Blog Entries: Eryk Bui

Hot topic for an equally hot summer!

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Tuesday 20th of July 2010 11:41:40 PM

The wacky world of fitness competitions … I feel sorry for all female competitors!

 i attended, judged, and thoroughly enjoyed the Memorial Day Weekend Muscle Beach Classic.  For that particular holiday weekend, it was by far the best and largest group of competitors that I have seen since my involvement years ago.  We usually get about 20-30 more competitors for the 4th of July show because of the summer-like atmosphere.  Prior to Monday's event, I got an opportunity to check out the 2010 NPC California Bodybuilding, Figure, and Bikini Championships in Culver City, CA.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Thursday 3rd of June 2010 11:24:12 PM

Summer is quickly approaching … time to clean it up!

It's that time of year again when fat burners are being snatched up by the bunches at local sports nutrition shops.  The air is warming up and everyone knows that you can't go to the beach with a beer gut … unless you don't mind the negative gawking.  If you are like me, I start early.  I don't wait until summer is in full bloom before I make necessary changes to my diet and/or bump up the cardio.  I usually start cleaning up my meals in late-March and ease into the cardio so that by mid-April, I am doing about an hour of cardio every single day.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Sunday 16th of May 2010 11:56:29 PM

Fitness Thought of the Week

Fitness is a daily commitment and endeavor.  It has to be something that you can and are willing to repeat day in and day out for the rest of your extended life.  I share this message with each and every one of my clients so that they can look back and reflect on how much their lives have changed for the better since embarking on their fitness journey.  As human beings, we are competitive by nature, and therefore thirst for daily challenges.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Sunday 9th of May 2010 06:52:30 PM

Catchin' the L-Train

 It has been 8 weeks since my surgical procedure to repair a partially torn left biceps tendon and things are moving right along … probably better than I had anticipated.  I was very unsure about how much of my original strength would be recovered, but those fears are now a thing of the past as I have been able to increase my seated dumbbell curls to 60-lb for 6-8 reps.  In fact, I have been able to increase my workload substantially on all upper body movements.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Monday 3rd of May 2010 02:47:06 AM

One show at a time, one step at a time …

 The bodybuilding season just kicked off about 2 months ago and the panicking is already starting up.  Panicking about what?  Panicking about what shows to do, how many to do, and so on and so forth.  It find it both amusing and perplexing why a person would worry about the USA's or Nationals when they have not done a qualifier and/or placed in one.  A good friend texted me yesterday about doing two shows in one month.  He wanted to know if it was possible to peak for both.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Wednesday 28th of April 2010 08:48:57 AM

How to Jump Start Your Drive to Fitness

 It seems as though more and more health enthusiasts are abandoning the more traditional fitness combination of iron and treadmill for a more fast-paced and energetic style that is often referred to as "muscle confusion."  Muscle confusion is a trendy form of fitness that involves combining weightlifting and plyometrics to create a workout that maximizes fat-loss by challenging both the cardiovascular and muscular systems.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Monday 19th of April 2010 11:31:08 PM

Life Lessons from Bodybuilding

 As a childhood scholar, I was taught that many living species go through what is known as "metamorphosis" or physical changes that help them grow or adapt to their habitat.  My personal journey through bodybuilding has taken that concept to whole new level.  I now know and accept that every day of my life brings an opportunity for change and adaptation … for the better or worse depends mostly on what I do in response.  How?

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Wednesday 14th of April 2010 12:16:55 AM

Happy Easter!

Easter, for some, has a religious significance, while others simply call it the official beginning of Spring.  No matter what, Easter is a cause for celebration as it marks the ending of winter and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I spent the vast majority of the day with family and friends … and even managed to head to the movie theater for a mid-day flick.  I am sure many of you have heard the "late breaking" news about the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked southern California.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Sunday 4th of April 2010 10:14:26 PM

The 2010 Bodybuilding Season has begun!

 The 2010 NPC season kicked off this past weekend with the World Gym Classic in San Diego, CA.  I couldn't attend due to a conflicting work schedule, but some of good friends from Orange County participated … and one placed rather well.  Actually, saying that he did "well" is an understatement as he (Zeb Beatty) took overall honors in the Novice Division and placed 2nd in the Open Super-Heavyweight Class.  What's even more impressive is the fact that the World Gym Classic was his first and only outing.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Sunday 21st of March 2010 09:48:06 PM

Continual Reinvention Equals Longevity

I got my bandages off this past Tuesday and while I was excited, I was also very unsure.  Unsure about what?  Let’s just way I walked into the surgeons office over a month ago with little certainty about how much I could do and how hard I could train because of my bicep’s tendon situation … and I walked out of the same surgeons office this past Tuesday with the same questions … perhaps more.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Monday 15th of March 2010 12:26:00 AM

Sometimes, it's just not in the cards …

This past week has been a rough one for me, so finding the motivation to write enthusiastically is a rather tall order.  I discovered a couple months ago that I had a partially torn left biceps tendon.  I had been planning on making a comeback of sorts to pro bodybuilding, but that flame was quickly extinguished last Monday when I went in to have surgery.  The surgeon that I acquired for the procedure was, in his words, "certain" that he could successfully do the job.  WRONG!

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Sunday 7th of March 2010 09:23:32 PM

My TOP 10 Supplements of 2010

1.   Magnum Serum (5 sources of Creatine, 5 sources of Arginine, Beta-Alanine, BCAA's, and much, much, more) … should be utilized for pre and post workout.

2.   Magnum Quattro Protein Blend (although contains egg and micellar casein proteins, it boasts a higher concentration of whey isolate protein than any other brand).

3.   USPLabs Oxy-Elite Pro (as strong as an ECA-stack, minus the risks).  Very strong stimulant.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Sunday 28th of February 2010 09:58:32 AM

The rules of gaining muscle mass …

Everyone talks the talk, but no one seems to understand what it takes to walk the walk when it comes to putting on quality muscle mass.  The first rule of thumb is to hit the gym hard and hit it frequently.  How frequent is frequent?  You should at the very least be utilizing a "4-on-1-off split," which will ensure that each body part is trained twice per week.  Consistency is very important  to ensure that a regular routine is established.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Monday 22nd of February 2010 12:03:34 AM

Happy Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year!

What a beautiful day!  It has been a very wet winter here in southern California, so the unseasonal heat wave brought smiles to many faces, including mine.  It couldn't have come at a better time since today is Valentine's Day.  I hope everyone had a pleasant time with their special someone.  Today is also the beginning of the Lunar Year, which is celebrated by many Asian cultures including mine … the first time that Chinese New Year and Valentine's has fallen on the same day since 1953.

Written by: Eryk Bui
Created on: Sunday 14th of February 2010 09:09:09 PM
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