What four years of humility will do for you.

I established this website back in 2008. I had just retired from professional mixed martial arts but still competed as an elite grappler.  I was very fit but drank heavily.  I had a lot of demons being an alcoholic.  

I fell down freakishly in 2013.  I severely sprained my back in two places.  I could hardly stand up but still had stubborn pride.  I had access to prescription pain killers.  This is when my life became dangerous.  I was taking up to 5 Vicodins and 5 muscle relaxants every day.  This included up to 24 full glasses of red wine daily.  I should have died within the 18 months of this hell.  

I found turmeric along with many other modalities.  After accepting Jesus on April 5th, 2015- I became inspired to become an example for God.  This transformation also started with my mind.  I read scripture daily, as well as, coming out of retirement from competitive amateur bodybuilding.

The first picture was in late 2015.  I competed in the INBF Naturalmania in New York.  I did not place; it was a lesson in humility for me.  I was not addicted to opiates anymore, but still drank alcohol daily.  After I injured my back, I lost all my muscle tone in my glutes and abdominals.  I had to slowly rebuild those muscle groups.  It was like starting over again.  I stayed in constant conversation with Jesus.  I decided to devote the next year to building size, strength and more faith in Jesus.     

The next picture was in 2017.  I competed in the Naturalmania again; winning both the masters and novice heavyweight class.  There were no competitors in the novice heavyweight class and only one competitor in the masters.  I would have not placed had it been more competitive.  Again, it was another year for strengthening my mind and body with humility.  I also began writing for God.  

The second to last picture was last year.  I competed in Hawaii, New York and in the United Kingdom.  I never felt like I belonged on stage.  I was there to strengthen my humility.  Humility is the greatest strength of love.  This is how to become closer to God.  I had more muscle.  I started to see my abdominals and glutes finally.  I was also clearly free of opiates and drank less.  I was becoming stronger in mind, body and spirit.  I published two manuscripts in 2018.  

The last picture was recent.  This is the 1st time; I felt like a competitor.  I figured out the most effective regimen to melt my fat.  I competed in Oklahoma and New York.  Nancy Andrews, as well as, other promoters finally approved of my condition.  I really appreciate the INBF/WNBF organization for believing in me.  I am still on my mission to becoming more humble.  I published another manuscript for God. 

After 20 years of alcohol addiction- Jesus has freed me of it!  This addiction has nearly destroyed my body.  I am now sober for life.  The thought of alcohol nauseates me.   

All in all, never give up.  It took the miracle of Jesus to save my life.  I should be dead today.  There is a reason for my continued existence.  Humility is what kept me competing.  I did not care; people were laughing at me on stage.  I embraced the ridicule.  Humility is probably why I am now sober of alcohol.  

My testimony will hopefully inspire others to come out of their personal hell.  If I can do it, SO CAN YOU!  I believe in you and so does God(Jesus Christ).  God bless you!                     

My 5-week extreme keto transformation!

 

Pictures do not lie.  

This transformation weight started at 210 down to 189.5 pounds.  I lost about 15 pounds of fat and 3 pounds of muscle.  I had to cut 2.5 pounds of water weight to make my class.  No complicated eating schemes were followed.  The human body is a machine of habit.

I just ate two cans of tuna in olive oil almost everyday.  Barbecue brisket and chicken were eaten on Saturday and Sunday until 3 weeks before the competition.  So, I consumed only 700 calories a day for 21 days.  I noticed the biggest changes after cutting out cheese(dairy).  I cut out dairy 5 weeks out.  The 20/4 intermittent fasting regimen was applied for the 5 weeks.      

During the week, I drank a lot of topo chico, as well as, water with apple cider vinegar and lemon.  I took: a one-a-day vitamin; potassium; lecithin; vitamin's C and D; fish oil; zinc and a lot of black coffee with pepper.  I was able to sleep at night by taking a benadryl.

I would force myself to do a 15 to 20 minute HIT workout before eating my first can of tuna.  I weight trained for 45 minutes with an additional 30 minutes of low intensity cardio at night.  I had to force my body to continue to burn calories with the HIT workouts and evening weight training/cardio sessions.  My strength and energy levels decreased as expected. 

I was able to follow this to the end.  I did not have a peak week.  I weighed in and sipped on water until the competition was over!        

I placed 6th amateur light heavyweight and 7th masters.  I was still too fat for the level of competition at this year's WNBF/INBF World Natural Bodybuilding Championships in Islip, New York.  I would have been a finalist with 10 more pounds of fat off my body. 

Next time, I will do the same regimen for 6 weeks instead of 5 weeks.  I will also be leaner when I start this extreme regimen.

I am not encouraging this to anyone.  This is what it took for me to transform my body.  It took a lot of will power and perseverance.  

The body likes habit.  My body has suffered always trying to follow what everyone else is doing.

The peak week with all the salt/water and carb loading has always thrown my body off kilter.  Keep doing what works for your body.

It may take several competitions before you will find it.  

Again, this applies to natural bodybuilding.  If you are taking gorilla hormones with diuretics- it doesn't matter what you do.   

Discover the power of Bitter Melon!

Thank you " personal training client" for telling me about Bitter Melon and thank you God for your amazing creations! 

