Biggest Natural Bodybuilder Blog

Big Changes for 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:29:00 +0000

There's been big changes for 2010 that will affect the rest of my journey. This is why I haven't added a blog post since December 11, 2009. I recently quit my job working at a local gym to go full force into training for my goal. Becoming the biggest natural bodybuilder of all-time takes an extreme amount of discipline and I needed to find something which was a little more tailored to my ideal lifestyle. My good friend Dominic Cifarelli (who happens to be a famous guitarist) once mentioned to me "On the path towards living your dream... you have to be happy all the time". Well, of course that's impossible... but I understood the message. Every aspect of your life must be in harmony with your dream goal. I can't allow anything (that I have control over) to stop or slow me down. This is why I'm choosing to work from home. Although I've been blessed to spend this wonderful Christmas holiday with my wife-to-be as well as the rest of my family, I'm anxious to be able to start taking things seriously. I still haven't found a job as I'm taking a little time off to figure out what exactly I want to do. Some people that I know have told me that I'm crazy because I left my last workplace without having a back-up plan. Well, my back-up plan is what I believe to be the best plan anyone could ever have... which is to spend time with oneself to reflect on where exactly you want to go. In the meantime I will be working on this website more than ever, so you should expect to see it evolve at an extremely fast rate. And even if I find a job soon, it will be a work-at-home venture so I'll still be able to develop this website quite a bit.

I would like to end this blog post by encouraging you guys and gals at home to make big changes for 2010. Don't be scared to take steps that will lead you closer to your goal, even though it may seem to others as if you're going backwards. Intuition is one of the highest forms of intelligence. Follow your heart. Good things will come. I plan on it for myself and wish the best for all of you reading this blog. By the way, training is going well and I'll probably be posting some vids to this blog (and to my YouTube channel) very soon. I'll be weighing myself by the 2nd week of January and will post the results then. Thanks for all the support!

Snow Shoveling is Good Cardio

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:34:00 +0000

Snow shoveling is good cardio. This week we (Montrealers) had our first winter storm. There was an accumulation of about 25 centimetres of snow. This meant that I had to shovel a clear pathway around two cars. What a workout. Although I took my time and didn't feel too winded when shoveling, I was drenched afterwards. I took a shower following this new-found aerobic training, and noticed that I looked pretty lean. The fatigue caught up with me a little while later, and indicated to me that if I do cardio in the gym (even if it's only once a week), then I might burn myself out. I want to burn fat, but I can't afford to lose any muscle mass. The snow shoveling in itself really felt like a good cardio workout. Of course, it's a bit of a combination of functional strength, muscular endurance, and cardio... but I feel like it's mostly cardio.

In a way, the snow which I often looked at as a burden is kind of helping me. At least during this winter, I could focus solely on weight training and muscle building when in the gym. It looks like I may need the entire 6 months of my journey to reach my goal... Simply because concentrating on leaning down during the winter is too great a task for me. But like I said, snow shoveling is good cardio... and will help me to burn fat. For those of you who have been following me on my quest to become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all-time (here on this blog, weekly) you've probably noticed that I change my plans quite often as I go along. Being dynamic was actually part of my original plan. I have to improvise on this journey and not be such a perfectionnist... otherwise, I will never reach my goal, let alone reach it within 6 months time. If I could suggest something to you when you're ready to follow your dream, it's to think of your ideal plan beforehand... then start taking action... and adapt throughout the journey. And remember, any obstacles you'll encounter should not discourage you as they are actually signs (or lessons) to help put you on the right path. See you guys back here this week.

190 Pounds of Lean Muscle Mass

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:09:00 +0000

I'm currently a lean 190 pounds of lean muscle mass. I weighed myself just before my workout this evening and saw what I was hoping for. I've basically gained about 14 pounds since just over a month of starting my journey (which officially began on November 5th... for those of you who are tuning in for the first time). I'm learning to improvise, and not be such a perfectionnist... as on this quest, there are many obstacles that come in the form of inconveniences. Anyways, things are working out pretty well. I'm going to do my best to gain at least two and a half pounds every week for the following few weeks. Given that type of progression, I should have plenty of mass to start cutting up within about 3 months. I intend on achieving my goal a bit earlier than the 6-month deadline I originally gave myself. Still, six months is a little more realistic and provides a type of mental cushion for me. By the 3rd or 4th month of training, the snow here in Montreal should begin to subside... and then I'll really start improving. I think it will be possible to actually some more size even though at this point I'll be 100% focused on losing body fat. On the final 9 days of my journey I won't have any concern with building muscle at all, as I will need to dedicate all of my energy to getting shredded. What I mean by this is that I'll be getting into 'bodybuilding contest shape' (which is ultra lean and ultra dry). On top of all the cardio I'll be doing, I'll probably get the help of a healthy, natural nutritional cleanse. One of the awesome side benefits of a detoxification system like the one I'll be using, is that unwanted fat is released from your body. For someone who is already extremely lean (as I plan on being right before I start the cleanse), a nutritional cleanse could bring a person down to 5% body fat (or lower). The very few bodybuilders who use and endorse the products have even reported that they actually gained weight (by the last day of the cleanse). More muscle and less fat. What could be better than that. See you guys and gals back here tomorrow. PS: I just filmed the second part of my upcoming documentary, and it's looking good. And I'll be posting some updated pictures to this blog, probably by the end of the week.

