Were you aware that there’s more wrestling in Memphis than Memphis Wrestling?  Okay.  Were you aware that this “other group” were actually aired on television every week?  Well, they are and they’re also aired on Saturday morning.  That’s right!  Just like the classic Memphis Wrestling we all know.

But wait, it gets even stranger.  Not only is there another wrestling company in Memphis.  Not only do they have a television show on Saturday morning… But they are also on the SAME station!  How ironic is that?

Some of my statements were a bit sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek.  But the fact of the matter is that many of the wrestling fans out there are currently unaware of the show’s presence.  You can tell that by looking at the ratings.  Not to mention the fact that the show isn’t the greatest quality out there… Nor is the talent.

I’m not here to bad mouth the IWA (still unsure of the meaning of the initials).  Rather, I’m here to let you know they exist and… Well, they’ve apparently set their sights of ME.

The problem with the IWA is simple I they’re new.  They don’t have the production quality that a major independent wrestling “player” should have.  But then again, how many major independent “players” are even out there any more?  None, to my knowledge.  Not to mention, much of the talent are without ring gear, look like kids, don’t have much experience and are apparently nameless (back to experience).

So, they have their eye on me, huh?  They want me to come work… They want me on their television show?  I’m flattered.  I really am.  But the fact of the matter is this – I don’t think I want to do it.  And that goes against much of what I’ve learned during my ten years in this business.

I have always been told that whenever you can get your face on TV – DO IT!  But this show’s a little different.  With all the activities that I have going on in my life right now, indy wrestling is having to take that back seat that I discussed a while back.  At this point in time, I haven’t been in the ring in several weeks.  I’m not actually free to wrestle until the 28th of November.  And that’s going to be a stretch, seeing as I’m training towards the 1st week in December.  The last thing I will need is an injury.

So, should I or shouldn’t I?  I have my eye on the larger picture… So, at this point in time I will say NO.  However, if my fans would like to see me on the show… And the offer is just right… I might, just MIGHT consider it.

Now, it’s time for the cheap plug.  Check out IWA television this Saturday morning at 12PM on My Network 50.  This is a special time, as they typically air at 10AM on Saturday mornings.  Let me know what you think of the show!

So, we are a few days into my Diet Journal (posted on the right-hand side of the page) and I feel great!  Physically, mentally… And I feel as if I look better already!  All in my head?  Sure, it is.  That’s half the battle.  But the bottom line is – the way I feel will keep me geared up and pressing on.  When that happens, you find the success your looking for!

Let’s take a look at the first few days, shall we?

Thru two days and working thru the third, I really do like my consistency.  That’s very key in any diet.  Mass gain or cutting – you have to have the frequent meal intake.  I have that.  So, there’s a plus.

No candy!  That’s right!  Not one single piece of candy has entered my mouth in the last three days!  After Halloween’s candy consumption, I’m very proud o report that I’m candy-free.  I did have a few sips of milk shake after last night’s hockey game, but hey – who wouldn’t sip a little shake with a pretty girl?  It’s my weakness.  I only had a few sips though, but I also felt that I needed to report it.  Honesty should be brutal when you’re keeping up with your daily plan.

It was brought to my attention, after reviewing the last few days… I take in a lot of caffeine!  Geeze… The coffee, Speed Stacks, diet soda – I drink a LOT of coffee.  I’m not sure if it is necessarily a bad thing but I do stay pumped up, usually.  Also, my coffee has zero sugar added.  My sodas don’t either.  And Speed Stack is a dietary energy supplement, so I’m not worried there either.  So, I drink a lot of caffeine… So what?  Maybe I need to work on that.

Fruits supplement the typical “snack foods”.  Shakes fill the roles of actual meals, when there’s not enough time to actually eat.  And protein bars help give me the “candy bar” I need, as well as the extra calories and protein.   Zero Impact bar taste excellent and have everything you need in a meal.

Moving forward, I will continue to eat more and more.  Of course, I will work out hard.  I have a full month of this, so I’m anxious to see how it all works.  Especially, with Thanksgiving right around the corner!  Special Birthdays along the way aren’t helping either!

Let’s see how this goes.

Take a look to the right-hand side of the page.  You’ll see the section that is entitled “Diet Journal”.  I will be updating this every morning / afternoon with what I had to eat the day before.  If you’re interested at all, please check back daily.  I will NOT be keeping every single day up.  Tomorrow, I will replace Monday’s schedule with Tuesday’s (today!)  So, you will have an updated look at what I had the previous day.