There are so many plant foods containing components that will fight various ailments such as cancer. As we know, the pharmaceutical industry frowns upon supplements derived from plant components and is trying to make it harder for us to obtain them by taking them from "over the counter" to prescription only!
One such supplement is Bitter Melon!

 I first heard about Bitter Melon through one of my personal training clients.  My client has a friend with an immune deficiency.  His friend started Bitter Melon therapy and had astounding effects.  Let's just say-he went from being deathly ill to almost completely healthy.  It was documented by numbers in two separate blood tests.  This made me curious.   If Bitter Melon can do this to an unhealthy person-what will it do for me...

After researching; I found many health benefits.  It is useful for treating:

-HIV

-Type II Diabetes Mellitus

-Malaria

-Herpes
-Skin infections, Eczema and Psoriasis

-some forms of cancer

Type II Diabetes is a big fear of mine because it runs in my family. Type II diabetes has contributed to the complications and deaths of my relatives on both sides. Because of this, I immediately started supplementing Bitter Melon.

In a year of supplementing Bitter Melon

-fewer skin rashes than normal
-no more Claritin and Mucinex used to treat allergies for mold and ragweed
-more muscular and lost bodyfat
-more energy
-never got sick
-cuts and bruises healed faster
-mosquitoes attacked me less

Caution! Certain Populations Should Not Take Bitter Melon!

Do NOT take Bitter Melon if you have:

-Hypotension
-Hypoglycemia
-Pregnant
-Lactating

ARE YOU READY TO DISCOVER THE POWER OF BITTER MELON...GO FOR IT!

An analysis of my "WHOLE FOODS" meal....

It is great living Downtown Austin.  You have so many awesome restaurants, clubs and bars.  You also have Ladybird Lake.  Believe it or not, my favorite place is Whole Foods.  I make it a point to eat my only meal(Warrior Diet) at Whole Foods at least 3 to 4 times a week! 

Whole foods is known for it's vision of promoting natural health and organic "whole food" consumption.  Thank you, John Mackey! 

When I enter Whole Foods, I attack the food bar.  I always fill my large paper plate with-2 servings of kale; spinach; tomatoes; red onions; broccoli; cauliflower; tofu; 1 serving of quinoa and lentils; 5 servings of olive oil....I flavor the meal with Bragg's amino acids and wash it down with at least 3 full glasses of red wine.

So let's analyze this great meal....

1. Kale  

One serving(3.5 ounces) has 28 calories.  Kale is a "leafy green" cruciferous vegetable.  It is high in vitamin K, C, calcium and beta carotene.  Kale also has the anti-cancer components sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol.

2.  Spinach

One serving(3.5 ounces) has 23 calories.  Spinach is a super food because it's high in all the following nutrients: Vitamin A; C; E; K; B2; B6; folic acid; magnesium; manganese; calcium; potassium; copper; phosphorus; zinc; selenium and omega 3 fatty acids.  That is a lot of nutrients packed in just 23 calories!!!

3.  Tomato

One serving(3.5 ounces) has 18 calories.  Tomatoes contain lycopene.  Lycopene is known for preventing skin and prostate cancer.

4.  Red Onions

One serving(3.5 ounces) has 40 calories.  Onions contain quercetin.  Quercetin is known for it's anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-cholesterol properties.  Onions also have the anti-cancer components of phenols and flavonoids.  

5.  Broccoli and Cauliflower

One serving(3.5 ounces) of each have 34 and 25 calories.  Broccoli and caulflower are both high in vitamin C, folate and fiber.  They have the anti-cancer components: sulforaphane; glucosinolates; carotenoids and indole-3-carbinol.

6.  Tofu

One serving(3.5 ounces) has 76 calories.  Tofu is high in protein.  It lowers the bad cholesterol(LDL).  Tofu also contains isoflavones which prevent cancers of the breast, uterus and prostate.

7.  Quinoa and Lentils

One serving(3.5 ounces) of each have 368 and 353 calories respectively.  They are high in protein, fiber, folate, B1, magnesium, phosphorus and iron.  The two mixed together create a complete protein meal!       

 8.  Olive Oil

One tablespoon has 119 calories.  Olive oil is a "super fat."  It is high in vitamin E and K.  It lowers the bad cholesterol(LDL) and raises the good cholesterol(HDL)!  Olive oil contains oleic acid which prevents coronary heart disease.  Finally, olives contain hydroxytyrosol.  This component protects against tumors of the breast, prostate, endometrium and digestive tract.

9.  Red Wine

One full glass has 150 calories.  In my opinion, red wine has too many benefits to ignore.  So, I will drink and enjoy it.  I'm sure the French and Italians would agree with me!!!

 No wonder I feel like a million bucks after eating my nutrient dense 2,300 calorie meal!  It may be a little pricey but this is an investment to my health.  What I put in my body is my MEDICINE!    

Just do it!

That's right!  Only YOU have the power to change your life.  Snap out of it!  I can't be everyone's personal trainer!  Get up and move.  Make healthier choices eating.  Take the stairs not the elevator.  Walk outside and get some sunlight. Make an effort to think positively not negatively.  Get off the sofa and move...Do you get it?  JUST DO IT!!!