Build Muscle Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:37:00 +0000

Build muscle fast. Those three words must be kept in my mind at all times. That is what I have to continually think throughout my journey. If I concentrate on details, I start to lose focus. I visualize what I will look like once I reach my ultimate goal often throughout the day. This is to ensure that I always stay positive. But to stay on the right path, I think BUILD MUSCLE FAST.

The subconscious mind is very powerful. It is more powerful than the conscious mind could ever imagine. Everything you have ever wanted, you can have. Anything becomes possible when you accept that you create everything that happens to you. This means that you can actually control your physical outcome. Of course, mastering your thoughts is a process that will most likely never be perfected. Still, when it comes to attracting materialistic goods, or even a fitness-related goal... this could definitely accomplished. Connecting to your sub-conscious mind (also referred to by some as The Source, or Infinite Intelligence, or even God) is essential when attempting to invent something new, or accomplish something of importance to you (and to the world).

Build muscle fast. If your goal is to gain 15 pounds of muscle... do not think about the details. Focus on building muscle fast. When you reach your goal... then you will change your thoughts to be in line with your new goal. I hope that this blog post has helped you understand how every great athlete overcomes obstacles to reaching their goals. They simply focus on the goal and not the obstacles.

Eating For Muscle Gains

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:23:00 +0000

Eating for muscle gains is obviously one of the most important aspects of my journey to become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time. My daily nutritional intake for training days (which is almost every day) consists of plenty of carbs... usually generated from oatmeal, rice, potatoes, pasta, and whole wheat crackers. If I avoid these, and even if I take in tons of protein-concentrated foods, I will not gain the size I need to accomplish my goal. Doing cardio about once (and sometimes twice) per week helps keep my percentage of body fat quite low. I have such a fast metabolism that I can quite easily stay lean as I actually increase body weight, which means that most of what I gain is muscle. The high-protein foods I eat vary from egg whites, to chicken breast, to lean beef, to fish (tilapia, sole, tuna), to lean porc, etc. I drink tons of water throughout the day, right up until about 1 hour before going to bed. Two protein shakes are enough for me right now... but starting in a few weeks I will be drinking three shakes per day. I also eat some vegetables and at least two fruits every day. I hope this blog post has given you an idea of what types of food you should take in, if your goal is similar to mine. Good luck, and I will see you guys and gals back here in a day or so.

Weight Training for Muscle Mass

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:07:00 +0000

Weight training for muscle mass and weight training for strength, in my opinion, are two very different things. Well, in truth, traditional functional strength exercises are the same as those I am currently using. The difference is I go light. This helps me control the movement and listen to my body... as well as push myself to the max. I usually do not perform more than 20 repetitions. To keep the reps low, the movement is very slow. The pumps I get are better when I train this way, and when it comes to muscle building... achieving a maximum pump is vital.

In my quest to becoming the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time, I have to be careful to not let my ego get in the way of my physical performance. Of course, as I get bigger I will also get stronger... but I have to stay true to the method of weight training that provides consistent results in the mass department. If I begin going heavy, I believe I will slow down my progression as well as risk possible injury. In the gym where I work and train, building muscle is king. Most people have this misconception that the heavier you go, the bigger you will get. So, when other gym-goers see me using light weights they get confused and actually try pushing me to use heavier weights. I simply have to reply to these people to look at the results. They can look anywhere to find out the truth. I have never seen anyone who was natural get seriously huge by using extremely heavy weights. I myself, have made most of my gains following weight training injuries in the past. Because I also used to use insanely heavy weights when weight training for muscle mass, I would end up hurting myself and then be forced to go light. It did not take me long to realize that this slight change in my weight training was what was catipulting me towards bigger gains. It is very difficult to convey this idea to others looking to get similar results to my own, because the mainstreem bodybuilding magazines and science as well will have you believe that more resistance makes muscles grow. All I can say to you is to try it.

