We’re officially two weeks out from the Arnold Classic, and I’m here in New York dialing everything in.
At this stage, the feeling changes. It’s no longer about building — it’s about refining. The work has been done. Now it’s about precision, execution, and managing energy intelligently as the margin for error gets smaller.
New York is freezing right now — real cold, the kind that hits you in the face the second you step outside. But the environment doesn’t matter. Prep doesn’t pause for weather. It doesn’t care how you feel.
My pre-workout these days is simple and strategic: 35–40 grams of cream of rice with vanilla protein and a banana. Fast carbs, fast protein, quick sugars. Two weeks out, energy starts to dip. The weight is still trending down — which is a good sign — and the metabolism is running high, but you begin to feel that depletion creeping in. Even mentally. The brain runs on glucose, and when carbs get lower, you feel it.
That’s why execution becomes everything.
Today was a back session, but not just any back session. At this point, it’s not about moving the most weight in the gym. It’s about contraction, detail, thickness — creating depth in the muscle. I focused heavily on squeezing, on activating the lower lat fibers, on feeling every inch of the movement instead of chasing numbers.
For me, training time is sacred. When I step into the gym, I switch into what I call “ghost mode.” No distractions. Full connection between mind and muscle. That shift in mindset has been a game changer in my development. Instead of just lifting, I command the muscle. I control the contraction. I dictate the quality of every rep.
And two weeks out, that level of control is non-negotiable.
Fatigue is real at this stage. Today was the first day I really started to feel it. The pump doesn’t last as long. Volume tolerance drops. You can feel when intensity begins to fade. So instead of forcing it, I adjust. I push hard early in the session, and when I notice the back starting to lose quality and fullness, I don’t stubbornly keep going. I reduce intensity and shift focus — today moving into triceps rather than wasting effort on declining output.
Training intelligently this close to competition is more important than training aggressively.
Post-workout was clean and simple: cod, egg whites, some white meat, vegetables, and a banana for fast sugars. Protein is light and controlled. Everything has a purpose. Nothing is random. At this point, even small nutritional decisions can influence how you look on stage.
We did our first true check at two weeks out. Condition is good. I’m holding fullness better than I expected. I feel slightly more volumized compared to this point in previous preps, and I’m curious to see how the final shape develops as we move into peak week.
Next step is organizing a final review with my coach Steve before flying to Ohio. Peak week adjustments will determine how everything comes together.
Two weeks out is not glamorous. It’s disciplined. It’s calculated. It’s quiet work.
But this is where champions are made — not in the spotlight, but in the small decisions when energy is low and focus has to be high.
I’m grateful to share this phase with you. Your support truly fuels this journey more than you realize.
Now we lock in and keep moving forward.
Check out my latest YouTube video below.