As I started my 12-week transformation challenge yesterday, I can't help but keep the Animal crew in the loop, as you guys have been a HUGE part in my life.

A bit of background info. Throughout high school I was a very athletic football (fullback) and track competitor. However, I always enjoyed the training workouts rather than the actual games- as bad as that sounds now. Fast forward to college, and I got into body building. I really excelled in it and it was a big part of college to me. After college came the downfall. Shitty ex-girlfriend, substance abuse, and just plain worthless. People were calling me "the big kid" to my face, and "the fat kid" behind my back. Probably packed on 70lbs. of crap after college. About 3 years ago I met someone great. She accepted me for who I was, but in my mind that wasn't enough. I wanted to prove to her that I was something more, and most of all- prove it to myself. It took some time to make the changes, but the changes were made for the better.

In the past year I've dropped any harmful substances and cut 50lbs. I went on BodyBuilding.com and probably just sat for hours reading up on shit- routines, nutrition, supps, etc. Animal instantly sparked my interest. Shot naturalguy some messages, who helped me starting out tremendously. Quite a few other guys have helped me out there also- Universal Rep, Mr. Dead, TreeTrunkLegs (I think his handle was different last year though), and Rage. Also a shout-out to Ox, House and Wrath, of whom I really look up to in the body building world.

So my Journey begins... 4/22/12

Wrath's Split is what I'm using for my training routine.

Day 1: Chest and Calves
Incline Barbell Press: 4 sets x 12-6 reps
Flat Dumbbell Press: 4 sets x 12-8 reps
Incline Dumbbell Flyes: 3 sets x 12-8 reps
Dumbbell Pullovers: 3 sets x 12-10 reps
Cable Crossovers: 4 sets x 15-12 reps

Seated Calf Raises: 3 sets x 25-30 reps
Standing (Individual) Calf Raises: 3 sets x 20 reps

Day 2: Back and Abs
Wide Grips Chins: 4 sets x 10 reps
Barbell Rows: 4 sets x 12-6 reps
T-Bar Rows: 4 sets x 12-8 reps
Underhand Grip Pulldowns: 3 sets x 12-10 reps

Balance Ball Crunches: 2 sets x 50 reps
Leg Lifts: 2 sets x 20 reps
Decline Sit Ups: 2 sets x 20 reps

Day 3: Off

Day 4: Legs
Leg Extensions: 4 sets x 20 reps (warm-up)
Leg Press: 4 sets x 20-12 reps
Hack Squats: 4 sets x 15-10 reps
Lunges: 3 sets x 15-12 reps
Stiff-legged Deadlifts: 4 sets x 12-8 reps
Lying Leg Curls: 4 sets x 15-10 reps

Day 5: Delts and Calves
Barbell Military Press: 4 sets x 12-6 reps
Seated Side DB Lateral Raises: 4 sets x 12-8 reps
Bent Rear Delt Lateral Raises: 4 sets x 12-10 reps
Hammer Strength Machine Press: 3 sets x 12-10 reps
DB Shrugs: 4 sets x 12-8 reps

Seated Calf Raises: 3 sets x 25-30 reps
Calf Raises (Leg Press): 3 sets x 25-30 reps

Day 6: Arms and Abs
Barbell Curls: 4 sets x 12-6 reps
Alternating Dumbbell Curls: 4 sets x 12-8 reps
Preacher Machine Curls: 4 sets x 15-10 reps
Close Grip Bench Press: 4 sets x 15-8 reps
Skullcrushers: 4 sets x 12-8 reps
Pushdowns: 4 sets x 15-10 reps

Balance Ball Crunches: 2 sets x 50 reps
Leg Lifts: 2 sets x 20 reps
Decline Sit Ups: 2 sets x 20 reps

Day 7: Off

Nutrition:
Meal 1: 4 egg whites/2 whole eggs, 1 cup dry oats with 1/4 cup raisins
Meal 2: PB sandwich on wheat bread, 1 banana
Meal 3: 6oz. chicken, 1 cup brocolli, 2 cups of brown rice
Meal 4: 2 scoops of Whey
Meal 5: 8oz sweet potato, 2 strips of turkey bacon, 1/4 cup of red onions and diced peppers
Meal 6: 1 apple, 1 orange

Supps:
Pak: 1 pack in the morning, with meal 1
Omega: 1 pack in the afternoon, with meal 3.
Nitro: 1 pack post-workout
Ultra Whey: 2 scoops mid-afternoon
Torrent: 3 scoops post-workout
Creatine: 1 teaspoon on off days
Rage: 1 scoop with weekend workout days
Atomic 7: intra-workout

Schedule
Workouts: Sat, Sun at 10am. Tues, Wed, Thurs at 6pm
Cardio: 3.25 miles outside x 6 days a week. All done at 6am, usually lasting 30 minutes.