Keep in mind however, that weight training for muscle mass is a very complex and mysterious task. To simplify things, just listen to your body at all times. Only you know what works for you. In the end, pushing heavy weights might be YOUR solution to gaining muscle mass naturally.

Let the World Know

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:23:00 +0000

Starting today, I'm letting the world know about my journey. Some of you may be confused by this post, as I've already begun my blog over two weeks ago. And before that I posted the promo video on my YouTube channel. Well, what I mean is that I'm going to be letting my close friends and family know about my journey. A good friend of mine once said that I should keep the fire burning inside otherwise it will extinguish. I do agree with him to a certain extent... but once you've gathered enough confidence and believe that you're truly ready to 'receive' your goal, you'll have developed a strong resistance to any kind of negative criticism. So, why not? Nothing could hurt me know. I've learnt too much about myself to be afraid of any obstacles along the path. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel, and that's what my journey of becoming the biggest natural bodybuilder of all-time is all about. Nothing is easy, but it does get easier along the way.

My friends always seemed supportive about what I wanted to do. Family, on the other hand, often worry about me not making it in this world. They have some objections about what I'm doing because they feel it's a potential risk. The risk is that it might be a waste of time. Nothing good can come out of it. First of all, only good things can come out of my achieving my goal. My only concern is to accomplish it (and document it on film), once and for all. This is going to be my stepping stone, and I know it. Every book I've ever read on achieving success or prosperity points to the fact that these things only come when you take full responsibility for yourself, and just go for it. The hard part, which I've explained in a past blog post, is confronting your fears. It's time to start letting go. It's time to start understanding that the human mind and the human heart are more powerful than reason could ever make us understand. Most people are practical. Every decision is based on evidence that they see in front of them. Well, what if the evidence isn't there? I, for example, have no real way of knowing that I'll be offered some kind of endorsement contract after I reach my goal... In fact, there is not evidence that I will even achieve my goal (or that it's possible for anyone to achieve it). This is where faith comes in. Man runs on two things, and faith is one of them. Unfortunately, it's what most people lack. They think that new technologies enabling ways of multi-tasking will help them save time in order to reach financial independence, or that it will help them sleep better at night. If you want to invent something, in other words if you want to create something new, then I want you to know that faith is essential. The inventor of the radio (before he invented it) was forced into a mental institution BY HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS when he spoke about having an idea to transmit frequencies through the air that could travel to a sound device hundreds of kilometers away from the source.

I don't feel like I absolutely need extra support, but it would help. Also, I don't like lying to people. For example, I don't want to be asked every time I'm eating over at a relative's house why I'm not eating certain foods. At least if they know that I'm attempting something that takes discipline, then I won't get lectured as often. Sometimes I overlook the fact that my family cares about me, and this is why they don't necessarily encourage me towards my goal. They've never laughed at what I wanted to do (which in the past was just to be able to compete in a bodybuilding contest). And they have supported me in other ways. I owe a lot to many friends and family whom have been very patient with me over the years (as it took me a long time to prepare for this moment), but now it's time to show them that my struggles have not been for nothing.

It's Go Time

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:36:00 +0000

It's go time.

Falling Off Track

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:04:00 +0000

I'm falling off track a little, as I'm having trouble sleeping at night. It seems like I spend more time worrying about not reaching my goal, then thinking about how awesome it will be when I achieve it. I'm not giving up though as there's plenty of time left. Also, I have already improved quite a bit in the last two weeks, since before I started my journey to become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time. Because of certain unpredicted, unfortunate circumstances... life sometimes gets you down. This is normal, and it's all part of the process of becoming successful. You have to go through the bad to get to the good. There's so many ways to look at this, that will make you understand that it's necessary. For one, how do you know what happiness is, if you've never suffered or come accross any obstacles. This reminds me of the first time I heard the following expression. Well, it might not have been the first time I heard it... But it was definitely the first time I payed any attention to it. Here it is: "We are most afraid of what we want the most". That's why the obstacles and unfortunate circumstances that seem to kick us off track, I believe, were/are created by ourselves. I'm the reason why I'm not improving as fast as I'd like. Bad weather, lack of finances, and bad genetics are nothing compared with our own limiting beliefs. For example, if subconsciously I don't think I'm good enough for my goal... meaning I don't deserve the recognition or anything positive that will arise out of me achieving it... then I'll start to see physical obstacles. I know this sounds crazy, but trust me when I say it's the truth... You really are your only obstacle. I am my only real obstacle. What's important for me right now is to start to shift my mindset to a more 'feeling' state, one where I feel what it's like to have already achieved my goal. I first learnt about this in the underground hit movie The Secret. For some people, the movie is a reminder of what we already know. But, one thing's for sure... Most people don't use what they already know (which is that they have the power to direct their mind to whatever they want in life, and as a result manifest it). I hope you guys and gals are using your mind to realize your dreams. It's possible. Just believe in yourself.

