awesome thread. GL, Zay.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Kova- Do you try to ‘hold’ your condition for the time between close shows, or do you relax a bit, then retighten things up?
Joe- Great aspirations, but you need to check the stats of some of the top natural guys. Cordova is considered a monster (middleweight who routinely beats the heavyweights) at 5’9 and 172 lbs. It’s the conditioning that makes it appear deceptive. I’ve recently come to realize this myself, and I know I’m going to have to come in under 185 in order to do anything in a tested show (I haven’t been under 2 bills in years! -lol).
I hope more folks chime in with contest info, I’ve recently caught the bug myself 
S
[/quote]
Thanks Stu… I have been looking at our PROPER bodybuilding mags for that exact reason… to look at the stats of the 1, 2 and 3rd place BB’s.
I have actually noticed that i should aim to be under 90kgs as if i am over that, i will have to compete with the 220 -240lb monsters… but thats no problem as that is 198lbs.
OR there is the under 80kg catogories which would put me at 17lbs (as you mentioned!)
I have a LBM of around 167-169lbs… so at a fat mass of 6% that would put me at 177… and i am in no way ready… My thighs need at least a 1/2 inch, calves balancing, pecs thicker, bi’s taller… i could go on!! (couldnt we all…!)
So i thnk, due to my body shape, that amount of mass just doesnt do me as much justice. I am 40lbs above a non-trained “Me” but still… maybe its me.
Am i hi-jacking this thread?? Sorry lads.
Joe
[quote]Joe Joseph wrote:
The Mighty Stu wrote:
Kova- Do you try to ‘hold’ your condition for the time between close shows, or do you relax a bit, then retighten things up?
Joe- Great aspirations, but you need to check the stats of some of the top natural guys. Cordova is considered a monster (middleweight who routinely beats the heavyweights) at 5’9 and 172 lbs. It’s the conditioning that makes it appear deceptive. I’ve recently come to realize this myself, and I know I’m going to have to come in under 185 in order to do anything in a tested show (I haven’t been under 2 bills in years! -lol).
I hope more folks chime in with contest info, I’ve recently caught the bug myself
S
Thanks Stu… I have been looking at our PROPER bodybuilding mags for that exact reason… to look at the stats of the 1, 2 and 3rd place BB’s.
I have actually noticed that i should aim to be under 90kgs as if i am over that, i will have to compete with the 220 -240lb monsters… but thats no problem as that is 198lbs.
OR there is the under 80kg catogories which would put me at 17lbs (as you mentioned!)
I have a LBM of around 167-169lbs… so at a fat mass of 6% that would put me at 177… and i am in no way ready… My thighs need at least a 1/2 inch, calves balancing, pecs thicker, bi’s taller… i could go on!! (couldnt we all…!)
So i thnk, due to my body shape, that amount of mass just doesnt do me as much justice. I am 40lbs above a non-trained “Me” but still… maybe its me.
Am i hi-jacking this thread?? Sorry lads.
Joe[/quote]
I do know what you mean Joe. I first competed in 1998 because a bodybuilder at the Shitness Factory told me I should. I couldn’t play hockey anymore because of a knee injury so I did. I competed in 6 shows until 2002 and never wieghed in over 160. I always atarted dieting around 190. I took 5 years off and competed at 178. I hope to compete around 180 this year and I will probably take a couple more years and get up to 195 after this show.I seem to be only to gain 5 lbs per year of quality mass.
Don’t put it off to long because there will always be a lagging bodypart. Put yourself up there and see where you stand.
[quote]zaydadog wrote:
Joe Joseph wrote:
The Mighty Stu wrote:
Kova- Do you try to ‘hold’ your condition for the time between close shows, or do you relax a bit, then retighten things up?
Joe- Great aspirations, but you need to check the stats of some of the top natural guys. Cordova is considered a monster (middleweight who routinely beats the heavyweights) at 5’9 and 172 lbs. It’s the conditioning that makes it appear deceptive. I’ve recently come to realize this myself, and I know I’m going to have to come in under 185 in order to do anything in a tested show (I haven’t been under 2 bills in years! -lol).
I hope more folks chime in with contest info, I’ve recently caught the bug myself
S
Thanks Stu… I have been looking at our PROPER bodybuilding mags for that exact reason… to look at the stats of the 1, 2 and 3rd place BB’s.
I have actually noticed that i should aim to be under 90kgs as if i am over that, i will have to compete with the 220 -240lb monsters… but thats no problem as that is 198lbs.
OR there is the under 80kg catogories which would put me at 17lbs (as you mentioned!)
