Getting to Know Ryan Doris, Natural Pro Bodybuilder, USAPL Powerlifter & Entrepenuer

I have had the pleasure of knowing Ryan for quite awhile. We first met back around 2008...while we were both college students (at different academic levels), and the first thing that struck me was how incredibly focused and goal oriented he is. 

Fast forward to now, he's launching a new venture which explores the mental side of training, he also explains what drew him to powerlifting and when we can see him onstage as a bodybuilder. 

ENJOY!

Ryan Doris

So let's start this off by introducing yourself to the peoples! Yes, I said peoples...

You’re a bit of an enigma in powerlifting and bodybuilding, performing at a high level in both. 

Can you explain how you got into both?

I originally got into the bodybuilding scene first because that's what is more dominant in the Chicago area. I think I would have gotten into powerlifting first if it had a larger presence in the Chicago area. It is super popular but the area is so large that the bodybuilding scene really dominates a bit more, as with most metropolitan areas. For me it really came down to exposure and random chance. 

I don't think that there is really much of a fundamental difference between the two. The only difference is the competition. Everybody bodybuilder with a long off season always works to get a stronger bench, squat, and deadlift. 

In that way I think all bodybuilders are powerlifters, they simply don't compete. Powerlifters want to gain muscle and strength all the same. 

At the end of the day the specifics of it are about competing. Albeit, the small details and differences between the two are drastic when you inspect it closely. But fundamentally, it's kind of all the same when you look at the big picture. If it weren't similar we wouldn't be In the same category whatsoever. 

The rise of raw powerlifting has made it much easier to compete as well. Body builders lift raw and they don't even realize it. I decided to compete in powerlifting because it's what I am doing anyways. May as well specialize for a few years and see what I can pull off. 

When you started competing, did you even think you’d turn pro in a natural association?

No, I had no idea. I just wanted to do it and compete. It just so happened that the first I ever heard of bodybuilding was a natural organization. Again, just down to proximity and random chance. The knowledge of the NPC was really a secondary thing for me. So I guess natural bodybuilding is just home for me. I've been in it so long I honestly don't know anything else. 

After my first show I realized there was a beauty and art associated with competing at the highest level. And I just fell in love with it. Exhibiting your highest self in physical form. 

They just so happen to call it pro in bodybuilding because they have the financial structure. For example, there is no pro powerlifting organization. All of it is amateur. So the real thing for me is just going against the best. Whether they call it pro or not. Pay or don't pay. I just wanna compete and feel that fight between two men trying their absolute best in their finest hour. 

What would be your typical workout for bodybuilding in a typical offseason?

All the standard hypertrophy stuff really. Except instead of one big chest day. I would do chest twice a week and bench twice a week well. That way I get in about 1.5x the work volume a week on a body part by spreading it across two days rather than one. Same for the other body parts and compounds. One thing I learned from powerlifting is the power of frequency. It's really an amazing tool and often people are afraid because of overtraining. Or in fact they do overtrain. 'Tis a fine line you have to remain objective with. 

In prep mode

Let’s shift to powerlifting a little bit. When you first got into the sport, was it a huge culture and training shock to what you were accustomed to before?

No not at all. It felt exactly the same. It felt smaller if anything. 

That way the community was more tight knit and friendly. I actually prefer powerlifting in some ways because I feel it is socially more healthy. Less about individuals and politics. It is about the sport, community, and objective numbers. Ironically those things give it an edge to feel like a, "sport" where bodybuilding doesn't. 

The difficulty in contest preparation for both is about the same in terms of difficulty. The type of struggle is different but comprehensively both feel not fun. Although the lifting is much more difficult and mentally exhausting in powerlifting, the around the clock hunger and low energy in bodybuilding is equally as bad. I don't prefer either. They are both extremely hard. The suck, sucks. 

What memories do you have from your first meet? 

Wanting to tell people shut up! It was weird because lots of people at the meet, knew me from online content as well as from bodybuilding. Internally, it was my first meet and I was so nervous. I think people assumed since I am good at bodybuilding that I was good at powerlifting. They didn't realize this is an entirely different sport and I am so lost and confused just like any other novice. 