Cardio Only Once per Week

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:40:00 +0000

I've decided to do cardio only once per week for the following two or three months. Here in Montreal the sun has already begun setting by about 5 pm. The lack of sun creating extremely cold weather makes our winters pretty unbearable. Dealing with daily snow shoveling and constant car problems makes it even more brutal. All of these combined have the effect of lowering your energy levels... which is why I've decided to decrease my cardio training frequency (from 2-3 days to only 1 day of cardio). I don't want to burn my muscles out, as gaining muscle mass (and not leaning down) is my priority right now. As always, I'm still going to do about 20-30 minutes of intense aerobic exercise... probably on the eliptical runner.

For the incredible challenge I've given myself, this might not seem like enough cardio... At least not when it comes to leaning down. I had originally planned to achieve my goal within 3 months (and I might have already mentioned that in one of my first blog posts)... But, it's just unrealistic. I know I would be able to do it under more "normal" conditions, meaning better weather. It's quite alright because for now I should be focused on gaining mass anyways. Even if I get a little fat (which I doubt will happen because my weight training workouts are pretty intense), I'll give myself the last 2-3 months (of my 6 month journey) purely to lean down. I have a very fast metabolism, so this shouldn't be a problem. Seeing that I'll need to be 'bodybuilding lean', meaning extremely lean and dry as well, I'll have to gain at least another 50 pounds from here until February 5th, 2010 (before I focus on stripping off about 20 pounds of fat). That gives me less than 3 months to accomplish the impossible. Well, of course, I don't believe it's impossible and I'm going to prove to others that it's not.

In sum, my original plan to lean down as I gain mass, has shifted to gain serious muscle mass for the next two and a half months, and then focus on leaning down for the last 3 months... to get to a naturally huge, naturally ripped, record-breaking 215 pounds. I understand if some of you are thinking that 215 pounds is not really that huge. But trust me, 215 pounds of lean muscle looks twice as big as 250 pounds of fat. Besides, my ultimate, ultimate goal (which I'll disclose in the near future) is much more than the goal weight of 215 pounds. Still, my reaching a shredded 215 pounds should not be undermined as it will definitely classify me as the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time (plus, I've never weighed more than 207 pounds).

I don't mean to sound arogant nor am I implying that this journey I'm on is going to be an easy road that I'm certain will end in success. Like I said, I've never weighed more than 207 pounds so I'm running pretty much on faith right now. Also, it's been not even two weeks since I started my journey and already I've ran into many roadblocks. I've had to adapt and have made the necessary changes to my weight training, cardio training, work schedule, sleep schedule, etc. What's important to me right now is to use all of my knowledge, all of my experience, and every other tool God has gifted me with to pursue my potential. In other words, the goal is secondary to the journey. I can dream all I want about my goal, and know my whole life that it's possible for me to achieve it, but if I don't take the necessary steps towards it... It will never become a reality. What I'm attempting to do, this journey, is the hardest mission I'll ever give myself.

Change of Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:45:00 +0000

There's been a change of plans everyone. I apologize if I had originally mentioned that I would post a new YouTube video every 3rd Friday demonstrating my progression... But, I didn't take into account the fact that editing videos takes quite a bit of time and so I've decided to postpone this task for the length of my journey. I'm still going to be filmed every 3 weeks or so (while doing a full weight training workout)... And my incredible transformation could be viewed in a couple of months. Once I reach my goal (as I'm confident that I will) and I complete the editing of what will be an entire documentary film, I'll post it to YouTube. I'll let you all know about my exact plans in the near future, here on this blog. I kind of wanted to build a buzz of anticipation about my journey by posting the videos often, but it's just too draining for me right now and I wouldn't want to compensate by not reaching my goal. I need to rest quite a bit, and eat very often throughout the day. These elements of muscle-building combined with training alone take up lots of time. It's even difficult to work part-time at my job which is what I'm currently doing. So, I've decided to stick to a new plan. Do what I need to do to for the length of the journey... plus, put up at least 4-5 blog posts per week. I don't want any of you to think that this 'journey' is a type of publicity stunt for me to drive more traffic to my website or business. Trust me, I do want more traffic but I'm also very honest about what I intend on doing. Reaching my natural muscle-building potential is my dream, my passion, my gift. I know that all of the good things that life has to offer will come, once I reach my goal. This blog and the the final documentary are a way to document my journey and share my experiences with others who are also looking for prosperity. Stay tuned!

