I accomplished my goal

I didn't win and I didn't even make in the top 5 but I still accomplished my goal of competing in a bodybuilding contest.

The day started at 7:45am with contestant meeting. There were 138 contestants both men and women.

The women's classes were first and there were a lot of different classes. The men's classes didn't begin until late in the morning. I think my class of men over 45 went on around 11:30am.

Friends Jason, Andrea, Bunny and Amy had all showed up. I gave them instructions to cheer and shout out my number. It was great help to hear their voices out in the crowd. I didn't wear my glasses so I could see much past my nose.

I was second to the last in the line. I was not asked to move to center which is a bad sign. There were a few guys who were definitely bigger than me but I thought I as least had a good lean look.

The morning session is the actually judging and we, the contestants, go through a series of mandatory poses and comparisons. With so many competitors, the promoter decided not to do the choreographed routines in the morning. I thought the routines were part of the judging but that proved not true.

I was still hoping I would at least be in the top 5 even though I knew I wasn't going to win. The evening show for the men didn't start until after 8pm. Our group of "Masters" were the second group on. We all got to do our routines. One guy in my group did his routine with a large white python...a real one. It was quite the surprise.

My routine went well. Marlin, Christine, Allison, Tom and Rachel were at the evening show. After my group was done, I was done. I met up with my friends in the lobby and we headed to Old Chicago for beer and pizza roles. Yummy!

The whole experience was great. I did it and I think I did pretty good.

No pictures yet but when I get some, I'll post.

Thanks to everyone who supported me along the way.

The Journey - in numbers

I call this bodybuilding contest thing a journey. It has been a journey to see if I had the will power to eat right, workout right and think right. It has been a journey because I've kept my business travel going the entire way. It has been a journey because I've worked with friends and businesses to get where I've got.

Today I had my measurements taken at my workout studio, Fitness Together. Phil has done all my measurements since September of 2007 when I started going to Fitness Together.

Here are the raw numbers:

when I started working out with Fitness Together personal trainer:
09/04/2007 weight 196.8lbs; chest 41.825; waist 36.125; arm 13.875; fat weight 28.2

when I started my 12 week contest prep:
03/13/2008 weight 197; chest 41.125; waist 34.675; arm 14.5; fat weight 23.1

today 12 wks of contest prep:
05/15/2008 weight 181; chest 39.675; waist 32.375; arm 14.125; fat weight 16.7

I lost 16 lbs in 12 weeks. My chest is less than an inch smaller. I've lost over 2 inches in my waist. I lost 6 1/2 lbs of fat.

The differences from Sept, 2007 and even more dramatic. I've lost almost 4 inches around my waist!

Six week comparison and Six weeks out

As many of you know, part of my 50th birthday year is competing in a bodybuilding contest. I'm in the seniors division which is euphemistically called "Masters."

Here is a comparison picture. On the left is six weeks ago when I started dieting and cardio. On the right is today. There are six more weeks to the competition.

I'm around 199 lbs in the left photo and 193 lbs in the right photo.