Thanks everyone for the pre-contest encouragement. I tried really hard but it just wasn't good enough for the top 5. I worked my ass off this year, more than any other year and I'm really pleased with how the year went. But now it's time to take a break.
I was planning on competing August 8th near Seattle but I just got an offer from VEGA to go to Chicago to run the booth for Chicago VegFest that same weekend and I need $ and my body needs a break so it's a beautiful combo.
On a side note....I haven't had much gas for the past couple of months (I know I did during the filming of Vegan Brothers in Iron...sorry to those who had to be around me then)...but really not much gas at all lately....eating cleanly, great pre-contest diet, stuck to it, got ripped, etc.....ate like crazy yesterday and today and can't stop farting!
Dammit!
As the season ends I reflect back...and even reflect back over the years. It looks like I'm improving.
Here I am winning my division in 2005:
And here I am about to get my ass kicked 3 days later
in 2009:
I'll just keep on improving....that is the fun part! I'm up to about a 315-pound decline bench and should be using 120's soon for chest press and I'm getting stronger and bigger and with increased rest and food I should be able to return much stronger in 2010.