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X-MAN EYES '09 SACRAMENTO PRO

Toney Freeman has his sites locked on the 2009 Sacramento Pro

By Dave Lee

November 6, 2009

FLEXONLINE.COM

Toney Freeman is hungry for a win and this Saturday, November 7, he'll be fighting 20 other bodybuilders at the 2009 IFBB Sacramento Men's Pro Bodybuilding Grand Prix, at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California to make it happen. Though a win and early qualification for the 2010 Mr. Olympia [top three qualify] sounds pretty sweet, there's more to Freeman's agenda.

At the 2009 Mr. Olympia, over-the-counter medication for a banged knee compromised Freeman's condition for Friday night's prejudging. The X-Man eventually finished eighth, down three spots from '08's fifth, which, along with fourth at the Arnold Classic and third at the Grand Prix Australia, brings his 2009 record to 0-3 .

The 2002 Nationals super-heavyweight and overall champ has won a show every year since notching his first pro victory at the 2006 Europa Super Show, including wins at the 2007 Ironman Pro and Sacramento Pro shows and the 2008 Europa Super Show and Tampa Bay Pro. If he is to keep his streak alive, he'll have to come up big in Sacramento. Here's what Freeman had to say about his prep for the last men's pro show of the year.

GOOD IDEA
Two days after the Olympia I was at a FLEX photo shoot and Moe [El Moussawi] was talking about it [Sacramento]. I didn't even know there was another show after the Olympia, because that's when I usually shut it down. Basically, I made up my mind to do it on the spot.

PERPETUAL DIET
I started dieting for the Olympia on August 1, so I've pretty much been on since then. I'm going back to my old format, which is competing in just about every show on the calendar so I'm used to being on for long stretches of time.

REDEMPTION
The primary reason I'm doing it is because I wasn't able to come out on Friday night [at the Olympia] the way I wanted to. I always look good before or after a show and obviously, the goal is to nail it when it's time. This show -- and I view every show this way -- is another opportunity to work out the kinks and get this thing [contest prep] down to a science.

MOVING UP
I'm still putting on size. A lot of guys have been the same size for the last 5-6 years. When I turned pro I weighed 249 pounds. Now I'm tipping the scales at 286-289 pounds. That's a huge difference.

CHANGE IT UP
Guys reading this need to realize that you can't do the same contest prep you did before. Your cells are constantly in a state of change. You're literally not the same person you were six months or a year ago. That means you have to make adjustments and this is an ongoing, lifelong process.

FULL OF IT
I still have a lot of filling out to do, like my back and arms. I have long limbs - my wingspan from fingertip to fingertip is six feet - so it takes time to fill in the spaces. Plus, I don't want to do it too fast and ruin my lines and symmetry. Especially my waist. You have to keep that tight.

FLAT OUT
People always criticized me for being flat but I took care of the flatness issue at the Olympia. Before, we were focused on conditioning, which is great and part of the game, but when you're 6'2" you need to start living up to that size expectation.

NO RERUNS
Contest dieting is never easy, but this time around I don't have to beat myself down to get in shape because I started at a much closer point. Everything is coming together right on schedule. I already did this five weeks ago, so it's almost a matter of just retracing my footsteps and making sure I don't commit the same mistakes.

GOING OUT STRONG
I want just want to compete. Everyone wants to be compared and given a chance to fight their way to the top. Right now, I'm competing against myself. I know we all say that, but honestly, I have bigger things in mind. Before I leave this game, I want to walk out onstage at 300 pounds -- shredded. Every show I do is a build up to that point. I want to be the last thing they see in '09 and the first thing they see in 2010. I'm ready to rock and roll!

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