Do I plan on winning the Arnold next year? No fucking way. It's gunna take years of hard work and a lot of luck. We all start off somewhere, and I think I'm starting off very well. Why would I want to settle for something less than what I want? I'm not going to say, oh I'll be happy being in the top 10 at my peak. That'd be a waste and I wouldn't be happy with myself if I did that. I'm going to give everything I have to becoming the best, and if it doesn't happen, I will know I tried as hard as I could and there was nothing else I could possibly do. Will I ever out-total Kutcher, who fucking knows. But I sure as hell am gunna try. You hear all the time how the only limits we have are the ones we put on ourselves. Why should I place limits on myself when I have no idea what my full potential is?


My training partner Steve Smith said I probly couldn't squat 600 at this meet. He was right, no fucking way I could. But what if I was strong enough too, and because I told myself nahh, I'm not strong enough, and only gone for 575. I would be limiting myself because of my mental strength, not because of my physical strength. I would much rather shoot for the stars and come up short than limit myself.


There is a huge difference between immediate goals and long-term goals. Immediate goals, get my elite and get 1600 soon. I mean I have only been squatting and deadlifting consistently for LESS THAN A YEAR. Since January I've increased my squat from an estimated max of 345 or so to 545. 200 lbs in a year. My deadlift has gone from an estimated max of 365 to 523. 158 lbs in a year. And my bench form gets better every time I put on my shirt, and I have no doubt I can bench 500@165 in a full meet. I know my numbers won't continue to rise like that, that's obvious. But I will do what I can to keep gaining. Some people can be so negative. To my training partner Jimmy McQuaid, I can honestly see you squatting 1100, pulling 8, and benching 6 in the near future. You're a very strong kid, and like you've said yourself there isnt many people at your age squatting 800 and deadlifting 700. So why limit yourself into a potential that you don't know about. You could be the next Steve Goggins for all you know, but by saying you never will be, well then you're right. People are there own worst enemy, and I'm not going to let myself become that. You may think I'm fucking crazy, but I won't give up until I'm the best. I'm not going to put restrictions on myself that I don't know exist. This game is so mental, and I'd be limiting myself to do so.


Who would have ever thought Gene Rychlak would bench a grand, who would have thought Steve Goggins would squat 1100? People are still in awe of what Ed Coan did, and he hasn't been at the top of his game in a few years. All these numbers that these people did seemed impossible at the time. But they never thought they were impossible.


Will I ever be WPO champ? In your mind, no, you think I'm crazy. But in my mind, without a doubt yes. And I will do whatever I can to get there.


I hope you guys like it and I would love to hear some feedback on it. Thanks,
ACHILLES