182 Pounds and Counting

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:08:00 +0000

182 Pounds! That's how much I weighed in at today. Not bad considering I was only 176 pounds 8 days ago. Still, I'm a little dissappointed because I'm off to a slower start than I had originally planned for. Nothing ever goes exactly the way you want it to... especially at the beginning of a mission. This is the hardest part for me. I'm still struggling with organizing a few aspects of my life to facilitate my transformation. I have to make sure, though, not to make organizing my priority. It's important not to think too much when you're trying to accomplish something. Nike hit the nail right on the head with their slogan "JUST DO IT!". Shawn Ray, one of the most popular (and best) bodybuilders of all time, used to preach the same thing. If you think too much, then you may start doubting yourself. You can't go wrong with doing. I do intend, however, on living a more relaxed lifestyle throughout this transformation. My heart is telling me to eat, sleep, train, rest, spend time with my wife-to-be (and my nephews) and that's it. Working on the computer has become a new passion over the last year and a half, but it's easy to become hypnotized by it. Working on my website is fun, but it also takes a lot of time to develop. I promised myself I would at least put up 4 blog posts per week throughout my journey to become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all-time. I want to keep you guys and gals up to date, and I also want to have somewhat of a journal to help keep me on track. I often suggest to people to use meditating, or visualizing, or harmonizing all elements of their life to reach a goal. But I don't want you to think that the process of achieving a goal is easy, or that I personally don't have any struggles. If my middle name wasn't Richard, it would have been Struggles, or Suffering, or dare I say Sacrifice. I'm walking almost purely on faith right now. I work part-time in a small gym, and this website isn't bringing me much money. Every week is a struggle. Emotionally, mentally, physically (as I sprained my lower back not even 2 months ago)... I'm continually being tested. Money always seems to be the root of every problem, doesn't it? My family has difficulty understanding what I'm doing, or why I'm doing it. They don't get why I don't just get a job as an insurance salesman or something. The truth is... They don't even know that I'm training for this particular goal (the one of becoming the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time). They know that I have a passion for bodybuilding, but I don't think they understand what it really means to me. I see my family (meaning my parents, sisters, bro-in-laws, nephews) every two to three weeks, but I don't disclose any of my ideas. They don't seem to get that my dreams, as is my family, are more important than life itself. Without goals, what is the point of being on this planet. I refuse to live in fear... fear that I won't have enough to eat, fear that I'll never be able to travel the world, fear that being an ambassador to natural muscular development may put me on the steroid industry's hitlist. All of the signs are pointing in the direction of my goal. It's just a matter of time before I achieve it, and I'm doing my best to have fun in the process... no matter how bad things sometimes are or how they'll get. I suggest the same to anyone who's looking for something more in life. First of all, that something is inside of you. I just saved you years of searching. Now you just have to go out and get it. Keep in mind though, that it may take years (but that's up to you).

I'm going to cut it short for tonight's blog post as I have to get up a little earlier on Saturdays. Don't hesitate to drop a comment on any of my blog posts. If you have a question about muscle building, I'll do my best to answer it in one of my upcoming posts, at the shortest delay.

One Week Later

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:55:00 +0000

Well folks. It's been one whole week since I began my quest to become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time. Tomorrow, I'm going to weigh myself for the second time. You may recall that I gained 4 pounds after only one day of training towards my goal. I had explained that this was due mostly to being dehydrated on the day 1 of my journey. My wife-to-be Virginia filmed me while I worked out my shoulders and calves on that day... and I guess I was so anxious leading up to that moment that I didn't get much rest the previous week.

I expect to weigh in at at least 182 pounds, but I'm hoping for 185. If the scale does say 185 pounds tomorrow... That means that I gained a whopping 9 pounds in one week. No matter the result, I'll continue to move forward confident that I'll reach my ultimate goal before May 5th, 2010 (which is less than 6 months from now). The hardest part of my transformation will be attributed to the cold Canadian winters we experience over here. Shoveling two cars out of the 20+ inches of snow (and ice) on an almost daily basis for over 3 months could be very draining. Nevertheless, I'll make sure to get adequate amounts of rest. One small nap (of at least 1 hour) during the day, right after training... and a good night's sleep of 9-10 hours.

Tomorrow I'll probably sleep in until about 11am, and drink plenty of water throughout the day. I want to hit that 185-pound mark on the scale really badly. Of course, I don't want to do anything misleading to have others believe I'm bigger than I actually am... It's just that if I drink a lot of water, I will be heavier and seeing those results will boost my confidence further. You have to understand that when trying to accomplish your fantasy goal, you need to do everything you can to keep yourself believing that you're on the right track to achieving it. This is because your dream... That thing you've been wanting to do, perhaps for years... is maybe the toughest challenge you'll ever face in your life. It's just the way that it is.

