Bodybuilding.com - Let The Countdown Begin: 20 Week Contest Prep!

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I have decided to start cutting at approximately 22 weeks out this year and only lose 1- 1.5 lbs per week. I want to leave nothing to chance...

Let The Countdown Begin: 20 Week Contest Prep!

By: Layne Norton

Two years it's been since I last stepped foot onto a bodybuilding stage. Two years it's been since I have tested myself against some of the best natural amateur bodybuilders in the world. Two years it's been since I've felt the sensation of hitting a pose and hearing the crowd's response. Now the time has come to return to the stage.

As some of you already know, a rugby injury to my neck (two bulging disks) in October of 2002 kept me from working out my upper body for two months and caused me to lose 35% of my strength on the left side of my upper body. I lost over an inch on most of my measurements on my left side and was told that I might never be as strong as I once was.

Nothing however can match a motivated person's spirit and good friends such as Ted Fletcher (aka Fletch on the boards), James Albury (aka Skip/Abdominator), Anthony Church, Jay Cholewa (Big Red), and Carl DuCharme convinced me that I could come back and be better than ever.

I began my rehab one year ago at 198 lbs and around 13% bodyfat. I could only incline dumbbell press 80s for 6, shoulder press 70s for 10, curl 45s for 6, and squat 275 lbs for 5. I am happy to report that 11 months later I completed my bulking cycle at 220 lbs and about 13.5% bodyfat. I broke all my old records by incline dumbbell pressing 150s for 4, shoulder pressing 110s for 6, curling 70s for 5, and squatting 405 lbs for 5. So much for never being as strong as I once was.

I have decided to start cutting at approximately 22 weeks out this year and only lose 1-1.5 lbs per week. I want to leave nothing to chance and come in rock hard with striated glutes as a natural competitor. I expect my competition weight to be 185-190 lbs completely shredded. Here are more details of my pre contest preparationâ€¦

Contest Preparation Journal