Recent Posts by Mark the Nix

Hi Craig. Enjoying it quite a bit once I stopped stressing about my weight and strangley enough once I stopped stressing it got better.

I am having a great time with Jacqui. The weather is great and the hotel is amazing. This is where we got married and we always have fun here.

Just came back from a great upper body workout. the gym is not great but I am making due.

I have a pretty good plan for Sat when I get back. New thread starting then. Preseason starts in 2.5 days!!!

Love that new avatar by the way!! 

Thanks Annette. I have been trying this week but I also know it is vacation so I am having a few treats (trying to practice a little portion control though). I find the 2 hours of swimming a day is keeping the fat from coming back too fast.

I hope you have a great vacation.

Wow. 455 is awesome Craig.

Don't even think of it as 500 pounds. Think of it as a quarter of a ton!!!!

When I saw you in Toronto you looked bigger and thicker in the upper body. Looks like the plan is coming together.

And now I have caught you Graig. HAHAHAHa

From page 50 of my thread:

"Lucas what are you taking credit for me smacking you around and tell you to relax~! LOL

Great job Craig! getter done buddy and have some fun. "

You called me Craig and my name is not even close!!! HA (just kidding round)

Craig, I sympathize with your problem. You are a compettive person (in a good way of course) and I understand about wanting the carrot. I want to compete again next week!!! You did lose over 60 for the first contest so you will be coming from a better place. You'll have to lose less weight  and you'll have more muscle. Maybe that make the hormone problem less of a problem.

Have a great week. This is an interesting discussion for sure!!

Thanks Graig and Pam,

I really appreciate those comments coming from you guys. That is sound advice Pam about eating new things.

 Yesterday was travelling from 2am and stayed up to about 11PM. Long day but this place is beautiful. Going for a swim soon. Yesterday was a tough day and I ate way too much but today will be better. Have no scale here but I was 205 when I left so I would like to maintain that and get serious when I get back. So far so good today. Going to the ocean later today and I will check back every couple of days. (limited internet access).

I am glad I called Craig. Sorry for interupting your work buddy. Thanks for taking those pics. I have decided to appreciate all pics from that day becuase that was the day I did something I have wanted to do for 20 years. All those pics are shots of my victorious moment. (Wow, that sounded corny).

Time to go hit the beach!! 

Thanks Sean,

I agree. I will go do that posthaste!

Craig,

I am sorry man, it was not that your pictures were not good quality. It was just at the side angles you can see the love handles and the loose skin more. I know bodybuilding is all about illusion and I look better straight on (I think). I really hope I didn't offend you. The pics you took were really good and they definitley showed me what I need to work on this year. I seem to be my toughest critic so I really apologize I didn't explain this earlier.

Again, it was really great to see you and Donna again and thanks so much for all you did for me.

Got them!

Even I have to admit these are good pictures!! 

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll157/markthenix/

password: markprogresspics

title: Contest Day

Thanks Lucas and Tori. You probably are right. It is just fear that is keeping me from really relaxing. I should just enjoy my vacation (Dominican Republic by the way Tori) and not worry about it too much. I have a little bit of a plan but the jist of it is too not eat mindlessly. I will allow myself the good food but I really want to stay in touch with enjoying it and not gorging.

I figure if I come back not too much over 205 I should be in a good position to compete at 180-185 next year (with 5-10 pounds more muscle) in November.

I am sorry but it looks like I am not going to get those good photos until after I get back. I leave late tonight so this may be the last time I get on here. Have a great week everyone.

Contest training for 2009 contests starts Nov 22, 2008

Well, I stopped the bleeding yesterday and stuck to the macros (250/250/50), got a workout in with a little cardio. Lost 2 pounds of the water I accumulated (201 this morning - 10 pounds over contest weight)

Going to make sure I hit them for the next 2 days until my vacation. Do not want to come back from vacation over 205 so I would like to be under 200 before I go.

Thanks Graig, I guess I pulled half a "Dan". Stopped before I got all the way there.

Don't worry Lucas, already on it. Had an egg white ommelette for lunch with rye toast and fruit. I am gettting back on track. i also have a plan for my vacation.

