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Crushing it! Contest Prep USP Labs/Core Nutritionals Style!

Well here we are. 6 days out. Today was my last cardio only day (I hate these) and 70 minutes of incline treadmill at 10.0 incline and 3.2 speed almost killed me. I then hit a little calves and abs and posed. Just hit up the grocery store for some last minute items and I think we are all set. Only a 2 day work week for me. I will spend Wednesday packing and cooking and then we fly out to the Cape on Thursday. I am happy with my progress at this point and am very thankful that I made it this far into prep (more on that later). I'm hoping to bring my all time best this weekend (a couple pounds heavier than the 2007 yorton and leaner) but, if I can make it another 5 weeks, I think I can bring more to the Yorton. Right now my sodium is really high and I'm crushing 3 gallons of water so I feel a little bloated. Three more days of fast paced training for me (and some light cardio) and then it is a lot of posing (maybe light circuit) and carbing up. These last 3 days are the toughest but I will suck it up. My last leg day was Friday and my last heavy training day was shoulders yesterday. I actually felt really strong given where I'm at but could tell my glycogen was depleting quickly because I faded a little towards the end. Overall my strength is significantly better than last competition at this time and I really think the CEO stack has something to do with it.

Been having a little trouble sleeping laterly but I always do close to a show. I think it is a combination of low carbs, things on my mind, and that fine line around overtraining. But this comes with the territory.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Steph on stage as she has been really crushing it....she is really getting shredded and every morning we see more lines. At the end of the day, this is such a fun show that I could really care less about placement. It has been a great journey so far and I'm glad I could share it with Steph. Some awesome competitors/friends from this board will be competing too, the pro class is stacked, the venue is awesome, the show is run flawlessly, and I'm super excited to break out my routine. We also have some friends flying in for the show, my parents will be driving up from Philly, and I'm sure some of Team Miller will be in the audience. Oh and did I mention Outback/Unos? What more could you ask for?

I may post again when I get to the Cape and may throw up some pre stage pics. Talk to you soon.


Crush it!
 
Good luck man :thumbsup:
 
All the best!
 
What an amazing weekend! Steph and I feel really blessed to be able to not only compete together, but to both win the same show against such an awesome lineup! I'm not sure we could have asked for a better weekend. We are very thankful to have such a good group of friends and family there supporting us. We met a bunch of awesome new friends at this show and just wish we had more time to talk to everyone. The weekend was a whirlwind and just flew bye.

I am super proud of Steph...after the KC show, she didn't get discouraged, and really crushed it home the last 4 weeks....and I know she is ready to bring it to the Yorton. I think she was able to bring her best all around package on Saturday (leanness, makeup, suit selection, color, posing, stage presense, etc)...I was definitely that super proud cheesy husband with a grin ear to ear watching her on stage.

A big thanks to USP Labs and Jacob for all his support. Their generosity and guidance has been amazing. The CEO stack with Prime was unbelievable...we were still strong through our final week of training and had to really force ourselves to back off a little. I also think the super high dose of Core ABC and ZAP preworkout really saved me this year. Even on my lowest days where I felt like death I was still able to get up and crush my workouts.

Thanks also to Dave Crisafi for putting together my routine....I'm not a huge fan of the routine round but really enjoyed my time on stage and was stoked to here I actually tied for the highest posing routine score!!! Not bad for a guy who can't dance!

I also wanted to mention what an awesome show Katie and James Carron put on! If you are a competitor this show is a must do!

Well after two days of Outback, Sushi, TCBY, etc...we are back at it....We crushed legs the day after the show (can't walk today!) and blasted chest last night. Tonight is back night. I'm only up about 2 pounds so cardio is out the door for now and carbs are higher. I plan to start back with my daily posing tomorrow or the next day (once this little cold goes away that I caught while traveling). I will post up a couple of low quality pics from my camera.

Time to crush it for another 4.5 weeks until the Yorton!
 

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Congratulations, Team Miller, and USPLabs!
 
One of the best most muscular poses in the Game including all the drug induced ones.