I hope that these blog posts are helping you in some way. I encourage you to stay tuned, as this journey has just begun. I might upload a video of Day 1 this week. We'll see. I'm kind of contemplating keeping all the videos until the end of my journey and making it into an awesome documentary (instead of uploading them to my YouTube channel tri-weekly as I had originally planned). Anyways, like usual... I'll keep you posted!

My Resistance to Negative Criticism was Tested Today

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:32:00 +0000

Today was tough because a complete stranger, whom I shared the details of my journey with, began bashing every aspect of it. Of course, I probably shouldn't have spoken to him about it, but I can't change who I am. I'm the type of person who likes to use personal experiences to empower others. What happened this time, however, was the reverse. I felt like most of my energy was sucked out of me for a while. This person told me that I could not gain all the muscle I say I could, without using drugs. He also mentioned that there was no point in accomplishing it either way, seeing that I would probably not make any money out of it. I tried defending all of those negative comments by stating what I've learnt over the years... Things like "The richest people on the planet, the ones who came from nothing, at many points in their journey were told repeatedly that they were destined for failure", "Do what you love, the money will follow", and "Success is not something you achieve, it's something you become", etc.

I don't mean to make this entire blog post about becoming rich or successful. My journey means much more to me than making money. I have to admit, though, that it has been a concern of mine in the last few years. That's why this negative critic definitely struck a nerve with me. Still, it only took a few hours of reflection to remind myself that the hope of acquiring money or fame should never be the driving force to any goal. Every moment should be lived with passion. Anyways, I felt I should make a post out of this experience, since it's something that I think you should be aware of when attempting to reach your goal. It's going to happen often... you know, people telling you you're not good enough, or smart enough, or whatever. Don't listen to them. You're the captain of your soul. Follow what your heart tells you and you'll be taken to places that most people could only dream about. The courageous ones, the ones who are willing to take the time to learn... are the ones who will experience happiness. The rest, well, we could only pray for them.

Before I Started Weight Training

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:57:00 +0000

I started weight training only a few days before my 20th birthday. It quickly developed into a new passion. Previously, most of my physical activity came from playing recreational soccer. Although my love for soccer hasn't dissolved, weight training (or what I prefer to call 'bodybuilding training') seems to fit better with me. Bodybuilding is a very individual sport. You are the only player in your team... and everything depends on you. I liked that idea from the beginning. When I played soccer, there seemed to be too much politics involved. Especially when I would organize teams (as I sometimes did), I had developed some anxiety from constantly listening to the players' complaints. Everyone in the team wanted to be the coach, or the captain, etc. As much as I experienced incredible highs when playing soccer, there seemed to be a lot of nervous tension surrounding the sport. In sum... Being a loner for much of my life, bodybuilding and I went really well together. Working out for me has always been a stress reliever as well as a confidence builder. Today, I'm even working hard at making it into a career. I just feel like I have so much knowledge and experience that it's my duty that I share it with others. Without hopefully sounding too arogant, I believe I have two gifts related to muscle building. The first is what this blog is all about... Becoming the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time. I can build NATURAL muscle at a rate faster than most people, if not all. Also, the amount of muscle I can add to my frame is limited only to my beliefs. And I believe I can ultimately weigh in at a shredded 250 pounds one day. To give you an idea of how big that is... Check out some of the top ten Mr.Olympias. Of course, my aim is to look more aesthetic, like Arnold back in the day (except a little big more buffed). Of course, these are just words and I've yet to prove what I'm capable of. You'll have to stay tuned to this blog to find out if I make it. My second gift as related to muscle building, is that I can help and motivate others. My personal accomplishments seem to inspire people to pursue their own fitness-related goals. One of my main goals in life is to help recreational, amateur, and professional bodybuilders from all over the globe... to reach their NATURAL physical potential (by promoting overall personal development). I've got to get to bed now, as it's late and I sometimes forget that I'm on an important journey. I'll leave you with a video of me. It pretty much explains my passion for and devotion to bodybuilding.

Staying Focused on Building Muscle

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:32:00 +0000

Staying focused on building muscle, is easier said than done. I'm using this blog as a type of journal, that will hopefully keep me on track towards my goal of becoming the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time. Whenever I do something that I believe could hinder my physical progression, I'll make a post out of it. For example, I've been going to bed quite late ever since I began my journey only a few days ago. But if I don't get enough rest each day, then how are my muscles supposed to grow. I become more consciously aware about what I'm messing up on when writing it down (or in this case, typing it on my keyboard). And once I'm aware of whatever is slowing down my progress... I can shift my focus to what I should be doing. I often take things a step further like, for example, posting my ultimate goal on the wall... so that whenever I walk into that particular room, I'm reminded of it.