Thanks Wayne. I am still trying to get some other pics. But thanks. I think the angle Craig was sitting at was not the best possible angle to see me when I was posing. The ones I am hoping to get are centre straight on. We'll see.

Thanks Tori, Jane, and Annette. I was at the best I could have been that day. I am getting really good pics soon as well as video of my posing routine.

After 2 days (as opposed to one planned) of unrestricted eating I am now up 12 pounds! Holy crap! I have been reeling it in today and so far so good.

Also going on vacation with my wife on Friday for a week but I will try to have some structure so I do not come back much more than 205. That's my goal.

Joe wants me at 250/300/50-60 when I get back. That sounds good to me!!

If I do not talk to you guys before I leave I hope everybody has a good couple of weeks. And thanks for all the support.

Thanks so much Terri, Liz, and Lucas. It was great fun!

Rick, have you settled on the Toronto show next year or are you thinking about New England as well. It would be great to be in the same class.

Hi Rick,

I laughed when I saw that the only pics you got of my class were of the 6th place finisher not me! Hilarious.

Pleasure meeting you sir. Great job!

Thanks Craig,

Some of these are great. My cousin is putting together his pics and he sat dead center. I saw them and they were really flattering. I will try to get some to post. Everyone has their first contest I guess and I vow to look good from all angles next time. 

Thanks again for your help this weekend buddy. I do not know what I would have done without you and Donna.

Holy crap! You look great.

Truly inspirational Melissa.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks everyone for the good wishes and congrats (Lucas, Graig, Terry, Miki, Char, Wayne, Patti, MOT, Annette, Tori, and Shellie). You guys have always been there for me and I appreciate it.

Well, you guys are not getting rid of me. I have got the bug now! What an experience. My dream goal was to make the top 5 and get a medal (only the top 5 in the class get to fo the routine). I was pretty nervous but really pumped and excited the whole day. I also felt pretty good on that stage (OK the legs were shaking a bit).

I would like to thank Craig, Donna, and Rick for all thier guidance and support this weekend. I couldn't believe Craig and his beautiful wife came came up to see us compete. They really helped me with my color and heck, I almost looked like a bodybuilder up there. They were amazing and personify what Team K is all about. Rick looked awesome and deserved his placings for sure. My only regret is his class was so close to mine I really didn't get to see him in action. He has so much passion for this sport that all Masters (and open) competitiors better watch out.

It was a very well run show and I have already decided to do this show next year. It is a week after the Monster Mash  so I am going to get Joe to peak me for both. 

I have had some treats today and not feeling guilty but back on tommorrow morning.

I will get some pis up early this week.

Thanks so much everybody. I have time to put up a couple quick pics from this morning (one coat of dt spray) before I go do my curcuit training.

I like the color but a few places are uneven. I plan on putting on at least 4 more coats so I hope that will even out.

I will also be putting on the red bronze DT tomorrow morning.

 I think the color is good but I will get as dark as possible. These pics taught me not to push against my skin as much in the most muscular. I will try to post more tonight after 2 more coats.

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll157/markthenix/

password: markprogresspics

Getting nervous. Here goes.

Well guys, it has been a great road this past year and I would ike to take this time to thank each and every one of you for all your help and encouragement. I really do not think I could have done it without you and hiring Dr Joe was one of the smartest things I have ever done in my life.

Everything has been going well this week with prep but work has been super busy. Tomorrow I am off work so I should be able to concentrate on prep. Rick, I will see you Friday afternoon at the hotel.

Craig, I will see you at the show. I will send you my phone number in your email in case you lost it.

Thanks everyone. Time to have some fun!!

Hi Terry,

In regards to cardio, I did it about 4-5 times a week for the first 7 months and was losing at a good rate (lost about 65 pounds). 2 of those were 20 min HIIT and the other 3 were 40 min moderate.

At the begining of July Joe and I decided we had to step it up becuase my deadline was close so I ended up doing 40 min mod cardio everyday and 20 min HIIT on my non weight workout days. (It came out to an average 11 times a week). Lost 55 pounds doing this in the last 4 months or so.

