Justin

Ripped to Shreds

I used to religiously alternate between dumbbell and barbell movements. I really enjoy dumbbells for most all of my pressing movements. I still do use the Barbell for standing shoulder presses and I also do seated dumbbell presses. Nothing beats standing barbell rows either! Anyways, I felt that I always maintained much more strict control throughout the entire movement with dumbbells. I don't know, I still think 100+ dumbbells are just as impressive for any pressing movements for the numbers thing.

Thanks Pamela! Yes, that is me in the photo! Yes, I will post progress photos on that link....thanks. I will be sure to inform everyone of the results from the upcoming shows this summer.

Well, It's been a full year now for me as a Vegan. I am planning to do a Show in May, which will be my 7th show. I will post pre-contest photos as the date draws near...I am not really sure where to post them on here......... I have been maintaining (5'11") 220 w/ full abs thus far and I have been maintaining my strength as it was before changing my diet. My cardio conditioning has greatly improved over this last year! I have been cutting out excess carbs and ingesting carbs only at certain points of the day. I take in carbs more towards the evening around 6pm. I have been working more towards raw, but I feel I need to keep my diet balanced for my work performance through out the day. I work in a highly technical field, and I have to be very "coherent" at all times. That is why I am starting early. Protein sources: Vega and Hemp all sorts of beans Tofu raw seeds (snacking) I work out at 5 am before work. I will have a hemp w/ Super green mix in Cranberry juice before arriving to the gym. Afterwards, I will have Vega with soymilk w/ hemp seed oil or Flax before heading to work. Before lunch(930-1000), I may have some raw seeds/nuts and some type of fruit...time permitting. For Lunch (12-100pm), it is a routine of Beans w/ hot sauce and a Salad (Raw Spinach, tomatoes, carrots, beets and cabbage w/olive oil and vinegar) . A couple of slices of Wheat/Rye bread. After lunch (3-4pm), I may have some raw seeds/nuts and some type of fruit...again, time permitting. Dinner, (5-6 pm) mainly beans again, or tofu w/ Brown rice.... 2 Veggie and 1 Fruit.......which varies.....mainly apples, oranges, and bananas, guava, and pomegranate. This is what I has been the format thus far....and I just make sure that I am getting what I need nutritionally. I have been been supplementing fats with Hemp seed and Flax in the earlier part of the day to ensure that they are metabolized. So, I am open to any suggestions as far as adding/deleting as the Show approaches! Thanks, ~Justin

I am currently still 210 and showing all ABS! I have competed in a Show since 2003, so I had a lot of conditioning to do! (muscle memory is a GOOD thing. ) I am doing the Great Lakes SuperNaturals in Chicago, which is October 29 (Which would be the 1st year anniversary of me going Vegan....cool, huh ?) . This will actually be my 7th show. I have normally competed at 182 - 185, so that is what I am going for....depending how I look at that particular weight. I increase my cardio again in few weeks by riding my bicycle to work everyday and maintain running 3.5 miles 6 days a week. (sometimes Sprints too) I am slowing reducing the amount of Carbs that I am intaking and substituting Raw Veggies. I cut out most all Veggie Junk food, though it's been hard especially during the summer! I have been intaking most of my fats and Carbs in the morning to draw from throughout the day. So, the end of July I shall post pictures because I think that I would 12 weeks out at that point. ~Justin

It looks like you had tough some tough competition! All of your pictures show excellent definition, muscle separation and vascularity. I think you are going to go far in the next show(s) because you already posses these things and have excellent symmetry.

Well, we have to take action to get the FDA to serve the public once again. How to logically implement the correct steps is beyond me.

My top favorites are: Dorian Yates, Nasser El Sonbaty, and Jay Cutler. I also always have liked Frank Zane, Arnold, Flex Wheeler, and Larry Scott. I just love all of Dorian's workouts: just basic, good, old-fashioned iron pumping workouts; that I still use today . I would love to visit his gym in England: Temple Gym. Has anyone else been there? http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1420651922

Sounds good, thanks for all the input, I drink a lot of Fortified Soymilk as it is..Sometimes, during increased cardio sessions like I am doing now for the Great Lakes SuperNaturals....I thought that I would develop joint and ligament problems like in the past. This time around, it is not the case. I do Yoga now and I take Hemp seed oil on a regular basis. I guess I felt like that I was missing something; however it may prove to be not that beneficial at all…..as currently I am not taking any additional through supplementation, just through diet.

Thanks for the link, very informative.

What are some good Vegan sources/supplements of Calcium and Magnesium? I have been getting adequate amounts through mostly diet, but I am training for a bodybuilding show (Great Lakes SuperNatuals) in September and I am doing a lot more intense cardiovascular workouts. I usually increased the supplementation of Calcium and Magnesium in the past, but I want to be certain that the sources are Vegan this time. Hemp seed oil and seeds has also helped me during this time for overall joint health.

Yeah, John looks awesome! See if you can find any pics of that one Vegan from Canada. Sounds awesome!

I know a guy that is going to do the Emerald cup. He is in the Bantam weight bracket; although he has some amazing definition.... I would like to make to an Arnold classic myself... Are there any Vegans in the NPC or IFBB? Should Vegans enter shows that a lot of the other competitors use steriods? I have been out a few myself...but it would depend on the judges....

I have read so much conflicting information out there regarding Vitamin A Palmitate. I typically ingest this with Soymilk with a hemp protein or Vega. I have heard that it is not "Vegan" sourced...and it is an additive from cow milk added to Soymilk to increase the Vitamin A content. I don't really know if this is true or not, but would like to seek out some clarity on this particular issue. Every since I became Vegan, it seems like there is always something I didn't really know about... That is why a normally seek out the truth in such matters.

I still think Dexter could win it too...I mean he is in the top 5 for the past 5 years. I like Jay because of his old-school-style weight training philosophy...like Dorian Yates. I still like the physique of Dugdale and Dexter Jackson....it would take some shifting in the judging for the smaller, symmetrical, freaky definition guys to take home the overall win in my opinion. I've lost to plenty of steroid guys that have one enormous muscle group, lacking in other areas, and are generally unbalanced. Natural Shows are a little better in this aspect, but sometimes there is not too much difference.