So, in an odd way I didn't get to have the first meet experience where it's just your family and friends supporting you. The expectation to succeed from the public strangely didn't matter. But..it did matter in terms of how it affected me lol. It was a combination of being a "noob" in one world mixed with people wanting to take pictures and ask questions about the parts of my life I have mastered . Really odd contrast. 

In The Hole!

What attracted you to compete in the USAPL versus other associations?

It has really high standards. Almost impossible at times. I want to compete where the drug testing is the most dependable. Also, where the judging and rules of technicality are most fair. I really succeed off of raw talent but also being able to have technical wins. 

You see so many athletes in sports who are talented but don't grasp the actual full idea of a game being played. Sort of why the Harlem Globetrotters aren't in the NBA. Skill isn't just enough. Playing the game is just as important as raw talent. 

Part of being successful in USAPL is being good at playing the technical game. Knowing the ins and outs. Being brute strong isn't good enough and I find that pretty fun to be honest. The mental stimulation keeps me interested.  

When you went knee deep into powerlifting, did you reach out to anyone to help you craft an approach towards how you should train for it, or was a lot of it your own experience under a bar?

The group I was in was one of the more elite powerlifting groups at the national level. I was so lucky.

Part of the reason I went in so knee deep was because they were in knee deep, so it was easy. I have learned from some of the absolute best when it comes to powerlifting which I am forever grateful for. All of the people I was associated with during my DeNovo Nutrition years are responsible for all I know. Again, proximity and luck. Just got really lucky and all I had to do was listen and try hard to learn. 

What is your philosophy to being good at both on a platform and onstage?

Don't take it so personal. I think people struggle with trying to get better and they get so frustrated. They are frustrated bc they are taking it so personal. I focus on just trying hard. Frustration is literally your mind saying this is your chance to prove who you are. Don't take the feeling personal and get mad. Listen to it and it'll tell you where you suck. It speaks in the language of failure, frustration, uncertainty. 

Also, I don't romanticize about it. I don't have a vision of myself at a certain ranking or dream. I just want to compete. Whatever I place, I place. I don't even have a trophy display. To me the doing is really what I like and find the most joy in. The process as they call it in football. In my struggles and obstacles I find who I am more and more. And that self love you get from discovering who you are is quite beautiful. 

Ryan at the 2016 Arnold Sports Festival USAPL Meet

Let’s talk about your current business endeavors. You traveled from Florida, previously launching DeNovo Nutrition, going all the way to the West Coast launching Fortis EQ Training. Why the change and what is Fortis EQ?

I think my time with supplements was just up. I realized that supplements are important to the industry, but my true impact is greater with another skill I have. I am ok with managing a company and growing it from start up.  I truly believe I am much better for the community and myself if I make content that helps people mentally. 

Fortis EQ is a content project. Fortis is Latin for strong and EQ is shorthand for emotional intelligence. The counterpart of IQ. My aim is to make as much content as possible that helps athletes mentally. A lot of people graze over the topics of athlete mindset but no one dives in. I am simply going full on with it. 

It is something I am passionate and most natural at. Psychology and philosophy are in my thoughts everyday of my life on the hour. Supplements can never compete with that. I think the move is just from a matter of confidence in myself. Everyone thinks the thing about them that is most honest isn't the best. I always thought they were random cool sounding thoughts. But something clicked that I realized with some effort and organization this could be a thing to present to the world. 

Why launch in Los Angeles versus Florida?

Weather and environment are a huge component of my productivity. 

As much as I would love to go back home to Chicago I feel that 6 months of the year are wasted  struggling with seasonal depression there. It really does affect me for the worst. So I have a bit of an informal vow with myself, to not return back to the cold as long as I am working long hours I am in my career. 

I can technically be anywhere, but I love the beach, sun, mountains, busy city, and fitness culture of LA . All of my favorite things are here. It just works with for me to have strongest base in being my best self. Except it's absurdly pricey. 

Let's Talk about your family a bit. Your brother is an Olympian that competed in Rio last year for Guyana. How’d it feel seeing him raise your home country's flag?

Ryan & his brother Troy in Rio for the 2016 Olympics

Yea it feels oddly normal. He is very similar to me in regards to what I was saying earlier about just wanting to compete and not caring about the status or awards. After he got done with finals at the Olympics in Rio. The first thing he said to me was, "Man, that was just a normal meet. They just call it the Olympics?"