When I don't get results, the reason is not so much that I'm NOT focused on my goal, as something is holding me back. What was holding me back in the past? Why have I never attempted to reach my goal? I've already mentioned that in the past I didn't believe in myself enough to pursue my goal with confidence. And I've actually already stated previously that I would become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time. I was on an internet tv show when I introduced myself as well as what I was attempting to accomplish. I was supposed to have my entire journey documented but, unfortunately, the film production company didn't pursue the project. I'm in Episode 2 (AT OPUS HOTEL) about two thirds of the way through. I didn't look very good, because I had been keeping that fire (my dream) inside me for years, until I finally let it out on the show. As much as I didn't show my body in that episode, I felt it was a good enough 'Before' shot to begin training full force towards my goal. After only two weeks, I had bulked up and leaned down drastically. People in the gym were really starting to notice the change, and I was as well. Back then, I thought that the reason why I just stopped cold turkey after only two weeks, was because the production company was no longer contacting me. Today, I understand that I just wasn't ready for my goal. Physically, I was ready. Mentally and spiritually... Nope.

An important message that I'd like to pass on to you is that your goal will arrive when your ready. You have to go after your goal and do certain things to achieve it, but you also have to let it come to you. There's a time and place for everything. That place and time becomes HERE AND NOW when you are prepared... physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I'd like to end this blog post with a simple statement. If you fall, you have two options; (1) Get up, (2)Stay down. You don't have to be perfect in your pursuit of physical perfection. You don't have to achieve your goal in the time-frame you've given yourself. Just stay focused, and the moment will eventually come.

I Gained Four Pounds of Muscle since Yesterday

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:54:00 +0000

I gained four pounds of muscle since yesterday. Okay, Okay... I'm actually pretty sure that it's not all muscle but I'm trying to convince myself that it is. Earlier this evening, I spontaneously decided to weigh myself. I was surprised to see that the scale indicated 180 pounds. Only yesterday I was 176. In truth, if I gained that much weight overnight, it's probably because yesterday I was dehydrated (due to the nervous tension arising from it being the first day of my journey) and today I was not. Still, it's uplifting to see increases being made on the scale.

Having hovered back and forth between 120 to 207 pounds in the last three or four years, I know what it feels like when I'm putting on weight (and when I'm losing it). I had initially planned to weigh myself every two weeks, but when you're feeling good (as was the case today), you just can't wait. Of course, I did see a slight change in the mirror. Not only in my body, but in my face as well. More full. More color. More life.

I don't mean at all to sound arogant, and as I've said before... My entire journey is not only for me. I'm sharing my current thoughts and feelings with you because, if you haven't yet started YOUR quest towards your fantasy goal, I just want you to know what to expect. As much as we are all very unique individuals, I believe that when it comes to following your heart, your dream... We all follow a very similar path. If I mess up somewhere during my experiences and share this with you, it's not because I think it may help you avoid a similar situation, but instead let you know what's to come AND that this is perfectly normal. I also want you to know that there will be good moments when on your journey, and that you should feed off of them whenever you can. Because like attracts like.

I'd like to leave you with some muscle-building advice: Gaining lean muscle mass doesn't have to take ten years or more. I can't stress to you enough how important it is to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, listen to yourself. Yesterday I weighed 176 pounds, and earlier today I weighed 180... But it's only because I did my best to do everything right. When I was hungry, I ate. When I was tired, I rested. When I felt like training, I trained. And if I gained 4 pounds in less than 24 hours then you can gain 10, 15, or 50 pounds in less than 6 months. It's possible. Don't pay attention to anyone who says that it's not. Just because someone else can't do something, it doesn't mean that you can't either. YOU CAN DO IT!

If your goal is to gain lean muscle mass, but you feel that you lack the know-how or motivation to reach your objectives, then I encourage you to check out my new ebook. It's on sale at a special low launch price until November 30th of this year. Don't worry if you decide to get it after that date. I'll be sure to keep it at a reasonable and affordable price.

Oh, I almost forgot. My good friend Kepens Raymond has been entered into Bodybuilding.com's '2010 BodySpace/IronMan Spokesmodel Search'. His BodySpace name is X_Ray and you can check out his video at the bottom of this blog post. If you'd like to vote for him, click here to go to the voting page and then use the [Ctrl-F] command on your computer (and type X_Ray) to find his profile. Voting is easy... Just click on the little white circle below his picture and BodySpace name. And unless I'm mistaken, you can vote for him once per day (from as many different computers as you'd like), until the end of November. Any votes on your part will be greatly appreciated. Once again, enjoy his video which is just below and I'll join you guys back here tomorrow.