I have a LBM of around 167-169lbs… so at a fat mass of 6% that would put me at 177… and i am in no way ready… My thighs need at least a 1/2 inch, calves balancing, pecs thicker, bi’s taller… i could go on!! (couldnt we all…!)
So i thnk, due to my body shape, that amount of mass just doesnt do me as much justice. I am 40lbs above a non-trained “Me” but still… maybe its me.
Am i hi-jacking this thread?? Sorry lads.
Joe
I do know what you mean Joe. I first competed in 1998 because a bodybuilder at the Shitness Factory told me I should. I couldn’t play hockey anymore because of a knee injury so I did. I competed in 6 shows until 2002 and never wieghed in over 160. I always atarted dieting around 190. I took 5 years off and competed at 178. I hope to compete around 180 this year and I will probably take a couple more years and get up to 195 after this show.I seem to be only to gain 5 lbs per year of quality mass.
Don’t put it off to long because there will always be a lagging bodypart. Put yourself up there and see where you stand.[/quote]
This is where we disagree. You couldn’t convince me that you have not held back your own progress in building muscle by competing that often. Unless someone is already carrying a great base of size, competing should be the farthest thing from their mind.
That size takes years to build. Dieting takes months. There are quite a few people (you are obviously the exception) who do that “for the experience” before they ever build the size or even stick with this long enough to see if they even have the genetic ability to do well in a contest.
If someone’s best hope is to come in last (unless no one else is competing), they need to shoot their posing trunks in the crotch and sit out for a few years.
[quote]Joe Joseph wrote:
The Mighty Stu wrote:
Kova- Do you try to ‘hold’ your condition for the time between close shows, or do you relax a bit, then retighten things up?
Joe- Great aspirations, but you need to check the stats of some of the top natural guys. Cordova is considered a monster (middleweight who routinely beats the heavyweights) at 5’9 and 172 lbs. It’s the conditioning that makes it appear deceptive. I’ve recently come to realize this myself, and I know I’m going to have to come in under 185 in order to do anything in a tested show (I haven’t been under 2 bills in years! -lol).
I hope more folks chime in with contest info, I’ve recently caught the bug myself
S
Thanks Stu… I have been looking at our PROPER bodybuilding mags for that exact reason… to look at the stats of the 1, 2 and 3rd place BB’s.
I have actually noticed that i should aim to be under 90kgs as if i am over that, i will have to compete with the 220 -240lb monsters… but thats no problem as that is 198lbs.
OR there is the under 80kg catogories which would put me at 17lbs (as you mentioned!)
I have a LBM of around 167-169lbs… so at a fat mass of 6% that would put me at 177… and i am in no way ready… My thighs need at least a 1/2 inch, calves balancing, pecs thicker, bi’s taller… i could go on!! (couldnt we all…!)
So i thnk, due to my body shape, that amount of mass just doesnt do me as much justice. I am 40lbs above a non-trained “Me” but still… maybe its me.
Am i hi-jacking this thread?? Sorry lads.
Joe[/quote]
I do know what you mean Joe. I first competed in 1998 because a bodybuilder at the Shitness Factory told me I should. I couldn’t play hockey anymore because of a knee injury so I did. I competed in 6 shows until 2002 and never wieghed in over 160. I always atarted dieting around 190. I took 5 years off and competed at 178. I hope to compete around 180 this year and I will probably take a couple more years and get up to 195 after this show.I seem to be only to gain 5 lbs per year of quality mass.
Don’t put it off to long because there will always be a lagging bodypart. Put yourself up there and see where you stand.
Ack! damn lagging body parts! -lol. I had 2 lower back injuries, and while I’m somewhat pleased looking at the pics of myself as I diet down, I realize how horrible my hamstrings are!!!
Zayda- your hams look great bro, if you can come in solid at 180 and 5’10, that’s damn impressive, especially considering the incremental gains you’ve made in each successive contest outing.
Joe- A ‘Proper’ mag? -lol. Maybe I can send you a copy of the Natural BB & Fitness mag I read her4e ‘in the states’ (lol), and you can shoot me a proper one back
S
[quote]Professor X wrote:
zaydadog wrote:
Joe Joseph wrote:
The Mighty Stu wrote:
Kova- Do you try to ‘hold’ your condition for the time between close shows, or do you relax a bit, then retighten things up?
Joe- Great aspirations, but you need to check the stats of some of the top natural guys. Cordova is considered a monster (middleweight who routinely beats the heavyweights) at 5’9 and 172 lbs. It’s the conditioning that makes it appear deceptive. I’ve recently come to realize this myself, and I know I’m going to have to come in under 185 in order to do anything in a tested show (I haven’t been under 2 bills in years! -lol).
