2nd Place 2007 NATIONALS

WELL, it's all over for 2007. Started with a win at the Metropolitan's in NY on April 14th followed by a win two weeks later in SC for the JR USA's, after only a month and a half off of dieting I aimed for the Nationals where I placed 2nd to Jose Raymond this past weekend. Got to give it to Jose for his frame of 5'3 he had a solid package with good conditioning, congratulations Jose you looked great. As for myself, I was very happy with my placings, I mean at the time, who couldn't be upset one placing away from turning Pro at Nationals with my good friend Evan, that would have been a dream, but this year wasn't meant to be. I came in with my best package I have ever had, 3 lbs lighter than I was my last two shows, my cuts and separations were deeper, without losing any size or shape. Got to give it to BIG DAVE, he brings me in better and better every show, can't wait to see what 2008 brings for the Nationals in Atlanta GA.
As for the Nationals, I had a great time, exhausted but a great time. I stayed in the Fairmont with Evan and we just relaxed the entire time, never saw out the window, for three days just slept, ate, tanned, and competed. That's what we were there for. You go to these shows to do your best, and you see all these other guys running around doing stupid shit when all they should be doing is resting, makes you think what it is they want, a career or attention. I arrived on Wednesday night, got in late to the hotel ate and passed out. Thursday was a day of tanning, talking with Dave and 7:30pm wiegh-in's where I weighed in at 173.2. The next morning after water depleting I was 170 shredded to the bones after only 2 meals of carbs. Friday was prejudging at 5:30pm, where I was in bed until almost 7pm before I got on stage just in time to get oiled up and a quick pump before getting on stage. After quarter turns they brought us all out, and I got called 1st call out after Jose. After we went through out mandatories they brought the top 3 back on stage for one more comparison round where we all went at it head to head once more. I knew Jose had me in size, but in my opinion I had in on shape and conditioning. After I got off stage it was on to route for my boy Evan whom they didn't even compare anyone too, I mean how could you, he stood head to toe, bigger, drier, and harder, than any other guy in his class, hands down the overall winner. After that it was all about the Hooters hamburgers and fries. Saturday came, and went, tanned and ate during the day, the night show ran slow as shit in the beginning bringing the fitness in between the men's night show, but before I knew it my routine was 90 there and gone. I was standing on stage with 4 other men not knowing what the out come was going to be. I heard 5th, 4th, and 3rd place called but didn't hear 173 which was my number, then......I heard "and runner up" number..173, and I knew it just wasn't my time yet. Hit a few poses for the camera, rubbed the tan off and went back to the seats with my friends and family to give Evan my support, which he didn't need due to his physique spoke for itself. After Evan won the overall with a superb routine, I got very sick, there was a bug going around I found out the next morning I was up all night with an upset stomach, and puked my brains out around 6am. Not a fun way to start an off season. Finally, made it home after a lot of muffins and toast all day because my stomach couldn't handle anything, and feeling better and heavier today. Now taking a week off before starting my off season for the 2008 Nationals!!
Want to give a big shout out to those that came to support me, my Mom and Brother..aka ANTsistant (he was Evan and mine slave for 3 days), also Leah, her Aunt Mary, Kelly, Uncle Tom, Mike, and Will, for showing up at the airport and letting us use the microwave and driving us around the weekend, don't know what I would have done without you guys there. PJ, for just being PJ, kid is just out of control, all you can do is laugh, he's my boy and shout out to his Mom for the Godiva's..already GONE!!! Gold's Gym NH crew, you're all great, and Kenny my posing coach, thanks for everything bro. Also huge THANKS to Evan, this was a weekend I will never forget and couldn't have done it without you bro, can't wait to see you kick some ass at the NY Pro in 08. Also Special thanks to DAVE PALUMBO AND SPECIES NUTRITION, words not needed physique has spoken.......Stay big
Guy

DAVE PALUMBO, EVAN CENTOPANI, & PJ BRAUN THANKS GUYS!!!

These three individuals have been a huge help to me the past 16 weeks of my training. Lets start with PJ. I met PJ over 4 years ago when I was in college, everyone knew I was a bodybuilder and always told me I had to meet this huge kid named PJ. Awhile went by and one night I headed to Benagan's to grab some food and PJ was bouncing at the door, that night I didn't make it to my table. I sat there for hours talking to PJ about training, dieting, and competing, and from there we became training partners. Through the years of training with PJ we both learned a lot from each other from bodybuilding, and more so friendship, PJ and I have had our fall outs, which we laugh about to this day. Since then PJ moved in with his girlfriend whom I love Nicole in CT, where she competes in Figure and took 3rd at the Jr USA's as her second show after winning the overall at the Atlantic States the prior year. PJ has been like a brother to me I became close with him and his family. If there's ever a problem PJ is always there to help and give advice, I can thank him enough for all that he has done for me, Thanks bro you mean more to me than you'll ever know..