So yeah, it is pretty awesome. But whatever others may get from it my family simply doesn't. Just feels regular. Maybe ironically that is why we can achieve at high levels. We just don't think much of it and don't let the pressure of it being a "big deal" affect us. Everything is easy when it's not a big deal. Just a regular thing that we are super grateful and happy to be doing.  

How instrumental was your mom in all of you guy’s successes?

Enjoying the beach with Mom

She is THEE instrument! She is our why...She is our purpose and reason. If my previous answer sounded jaded I think it is because this is where  I find my life enjoyment. I am unbelievably ecstatic when I talk about how lucky I am to have my mother.

The bond we have is the the most important thing I have in my life to be totally honest with you. My heart is full to dream and self-actualize because of her. Without that love and support I wouldn't be able to do any of this. 

What can people expect from you in the future?

Most definitely me making the switch back to bodybuilding. I missed looking jacked. Honestly no deeper reason just that! I missed looking awesome and that is enough for me to be ready to go back. 

I'm going to continue with Fortis EQ. Expand the style of content as well as continue to grow my online coaching business. I have no current goals of grandeur or anything big. I am enjoying this period of self-growth and diving into Fortis. I love where my life is and have no reason to let a future egotistical goal ruin the simplicity of it. 

Anyone you’d like to thank?

YES! You for having me, my family for having my back and giving me a healthy life. I'm able to take chances and fail because I have them to support me. So many people don't have that and for them failing once means disaster with no one to help you rebound. Also, everyone who is part of the Fortis EQ team. Anna, Logan, and Jake. I would be nothing but bundle of exciting ideas without them. My most humble thank you to them for them giving me their talent, autonomy, and time. 

You can connect with Ryan via social media and the web by visiting.....

Fortis EQ

Ryan Doris's YouTube

Ryan Doris Instagram

Pump Day: Week 9 of Creeping Death

Had to redo week nine of the program because of car trouble. Luckily all that is fixed now.


Chest/Shoulders/Back
Machine Press w/ neutral grip: 8 sets of 10 with one minute rest between sets.

Dumbbell Six Ways: 4 sets of 10
superset with
Cybex Machine Press: 4 sets of 8

Lat Pulldowns: 4 sets of 15

Band pull-aparts: 3 sets of 15 with a one second pause

I would have done this workout yesterday, but I felt like absolute shit, so I passed it up. Felt much better after some food and sleep.

Arms tomorrow. Hopefully get some good video again.

Hello, I'm Larry Brown and I'm in Dust Mode

I must forewarn you, this is my 1:30 a.m. brain talking to you right now. I get into moods in the early morning hours and I'm not sure why, but I'll roll with it.

I've been having a bitch of a time lately getting myself up for training and eating. A couple of things are contributing to this, but I'll just chalk it up under the huge umbrella of stress. It's not fun to deal with when you try to catch a break but you can't. However, I also understand, at the end of the day, you're responsible for you. So make sure you work hard enough to not put yourself in certain positions. And if you think you're working hard, guess what...you can do more.

With the stress, comes a bit of a downgrade in motivation to train. While I've been handling OK (at best) weight, I really have not felt like going to the gym. I do so, because my entire day will be off. It an addiction, but one that keeps me on the straight and narrow.

I'm honestly not even lifting for results per se' but more for just a cheap form of therapy. It helps me clear my mind when it becomes crowded with everyday shit. When I sat back and thought about it, it reminded me of what Dave Tate calls "Dust Mode"

Dust Mode is simply a point where training is not a priority, but you do the shit anyway. You may be post meet, post show, or trying to break a plateau. While you may not want to do it, this phase of training is paramount, because at some point you will bust out. Then that's when blast mode begins, but that's the subject of another post.

You can even hit a dust mode in life. No one is immune to it, some are just better at minimizing it. Right now I'm in dust in life and training. And it sucks. But I'm embracing it.

Personally, I've been in "dust" more times than I can count. I had a point a few years back where I was training for a meet and didn't want to go to Quads Gym to train. I thought of every excuse not to go. The commute sucked, I didn't feel like dragging all my shit and shit hurt everytime I trained....I had no car, blah, blah, blah. Fuck the danger of possibly being shot (oddly enough, never crossed my mind). But I was more concerned about "why am I going?

