Ckmeter Road to Pro with STELLAR LABS 🔥— USA Prep Log 2026 Season

[Ckmeter]

Quarter turns

 

[Ckmeter]

Favorite classic poses

 

[Ckmeter]

Whoops forgot my side chest

 

[Bolan]

I'm sorry to hear that it has to be scary I wonder what's @Bolan been through he talks about his recliner

Yeah I fall asleep in my recliner... alot... (Damn GH)
I always be sure to keep my head above my feet though.
Same as my bed, I have some 2x4's propping up the head.

Now "Pro" knows what its like to almost join the 27 club.
Choking on your own vomit isn't good.

 

[Ckmeter]

Yeah I fall asleep in my recliner... alot... (Damn GH)
I always be sure to keep my head above my feet though.
Same as my bed, I have some 2x4's propping up the head.

Now "Pro" knows what its like to almost join the 27 club.
Choking on your own vomit isn't good.

Dude the gh naps are so pleasant and hard to get up from. I told my gf I’m going to prop up the head of the bed this week lol.

I’m very grateful I did not! My coach got it from eating a bunch of Nutella lol.

 

[Ckmeter]

Never posted these, as I was too disappointed in myself, but I look back now and realize I was absolutely peeled lol.

Cannot wait to beat this look! I think about my disappointing placing at the USAs every single day, and it just motivates me to execute the plan. 2026 will bring this, but better.

 

[Montego]

Never posted these, as I was too disappointed in myself, but I look back now and realize I was absolutely peeled lol.

Cannot wait to beat this look! I think about my disappointing placing at the USAs every single day, and it just motivates me to execute the plan. 2026 will bring this, but better. View attachment 219330

Just the starting point to beat next time.

I've never been satisfied after a show, I don't think many guys who truly strive for perfection ever are. It's what pushes you to the next level.

A unending cycle of getting better but never being satisfied is what sets the best apart from the rest.

 

[Meetketchup]

Never posted these, as I was too disappointed in myself, but I look back now and realize I was absolutely peeled lol.

That's because you are made for this. It's THAT attitude that will make you better with each show. Can't wait to see what you bring in 2026. Skys the limit.

 

[Ckmeter]

NOT a post I want to make, but I need to share this with everyone who has supported me on ASF, especially @StellarLabs and @Mr. Stellar. I would not want to be associated with any other lab — they are the most wonderful people with the best team!

Tuesday night, I decided to use a barbell for hip thrusts instead of the machine, as someone was using the machine. My coach encouraged me to push more weight on hip thrusts, as my reps were too high, so I worked my way up to 5 plates per side. Rep 4 ish I felt like I got hit by a lightning bolt with excruciating back pain. Couldn’t move. Had to have people help me out of the rack and get the bar off me. I couldn’t stand up without excruciating pain, and I lay on the ground for about 20 minutes.

Took an oxycodone to sleep Tuesday night, and it did nothing. I had hoped I’d wake up in the morning and my back would miraculously be improved, but it was the opposite. I couldn’t even roll over in bed, let alone get up. I finally managed to get myself to urgent care. X-rays show a bilateral pars fracture on my L5, with the vertebrae being displaced .4cm, and a likely torn disc.

Typically pars defects/fractures are a genetic defect that are stress fractures occurring during childhood. Based on the conversation with my dad (orthopedic spine surgeon), he believes the fracture is old and a stress fracture. If this is the case, the fracture and L5 displacement left my disc unprotected, and I only tore the disc on Tuesday, which apparently could’ve happened doing just about anything. I find this super hard to believe and feel as if I fractured my spine on Tuesday.

I have an orthopedic spine surgeon appointment with the best of the best on Monday morning. Further imaging will determine if this was old or acute. Based on conversation with my dad, if the disc is good, surgery where the fracture is repaired makes sense, as the vertebrae is encroaching the disc and heavy lifting will cause my disc to essentially destroy itself and potentially the nerve. If the disc is bad, the plan is to leave it be. L5 fusion will likely be inevitable in the future.