I wouldn't reccomend the double cardios unless your back was up against the wall.

Hi Rick,

What time do you get into Toronto this week?

Thanks so much Liz. Next year we will rule the Mash!

Day 5 of peak week. Had a really hard back and bis workout last night but workout was a little long I think.

Food is going well. Saw the outline of an upper ab this morning hwen I wasn't even trying to flex it so that must be good. Felt a little flat this morning but nothing bad.

Tonight chest, delts, and arms.

Morning pics. Looking forward to getting that tan on Thursday night! 

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll157/markthenix/

password: markprogresspics

Thanks Terry,

Everything is going nicely this week. Having a blast so far. I have decided to do everything I could with the abs and after that not worry about it. Just want to concentrate on the things I can control. I will keep working on it until I get it done after the contest. Hey, I gained the weight and put the food in my mouth so I am willing to do the work to get it off. It just might take a while.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the kudos. I appreciate it man.

Hi Terry,

You look like you have a ton of muscle in those pics. I went on a similar diet (the Anabolic Diet) about 10 years ago and lost a ton of weight but gained it all back. I never really felt any control on the low carb diet. I was confident I would lose weight on it but when it came time to maintain I just knew deep down it wasn't the answer.

Sounds like you and I are in agreement there.

The good news is with Joe's plan (or his books are great if hiring is not financially in your future) is that you have so much more control. The macros you want to work up to (250/200/40) are coincidently exactly what I followed for the last 44 weeks. The only thing that changed was the carb increase day when I went up to 350. Joe added another smaller one(250-300g) 10 weeks in to slow the loss down. You could do an increase once a week and evaluate from there.

This site is awesome with such great support.

How much fat were you eating on Palumbo's diet? I was having a couple of hundered a day on the Anabolic (almost 5 days worth of fat for me now). I feel so much more sane now.

Good luck man. You'll be back before you know it!

Off the top of my head.

CN Tower

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) - will have to take the subway.

Hockey Hall of Fame

They all have websites.

Here's is a good generic site for everything toronto.

http://www.toronto.com/

can't wait to see you.

Always remember where you came from. You have done some amazing things and are a champion already.

I have similar hopes for bodyparts that you have for your legs but you just have to believe in yourself.

You have the best team here backing you up.

You are one of my heroes.

Hello everybody, new pics from tonight before my leg workout. Veins were popping out and I wasn't even flexing.

I don't know if you can tell from the photos but it was cool. Had a great leg workout on my 300 g carb day. Tomorrow is a 250 g carb day on back and bis day. Can't wait.

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll157/markthenix/

password: markprogresspics

Craig, Rick has been kind enough to let me use his cell phone on the day of the contest so you can reach me at the above number like he says. I will email you my home number (I still have your email address).

Shellie, thanks so much for your kind words. I have been trying to get that eye of the tiger going!

Pam, you are so nice. I hope to meet you someday in person. I will think of all of you while I am on stage.

Hey Craig,

thanks so much buddy. You are always there for us!

11 am is correct. Here is what the site says:

Pre-Judging  11:00am  •  Night Show  6:30pm

VENUE LOCATION & MAP

Jane Mallett Theatre
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
27 Front Street East
Toronto, ON, Canada

I think the hotel is about a 5 minute walk (maybe less) from the venue.

You can see maps on idfa.ca

Let me know what else you need. You have been to Toronto before right? The venue is really close to Union Station.

Wow Keith, 92 pounds is amazing. I heard about you when I was down in Evansville this past June for the Team K Prep Camp but I think you were competing that weekend. Too bad we didn't get to meet. Thanks for the compliments.

Thanks so much to you as well Miki. I am feeling a little "off" today. It was the first Monday in 4 months I didn't get up early to work out and it felt weird, maybe even a little dpressing. Oh well, 300g of carbs today and leg workout tonight should take care of that.

Took some pics this morning and sent some to Joe but they were not that great. Will take some after my workout tonight.

Oh and holy cow, I almost forgot. I was 191 this morning. I have lost about 5 pounds in the last 9 days. A lot of this is probably water so we will see what tomorrow brings.