OK I just finished reading through the thread. Congrats on how you did at your first show, the size you have for just 3 years is pretty sick and good dedication/determination. I’ll echo what has been said about the leanness, looking at the guy who got 1st in the pics you showed it really seemed like you had a better build but he was definitely leaner. And from what I’ve heard overall leanness is a huge factor in natural contests considerably more so than size alone.
Also I agree with you about the posing. Your posing looked great compared to some of these guys. I have respect for anyone who can get on stage but man some of the guys look awkward (odd shape or too skinny really), if I was going to put in all the time/effort dieting for a show I’d want to make sure I did the (relatively) easy work of practicing posing.
Again congrats, I’m looking forward to seeing how you do in the 2nd show. If you can put on another 5-10lb of muscle and come in shredded next time you compete I think you’ll do some serious damage.
Update: So I’m one week out as of today. I weighed myself this morning and was 186lbs. Last contest, I was 193.5 at 1 week out. Hopefully this means that I will be much tighter and leaner on stage this time around.
Today is an off day from the gym before I start depleting tomorrow. After two low days in a row, I’m looking forward to today since it’s a high day.
Here’s this week’s photo update. Don’t mind the typo in the photo, it is from the 19th.
i had a large drop in weight following the consecutive low days and then one last high day before getting into peak week.
Our peak week plan has changed a bit for this show. Last time, I was unable to really get a pump, so this time we’re looking at a longer carb-up and not messing with sodium. Hopefully, this will work, but again its a learning process.
Almost done, now I just gotta push through. My eyes are on the prize; my post-contest meal
So it’s almost game time. I’ve been depleting all week and hit a low of 180lbs today before I start my carb up. I’ll be doing a moderate 2 day carb up. The hope with this is that it’ll bring more water into my muscles, make me look fuller, and also help me get a pump (which was a problem last time). We’re erring on the side of being tighter than being bigger.
As this week has been progressing, I’m seeing much more definition than last time. Vascularity is there too (although it’s not judged, I think it looks cool lol). I’m chugging on my water and just getting my final preparations done before I start my traveling (show is in Amherst, MA).
[quote]thoughts1053 wrote:
hit a low of 180lbs today before I start my carb up.[/quote]
You may end up even a few lbs LIGHTER after the carb up (after cutting water and the loss of intestinal bulk from dropping ‘fiber’), which just makes me think… ‘SICK!’ -lol. Gonna crush all comers Big Man!
Get to it man! Awesome work! Gonna be a great few years here coming up, you are young and have so much knowledge and experience on your side already… I wish I was you
Thanks for the support. Sorry for not getting updates more frequently, but I was busy traveling and prepping for the show.
The show was big. More than twice the amount of competitors than last time. I ended up placing 4th in Novice Class A. My girlfriend placed 3rd in Figure Novice Class A and Figure Open Class A (also prepped by Stu). I was really happy with myself and I brought a much better package this time. With this show being a Pro Qualifier, the competition there was much tougher and the classes were larger. There were 9 people in both my classes.
I’m glad I decided to compete this year as it was a great learning experience for me. I realize how important conditioning is and not just size alone. Granted I had to drop 50lbs to get to my current conditioning, I know I can come in even better and tighter in future years. I’m actually happy to be done with the show (so I can eat lol) but also cause knowing what I know now I can do some serious damage in the off-season and make some drastic changes in my physique.
I plan on staying much leaner this time around and not putting on unnecessary fat. Ideally, I think a good goal to shoot for is about 20-30 pounds over my competition weight. Of course, I’m not going to limit myself if I’m making great gains, but I will keep a close eye on my body comp. I hope to come in at the same weight next year (~180) but have the conditioning that just doesn’t place but wins the overall. I want to be the guy that walks in and everyone already knows he’s the winner :).
Right now, I’m taking a much needed break and going on a week vacation to Cali tomorrow. I’ll probably still hit the gym, but just be more relaxed with my diet and training (of course without turning into a fat blob in a week). After I come back, it’s back to the lab to start creating a true freak :). I have the Indigo to look forward to as well as a custom routine and nutrition plan from Thibs. I’ll let Stu relax a bit and go on his cruise first before I start bugging him for advice and guidance :).
I’ll try to post a video of the Open prejudging later today, but right now I have a BBQ to enjoy. I prob won’t be able to post any pictures until I get back from vacation. Thanks for the support guys!!!
Great job man, you should be very proud of yourself. You have a VERY mature outlook on this whole game and thats so refreshing to hear. Honestly, take the week off and by the end of it you will CHOMPING AT THE BIT to get back into the gym.
Good job… I hope you learned a good deal how your body responds to the diet… Youll do even better next time around… Eat to grow… Looking forward to seeing pictures
Keeping in mind how short of a duration our boy has been training, and how much shorter of a time that he worked specifically at tightening up and gearing for competition, I think it’s very safe to say that the improvements that will be made this next year should be nothing short of dramatic. He’s already got the frame, a ton of size, and has no plans to go excessively away from ‘lean’ condition.
The smartest thing I ever did was not compete for a year after my first show. I knew that although I had done well, there was still work to be done. That’s the difference between competitors who just collect trophies (4th and 5th place finishes usually), and the top guys who aim for that winning slot. I know it’s just a matter of time before this guy raises his game to that top 3 level and is duking it out for the top spot.
Thanks, Stu. I know that 3 years is a relatively short training time, but I feel like my experience has been multiplied now just getting ready for this last competition. I’m doing this with the goal of winning; who wants just top 5?
Any way, I’m making this update from vacation in Cali, so I’ll keep it short. Here’s a video of the Open Class Prejudging. As an FYI, we had already been stage for about 10 minutes. I definitely need to work much more on my posing cause I was just about ready to pass out