I hope more folks chime in with contest info, I’ve recently caught the bug myself
S
Thanks Stu… I have been looking at our PROPER bodybuilding mags for that exact reason… to look at the stats of the 1, 2 and 3rd place BB’s.
I have actually noticed that i should aim to be under 90kgs as if i am over that, i will have to compete with the 220 -240lb monsters… but thats no problem as that is 198lbs.
OR there is the under 80kg catogories which would put me at 17lbs (as you mentioned!)
I have a LBM of around 167-169lbs… so at a fat mass of 6% that would put me at 177… and i am in no way ready… My thighs need at least a 1/2 inch, calves balancing, pecs thicker, bi’s taller… i could go on!! (couldnt we all…!)
So i thnk, due to my body shape, that amount of mass just doesnt do me as much justice. I am 40lbs above a non-trained “Me” but still… maybe its me.
Am i hi-jacking this thread?? Sorry lads.
Joe
I do know what you mean Joe. I first competed in 1998 because a bodybuilder at the Shitness Factory told me I should. I couldn’t play hockey anymore because of a knee injury so I did. I competed in 6 shows until 2002 and never wieghed in over 160. I always atarted dieting around 190. I took 5 years off and competed at 178. I hope to compete around 180 this year and I will probably take a couple more years and get up to 195 after this show.I seem to be only to gain 5 lbs per year of quality mass.
Don’t put it off to long because there will always be a lagging bodypart. Put yourself up there and see where you stand.
This is where we disagree. You couldn’t convince me that you have not held back your own progress in building muscle by competing that often. Unless someone is already carrying a great base of size, competing should be the farthest thing from their mind.
That size takes years to build. Dieting takes months. There are quite a few people (you are obviously the exception) who do that “for the experience” before they ever build the size or even stick with this long enough to see if they even have the genetic ability to do well in a contest.
If someone’s best hope is to come in last (unless no one else is competing), they need to shoot their posing trunks in the crotch and sit out for a few years.
[/quote]
I agree completelythat I help back tons of progress in the first five years of competing. I probaly should have waited 5 years after my first show but, I was young and stupid. I have seen guys with great size put off and wait before competing because they were to shy to get on stage.
[quote]zaydadog wrote:
I agree completelythat I help back tons of progress in the first five years of competing. I probaly should have waited 5 years after my first show but, I was young and stupid. I have seen guys with great size put off and wait before competing because they were to shy to get on stage. [/quote]
My reason has nothing to do with “shyness”. I simply see no point in half assing anything that I do put my time and effort into. If I plan on doing it, my goal would be to actually do well (if not win). If I don’t feel that would happen, I won’t bother with jumping on stage just for the experience.
There have been many people on this forum in the past who have posted pics talking about how they are about to compete who look like they just started lifting. That’s a retarded way to approach this. They have no clue if they even have the genetics to stand out against other lifters, something they wouldn’t know until they put several years into this.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
zaydadog wrote:
I agree completelythat I help back tons of progress in the first five years of competing. I probaly should have waited 5 years after my first show but, I was young and stupid. I have seen guys with great size put off and wait before competing because they were to shy to get on stage.
My reason has nothing to do with “shyness”. I simply see no point in half assing anything that I do put my time and effort into. If I plan on doing it, my goal would be to actually do well (if not win). If I don’t feel that would happen, I won’t bother with jumping on stage just for the experience.
There have been many people on this forum in the past who have posted pics talking about how they are about to compete who look like they just started lifting. That’s a retarded way to approach this. They have no clue if they even have the genetics to stand out against other lifters, something they wouldn’t know until they put several years into this.[/quote]
I agree. I have competed in the past to “stay lean” or do it for myself. I now only want to go on stage to win.
I have never seen Joe. I do know that a 5’7" 190 lb natural bb is really impressive. It would be way bigger than me.
I would have to see pics to really assess any BB before telling them my opinions. When a BB is on stage that really shouldn’t be up there I tend to blame the trainer for filling him or her with false hope. Sometimes our perceptions of ourself can be distorted. Some have bigorexia and other have visions of yates when they look in the mirror.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Ack! damn lagging body parts! -lol. I had 2 lower back injuries, and while I’m somewhat pleased looking at the pics of myself as I diet down, I realize how horrible my hamstrings are!!!
Zayda- your hams look great bro, if you can come in solid at 180 and 5’10, that’s damn impressive, especially considering the incremental gains you’ve made in each successive contest outing.
Joe- A ‘Proper’ mag? -lol. Maybe I can send you a copy of the Natural BB & Fitness mag I read her4e ‘in the states’ (lol), and you can shoot me a proper one back
S
[/quote]
I checked out your pics. You do look thick! Nice work!