Surgical recovery to be back 100% in the gym is 8 weeks. If I don’t need surgery, I’m going to try to get back much sooner.

Today, pain is better. I’m able to walk (slowly) and get out of bed. Hoping to just keep improving. Mentally, this is extremely tough. I’ve managed my entire bodybuilding and sports career (baseball, football, skiing, superbike racing) with very minimal injuries. In the past 2 months, I tore my pec and now fractured my spine. Just really makes me wonder why. I feel like everything happens for a reason.

I promise that I will not let this get me down, and I will be back on the national stage — this next time battling for a pro card. I am hoping to still do USAs in 2026, but for now, I want to make the right decisions to heal properly.

 

[Ckmeter]

View: https://youtu.be/j3fkDQiCuf0

 

[ERock5]

Damn bro. One thing after another lately! Wish you the best my man. Hopefully you get the news you’re looking for

 

[Ckmeter]

Damn bro. One thing after another lately! Wish you the best my man. Hopefully you get the news you’re looking for

Thanks brother. When it rains it pours.

 

[dcdogz]

NOT a post I want to make, but I need to share this with everyone who has supported me on ASF, especially @StellarLabs and @Mr. Stellar. I would not want to be associated with any other lab — they are the most wonderful people with the best team!

Tuesday night, I decided to use a barbell for hip thrusts instead of the machine, as someone was using the machine. My coach encouraged me to push more weight on hip thrusts, as my reps were too high, so I worked my way up to 5 plates per side. Rep 4 ish I felt like I got hit by a lightning bolt with excruciating back pain. Couldn’t move. Had to have people help me out of the rack and get the bar off me. I couldn’t stand up without excruciating pain, and I lay on the ground for about 20 minutes.

Took an oxycodone to sleep Tuesday night, and it did nothing. I had hoped I’d wake up in the morning and my back would miraculously be improved, but it was the opposite. I couldn’t even roll over in bed, let alone get up. I finally managed to get myself to urgent care. X-rays show a bilateral pars fracture on my L5, with the vertebrae being displaced .4cm, and a likely torn disc.

Typically pars defects/fractures are a genetic defect that are stress fractures occurring during childhood. Based on the conversation with my dad (orthopedic spine surgeon), he believes the fracture is old and a stress fracture. If this is the case, the fracture and L5 displacement left my disc unprotected, and I only tore the disc on Tuesday, which apparently could’ve happened doing just about anything. I find this super hard to believe and feel as if I fractured my spine on Tuesday.

I have an orthopedic spine surgeon appointment with the best of the best on Monday morning. Further imaging will determine if this was old or acute. Based on conversation with my dad, if the disc is good, surgery where the fracture is repaired makes sense, as the vertebrae is encroaching the disc and heavy lifting will cause my disc to essentially destroy itself and potentially the nerve. If the disc is bad, the plan is to leave it be. L5 fusion will likely be inevitable in the future.

Surgical recovery to be back 100% in the gym is 8 weeks. If I don’t need surgery, I’m going to try to get back much sooner.

Today, pain is better. I’m able to walk (slowly) and get out of bed. Hoping to just keep improving. Mentally, this is extremely tough. I’ve managed my entire bodybuilding and sports career (baseball, football, skiing, superbike racing) with very minimal injuries. In the past 2 months, I tore my pec and now fractured my spine. Just really makes me wonder why. I feel like everything happens for a reason.

I promise that I will not let this get me down, and I will be back on the national stage — this next time battling for a pro card. I am hoping to still do USAs in 2026, but for now, I want to make the right decisions to heal properly. View attachment 220190

I have the same. 5cm l4.

Very painful when it happened. Couldn't walk kinda stuck in a L position.

It got better over time.

Lots of stretching with foam roller, and pushing it into place when it slips every so often.

Very painful stretching but it helps.

Tens machine also helps provide relief.