But inevitably, like clockwork, I would get up and get myself together to go and hop on the Red Line from 95th to Wrigleyville and make the six block walk to Quads.I hit all my numbers I was supposed to hit for the day, but training was rather uninspired.

I ended up hitting a pr on the squat, bench and dead and damn near went 9 for 9. So while working through a rough patch (that lasted for several weeks) I just went in, did what I needed to do and ended up winning the entire meet just 14 pounds away from a 1600 total at a "light" 242 (weighed in the 230's.

(Meet from 2010)

I will say this however, this is how it worked for ME. If you're in meet or show prep, you are BLAST MODE all the fucking way. Period.

Dust Mode is important. It sucks, it's not sexy and most people use it as an excuse to just be weak, but even in dust, you can push and make improvements. It's a snail pace, but it's its movement.

Keep banging in training and life.

Leg Day and Why Stress Got The Better of Me

Leg Curl with 1.5 reps: 4 sets of 10

1.5 reps = full rep followed by a half rep

Squats: So this is where things got a bit iffy. I'm trying to get back under the bar more. But on my third set I felt a small pop right around my knee. Not a terrible one, but enough for me to put the stop on my free weight squat. But I won't be stopped. I'll get back in the squat rack next week.

Ended up hitting 4 plates per side on the hammer v-squat for around 6-10 reps.

Leg Press: 5 sets with 60 second rest in between each set. 4 plates per side.

Westside Barbell Hip and Quad Developer: 3 sets

Interesting exercise for sure.  Here's a video example with Louie Simmons instructing some poor soul

Heavy Leg Extensions: 3 sets of 8

I won't lie....things in my life have me re-evaluating the path I'm on. Not frustrated, but needing a change. Life decisions stress me the hell out. But the show goes on good people.Stress will sap you, but remember the end goal and keep it moving.

Tenacity Strength: Why The Rename and What to Expect

Tenacity, noun: The quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly OR the quality or fact of being very determined.


So if you have not gathered by now, I changed the name of my blog. Why the switch? Well....a couple of reasons.

I wanted a name that describes most, if not all of us, in this health and fitness game. Whether or not you compete, you show a determination to be better simply for getting out of bed for an early morning gym session, or not going straight home after work to work on a better you.

When I first launched what use to "Leroy's Training and Life Blog" it was merely an outlet in which I could just write pretty much what the blog title was. My training and life. Nothing spectacular....just an outlet.

I don't train or coach, but I feel I have enough "under the bar" experience to impart some wisdom to some people. I hope to do that in videos and posts. I have this wonderful little tool called an Iphone 7 that has a wonderful camera, so I plan on using it more.

Also, I don't know everything and I know there are others that know more than me. Being as I'm a journalist by education and profession, I'm looking to interview guys who are established, as well as up and comers in the strength game through q&a interviews.

I hope you all stick around for what I hope will be the start of something greater.


Welcome to Tenacity Strength.

Halfway Point: Where Do You Stand?

If you have not noticed by the decreased bitching about the cold and snow, summer is here. For some reason Mother Nature completely skips spring, which I'm fine with.....damn allergies.

But since it's June, it really got me to thinking the other day....it's the halfway point of 2017. Where do I sit in terms of personal and professional development? Am I better? Am I worse or regressing? Floundering?

While I'm not going to reveal where I am (my closest friends know), I will say that if you are floundering....you are not alone. I know for a fact because I've been there. But take it from me....it gets better, just takes work.

One thing I see is people just putting things off to a later time. I cannot stress how much of a mistake that is. Time is your friend and an enemy at the same time. Attack each day and task with some sort of urgency. Tough to do, but can be done.

Another thing is to rid your life of useless clutter. For example, I have cable that I don't even look at. When I do watch it, I look at Law & Order SVU and Criminal Minds marathons. Not bad shows, but honestly, if I have cable for that...it may be time to get rid of it. Although it's not harming me, it's not really adding. If something is not enhancing your life, then my friend, it must go.

Also, and this may be the most important point, is to not beat yourself up if you are behind. The shit happens. What really matters is the work you put in and if it's moving you forward.


Get to Work and Be Great

2015 Contest Prep Memories

Omaha saw another NPC Duel of Champions yesterday and without a doubt, one of the most well run shows out there. Pro, national and local judges were on hand so it was a good mixture on the panel. Many sponsors on hand and Dexter Jackson guest posed. My co-worker worked his ass off and made improvements and won his class. So it was a good day.

