IFPA Pro International Results and Mr. Olympia Schedule

As many of you know, I've spend the last 6 months preparing for my first natural pro show, the IFPA International. The show was this past weekend and went extremely well. I weighed in at 196.7 on friday, putting me in the heavyweight class along with 6 other competitors with a total of 6 competitors in the lightweight class (13 pros total). I woke up on saturday at my absolute tightest I'd ever been, really making me feel confident about my chances. As I pumped up backstage I tried to visualize how I would look my best onstage and executing my poses correctly. As we strolled out onstage I could not help but smile as I knew no matter what the result I had achieved one of my life long goals of stepping on a pro stage. After one symmetry round I was moved to the middle of the line up and stayed there for the duration of prejudging. I felt very good about that, but being in the middle doesn't always mean you are going to do well so I tried to keep my expectations down, but I was told by numerous people that I looked very improved onstage and my conditioning was the best in my class, which made me feel great.

After I got offstage my wife came running back to give me a hug. I could see tears in her eyes and I couldn't help but tear up myself. We both put so much into this prep and to come back from such a long layoff and my torn pec to step onstage and be competitive in a pro class, I was overcome with emotion.

During the night show the pro men were up very early, so I was going to find out how I did pretty quickly. Backstage the expediter announced that only the top 5 would go out for awards. This got me pretty nervous but fortunately they called my number (14) as one of the top 5. As they read off the placings time seemed to slow down to a crawl. I felt I would be in the top 3. So when they announced 3rd place and it wasn't me, I was overjoyed, I had made top 2 at my first pro show. It was down to myself and Joe Wilson for the class win. As they read the runner ups name I kept thinking "they are going to say Layne Norton, they are going to say Layne Norton." they announced the runner up as Joe Wilson and I felt myself almost pass out with emotion. Unbelievable that I had won my class in my first pro show. This was beyond anything I had every expected or dreamed of. It was unbelievable feeling and to share it with my wife and so many members of Team Norton in the audience (special thanks to Flynn, Jeremy, Chris, Lindy, Patrick, Mina, Aaron, and Kayla for driving so far to support us!) was just unreal.
I hope to have pictures posted soon.

This week I am in Las Vegas, NV for the Mr. Olympia. I will be at the expo and you can come say hi to me at the Scivation booth from 10am to 2pm on Friday, and Noon to 2:30 pm on Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing you guys!

Thanks so much for all your support!

-Layne

In the final stretch

Hello everyone,
As you know I tend to be very sporadic with my blog posts so I'll try to bring you up to speed on everything. Right now I'm sitting 17 days out from my first natural pro show, the IFPA Pro International in Kansas City, KS on September 18th. As of now I'm at 200 lbs and definitely in my best condition ever. I am still working hard to peel a few more pounds of fat off but at this point I already feel like I've grabbed a personal victory as I will step onstage with a completely different and Improved physique from years past. My legs and back, two areas that I have focused on for a long time, are finally falling in line with the rest of my physique and I am so excited to step onstage and not have massive weakpoints in my physique. Don't get me wrong, my legs still need to improve, but they are massively different from the last time I competed.

This prep has been challenging for me, mostly mentally and emotionally as I have poured my heart and soul into it like no prep before. I have never been this aggressive with nutrition or cardio in a prep, probably because I KNOW what my competitors will look like and I KNOW that it will take stepping up to the next level in order to stand on the pro stage and not look out of place. So I have been at it hard for the past 21.5 weeks and plan to give it my absolute all for the next 2.5 weeks. I will NOT be posting any updated progress pictures until the show, as silly as it sounds, I don't want people telling me how great I look and how great I'm going to do, I need to remain focused on the task at hand.

On an exciting note, I was recently informed that both of my first pro shows will be broadcast live via webcast for viewing! On september 18th you can watch the IFPA Pro International on http://www.nbcflivetheater.com/ and you will also be able to watch the IFPA Cape Cod Pro on October 9th there. Go check it out not just for me, but to support the rest of the great natural pros out there.

-Layne