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

Announcement of my pro debut

Hi Everyone,
Well as many of you know I have been dieting for the past 18 weeks or so for my pro natural debut, but had not announced exactly which shows I am doing. I wanted to make sure my entry forms were mailed in and the way was cleared before I announced them. Well it appears everything is in place. My first two shows this year will be:

September 18th in Kansas City, KA
The IFPA Pro International
http://www.musclekc.com/

October 9th in Cape Cod, MA
The IFPA Pro Classic
http://www.thenaturalmusclenetwork.com/IFPA/Contests/2010/IFPA100910MAdetails.pdf

There are other shows I am eying at later dates right now, but I am waiting to see how the first two shows go before I make any final decisions.

I appreciate all your support and I right now I am on track to come in at my best ever which is my ultimate goal. My conditioning right now is equal to when won my pro card, but I am at about 10 lbs heavier bodyweight, which is exciting to me because at least I feel like my prolonged offseason was worth it!

I have been looking forward to this for a long time :)

-Layne

New Precontest Pictures

Hey guys, I'm sitting about 3 months out from my first show, and figured you all might like some prep pics. Here are some pics that we snapped on Saturday in the gym :)



















-Layne

Requesting help for a friend.

Hello everyone,
I would like you all to please take a few minutes to read this
http://funds.gofundme.com/MarkGeorges/LiamGeorgesLegalFund

My friend Mark is a fantastic father who has been placed in an absolutely terrible situation. He has done everything right and by the book and it has resulted in nothing but long drawn out court battles that have taken their toll on his family's finances. Please, even if you can only just donate a dollar, please do it. I will personally vouch that this cause is absolutely worthy of your time and whatever money you can spare to donate.

Thanks
-Layne

Tampa Invasion and contest prep has begun!

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to give you all a quick update on what's going on in Layne world! Isabel and I successfully completed our move to Tampa and are loving it. Our house is just more than we could have ever dreamed of and we love every square inch of it... especially the pool which I have been spending a lot of time in. As many of you know I have also begun prepping for my first series of natural pro shows this fall! After being away from the stage for 4 years I can tell you that I am really nervous and really excited and REALLY hungry to come in at my all time best. I know that I have improved my weak points a good deal and I'm really excited to see how everything comes together. I started my prep at 232 lbs and I am currently sitting a touch under 215 lbs after about 10 weeks of prep. I'm pretty happy with my progress thus far and it's encouraging when you can start to see the improvements I've worked so hard to make in my time off from competing.

I also feel I will have a big boost to my prep because of the gym I am now training at. When I came to Tampa I asked my good friend and fellow competitive bodybuilder Dominic D'Agastino what gym I should look at training in and he said "Powerhouse Gym in north Tampa" without hesitation. Man was he right! This place is old school and hardcore. Everyone knows everyone and it's very friendly, but it's a place for serious lifters. The equipment is old but very well maintained and everything works great. The best part is there are quite a few people there who are bigger/stronger than me which is a change from previous gyms. I have no choice but to get better with those kinds of people pushing me on a daily basis!

I have attached some sneak peek progress photos for you guys! I have not announced what shows I'm doing yet,but keep watching the BioBlog because as soon as I've finalized and submitted my entry forms, you guys will be the first ones to know!

-Layne

It is official: Dr. Norton is in the house!!!!

Hello everyone,
I am happy to be writing about one of the most exciting times in my life right now. As many of you know, I have spent the last 5 and a half years pursuing my PhD in Nutritional Sciences. Well, I am proud to say that this past March I defended and deposited my thesis and graduated this past weekend with my PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the best school in the country for Nutritional Sciences, The University of Illinois. Some of my research has already been published in the Journal of Nutrition, but much more will be coming in the future. My thesis was entitled:
"Leucine is a critical factor determining protein quality and quantity of a complete meal to initiate muscle protein synthesis" This PhD was by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and is the only thing that I have ever wanted to quit at, but after everything my wife and I have gone through I am glad we have stuck it out. Many people have asked me what I will do now that my PhD is finished. I have decided not to go further into academia but instead to expand my current business, BioLayne Inc. As many of you know, I currently do nutritional and training consultations for bodybuilders, fitness, and figure competitors as well as strength athletes and serious non-competitive lifters. I will use my degree and the knowledge I gained through my academic pursuits to help others accomplish their goals in bodybuilding and fitness. This is my dream job and something I have enjoyed for the last 4 years and cannot imagine doing anything else. It has been more successful than I could have ever imagined and I owe a great deal to my hard working clients.

Another big change in our lives is that we will be moving from Champaign, IL and relocating to Tampa, FL. Isabel and I met in Tampa in undergraduate school and have always wanted to move back. Now we are in a fortunate position to be able to do so. Last week we closed on a great house in Tampa and we will be moving down this weekend to sunny Florida! We are so excited we can hardly contain ourselves!

To make life even more interesting/hectic, I have begun dieting for my first natural pro shows! I promised myself that once I won my pro card, I would not diet for another show until I was finished with grad school, it just takes took too much out of my research and set me back too far when I did it before. Now that I'm finished with my PhD it is time to return to the stage. I have not announced what shows I will be doing but stay tuned as they will be posted in the coming months. In the meantime, please follow along my precontest journal here: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=124195121

I want to take this time to thank everyone who has supported me and followed my journey over the last few years, without your interest and support I would be nothing. I promise, I will always work as hard as I possibly can and leave everything on the table. I will never look back with regrets.

"Unless a man takes on more than he can possibly do, he will never do all he possibly can." ~Henry Drummond

Thanks you all! Big things are in store!

-Layne