Day One of Training was Tough

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:12:00 +0000

Day one of training towards my goal was really tough. The hard part was not the workout itself, but the mental aspect of it all. I am only at the beginning of my journey... and I have such a long way to go. On top of that, I weighed in at around 176 pounds, which is about 4 pounds less than what I thought I currently weighed. Wow... What a downer.

Still, I can't let any of this get to me. Being a negative thinker for most of my adult life, I'm the type of person that could easily get caught up in worrying about obstacles that could hinder my progression. This is kind of ironic, because wasting time worrying about things is probably my only real obstacle. For the sake of getting started on the right track, how about I shift this conversation and analyze the positive side for the rest of this blog post.

I've been able to almost effortlessly maintain a weight of about 200 pounds for the last few years. Let me also add that I was just as lean as I am now, if not leaner, at that weight. This means that getting back up there won't be difficult at all. I know that I could easily gain up to 5 or 6 pounds per week, in the first couple of weeks of my transformation. That means that the changes I'll undergo will be most drastic when comparing my first and second videos (which are filmed 3 weeks apart). Could you imagine gaining 18 pounds or more in 3 weeks? Well, the truth is I actually have to. Visualization is not something I practice regularly, but it's something I'm going to have to do to get the kind of results I'm aiming for.

Awesome! I feel much better now. I'm sorry to cut this blog post kind of short, but if I'm going to actually become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all time... Then, I have to get to sleep now. I need at least 8 hours, but 10 is better. By the way, I filmed the first part of my journey just a few hours ago. It will be available on this blog, and on my YouTube channel on Friday, November 13.

I hope to have much better news about my progression in the next few days. Hope you guys will be here tomorrow.

Biggest Natural Bodybuilder First Blog Post

noreply@blogger.com (Mario Fanzolato) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:29:00 +0000

On November 5th, 2009 I'll be starting my journey to become the biggest natural bodybuilder of all-time. I'll be posting a new video every 3rd Friday to this blog (via my YouTube channel), starting on November 13th. Basically, every 3 weeks you'll be able to see me weigh in and then train 2 or 3 muscle groups, as I narrate what I'm doing in the video and also speak about the struggles I'm currently going through and how I plan to overcome those struggles.

Here are some specifics about my quest. I've recently lost a couple of pounds due to a lower back injury, so I'm beginning my transformation at a weight of about 180 pounds. I'm attempting to get up to 215 pounds (contest shape) by the halfway mark. This means that within only 3 months time I'll in theory already have achieved my goal. This also means that I'll have gained more than 35 pounds of pure muscle (because you have to take into consideration the fat I'll need to lose to be in ripped contest shape) in such a short amount of time. My ultimate goal is to weigh in at 235 pounds (contest shape) by the 6 month mark. This will not only personally seal my title of being the biggest natural bodybuilder of all-time, but put me up there with the IFBB pros. Of course, I'm still a long way off... so I'll keep my focus on training towards my goal, instead of talking about it.

I should mention that my goal becomes relevant only when you compare me to other NATURAL bodybuilders. From my research on the subject, there isn't a single natural bodybuilder on the planet who on the day of contest (meaning when they're at their biggest and leanest) have weighed in at more than 212 pounds. Some of the biggest and most known natural bodybuilders of all-time are Ade Rai, Skip LaCour, Jeff Willet, and John Hansen. All of them have been tested on numerous occasions for physique-enhancing drugs and all have passed those tests. I'd like to also mention that I'm inspired by them for their accomplishments.

This goal of mine is considered virtually impossible by most gym owners, fitness professionals, and medical doctors, as well as almost all professional and amateur bodybuilders. My intention with achieving my goal is not to put down anyone who fits into any of those categories. I just feel that with having come a long way (since I've already gained over 85 pounds of lean muscle mass since I started training), and now attempting to gain at least another 35 pounds and in such a short amount of time... This journey could inspire anyone who's ever had a dream to go after it.

We all feel discouraged after having pursued something and then failed. Some of you have tried something without producing successful results. This doesn't mean you should stop or that you'll never reach your ultimate goal. I've fallen numerous times in the past but that's simply because I didn't believe in myself fully. Now I do. And I just want to show everyone that when you intentionally set a clear goal, focus mentally on it, work every minute of every day towards it, and have faith that you will achieve it... Miracles do happen!

I encourage you to keep following me on my journey, here on this blog daily, as you'll learn how to develop a lean, muscular physique and how to stay on the path to your own goals.