 

[dcdogz]

this stretch is like the best one, and also lying on your back and pulling your knee to your chest. also on your back have someone grab your heel and push your leg up straight slowly.

it hurts like fucking hell but afterwards you get alot of relief.

also sometimes i would find stairs and sit down and do the stretch on the picture, when it was feeling better, and stretch out against the stairs. very painful mind you.
but it provides relief as long as not fractured since mine was just a straight bulge.

with foam roller i just would roll over it on directly on the l4, also very painful but provides almost instant relief when you get over that pain bridge.

after all that finish with about 20 minutes of the tens machine.

pain meds do nothing at all for it.

 

[Ckmeter]

I have the same. 5cm l4.

Very painful when it happened. Couldn't walk kinda stuck in a L position.

It got better over time.

Lots of stretching with foam roller, and pushing it into place when it slips every so often.

Very painful stretching but it helps.

Tens machine also helps provide relief.

I’m a bit confused. Did you have a fracture or just bulging disc?

 

[dcdogz]

Did you ever get imaging to see if the vertebrae healed? How did yours happen?

deadlift when i was 27.
i just recently got an mri like 10 years after lol.
it was just a bulge atm, so i didnt have vertebral damage afaik, but since i didnt go to the doctor im not sure.
I just know i was pretty fucked for a little bit and yours sounds similar to mine.

super uncomfortable every position. Took me years to figure out my regimen to getting it back into place since it would randomly slip out.

most recently I picked up a backpack and boom went out. takes a couple of weeks to get it back into place but always does and im right back at it.

now a days when its good its good. I just have to be careful on sldls for the most part.

 

[Ckmeter]

deadlift when i was 27.
i just recently got an mri like 10 years after lol.
it was just a bulge atm, so i didnt have vertebral damage afaik, but since i didnt go to the doctor im not sure.
I just know i was pretty fucked for a little bit and yours sounds similar to mine.

super uncomfortable every position. Took me years to figure out my regimen to getting it back into place since it would randomly slip out.

most recently I picked up a backpack and boom went out. takes a couple of weeks to get it back into place but always does and im right back at it.

now a days when its good its good. I just have to be careful on sldls for the most part.

Yeah I have a confirmed bilateral fracture, so it’s a bit different. My slippage will apparently continue to get worse and worse. Stretching like that and moving scares me a ton, as I do
Not want to cause further damage.

Because my l5 is not connected at the back due to the fracture and the l5-s1 disc is at an angle unlike other discs, the disc is going to be completely loaded in shear from lumbar extension. Essentially by doing that stretch, I risk tearing my disc even more.

 

[dcdogz]

Yeah I have a confirmed bilateral fracture, so it’s a bit different. My slippage will apparently continue to get worse and worse. Stretching like that and moving scares me a ton, as I do
Not want to cause further damage.

Because my l5 is not connected at the back due to the fracture and the l5-s1 disc is at an angle unlike other discs, the disc is going to be completely loaded in shear from lumbar extension. Essentially by doing that stretch, I risk tearing my disc even more.

no yea thats why i mentioned once the fracture is cleared. i couldnt do anything like that when i first got mine. there was no way.
wishing you the best however man, sometimes things happen back to back and very annoying.

most frustrating thing in the world bar none.

 

[Ckmeter]

no yea thats why i mentioned once the fracture is cleared. i couldnt do anything like that when i first got mine. there was no way.
wishing you the best however man, sometimes things happen back to back and very annoying.

most frustrating thing in the world bar none.

Thank you brother.

 

[Oakley6575]

Fuck man. That really sucks to see. You made some sick progress from your show to this point. Definitely want to make the best decision for the long game. Bodybuilding is such a long drawn out sport so don't tempt yourself with short term victories.

I wish you all the best dude. Heal and recover, come back, and blow up!

 

[Ckmeter]

Fuck man. That really sucks to see. You made some sick progress from your show to this point. Definitely want to make the best decision for the long game. Bodybuilding is such a long drawn out sport so don't tempt yourself with short term victories.

I wish you all the best dude. Heal and recover, come back, and blow up!