Doug and Steph really speak to what dedication, hard work, and a sound supp regimen can do for the natural body builder. Also, the proof is in the pictures of how well the USP products work when used in proper synergy.:cheers:
 
Long time no post. Things are still trucking along. Weight is pretty steady around 190 and glute lines now connecting on the inner cheeks :-). I should come in a couple pounds tighter for the Yorton than the Cape. I was 189 the Thursday before the Cape. Energy and strength are still really good. Last night I still barbell rowed 405x10 for a couple of sets. I have to be carefull though because my hips and joints don't have much cushioning and sometimes I feel like I'm going to break. LOL I'm completely excited to compete again and hope to bring my best ever, which I will need given the lineup of 30+ top pros. I need to keep reminding myself to train smart and beat those mental games that come with the territory (Steph is a huge help here and I'm very thankful we are doing this together!). Given the lineup and the big boys competing, I may be in the middle class but I guess I won't know until show day. Doesn't matter to me. Steph and I are debating jumping in another show the week after the Yorton as well, but I have had enough.....we shall see...I just want to eat!

High dose Core ABC and ZAP have still been saviors for me and the Prime and Supercissus is going to be bumped up yet again around 2 weeks out. I have never been this strong at this bodyweight and owe a lot of that to the Prime I think.

I'm really looking forward to being normal for a little and rekindling friendships with some of the people in my life I shut out during contest prep. It will be nice to be a normal couple for a while....well at least as normal as Steph and I are going to be LOL. We have some big business opportunities in the works that I'm excited about as well.

Well that's it for now....may post up some pics at 1 or 2 weeks out. Still work to be done. I'm not satisfied yet. Time for Team Miller to bring it!
 
Well here we are about 72 hours before stage time. Phew what a journey. I can honestly say at this point that I have done everything that I can do and no matter where I pace I am confident that no one has worked harder and I am proud of that. 25 weeks is a long time to not eat out, not cheat once, never miss a single workout, cardio, or posing session but I can honestly say that I did this. I am also super proud of Steph who has been right by my side the entire way and she has done the same during her 21 weeks! Needless to say we can't wait to eat but need to take it a little easy because we have a gym photshoot the day after the Yorton...who am I kidding we are going to chow!!!

I should be a couple tighter than the Cape show 5 weeks ago (and feel significantly leaner - I have never been this lean before) and my strength has even been getting better thanks to the CEO stack. I know I was supposed to back off a little this week but just couldn't help myself last night (back) and was still confident banging out barbell rows for 20 reps at 315. The USP Labs/Core Nutritionals high dose combo surprises me more every week as I can see myself getting leaner and stronger at the same time. This is not meant to be a commercial...just the truth.

Only a couple more quick workouts left and lots of posing and then it is time to get on stage. The lineup is simply sick so it should be a crazy battle up there. I will try to post up some 1 week out pics in the next day or two.

Thanks for everyone's comments, emails, PMs, and support during this long prep process.
 
Just turned 30. Training about 12 years. check out Invalid Link Removed for more info.

Best,
Doug

I'm still fighting like hell to hang onto my twenties :)

Best of luck Doug - can't wait to chat after you settle down from the show...

Sporto
 
Well here we are about 72 hours before stage time. Phew what a journey. I can honestly say at this point that I have done everything that I can do and no matter where I pace I am confident that no one has worked harder and I am proud of that. 25 weeks is a long time to not eat out, not cheat once, never miss a single workout, cardio, or posing session but I can honestly say that I did this. I am also super proud of Steph who has been right by my side the entire way and she has done the same during her 21 weeks! Needless to say we can't wait to eat but need to take it a little easy because we have a gym photshoot the day after the Yorton...who am I kidding we are going to chow!!!

I should be a couple tighter than the Cape show 5 weeks ago (and feel significantly leaner - I have never been this lean before) and my strength has even been getting better thanks to the CEO stack. I know I was supposed to back off a little this week but just couldn't help myself last night (back) and was still confident banging out barbell rows for 20 reps at 315. The USP Labs/Core Nutritionals high dose combo surprises me more every week as I can see myself getting leaner and stronger at the same time. This is not meant to be a commercial...just the truth.

Only a couple more quick workouts left and lots of posing and then it is time to get on stage. The lineup is simply sick so it should be a crazy battle up there. I will try to post up some 1 week out pics in the next day or two.

Thanks for everyone's comments, emails, PMs, and support during this long prep process.

What an inspiration Doug... Best of luck to you guys this weekend...
 
Congrats to Steph who took 3rd against some of the best in the World. Obviously I would have placed her differently :-) but that is the sport (and I am obviously biased lol)!!! She looked awesome and I am super proud of her! (She was up 5 am this morning and already trained! That's my girl!)