But it also made me think of my own prep in 2015.

                                                          "FUCK IT!, WHY NOT"

Around two years ago, I competed in the Duel of Champions. It was a show I really decided to do on a whim. I was sleeping on my couch (couldn't afford a bed), looking at the ceiling in January of 2015 and said "Fuck It, I'll do the June show."

In retrospect, I should have thought that out a bit more. I had to go from shit to great in around 20 weeks.

So....with June looming, I shifted my ass into high gear.

Where I started at in January of 2015

My schedule at the time was not what you call fun.....
10:30 pm: Get off work, rush to gym to get cardio in for up to an hour before

5 am or so: Get up and do fasted cardio

11am: Go and train

2pm-1:30 pm: Work

I'd fit in eating while on the job (another reason why I'm not a reporter. I can be muscular, not have people comment on my body and eat at meal intervals, barring a breaking news situation).

Kept this schedule up and then......BAM! Shift change and then worked a morning show.

So the changes? Well, no more fasted cardio. That shit went out the door because I had to get work at 3am and I didn't want to get another gym membership.

So with this turn in events....I went from

3am-7am: Work on morning show

7am-around 8:00: Take lunch break and do cardio after eating zero carbs. Oftentimes the stepmill

8:00 am: Get back to newsroom and start to work on midday show

12:00 pm: Midday show goes on

12:30: Go home, eat and nap

2:30 pm: Get up and train

5:00 shower, eat and back in bed.


Kept that schedule for a couple weeks, but was tasked with booth producing another show. So that put another dent in things a bit, but nothing I couldn't manage.


All this happened around March after sweeps, so besides the goofy face and nappy head, this is how I was looking.....

Getting a little cut

I kept that schedule up until June.

The week of the show, I took a couple days off to finish prep.

                                                             ISSUES DURING PREP

I like to live alone. The thought of a roommate actually makes me want to hurl. I like my space, I like silence most times. So I had that, but it came with a cost. 

It was many a time I had to rob Peter to pay Paul....still do today sometimes. Shift payments down to other paydays, go into overdraft....but in January, I committed. Quitting was not an option. If some shit didn't get paid, guess what? It didn't get fucking paid. 

So obviously prep is a huge undertaking and food is not cheap. I had people help me out. Among them, Tim Rexius, my part time employer, Jeff McCray, my friends Dan, Mike and Kenneth. They also kept my head on straight during the process. Which wasn't easy. 

I just didn't have the finances or tools others had at their disposal, but I didn't let that deter me. And let's face it....I wasn't lean enough even though I tried my damndest.

                       

Show day in 2015

Most muscular in 2015

I did what I could with what I had and pushed the envelope. I didn't have much of a life during the show and didnt have one after. Prep pretty much depleted any funds I had, but I kept going. 

                                                            Chicago Wings of Strength

I wanted to stop, but again...I had to keep going. Had to try and avenge my shitty showing in Omaha. 

I shouldn't have. I looked about the same and the effort didn't reflect in the result. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret it, but I should have dropped out.

The following are from NPC Chicago Tim Gardner Extravaganza.

                             

                                                                     AFTERMATH 

I was happy prep was over...but I faced a little bit of mild depression where I essentially ate my feelings. The only person who's feeling fine and dandy after a show is the winner. And if a second place person is happy, good for them, but their competitiveness is not at it's highest potential. I really didn't want to talk about the show after. Because the shit kinda stung. But as with all things....you move on and I got my shit together and got back to training.


                                   COMMIT TO THE SUFFERING TO GET THE GLORY

I look at things differently than most, and it's due to my bodybuilding. If I bitched, I immediately reminded myself is that I chose to compete. No one else did.

I look at my professional life, and sure...it's not all sunshine and rainbows. I have issues with things, but I keep going. Bodybuilding has taught me you will have good days and bad days, but how you respond is completely up to you. I'm not going to have good newscasts everyday, but rather than bemoan, I let it go. the show is in the stratosphere and I move on.

I say all that to say this...commit to the hurt. Because you won't get to where you are going without pain. Sorry to tell you if your parents or friends told you different, but they suck for not telling you the truth.

And most importantly, never be a quitter, but know when shit is not going to work and move forward. Just re-direct your focus.