Thank you brother. That means a lot. Im going to see if the surgeon will clear me for training that doesn’t load the spine. Already have a leg day picked out that shouldn’t cause pain or be dangerous lol.

I’m praying I do not need to take time off and that I can hold the tissue until we push again. Will know more Monday.

 

[Mr. Stellar]

NOT a post I want to make, but I need to share this with everyone who has supported me on ASF, especially @StellarLabs and @Mr. Stellar. I would not want to be associated with any other lab — they are the most wonderful people with the best team!

Tuesday night, I decided to use a barbell for hip thrusts instead of the machine, as someone was using the machine. My coach encouraged me to push more weight on hip thrusts, as my reps were too high, so I worked my way up to 5 plates per side. Rep 4 ish I felt like I got hit by a lightning bolt with excruciating back pain. Couldn’t move. Had to have people help me out of the rack and get the bar off me. I couldn’t stand up without excruciating pain, and I lay on the ground for about 20 minutes.

Took an oxycodone to sleep Tuesday night, and it did nothing. I had hoped I’d wake up in the morning and my back would miraculously be improved, but it was the opposite. I couldn’t even roll over in bed, let alone get up. I finally managed to get myself to urgent care. X-rays show a bilateral pars fracture on my L5, with the vertebrae being displaced .4cm, and a likely torn disc.

Typically pars defects/fractures are a genetic defect that are stress fractures occurring during childhood. Based on the conversation with my dad (orthopedic spine surgeon), he believes the fracture is old and a stress fracture. If this is the case, the fracture and L5 displacement left my disc unprotected, and I only tore the disc on Tuesday, which apparently could’ve happened doing just about anything. I find this super hard to believe and feel as if I fractured my spine on Tuesday.

I have an orthopedic spine surgeon appointment with the best of the best on Monday morning. Further imaging will determine if this was old or acute. Based on conversation with my dad, if the disc is good, surgery where the fracture is repaired makes sense, as the vertebrae is encroaching the disc and heavy lifting will cause my disc to essentially destroy itself and potentially the nerve. If the disc is bad, the plan is to leave it be. L5 fusion will likely be inevitable in the future.

Surgical recovery to be back 100% in the gym is 8 weeks. If I don’t need surgery, I’m going to try to get back much sooner.

Today, pain is better. I’m able to walk (slowly) and get out of bed. Hoping to just keep improving. Mentally, this is extremely tough. I’ve managed my entire bodybuilding and sports career (baseball, football, skiing, superbike racing) with very minimal injuries. In the past 2 months, I tore my pec and now fractured my spine. Just really makes me wonder why. I feel like everything happens for a reason.

I promise that I will not let this get me down, and I will be back on the national stage — this next time battling for a pro card. I am hoping to still do USAs in 2026, but for now, I want to make the right decisions to heal properly. View attachment 220190

Holy hell brother. We are sorry to hear this!!

Wishing you the best brother, if you need anything you know we are here

 

[Ckmeter]

Holy hell brother. We are sorry to hear this!!

Wishing you the best brother, if you need anything you know we are here

Thank you brother. Means a lot.

 

[Montego]

Thank you brother. That means a lot. Im going to see if the surgeon will clear me for training that doesn’t load the spine. Already have a leg day picked out that shouldn’t cause pain or be dangerous lol.

I’m praying I do not need to take time off and that I can hold the tissue until we push again. Will know more Monday.

Fuuuuuuck.

Lay your hard headed ass down and try to recover.

I'm sure you won't but, don't touch a weight until after you've been to see a surgeon...... That thing slides the wrong way with that fracture and you run the risk of paralysis.....

I'm very surprised it happened on a hip thrust. That just seems like a position where the spine wouldn't be loaded much unless the bottom of the rep was crazy low.

 

[dcdogz]

Fuuuuuuck.

Lay your hard headed ass down and try to recover.

I'm sure you won't but, don't touch a weight until after you've been to see a surgeon...... That thing slides the wrong way with that fracture and you run the risk of paralysis.....