Also, along with the meal in-take… I’ll be posting my cardio activity.  What I did I do?  How long did I go?  How many calories did I burn (according to the machine?)

If you’re looking to get on track, this might just help you out.  If you can’t do it exactly the way I do… then, you can get a good idea of where you’ll need to be.  Remember – this doesn’t work for EVERYONE!  It works for ME and MIGHT help you!

On June 2nd, I finished up my bookings with World Wrestling Entertainment.  After having been evaluated, I knew something just wasn’t right.  They liked me but for some reason just wouldn’t pull the trigger and sign me.  So, I took a step back and had a good, long, hard look at what I needed to do to get where I needed to be.

BOOM – it hit me.

What if I did something that I had never done before?  What if I concentrated on getting LEAN instead of getting BIG.  Heck, I’m never going to be a “big guy.”  My height IS what it IS.  Right?  I can only hold so much weight.  Afterall, I had gone into the WWE booking much lighter than the norm.  I weighed in at 215 pounds in June.  So, I decided to shift my focus.  Shift my training.  Adjust everything about my eating, training, cardio – MY WAY OF LIVING.

I certainly had a lot of help along the way (especially with the food!), but I also put in the hard work and dedication to make it happen.  So, from those dates in June… I looked at a calendar and made my plans. 

On August 1st, I was going to make the  necessary changes and adjustments to get where I needed to be.  I knew WWE would be back in my area in September… and I wanted them to call me back to wrestle for them again.  The biggest adjustment I made was putting my cardio first… and weight training second.  Yes, I know.  Deadly sin, huh?  Well, it has proven to be the best thing that I ever decided on, body-wise.

From August 1st (or June 2nd, depending on how you look at it) until September 21st I had dropped 30 pounds!  Along the way, I had professional pictures made that brought out the best in me and I sent them to WWE headquarters.  From there, it is all history.  I wrestled for WWE again on those September dates and have a very strong relationship with them even now.

So, the same way I did that – I want to give it another go, now.  I have big plans coming up and I need to be ready.  Only difference this time is… I want to share the entire experience with all of you.  Take a look for yourself.  The before and after pictures tell it all (BEFORE picture was taken in Feb. ‘09)  From today until the second week in December, I will chronicle my dieting and cardio for you all to read about.  I will be posting other stuff, as well.  But the primary focus will be on my training.

With the success of the Health & Training blogs that I posted a few weeks back, I’m sure that many of you will enjoy this just as much as I will.

Thank you for reading.

Last night, I was out and about enjoying myself at a brand new lounge in Cordova, TN.  I don’t get out that much for various reasons, but after hearing all the fluff surrounding this place – and having an invitation to go – I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

After several unique delays, Stella Marris Coastal Cuisine & Lounge finally had its VIP opening, last night!  Did I say unique?  What exactly does that mean?  Well, apparently there were problems with the fire alarm… which went off a few times last night.  Then, there was the issue with the dishes not arriving on time.  Could you imagine not opening your restaurant on time because your dishes had not arrived?  It happened to Stella Marris… but fortunately, the dishes were there last night.  The food that went along with the dishes was AMAZING.  That’s not all the unique controversy, though.  Don’t forget all the fact that Steve Cooper, the owner of Stella Marris, has other business ventures that had people talking – like Gold Club.

All in all, with all of that said, Stella Marris was amazing.

Yes, that’s right.  I was in attendance for last night’s VIP opening at Stella Marris and I must say – I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  The place was put together very well.  There was a TON of money spent on the design and decorating.  From the marble floors and statues, to the immaculate chandeliers that hang from several different spots inside the lounge (see photo) – this place had it all.  Upon walking through the front door, I heard a sigh of relief from Sweet Girl.  Rightfully so.  The food was very good.  Lobster cocktails, salmon, prime rib, shrimp… a dessert area that had some great coffee (remember, I’m a coffeeholic!)  Along with all of that, my favorite part of the evening had to be the team of pianos playing.

Now, those of you who are familiar with Steve Cooper and his adult entertainment facilities, you will not give credit where it’s due.  Especially, if you weren’t in attendance.  Yes, the place had a “strip club feel”.  But by that I mean – the outside looked like a strip joint, the inside was very-well decorated and somewhat gaudy and the bathrooms were designed just like that of a strip club.  Now, let me be clear… I don’t frequent very many strip joints.  That’s not my thing.  But some of the clubs I have been in, they were set-up pretty nice.  But not near as nice as Stella Marris.  Hate it all you want, but anyone who steps inside Stella Marris will be in awe of what they witness.