I will be on stage around 5 against 39 of the best natural pros in the world....it should be a crazy battle and an honor to be up there with all of those great athletes.

Couple more hours and then Team Miller can chow!!!

Here are some pics of Steph rockin' it!
 

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Phew what a week….I’m finally getting caught up!

I feel truly blessed and honored to have won the IFPA Yorton Cup Pro Bodybuilding World Championships this past weekend and am even more proud of Stephanie for getting third in the IFPA Yorton Cup Pro Figure World Championships (After looking back at the pictures I’m not sure how she ended up in third but that is the crazy sport we compete in and Steph was very gracious in her placement!). That combined with both of use winning the Cape Cod pro show 5 weeks ago (on our 3 year anniversary) really capped off a special season for us. When we started this contest prep, I don’t think either of us could have dreamed of a better outcome.

I always tell people it is not about the outcome but instead it is about the journey…and that could not have been any truer this year. 26 weeks ago, one week before I started my diet for the Yorton, I had a double MRI on my knees and found out I had a 30% tare in me left quad tendon and a 15% tare in my right quad tendon and I was in a lot of pain (could barely go down steps). Well needless to say I questioned whether or not to diet…I prayed about it that week and all signs pointed to sucking it up and doing the best I could. I only told people I was very close with about this issue because I did not want to make it a big deal. I continued to pray for health and Steph helped me stay very positive about the situation. Well it turns out that it may have been a blessing in disguise because my legs came in at my all time best. I learned new techniques for training and focused on NO bouncing, very slow and controlled reps, and really listened to my body. The new training style was awesome and I made some great gains. I had some flare ups throughout the prep but stayed positive and everything worked out. I really feel that my high dose SuperCissus was instrumental in my recovery and new growth!

My real journey started about 12 years before that when I was a 130 pound freshman in college! I never would have thought back then I would be able to stand on stage with the best natural bodybuilders in the world…all I wanted to do then was not be so darn skinny LOL! I really do not have the best genetics in the world but for the past 12 years I have been living the “lifestyle.” Anyone can be a good natural bodybuilder if you stick with it year in and year out….like Team Miller says….THERE IS NO OFFSEASON!

Now that this competition season is over, Steph and I are stepping away from the stage but will be even more involved in the sport and helping people live a healthy lifestyle more than ever (We are taking on new clients again, which we stopped during our prep). There are so many things Steph and I want to do now that we are not dieting (besides eat!) as we feel that we missed out on a lot over the past 25 weeks for me and 21 weeks for Steph. Most importantly we want to reconnect with our friends and family and spend even more time building our relationship even stronger with each other! I don’t think I could compete without the amazing support of Steph (and Vice Versa) but it will be nice to grow even close together now that we are not dieting!

Steph and I have big things in the work in terms of business and should have an announcement to make sometime in the next month. I also will have more time now to focus on Core Nutritionals and will really be looking to expand the line with more Core ABC flavors (in the very near future), an awesome joint and anti-inflammatory product, and a number of other things.

A couple of huge thank you’s. First, without sounding cheesy, overly religious, or preachy I really want to thank God. My faith has grown much stronger over the past 6 months and I know I am nothing without HIM. I also am nothing without Steph! I could not compete without her! In addition to being my best friend and wife, she is my number one training partner and keeps me motivated and level-headed when the mental demons kick in. Thanks to Dave Crisafi for putting together my routine and Glen Elmers for being my back training partner every Tuesday night. Also thank you to Brian Whitacre, Kurt Weidner, and James Carron who would always give me feedback on my progress pics and posing. I would also like to thank Invalid Link Removed for supplying Steph and I with some awesome workout shirts. And a big thank you to all of TEAM MILLER, including our friends, our clients, and our family who have sent us encouraging texts, emails, posts, etc! It means the world to us.

Last but not least a HUGE thanks to USP Labs and Jacob Geissler who has been instrumental in developing our precontest “CEO Stack.” USP Labs products have certainly taken my training, growth, and recovery to a level I have never experienced before. We are super proud to be apart of USP Labs’ team and look forward to growing even more with them in the future.

Well that’s it for now. I don’t have a lot of pics yet but I will post some pics and videos in this thread when I get them.

