Another day in the contest prep, another day of not so much energy, and rather limited food choices. But, I am quite happy with the way things are coming along; everything seems to be on track.
Inevitably, the leaner you get, the more you get noticed in the gym and then it starts: "What do you do? What do you eat for breakfast?"
Needless to say, there isn't a one-sentence answer (aside from buy-my-book) and the longer explanation is rather sobering. It would be something to the tune of: "Get in 45-50 clean meals a week and work out 5 days a week, stay away from alcohol and late nights."
Nobody wants to hear that, so the circus moves on in search of the next drug/fad/supplement, with the same result: none.
You, and nobody else, are responsible for your body.  Aside from your height, eye color, and bone structure, you are in the driver's seat.
Take charge! Hard work, dedication, and positive mental outlook will get you to your goals. Do not look left and right in the gym, the average gym rats will drag you down into their mediocrity.
Train hard and eat your steak!
Maik
 
 
As we all know, obesity is on the rise in the industrialized world and the outlook isn't pretty (unless you sell diet pills). Diabetes, heart attacks, joint problems, depression, loss of cognitive abilities, and simply a diminished quality of life can all be caused by carrying too much weight. Hungary went ahead and introduced a tax on particularly bad foods such as chips, cakes, sodas etc. This caused a great outcry amongst the population, saying that it will be lower income segments of society that suffer most, since they spend disproportionally more on food as it is.
The question remains: is a fat tax a good idea? First and foremost, it's a fiscal, not a health initiative. Hungary is basically bankrupt ad needed an IMF bailout package, so new revenue streams are welcome.
Will it change people eating habits? I doubt it; considering how much cigarettes cost, one would think nobody smokes anymore. People are creatures of habit, so they will most likely stick to what they like. More than anything it is a rather stunning development. Does anyone remember the time before 1989 when there was very little to buy in Eastern European stores??? And here we are some 20+ years later, implementing a tax on over-consumption.
Taxes are not the solution to the public health crisis, but the additional revenue is used to combat some of the expenses society is incurring. It's a start.
Above all, we need better education on the subject, clearer labeling of foods and less moralizing. No more finger pointing, confusing "net carbs" labels, and fad diets. Instead, the idea should be that healthy eating is normal and fun as opposed to depriving yourself. After all it makes you feel better, gives you more energy and makes you look better.
Michelle Obama's campaign is a good first step but everyone who is serious about fitness should be an ambassador (in a non-preach way, of course)
Till next time
Maik
 
 
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The question as to which supplement is best as been pondered for decades, but fear not: I have the answer! It is...drum roll please....red meat! Yes thats right , foods wins again over artificial substances. Why red meat? Let's take a look. Great protein? Check! Creatine? Check! Zinc and iron? double check! What about cholesterol? There is little evidence that the consumption of red meat raises your cholesterol levels unless you A. have a genetic pre-disposition B. eat low grade red meat ( burgers and hot dogs) C consume too many transfats from fries etc with your meat or D. do not eat enough greens.
The saturated fatty acids in red meat also serve as building blocks for testosterone which is definitely something of interest for anyone training with weights. During a diet, red meat provides greater satiety than chicken or fish while keeping the muscles fuller, thereby making a huge psychological impact on the trainee.
Ok, off to the kitchen!
Maik

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11 week mark 08/16/2011
 
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The prep has started and I am very happy with the way things are going. I am  holding above 230 lbs as I keep getting leaner (sorry about the slef taken picture, but there was nobody around) .Right now I train 6 times a week, which is quite a bit but manageable with proper planning. My diet consists of 6-7 meals a day, mostly chicken or steak, no carbs for the last 2 meals. And of course, my Top Secret Supplements, Astravar and NO 370 before the workout, whey protein right after.
Stay tuned, it will be interesting!
Maik
 
 
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I am very happy and proud to announce that Top Secret Nutrition will sponsor me, going into the fall season. They are one of the few supplement companies out there, who don't make outrageous claims ( skin tearing pumps, anyone) but simply deliver through their products. I will be using whey protein, N.O. 370 and Astravar in preparation for the fall shows. Needless to say, I am very excited about this joint venture and will be keeping a blog for my 13 week prep here as well as on bodybuilding.com and facebook.
Starting weight is 234 lbs with abs so there is hope!
Let the journey begin
Maik
 
