mrcshadows

09/17/2026

I was already feeling depleted at 7 weeks out. Now, at 4 weeks out & just under 1,600 calories, I’m really feeling it. Every exercise, every set, every rep takes something out of me. Sometimes I get lightheaded, sometimes I feel completely drained, but I still have under 4 weeks to go… I have to keep pushing. I’m pushing myself harder than I ever have before because there is no extending this show and there is no makeup show. It’s this or nothing.

I also want to thank my Shadow One mentoring athlete & friend Rudy Velasquez for continuing to show up for me, even after finishing his own show. That means a lot.

And to everyone checking in, texting, DMing, and asking how I’m doing… thank you. That’s what keeps me going.

4 MORE WEEKS. OCTOBER 10. ULTIMATE WARRIOR. I’m not coming to beat everyone else. I’m coming to beat me.

09/16/2026

4 WEEKS OUT.
155 lbs.
25 lbs down.
3 plates on the Foreman Hack Squat. NO BANDS.

If you know this machine, you know how heavy it is.
ME: I get a high from doing what others won’t.

1,600 calories. Deep into prep. Still pushing through the pain. No training partner. Self-coached.

Because if I don’t do it, I know someone else is. That’s the difference between winning & losing. What you do offstage matters.

When it’s time to step onstage, the work speaks for itself.

09/15/2026

4 weeks out. First test run in the practice suit today…and no, this is not the color I’ll be wearing on stage. Still a lot more I want to bring in, but this is where I’m at today. Not finished. Not hiding, as much as I don’t want to post this… it will help me push even more. I’m just focusing to work toward the look I know I’m capable of bringing.

Thank you Illusions By Aggie for working with me on the suit colors and materials. She has confirmed it, NO ONE HAS EVER USED THE COLORS AND FABRIC IM GOING TO BR USING.

09/12/2026

Just like that, we wrapped up the 2026 MUSCLECONTEST Titans Grand Prix & my Shadow One mentoring Prep & Posing Mens Physique athlete Rudy Velasquez is coming home with hardware! 🏆

3rd Place – True Novice
2nd Place – Novice
4th Place – Open Men’s Physique Class C

Brother, I’m damn proud of you. 17 months of work all came down to this moment & you delivered. I couldn’t have asked anything more out of you. We brought you in exactly how we planned, exactly how we wanted & you went out there & kicked ass.

This is such a monumental moment because I know stepping on that stage was something you had dreamed about & wanted to accomplish for a long time. Now you can finally say you did it…..All the work, all the sacrifice, and all the trust in the process led to this moment. And this is only the beginning.

Love you, hermano. Proud of you, brother….Everyone help me congratulate Rudy Velasquez on completing his FIRST EVER competition… and definitely the first of many.

09/10/2026

Clip taken from Jeff Mullins YouTube episode, where we go over our first posing session. In this clip we go over what is too much in posing, specifically in mens physique. Doing overly flamboyant or extra posing CAN & MAY HURT YOU, only if you are exposing weak body parts.

BE INTENTIONAL WITH EVERYTHING YOU DO ON STAGE

09/09/2026

09/08/2026

13 years in the making. 6 years working together. 7 weeks of fully taking over her prep.

And then came this…..Fresh off winning TWO IFBB Pro Cards & the Women’s Figure 50+ Overall at the Gary Udit North Americans, Shadow One mentoring IFBB FIGURE PRO, prep & posing athlete Sandi L. Benz IFBBPRO sat down for her post win interview.

09/07/2026

I want to congratulate my _shadowONE Bikini prep & posing athlete Elaheh Nejat, who competed this past weekend at the Gary Udit North Americans. This was our first Masters national show together & we came in with one goal: bring our absolute best.

Unfortunately, we did not make the first callout, but that does not take away from the package she brought or the work she put in. Elaheh and I have only been working together since the beginning of this year, and the truth is, we have never had a true offseason or full growth phase together.

She brought great shape, posing, stage presence, and conditioning. What we need now is more overall density, size, and roundness, especially through the hamstrings, glute-ham tie-in, and outer glutes. I am beyond proud of her. She gave me everything this prep, followed instructions to a T & showed how disciplined and committed she is.

Now we grow….With a full year to improve, I have no doubt we will bring back a package that looks night and day different. Please help me congratulate 🌿 Nutritionist & Fitness Coach on an amazing job this weekend.

Every show is either a lesson or a blessing, and this one will only make us better….Coach is proud.