I'm very surprised it happened on a hip thrust. That just seems like a position where the spine wouldn't be loaded much unless the bottom of the rep was crazy low.

It would appear it was something bound to happen for him according to his post. Surprising as well to see it was hip thrusts.
I've gotten hurt on strange movements as well so I guess not that surprising, you never know with weight loaded up and a small weak spot can lead to something major

Hope the fracture either heals on its on own, or can be repaired and he just has the bulge.

And to be fair, ronnie Coleman went pretty far with all sorts of spine issues, so I'm sure in this modern day and age @Ckmeter with all the backing he has from his dad, will get fixed up correctly and diligently.

Really wishing him a speedy recovery been following his log for awhile.

 

[dcdogz]

Double post edit

 

[Ckmeter]

Fuuuuuuck.

Lay your hard headed ass down and try to recover.

I'm sure you won't but, don't touch a weight until after you've been to see a surgeon...... That thing slides the wrong way with that fracture and you run the risk of paralysis.....

I'm very surprised it happened on a hip thrust. That just seems like a position where the spine wouldn't be loaded much unless the bottom of the rep was crazy low.

I’m trying, but it’s hard lol. My gf says I’m stubborn, but I don’t see it

The good news is the spinal cord ends at L1, so there’s thankfully no risk of paralysis. Just foot drop and lack of feeling in legs, which I don’t want lol. And…loss of bladder and bowel control…I’m going to wait to train at the minimum until Monday.

The way the set up/rack is for barbell hip thrusts, it’s just not meant for big people. I believe I had my back in extension at the bottom, which basically just fucked me. I’ve done hip thrusts for all of about 2 months lol. Out of all the ways to literally break my back, this has to be one of the lamest.

 

[Ckmeter]

It would appear it was something bound to happen for him according to his post. Surprising as well to see it was hip thrusts.
I've gotten hurt on strange movements as well so I guess not that surprising, you never know with weight loaded up and a small weak spot can lead to something major

Hope the fracture either heals on its on own, or can be repaired and he just has the bulge.

And to be fair, ronnie Coleman went pretty far with all sorts of spine issues, so I'm sure in this modern day and age @Ckmeter with all the backing he has from his dad, will get fixed up correctly and diligently.

Really wishing him a speedy recovery been following his log for awhile.

Thank you man. The kind words mean a lot.

Don’t want to end up in a wheelchair like Ronnie though lol.

I’m praying I don’t need surgery. The surgeon I’m seeing is a big believer in training around an injury as long as it doesn’t cause pain, and the body should heal. Not sure about with the vertebrae slippage, but I’m optimistic I’ll be back training very soon.

 

[MindlessWork]

Ouch...I've given up on hip thrusts whether barbell or machine as well due to degenerative disc disease in my lower back and not wanting to risk damaging those oh so fragile discs even more considering I've started to feel pain when doing hip thrusts. Now seeing @Ckmeter's post about his vertebral injury made it feel I made a smart move.

I've felt the thrust machine or doing hip thrusts on the smith machine was safer than using a barbell which could get unstable so I had done weight that I could tolerate.

Sorry to hear of your injury @Ckmeter and hopefully the outcome isn't as serious as feared and you most likely will have a road ahead for recovery as once you fracture vertebrae it's never going to be quite the same. I've also had a hairline fracture in my neck for nearly 25 years and I still get the stingers/burners so use a pad now to protect that neck bone when doing squats.

 

[Montego]

I’m trying, but it’s hard lol. My gf says I’m stubborn, but I don’t see it

The good news is the spinal cord ends at L1, so there’s thankfully no risk of paralysis. Just foot drop and lack of feeling in legs, which I don’t want lol. And…loss of bladder and bowel control…I’m going to wait to train at the minimum until Monday.

The way the set up/rack is for barbell hip thrusts, it’s just not meant for big people. I believe I had my back in extension at the bottom, which basically just fucked me. I’ve done hip thrusts for all of about 2 months lol. Out of all the ways to literally break my back, this has to be one of the lamest.

"How'd you break your back?"

"Humping the air."