Bottom line is simple – surrounding all of the negative publicity, Stella Marris was an awesome place.  I had a great time.  The atmosphere was great.  The music was great.  The food was great.  I will certainly be back… as long as it doesn’t turn into a strip club.

It’s that time of year again.  Hockey calls shotgun and wrestling takes the back seat.  Well, let me rephrase that… local wrestling takes the back seat.  How do I feel about it?  I’m actually psyched!

The approach that I’ve taken the last year or so is simple.  Work towards big events.  Train towards the events that have the grandest opportunity.  Not necessarily money-wise.  But certainly long-term, big time event-wise.  I am training towards those big opportunities and trying to make the best of them.

So, now it’s that time of year where the Riverkings take over my priority, as far as bookings are concerned.  It’s time to rest my body a little bit from all the wear and tear.  It’s time to put a major focus on my training.  I’m never where I want to be or need to be – training-wise.  I must stay in the best shape possible.  And being less sore and less banged-up will help me get in the gym and bust out some very good workouts.  Plus, it’s always good to just take a little time away from the ring and focus on other vehicles for my success.

With that being said, I will still be wrestling locally – namely Ripley, TN.  Heck, I’m the EWE Heavyweight Champion… I have to be there to defend the belt.  But if you do not see me around from time to time, I’m sure there’s a hockey game going on.  I really do enjoy the hockey experience, as it gives me something other than beating my body around the ring.

Look out folks, there’s a ton of other stuff going on with me right now, as well.  There’s talk of commercials.  There’s talk of bigger wrestling opportunities.  There’s writing opportunities coming up (more on that tomorrow!)  And just to give you a hint on what the future holds for good ole Dustin Starr – I’m not only gearing back up for a competition-quality workout regimen… I’m also setting my future up for a big move.

And no… I’m not talking about, to quote Corey Maclin, “A BIG MOOOOVE!!“

It was a great celebration, indeed!  No, I’m not talking about the Yankees returning to World Series glory.  No, I’m not talking about the start of the NBA season, tonight.  No, I’m not even talking about the wrestling return of Hulk Hogan!

I’m talking about my Birthday celebration, last week!  Oh my goodness, what a week it was!  I couldn’t have asked for a better Birthday… and it lasted from Thursday til Sunday!  Now, THAT’S how you throw down!  But I didn’t get too carried away… I have just been surrounded by people who seem to really care about me and they really and truly show it.

Thursday, I had lunch with my mother and my angel.  Hibatchi was amazing and the gift that I received during that lunch was even better.  Have you ever received a gift that you could never put a price tag on?  A piece of memory lane that I will not only never forget but one that I have to hang in my home, now.  Awesome, indeed.

Thursday night, I was lucky enough to enjoy an Alabama steak dinner (in Memphis, TN though).  Check out my Twitter page and you can even see a picture of the meal!  Steak, sauteed mushrooms, turkey bacon-wrapped asparagus, baked potato and Caesar salad.  Then, just when I thought it was all said and done… I was presented with a mini-Birthday cake where the candles whistled a Birthday song!  Not only that, but I had a very sweet girl sing to me, as well!  I will never, EVER forget that.  Very touching and sweet.  And yes… I ate the ENTIRE mini-cake.  It was great.

Friday night, I had a hockey game to attend – then, headed to Alabama for the weekend.  I was able to share an entire weekend with the two most special people in my world today.  We attended one of the biggest rivalry-football games in college football today.  The “Third Saturday in October” was fantastic and saw an unbelievable finish.  We actually left the game a little early to enjoy some sushi.  So, I watched the end of the game from down the street.  Yeah, I know… it’s not over til it’s over!

Sunday, I was given a Birthday lunch and it was amazing.  Had baked chicken, mini baked potatoes, caesar salad and green beans.  Top that off with cheese cake and strawberries and you’ve got yourself a great finish to and unbelievable birthday.

Gifts included a new travel bag with my initials on it, new key chain with my initials on it (silver) and some brand new cuff-links with my initials on them.  So, if I’m ever in danger or lost… SOMEONE will at least know my initials!  Can’t wait to wear the cuff-links to my next WWE show (very soon!)  Oh and I can’t forget my Subway gift card!  What better gift than the gift of food?  I eat so much, I think it was a perfect gift!

I did not wrestle.  I did not have to worry about wrestling.  It didn’t even cross my mind.  Now that the Birthday is behind… I’m planning an even BIGGER celebration for someone else.  Wait til you hear the details on THIS!

