Contest Prep Big Announcement!

I wasn't even 100% sure if I was going to do a Fitness Show this year and was trying to decide between having to travel to some shows that offered a Pro Card or staying close to home and competing in a Regional Show for the fun of it. After much debate I had decided to keep the costs down and stay close to home and was going to do the Popeye's Fall Classic as I felt it was one of the best regional Show offerings in my area.

And then I did some more research taking a look at what it would actually cost me to travel to Toronto and compete at this years Canadian Nationals and it wasn't as much as I was expecting it to be. This may in fact be my last real chance at a Pro Card, after all I am 50 years old now and even as a Master I will be competing against some of the guys being 10 years younger than me.

I really don't mind competing against younger guys since I have competed in the Open Category a bunch of times but it does get a bit harder every year. Since I am 50 now I will be competing at the Canadian Nationals  in Men's Masters Physique and Men's Grand Masters Physique which will give me two shots at being in the Overalls. At right around 8 weeks out I have a lot of work to do to bring my best package to stage ever! I feel I am right on track holding a good amount of muscle with not a lot of body fat and I am injury free for now, let's hope it stays that way right to show day.

Popeye's Fall Classic 2019 the Journey Begins

About a month ago I was asking everyone what show I should go into, there where a few options for me... The Amateur Olympia in Las Vegas and even the Canadian Nationals in Toronto, all my option are within about a month of each other so timing wise they work out. But when it came down to it I decided to go with Popeye's Fall Classic 2019 since it is a local show which means a lot less cost for me to attend and a lot easier on my family not having me away traveling on my own.

The only real downside is there is no opportunity for a Pro Card at the Popeye's Fall Classic since it is an unqualified show. That said Popeye's Fall Classic is one of the best local events with a big turnout and lots of top level athletes to compete against. At least that's what I found last time I went two years ago. Popeye's Fall Classic also gives out some really nice prizes to the overall winners including a really nice 4EverFit mountain bike, photo and video shoots, I believe some sort of $1000 gift card and of course a bunch of supplements! And this year Big Ramy is the guest poser! Wow!

My plan is to compete as a Grand Master in Physique along with the Open class to rub shoulders with the kids! I am not sure about Classic Physique even though last time I placed 3rd in Open, some room for improvement here... So I am looking at a timeline for this show to contest prep of about 3 months. I only have one more short holiday to factor in coming up in about 2 weeks so this will not get in the way, after that it will be go time in terms of cutting down, until then I will do my best to put on some size. Let's see what this old 50 year old can do representing the Grand Masters this year!

Will I Compete in a Fitness Show this Year - June Update Video 2019

The question I have been getting asked and that has been on my mind the most lately is "Will I Compete in a Fitness Show this Year?" To be honest I am not really sure and would like to get some feedback from you folks to see what you think I should do in 2019.

I've been keeping my options open by making sure I am training consistently and chipping away at gaining a little bit of size while staying relatively lean. Considering I am in what I call my off season (which is anytime I am not actually contest prepping), I'm about as big and lean as I have ever been so that means I wouldn't need a ton of time to contest prep but the more heads up the better of course.

There where a couple of shows I was considering that I will not be able to attend due to family commitments. The first show I was not able to attend was the Vancouver Island Showdown held this past June 15th. Dean Brandt had asked me to come as a part of TeamOldSchool which would have been a lot of fun!

The next show which is coming up that again I have family obligations at the same time is the Vancouver Pro Am which is a qualified show offering Pro Cards for Open Categories. The Vancouver Pro Am has classes for Master and Grand Master but no Pro Cards for Masters as far as I know, it still would have been a lot of fun competing with top level guys in my age category.

So that brings us to the shows that I am considering now and that as far as I know I do not have family obligations at least at this time ;) The first show coming up is the Amateur Olympia in Las Vegas being held mid September. Again there are no Pro Cards in the over 35 Masters Classes but they do offer multiple Pro Cards to the Open Classes. The downside to this show is cost since just to enter each class is $250 US, not to mention, flights, hotel, tanning, meal prep food to name a few.

I could also do this years Popeye's Fall Classic being held October 26th which is a well organized local show with amazing prizes and guest posing by none other than Big Ramy. I did Popeye's Fall Classic back in November of 2017 and not only had a great time but placed first in Open Physique Tall and third in Open Classic Physique. The advantage here is this show is right in my own back yard so costs are much lower and there is less pressure since it is a qualifying show with no Pro Cards to be had.

So first of all I want to ask everyone which show they think I should do? Secondly, and I am not even really sure how to go about this but I was hoping to find some sponsorship if I do decide to attend this years Amateur Olympia in Las Vegas since it will be rather costly (Around $1500-$2000 US). Sponsor or Sponsors will be mentioned in my all my Contest Prep Videos. Sponsor product or services should be related to the market I appeal to for best return on investment.

To contact me about being a Sponsor email me at mike@getfitover40.com

No More Fitness Competitions For Me

This is another one of those video you really need to watch as I go into a lot of detail on why I will not be competing in any more fitness shows.

A lot of it is because of personal reasons, I simply want to change direction and focus more on a balanced life which is really hard to do when you are training and preparing for a show like this.

I also talk a lot about my disappointment in the organization of this latest show the IFFB Elite Diamond Cup Vancouver. Like the lack of competitors at the show, how disorganized the show was in terms of knowing what was going on, the misinformation I was told about how they would be handling IFBB Elite Pro Cards that where promised for Masters Division when there were no masters for me to compete against?

I came away from this show extremely disappointed in how it was handled and even a little bit in myself because even after what I feel was one of my hardest worked for preps, I still did not feel like I brought my best to the stage, perhaps father time is catching up with me a little bit. Yet another reason to focus on other areas of my life.

I will still be pursuing Health and Fitness but in other ways, maybe even better ways that are more relatable to my audience?

Road to the IFBB Diamond Cup - Show Day

Watch and see what happened during my Show Day at the IFBB Diamond Cup in Vancouver BC Canada.

I want to thank my Family, friends and supporters that have been behind me during this last few years while I worked my way up the official organization ladders from show to show to get to where I am now.

It has been rewarding in many ways, personal challenges where made, goals where achieved, many of the simple things we take for granted in life where set aside for the greater goal, some I regret now and some I am better off without.

I will be making a separate video going over the result and how I feel about them and the show in general but for now here is the summarized version:

• 1st in Masters Physique. (I was the only contestant)
• 1st in Open Classic Physique C Divisions. (I was the only contestant)
• 5th in Open Physique C Division. (There where 5 contestants) 

All the athletes from around the world at this show looked great and deserved to be up on that stage. This was a high level show.