 
New Yorkers are a very friendly and easy going people, despite what the tourist guides try to tell us. The down side of this is that everyone has an opinion and isn't afraid to share.
When you are a certain size (or a beautiful woman), people will inevitably comment on your looks.
Here is my personal top 3 street comments that I have encountered while walking the streets of our beloved city
3. We are making an adult movie in Chelsea, would you mind participating?
Not really, but I ll keep you in mind in case the economy tanks again ( things in the credit market aren't looking so hot these days)
2. There is an underground cage fighting match going down in Brooklyn tonight, we are looking for fighters
Thanks for downgrading me
1. My all-time favorite
Can I touch your calves? No! Why not? Why not? Because I don't want to, I shouldn't have to justify my refusal in the first place...I mean, just like anyone I love attention and compliments ( and my calves are probably my best body part) but this just caught me off guard.
Love this town
 
 
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Yes, it has been a while. These last months have been turbulent, to say the least. Some good things have happened and some not so great things as well. Those close to me will know what I mean. But, we always strive forward and it is in our nature to overcome adversity.
So I am back at the old pulling and pushing, squatting and lunging. Currently somewhere around 235lbs, not as lean as I d like but it waill change.
This months brought new things to be excited about and to be focused upon.
Stay tuned, great things to come!
Maik
 
Muscle Mag! 01/24/2011
 
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Just a quick note today, Muscle Mag did print my photo. Another reason to train hard and eat right! The bulk is going well, I am scratching 240lbs in reasonable shape. The eating is tough, but sometimes you just have to force it down (sounds counter-intuitive , I know)
Off to military presses!
Maik
 
 
Happy New Year to everyone, may 2011 bring you whatever it is you are hoping for. I personally am hoping for about 5-7 lbs of muscle while staying reasonably lean.
I am not big on New Year's resolutions; if you want something so bad why did you wait until an obscure date? Did you ever hear of a cancer patient saying: " I think I'll wait with the chemo till after my birthday?"
If you want a better physique, go for it now. On the other hand, any motion is better than none, so if the January deal at the local gym is what gets you motivated, so be it.
The one instance where no training might be better than some, however, is CrossFit. Yes, there, I said it: I  think CrossFit, for the most part, is at the very least dumb and often downright hazardous.
It is simply not possible to have 10+ people performing Olympic lifts under the guidance of a trainer who took a weekend exam. I understand the motivation behind Crossfit and how it started. I am also aware that there are some great athletes using CrossFit.
But it has gotten out of control. Wearing a "I'm a bad ass because I took a CF class" t-shirt still does not enable you to dead lift 500 lbs +, so stop acting tough. If you cannot do a body weight squat, hitting things with a hammer will not turn you into the Hulk either.
I think the whole machismo thing has gone too far and I am curious to see the amount of injuries CF produces down the road as the quality of coaches continues to deteriorate.
So one resolution for 2011 could be to avoid CrossFit at all costs.
Maik
 
 
The cold days are here and it is almost an East Coast bodybuilding tradition to use the winter to "make weight" or pack on mass.
While there is nothing wrong with that idea as such (you have to get bigger, after all) I still would like to point out a few things I deem important.
1. Bigger does not mean fatter!  You can only gain so much muscle in any given time frame (no matter what Tim Ferriss says). A pound a week would be exceptional, half a pound is more realistic, depending on your height and overall development. Anything more is probably not muscle or water..connect the dots for yourself. Try to stay around 10-12% body fat, otherwise the spring diet will be hell.
2. The amount of calories your body can utilize is directly related to your hormonal levels. If you are a natural lifter, you probably cannot use more than 500-700 calories over maintenance. If you are using chemicals, all bets are off, especially when insulin is part of the mix.
3. As for your training program, do what works for you. I personally train 6-10 times a week, but I come from a professional-sport background so the volume is not a problem. In general, you should build your program around complex exercises but some isolation work is fine.
4. For most people a once-a-week body part split is a waste of time. I prefer something like upper body push/legs/upper body pull, rolling over through the week.
5. Try to take advantage of the holidays by sleeping more, recovering better (many spas give discounts on massages or other relaxation aids) and eating more to make progress during a time when most peoples physiques take a set back.
Train hard
Maik