Training For Professional Bodybuilding Contests at 64

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - Three Days Until My Last Amateur Show, 10 Days Until My First Pro Show

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - Two Days Until My Last Amateur Show, Nine Days Until My First Pro Show
 

Friday, May 4, 2007 - Check In Day For My Final Amateur Contest

Saturday, May 5, 2007, NPC Vulcan Classic, Birmingham, Alabama

Results: Open Men’s Lightweight – Second; Men’s Master 50+ First

After coming off of a six-month hiatus from competing, I was eager to return to competition. With two weeks to go until my first Pro Show on May 12, I decided to enter the NPC Vulcan Classic, held in Birmingham, Alabama, where I live. It’s the second year for this non-pro qualifier. The NPC is interested in this show and had the NPC Alabama State Chairman as the Head Judge.

The show had several small classes, including Teen, Novice, Junior Open, Open, Masters and Figure. There was also a Mr. Birmingham class. There were no female bodybuilders entered.

All of the classes were competitive, as several athletes were using this show as a warm up for upcoming NPC pro-qualifier contests.

I competed in the Men’s Master 50+ Class and since the other 50+ Master who paid to enter didn’t show up, I was the only one in the Class, so I placed First. On stage, I competed with the Men’s Master 40+ Class and that was awesome. They kept us on stage for quite a while. I loved it. Hell, I wanted to beat some of those kids, so I posed like I was trying to. LOL

In the Open Men’s Lightweight Class, there was one other competitor, an outstanding young athlete who was my size and weight. He is a 35 year-old active duty U.S. Navy Recruiter, based in Birmingham. This was his second show. He was outstanding. He is a natural athlete and we talked back stage about him competing in natural federations. We are going to work together towards that goal. A Navy Captain helping a Navy Chief Petty Officer. Makes sense to us.

I had a great time with my individual posing routine, a 60-seconds version of my Glenn Miller St. Louis Blues March routine. The audience seemed to enjoy it, too.

So, now, I fly to Las Vegas tomorrow to attend a convention and then on Wednesday, I fly to Salt Lake City, Utah and meet up with my distance training client who is going to compete in the 2007 NGA Mountain States Regional Bodybuilding Championship as a Novice and Master. I am the Guest Poser for his show and will compete in the 2007 NGA Olympic Gold Junior Pro Championship that same night.

I am confident that this warm up show was very beneficial and will allow me to come in a little better when I step onto the stage in Salt Lake City next Saturday.

Monday, May 7, 2007 - Las Vegas, Five Days Until My First Pro Show

Sunday morning, after my Saturday night NPC contest in Birmingham, AL, I flew to Las Vegas, NV to attend a convention with my company. I am staying at the Mandelay Bay Resort. This is an incredible facility. My room has a full-size wall mounted wide screen TV, a huge bathroom with standup shower and deep tub. My 11th floor view looks out over the Las Vegas Strip. Sweet.

Best of all is the Fitness Center. This place is awesome. In addition to a huge workout area with plenty of weights and cardio equipment, it has three whirlpools, a large steam room, sauna and private walk-in showers. They offer free fruit, water, soft drinks, juices and pastries (if you are interested). The Center is a little pricey ($26.00 a day), but, I made friends with the clerk at the front desk at the hotel when I checked in and mentioned I was training for my first Pro Show this Saturday, so she didn't charge me for my three-day spa membership. Also Sweet. The perks of being a Pro Bodybuilder. LOL There were quite a few people using the spa who stayed over after the De La Joya - Meriwether fight. Lots of shadow boxing going on in the Fitness Center.

I had a little trouble finding the food I needed on Sunday evening. This town is expensive. One place I looked at offered a Salmon dish for $46.00. I passed. I found a restaurant and had a small steak and salad for a lot less. This morning, at the hotel, my three egg whites omelet, grapefruit juice and coffee only cost $26.00.

My training consisted of some core work, with three or four exercises per body part and 10-20 reps each. Then I did 30 minutes of cardio, and in my room, a practice posing session. I will do another round of cardio and practice posing later.

