold medal status.

Invincible Workout Mental Focus: The 7 Keys To Mega-Concentration

I'm a dogged believer in mind-over-matter and visualization;
Arnold used to visualize his biceps blowing up to ridiculous proportions, at times picturing them filling up the entire gym with their ungodly mass.
I too put my mind in a place. When you step under 6+ plates, you have to put every semblance of doubt out of your mind or you will literally and figuratively crumble under the stress...

Peter Siegel is a renowned hypnotherapist/motivational coach.
He's written an article for Muscular Development and they are definitely techniques you should employ when going to throw that iron around.
Here:

A video of him here:

It's Real!!!

I wonder if her cube smells bad...

Work-Walking! I've posted pictures here of concepts before, but I didn't think it there were people actually doing it- here it is in action!
Here:

Awesome Pic!

A Musclehead's Guide to Alcohol

Look at that quad ham separation!

Now I know that I espouse health, diet and training info on here, but dont get me wrong- I've been known to throw back a few drinks now again, and yes even in my bodybuilding days (but never before a contest!) When I first started lifting I was super paranoid about NEVER missing a workout or NEVER missing a meal, and I really got anal about it all.

Consequently I also got burnt out by bodybuilding and found myself not enjoying it, and if Randy Pausch taught me nothing else, is that we have to enjoy every moment we can in our short time on earth.

Besides, Arnold and his buddies used to carry some weights, a few female friends, packs of beer, and go into the woods and lift and drink and chill by the fire. Things turned out well for him!

From: T-Nation