Here are some pics from one week out:
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:thumbsup: awesome post and awesome pics man! Dang seems like you got your motivations and support in all the right places. :cool:
 
Team work is all I can say but the dedication that Team Miller represents is the ultimate reason for the success. USPlabs is secondary, and as a company and as a friend, we are humbled to have them represent USPlabs.

Enjoy the spotlight...
 
These are easily the most impressive competition photos I have ever seen. Doug is the man... hands down...
 
Your most-muscular is a joke compared to the guys beside you. Your in another league man...

Inspirational to say the least.
 
Wow! my fuggin god, that was a no brainer! Biggest and leanest and dry! Closest thing to perfection I've ever seen.

The thing is these guys have good physiques but next to you... no so much... you've made a group of world class athletes look average!!
 
Oh and I have your wife first or second maybe but can't imagine 3rd but it's very, very close. Nobody in those pics were as defined.
 
Here is a link to my routine and a couple rough shots from a photoshoot on Sunday after the show. More to come.

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Here is a short documentary on Team Miller (A version of which will be aired on Verizon Fios' network)

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKo4EKXtVHA"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]
 
Doug, you are an incredible inspiration to the rest of us! I have complete respect for you in hearing your views on your marriage, natural bodybuilding, work ethic, "meatheads," etc.

Keep it up man, you give us a great physique to work towards!


Josh
 
Doug, you are an incredible inspiration to the rest of us! I have complete respect for you in hearing your views on your marriage, natural bodybuilding, work ethic, "meatheads," etc.

Keep it up man, you give us a great physique to work towards!


Josh

x2! Great vid on youtube.
 
Great video Doug, man you get into great condition. Congratz on all of your success.
 
Update time! Been crazy busy lately but still crushing it!

In April we opened a personal training studio in Arlington, VA (Invalid Link Removed) and have been busy expanding Core Nutritionals. We also have another huge project in the works that I am really excited about (stay tuned) and my full time job also keeps me busy.

Training is going great. I'm about 215+ and feeling strong. I have had an issue with my left forearm for about a year now and am having PRP therapy done on it. Hopefully it helps. MRI was negative but it still bothers me when I do certain things.

I'm taking this year off from competing because of the new business ventures. I hope to post in here more often and get some new vids up.

I was honored to be on the cover of the new Fitness and Physique Mag and it was also cool to be featured in the June edition of Muscular Development.

Thanks to USP Labs for their continued support. (Man did I love Pink Magic!)
 

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Doug, my compliments to you on all of your continued success. Your pictures show how much you bring with every pose. You are truly an inspiration to many and probably even a hero to some.

I pray healing over your forearm and success to your future business endeavors.

Just the thought the videos of your lifts makes me want to go slam some steel no matter what time of day it may be!

Good luck to you and your wife Stephanie. You two make bodybuilding look so easy.

God Bless you guys...cause :You_Rock_Emoticon:
 
Doug, my compliments to you on all of your continued success. Your pictures show how much you bring with every pose. You are truly an inspiration to many and probably even a hero to some.

I pray healing over your forearm and success to your future business endeavors.

Just the thought the videos of your lifts makes me want to go slam some steel no matter what time of day it may be!

Good luck to you and your wife Stephanie. You two make bodybuilding look so easy.

God Bless you guys...cause :You_Rock_Emoticon:

Thanks buddy. That means a lot.

Best,
Doug
 
Quick question for you Doug, with no intention of a hijack.

When you mentioned how you prepare your turkey burgers waaay earlier in this thread, where you referring to 99% lean ground turkey (as it looked in the pic) or butcher prepared turkey burgers???

Just wondering because I am gonna try to start cutting up a bit for the next few weeks soon and need some help with my meal planning etc...

Thanks
 
Quick question for you Doug, with no intention of a hijack.

When you mentioned how you prepare your turkey burgers waaay earlier in this thread, where you referring to 99% lean ground turkey (as it looked in the pic) or butcher prepared turkey burgers???

Just wondering because I am gonna try to start cutting up a bit for the next few weeks soon and need some help with my meal planning etc...

Thanks

99%.
 
I must give a huge thanks to Doug for posting his recipe for ground turkey burgers. Mine were only 93/7 and maybe only 3oz each but the two I just ate were absolutely delicious!

Thanks Big Man!!! Without your post who knows how long it would have taken me to find the right temp and cooking time.:You_Rock_Emoticon:
 
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