Friday, May 11, 2007, NGA Mountain States Regional/Olympic Gold Junior Pro Championship

Sunday, May 13, 2007, Salt Lake City, Utah, NGA Olympic Gold Junior Pro Championship

Results: Third Place

What a night. It was my first Guest Poser appearance and my first Pro Competition.

I had a great time doing my three 90-seconds posing routines, back-to-back, with costume changes (quickly) in front on 450 people at the 2007 NGA Mountain States Regional Pro Qualifier Bodybuilding and Figure Championship, in Bountiful, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. I believe the audience had as much fun watching as I did performing.

The contest began with a large Teen Class, followed by an equally large Masters Class. I did my Guest Posing stint following the Novice and Figure Competition.

The Open Class completed their competition and then the NGA Olympic Gold Junior Pro Championship completed the evening.

I had time to pump up while the Open was in progress and was ready when the Head Judge called the Pros to the stage.

The NGA Olympic Gold Junior Pro Championship is for first-time professional athletes and the competition for me was exciting and fun as we began to hit our poses for the first time as Pros.

First Place went to Shane Stewart, NGA Mr. Utah for 2005 & 2006. Second Place went to Ray Long, from South Carolina, now living in Utah. Ray is a 190 pound, 5' 6" former power lifter. His quad, hams, chest, back package was awesome.

I was proud to stand with these guys and place Third in my first pro show.

In addition to the cash prize, we were awarded beautiful leather show jackets with the 2007 NGA Olympic Gold Junior Pro Champion embossed on the back and the NGA logo over the chest on the left front. A Very Cool Jacket.

After the show, the promoter, Blair Dean, invited Doc and me to have dinner with his family, the show staff and some of the judges. Blair is a Class Act, and this was a great experience.

And, my training client, Doc Dana, placed Third in the Novice Lightweight Class in the Mountain States Regional.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Here are a few photos from my first two shows of the year, the NPC Vulcan Classic in Birmingham, Alabama on May 5th and the NGA Olympic Gold Junior Pro Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 12th.

I placed 2nd in the Open Men's Lightweight Class and 1st in the Men's Master 50+ Class at the NPC show and I was Guest Poser and placed Third in the NGA Olympic Gold Junior Pro Show.

Body Building Senior Photo Gallery 2007

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

I continued to work on adding size to my legs by working "reps to failure" sets. I did squats, extensions, ham curls, adduction and abduction. Each exercise consisted of three sets. The first was 6 RM, the second was 12 RM and the third was 25 RM. This was tough. I ended the workout with three sets of 25 reps of seated calve raises. Tomorrow is a cardio only day, with some abs work and pull ups for good measure.

Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge [image]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6610/shlogo2hor8tk.jpg[/image]

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 45 Days Until My Next Contest

I have enjoyed a moderate non-contest diet since I returned home from Salt Lake City and my first Pro Show. Last night my wife, Vivian, made a great pasta dish. She is Italian and knows her Italian cooking. Yummy. I put "45 Days Until My Next Contest" in the header of this post to remind myself to take my face out of the trough and starting thinking about my contest diet for my next show. On June 30th I will compete in the 2007 NPA (National Physique Association) Nationals Bodybuilding & Fitness/Figure Championships and 2007 NPA Masters Universe Championships in Lt. Lee, Virginia. Both events are Pro Qualifiers. Although I already hold two Masters Pro Cards, this Federation requires you win your Pro Card in the NPA before you can compete as an NPA Pro in their Pro Shows. I am trying to earn my third Masters Pro Card so I'll have more contest choices as I continue to compete in our sport.

Today was a modest cardio day with some abs work and pull ups. Tomorrow I'll return to heavy lifting to failure exercises.

you really are an insperation to us all keep it up and good luck

Height 5'10"
Weight 200lbs
Incline bench press 300
curl 115 5 times sitting down
Skull crushers 105 lbs 12 times 4 sets
One arm Bent over row 90 lb dumbell 4x12
Body fat 14.2

ORIGINAL: lowredxtreme

you really are an insperation to us all keep it up and good luck

 
Thanks, Devon.  I appreciate you following my progress.

Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge [image]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6610/shlogo2hor8tk.jpg[/image]

Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 44 Days Until My Next Contest

Friday, May 18, 2007 - Six Weeks Until My Next Contest