Baftub's 2019 Contest Prep

First off, thank you AJ for keeping forums alive. I am an OG bb . com poster so this way of logging feels more natural as opposed to IG/FB, where my style of posting TLDR's isn't as accepted. Secondly, thank you to anyone interested in tagging along. I plan to update this daily with Training, Life, Work, yadi yada. Real, raw, uncut as I have in the past threads on the forums :) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction..... my name is Brett Freeman. I am a WNBF pro bodybuilder, former powerlifter, former 3DMJ athlete & Alberto Nunez's first client. I am 29, engaged (marriage date 5/23/20) & have a 9 year old step son, work full time as an assistant banquet manager, online coach, and have been training for 12 years, competing for 10 (10th year anniversary is this year.) Amateur Competition History: 2009: -USBF/OCB NYS Natural: 1st bantams, 1st teens, lost overall 2011: -INBF Rochester Supernatural: 1st place LW, lost overall to trevor sadjak/justin draper -OCB NYS Natural: 1st place LW, lost overall to Larry Biaz -INBF Hercules Super Pro Qualifier: 2nd place bantams -INBF Naturalmania Super Pro Qualifier: 5th place bantams -INBF Rochester Natural: 2nd place LW -OCB Yorton Cup Super Pro Qualifier: didn't place, got spanked From 2012-2016, life was a rollercoaster. Peaks, valleys, mental burn out. My father passed during my 2011 Contest prep and if it weren't for Eric Helms counseling me, I'd have been a disaster. Emotions were subsided until my prep ended, where life and emotions led down a dark path. It took me years to admit, but I used training and dieting as an escape, to contain & keep me distracted. Discipline still falters time to time due to mood swings (clinically diagnosed bipolar in 2012...no, no medication) but if I have small goals lined up throughout the course of the year, I stay on track. This explains my absence from social media from 2018-2019, I was simply fed up with the fitness industry/natural BB side of things, and had to take a break. Much better now though, as I felt pressured & a bit of a let down following my 2017 season....in which I captured lightning in a bottle and perhaps will never again. Thus, my return to the stage in 2017, Contest Prepping myself for the first time ever...having having 6 years away. 2017 Amateur History: -INBF Naturalmania Super Pro Qualifier: 1st place bantams, Overall Winner & Recipient of WNBF Pro Card 2017 WNBF Pro History: -WNBF US Pro Cup DEBUT: 5th place vs greats like Marshall Johnson, Ish Lytle -WNBF Worlds DEBUT: 1st place LW Having idolized Brian Whitacre and having met him numerous times as a teen and young adult, discussing ideas via email & getting critique, winning Worlds felt like a dream, and yet, I felt empty following the end of my 2017 season. Empty in that I have had long talks with an old time friend, Clement Yearwood (current worlds bantam overall winner), regarding my views towards this, and surprised that he and I share the same to which I am not alone. Thus, 2018 improvement season started off strong. 6 months in, strongest I had ever been, then a shift in changing jobs took a turn for the worse. Due to prioritizing family & bills first, with an extra amount of work load on my plate, training took a back seat to which nutrition & quality of training dipped - although maintenance was established, muscle growth was limited in which 2x a week frequency was the most optimal route for balance & sanity. Thankfully, 6 months in, training was re established back to progression leaving me another 6-8 months to reign things in FULLY before I decided whether or not 2019 was a go. My Grandmother passed in February 2019, my co worker passed the week prior, and all within a 2 week time period, I was set in stone with the realization that life is short, and I proposed. Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions, right? LOL Following this, the Fiance & I discussed my idea of returning to the WNBF Stage in 2019. Reason being: 2 year WNBF requirement, 2020 I am getting married, possible moving into new house, & I wanted to wrap up my 20s on a HIGH note since it would be my 10th year anniversary of competing. So here we are! If you're still reading, thank you, TLDR: Let's get this fucking show on the road.