As many of you know, last week I turned twenty-seven years old.  October 22nd is the date.  To me, it’s a national holiday.  I celebrate it all week long.  Or as long as I’m allowed to celebrate it, anyway!  I typically get a little down in the dumps when my birthday rolls around.  It just means I’m getting older and the window of opportunity in life is getting smaller and smaller.  It’s hard to explain… but it’s true.

But this post is not to dwell on the fact that I’m a year close to the dreadful THIRTY.  This post is to thank all of you who made this birthday one of the best ones in years.  I received so many text messages, phone calls, tweets, e-mails, comments… you name it!  I received so many birthday wishes that it just blew me away.  So, thank you all for making this birthday very special to me.  The support is overwhelming from friends and fans alike.

At this point in my life, things are so much different than they were even one year ago.  I never would have imagined that I would have met some of the folks that I have met.  I never thought I could see and feel some of the things that I can now.  My life has changed so dramatically over the course of the last few years that I’m experiencing things that are new to me… and I’m twenty-seven years old.  I’m learning everyday how to be a better me.  I’m learning everyday how to consistently be a better person, altogether.

Boys and girls, thank you all for a great birthday.  I hope this year beats out last year by a mile.  2009 isn’t over yet.  I still have one more shot to make it happen.

A big THANK YOU goes out to Brittany from Ripley, TN for turning in all the newest photos! Awesome job! If you keep up the good work, you could very well become Five Starr’s personal photographer!

Seriously, thank you so much. If anyone else has photos that I may be able to post on this site, please feel free to send them over. I appreciate every picture I can get because I typically do not have a photographer in-house. Unfortunate, but true.

Check them out by clicking the photo to the left or just take a look to your right at the FIVE STARR PHOTOS section!

Here’s a few tips regarding everyone’s weakness – SWEETS!  Oh man, anyone that knows me well enough, knows that I enjoy my candy.  Can’t live without it!  But recently, I’ve really had to cut back.  I’ve had to put it in moderation, so to speak, to get where I  need to be physically.  So, I assume that many of you probably have the same problem.

So, without further ado, let’s press on with the tips!  There are really good ones too!

SNACKS & DESSERT: This is a major problem with all of us.  It is only human nature to want to eat things that tastes good.  It is only natural to like sweets.  We love to eat!  But you have to keep it under control.  How do I do it?  Simple.

- Here’s the secret ingredient:

GRAPES!

That’s right!  Grapes are a great snack that will not put pounds on you or take you off your health schedule!  When I’m done with a meal and I feel as if I need another small serving, I eat grapes for dessert!  If I’m in between meals and I need a small snack to curve the sweet tooth or appetite – I eat grapes!

- As for dessert, treat yourself to.  Nice, big, juicy naval orange.  Or perhaps an apple.  If grapes won’t do the trick – try these other fruits and they’ll fill you up the rest of the way… And not take you off your planned regimen.

- Want a REAL dessert?  I do too, at times.  So, what do I do?  I get it!  I usually have a cheat meal once per week.  It won’t harm you, unless you go overboard with it.  It’s all right to reward yourself every now and then.  Just be sure you don’t do it too much.  If you do think you’ll go overboard or know you can’t handle it – don’t do it!

CARDIO: Running on a treadmill is boring to you too, huh?  I hate it.  There’s nothing more boring than running on a treadmill!  So, consider your choices!

- Run outside with an iPod and enjoy some scenery!  I love running in Downtown Memphis!  You don’t have to run indoors… But if it just suits you better, here’s what I’m forced to do – I have a television going, the radio blaring and two Blackberries to fiddle with!  Bored?  Well, occupy yourself while you train your body!

- If getting lean is your main objective, you might want to consider doing your cardio FIRST!  The old adage that tells you to lift first?  Throw it out the window!  If you lift first, you may be too tired to do all of your cardio afterwards.  So, run then lift.  Simple as that.  Shift the focus if your goals have changed!

- Need improvement on a particular body part?  Well, why not work that body part twice per week?  Don’t have the time?  Well, MAKE the time!  I’ve been working my chest twice a week for the last few months and I’ve seen considerable changes.  Just take a look at the pic!  I’m very happy with the progress I have made.  I don’t kill it twice a week.  I merely hit different parts of the chest when I double up on it.  That’s the only way to really get the results you need – FOCUS.

Those are all just a few tips and pointers that have helped me along the way.  Hopefully, they’ll help you out, as well.