Bodybuilding or Physique?

I have been prepping for the NPC Natural PA for the last 4 weeks. The show is Oct.8 about 4 weeks away. Right now I am torn between doing the bodybuilding class and the new physique class. Right now I am about 215lbs and I should come down to about 198 come showtime. I am looking for imput from people "in the know". What would be the best route for me to go?? I have included some pictures to show my size and shape.

355 lb hang clean

Just thought I'd share this...

Friday Workout

On Fridays I usually travel to a gym that I am unfamiliar with to get a change of scenery and relax away from the traditional crowd at my gym. Today I headed down to the Exercise Warehouse in Bloomfield to train Biceps. I love it there there is no music and it is open air. You begin to sweat immediately upon entering. I had an awesome workout and here are a few photos and a video from today's training session!

New York Trip

Last Friday I took a trip to NYC for a casting. While at the casting I had an epiphany about my life/career/ and missed opportunities. My first time in New York I remember feeling overwhelmed ,less than, and taken over by a feeling that I just didn't belong. This time was much different, looking around the room I felt like not only that I belonged, but that I could thrive if thrust into a similar situation again.

Two years later, I am personal training 40 hrs a week and loving every second of it. However I realized that I could be helping a ton more people if I took a little extra time focusing on my fitness career. To reach more people, I need to expand my brand awareness. My brand, being myself, the only way to achieved this is to make my mark in the fitness industry by way of magazines and contests. Long story short, I think the sky is the limit for what I can achieve this year with a clear vision and hard work. I am exited to see what wonderful things this year will bring with a new sense of purpose and drive.

Client Spotlight: Donnaie Williams

Today I wanted to quickly introduce one of the most amazing training success stories who I have ever encountered . Her name is Donnaie Williams. Donnaie, thus far has lost over 100lbs, 28% body fat, and 96 total inches. While these numbers are incredible they don't even begin to skim the surface of this amazing woman's story. I have asked Donnaie to share her story in her own words, so periodically I will be posting bits and pieces of her amazing journey. Tonight I figured I would post a few of her YouTube videos to introduce you all to this wonderful person. She inspires me every single day I train her, and I hope that she can be an inspiration to all of you as well.

Training Partners

                Training today made me really appreciate having a good workout partner. I had gone into the day planning on hitting triceps and then walking on the treadmill in our cardio theater. The tricep training was nothing to write home about(unless someone really wants to know), but the cardio afterward really helped remind me of how important it is to have good people in your corner. The movie sucked in the theater today so I searched the gym for some other way to get my conditioning in for the day. I settled on cleaning and chest passing a heavy bag 50 times ( five sets of ten). I had put a few clients through this and it had always seemed to really challenge them.
               Well, after the first ten, I had decided I would do the entire 50 in a row, doing 50 quickly turned to 100, then eventually 150, and finally we finished around 163. I really like to challenge myself and I pushed the pace for most of our workout, however down the stretch when my enthusiasm started to decline,  my training partner was there to push me over the hump. I ended up having one of the best workout I have had in a long time. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you really want to take your fitness to the next level, one key is to have someone with you to push you past the point where you want to quit  and go home. Whether that person is a personal trainer, friend, or just someone with similar goals as you, it is a lot easier to achieve what you want in the gym with someone there with you.
                            
                                                                        

A Little Bit About Myself

My name is Thomas Holbrook Duer. Most people call me Tom. I am a 24 year old personal trainer from Williamsport, Pa, living in Pittsburgh. I also am a fitness competitor and former collegiate football player and track athlete. About two years ago I entered, and won my first Bodybuilding show, Fitness Atlantic. From that day on my life would take a few interesting turns. That day is also when I met my agent, and not soon after did a photo shoot for my first fitness magazine. In my first two months in the industry, I had shot for two separate internationally published fitness magazines, and thought I was on the fast track to fame and fortune within the industry. Boy, I was in for a rude awakening. Just as fast as I had risen in “the industry”, I had fallen even faster . I moved to NYC soon after being “discovered” and left four months later. I spent the next two years simply trying to find a steady paycheck and a way to use the degree I worked so hard to earn. Finally, I became successful enough to support myself on my own. Now I have decided re-enter fitness competitions and more specifically the new NPC physique division....I'M BAAAAAACK!