Now for Evan. This is pretty funny, I worked at GNC throughout college to make it buy, and worked with a buddy of mine named Andy, who also knew PJ. He would always tell me you have to meet my buddy Evan who lives in Trumbull CT, he is the biggest guy I know. I told him no way is this kid bigger than PJ, at that time PJ was the biggest armature I knew. After college I got transferred to Trumbull as a manager for GNC and met Evan at World's Gym. The day I met him was only a few days after he won his first show at the Atlantic States, I was like HOLY SHIT!! This kid is unreal, I met him along with Ron Rich who is an outstanding bodybuilder as well. Me and Evan hit it off from the start. Evan would always stop into GNC and bull shit with me and we would catch up on workouts a few times a week. Since I met Evan a lot has changed, he's another one, whom I went from not knowing to becoming best friends with. After I won my class and was National Qualified in the Gold's Classic after some help with PJ with my contest prep, Evan told me he had been working with Dave Palumbo for the JR Nationals and Nationals and I should hook up with him. I was skeptical at the time because I had got dropped from my last nutritionist who was an asshole, and I wasn't a big name in the sport so what would Dave want with me. But I followed his advice and did. Evan you have been there a lot for me the past 3 years I can't thank you enough for all the time and dedication you put into helping me prepare for the Mets, Jr USA's, and now well be going together to the Nationals, a time to remember...LOVE YA BRO

NOW MR. JUMBO PALUMBO...I talked to Dave for the first time in the end of December, great, open, down to earth guy, he told me take a few pics and send them to him and well go from there. So the next day went to my girlfriends house snapped some shots sent them to Dave, received an email back asap. He said I had ridiculous legs and a great physique, I was shocked because my old nutrition didn't think I had shit to work with. After going back and forth via e-mail I finally took a trip to see Dave, we sat down went over my contest prep and got started, it wasn't easy. I was used to dieting the "old school" way carbs, low fats, high protein, cardio here and there, not with Daves' Methodology it was 16 weeks of no carbs, cardio, high fats, and a CHEAT MEAL....I thought a CHEAT MEAL..AWESOME. Well it's awesome alright until he pulls that away, along with your fats and your eating just protein. But who can complain, after winning two shows under Dave, being sponsored by Species, and gaining a great FRIENDSHIP with him and his fiance Colette, I couldn't be more happier...Thank you Dave for all your hard work and dedication you put into me and you have inspired me to become so much more than a bodybuilder, you are a great person and I can't thank you enough for all your help, your more than a nutritionist your a great Friend!!!
Thanks you guys, Love everyone of you
Guy

IN THE TRENCHES GUY AND EVAN!!!

WELL WELL, WHAT A SIGH OF RELIEF!!! Today was my last day of work until I get back from Nationals and it was also my last leg workout. I don't know what's worse doing legs or doing legs then doing my second session of 75 minutes of cardio afterwards when my legs are feeling like J-E-L-L-O. But got to give it to Dave and Species Nutrition along with his advice and taking LIPOYZE, SOMALYZE, AND ISOLYZE, I am already at my competiton weight. This morning I was 176.5 lbs, right where I need to be for weigh-ins. The good thing about this is that last time the day before both shows I was 178 so my carb up wasn't that good, Dave wants me to be a little lighter so I can get a full day of carbing up to look full and hard on stage which I have NO doubts about. Eveyone keeps asking me how do I think I will do, my answer is always the same, I want to look the best I have ever looked before, and where ever I place I place. Who ever looks good on that day deserves to win, so hopefully all the hard work, and dedication I put in this year will pay off. This Thursday and Friday I will be shooting IN THE TRENCHES WITH EVAN CENTOPANI AT BEVS GYM IN SYOSSET NY. It will be up on MD I am sure before the Nationals, it will be a good time, the last one I did was three days after the JR. USA's with Nick Zack who won the Super Heavy wieght class at the Mets and the Arnold, so this will be a good experience. Evan and I train together at least once a week in Gold's New Haven so our training styles are similar and we will have fun with it even though were both close to death..hahaha, but I will keep you all posted on how it goes and when it's up and running on MD. Until then GOOD LUCK AND STAY STRONG
GUY

2 WEEKS OUT..LEANER BY THE DAY

Whats up everyone been a long week, today was my first day of fats in 6 days so that's why I haven't typed anything. It's hard enough to go through the day, doing this wouldn't help nor would it make any sense I would be all over the place with my typo's. Well this week surprising went fast, had awesome workouts which I can't believe since I am eating just protein. Also Saturday my buddy Dominick and myself went up to Gold's New Haven, home of the Montanari Bros, and my posing coach Kenny Wallach. We got in a sick arm workout and I had a great posing session with Kenny, we got a lot accomplished in the hour we had together. Also did some of my workout with Evan who looks unbeatable, he is just a sick individual, his legs came up 100% from last year, his is striated from head to toe, no one is going to touch him at Nationals that's my prediction! GO GET EM EVAN, LETS BRING THOSE PRO CARDS HOME KID. Also, last night I went to the East Coast show held in Totowa NJ, which is 10 minutes from my house. I went there to see Dave so he could evaluate me and see if there was changes to be made. He thought I am where I am supposed to be at this point, so things stayed. Only one week left of cardio and working out can't complain about that! IT'S CRUNCH TIME NOW BABY!!!!!!

So this morning I woke up at 179, and looked very good, I am my own worst critic so I still think I need work, but last shows I weighed 178 the day before the show so I am defiantly on point. My goal in every show is to come in better than I did at my last show, where I place after that is where I place, I can only come in at my top conditioning, which I plan to do, and with that God willing my pro card. Until next time everyone. GET BIG!

On a sadder note, Evan lost his aunt whom passed away on Friday morning. I just want to give my condolences to Evan and the Centopani Family and let them know that my prayers and thoughts are with them through this rough time. I love you guys, stay strong and hang in there. PLEASE KEEP EVAN AND HIS FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS AT THIS TIME..THANKS AND GOD BLESS