As far as my hamstrings go. Most of the initial development came from playing hockey since I was 5 years old. I When I started really training legs I did tons of squats, rdl, lunges and natural leg curls. I am able to work my rdl’s for sets of 10 with about 315. I do lunges with 225-275 lbs. I am not really built for squating but I do squat once a week as my main leg exercise. I found besides squats reverse lunges with heavy loads will really blast the hams.
I’m doing Muscle Mayhem in Kansas City Zay. I’m coming in about 35lbs heavier than last year and I’ll be twice as ripped, very excited to see the outcome 1st and 2nd place qualifie for nationals, which is my ultimate goal atm. I qualify this year I’m going to take a year off to go up to around 230-240 w/ abs(just as a BF marker to keep it lower).
What about yourself?
[quote]zaydadog wrote:
kova wrote:
Just had a show last Saturday, Croatian Nationals, placed second in up to 80kg (~175 lb) class.
I’m currently 5 days out from another show, Grand Prix -Bihac Open, and it SUCKS competing 2 weeks in a row.
Congrats. I have never competed more than once a year. I like to get lean once a year for a contest and see how much I improve from year to year. I thought about competing more than once this year but changed my mind
That definetly would suck. [/quote]
When you are already contest lean, and you pigged up and relaxed a day or two after a contest, it is much easier to do another show in few weeks.
[quote]zaydadog wrote:
Are you done after the next show or are you competing more throughout the year?
[/quote]
ANNOUNCEMENT:
I just got an invatation to W.P.F. (world physique federation) European Championship, 07. June 2008, held in Germany (Neckarsulm - Stuttgart).
I’m an IFBB atlethe, but in WPF I would compete as a junior (up to 23. y.o.) and that is a life time opportunity. I’ll keep you updated.
[quote]Alex-P wrote:
I’m doing Muscle Mayhem in Kansas City Zay. I’m coming in about 35lbs heavier than last year and I’ll be twice as ripped, very excited to see the outcome 1st and 2nd place qualifie for nationals, which is my ultimate goal atm. I qualify this year I’m going to take a year off to go up to around 230-240 w/ abs(just as a BF marker to keep it lower).
What about yourself?[/quote]
WOW! 35 lbs heavier than one year ago. That is awesome.
Whether I win or lose I will probably take a couple years off and gain as much muscle as I can before I compete again.
[quote]kova wrote:
zaydadog wrote:
kova wrote:
Just had a show last Saturday, Croatian Nationals, placed second in up to 80kg (~175 lb) class.
I’m currently 5 days out from another show, Grand Prix -Bihac Open, and it SUCKS competing 2 weeks in a row.
Congrats. I have never competed more than once a year. I like to get lean once a year for a contest and see how much I improve from year to year. I thought about competing more than once this year but changed my mind
That definetly would suck.
When you are already contest lean, and you pigged up and relaxed a day or two after a contest, it is much easier to do another show in few weeks.
zaydadog wrote:
Are you done after the next show or are you competing more throughout the year?
ANNOUNCEMENT:
I just got an invatation to W.P.F. (world physique federation) European Championship, 07. June 2008, held in Germany (Neckarsulm - Stuttgart).
I’m an IFBB atlethe, but in WPF I would compete as a junior (up to 23. y.o.) and that is a life time opportunity. I’ll keep you updated.
[/quote]
Congrats. That is great. Good luck.
So it looks like more dieting in your future.
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Ack! damn lagging body parts! -lol. I had 2 lower back injuries, and while I’m somewhat pleased looking at the pics of myself as I diet down, I realize how horrible my hamstrings are!!!
Zayda- your hams look great bro, if you can come in solid at 180 and 5’10, that’s damn impressive, especially considering the incremental gains you’ve made in each successive contest outing.
Joe- A ‘Proper’ mag? -lol. Maybe I can send you a copy of the Natural BB & Fitness mag I read her4e ‘in the states’ (lol), and you can shoot me a proper one back
S
[/quote]
Deal, i’ll pm you. Ours is called “BEEF” lmao! When i say proper, i wanted to make sure you didnt think i was taking stats from flex… 
[quote]zaydadog wrote:
Professor X wrote:
zaydadog wrote:
I agree completelythat I help back tons of progress in the first five years of competing. I probaly should have waited 5 years after my first show but, I was young and stupid. I have seen guys with great size put off and wait before competing because they were to shy to get on stage.
My reason has nothing to do with “shyness”. I simply see no point in half assing anything that I do put my time and effort into. If I plan on doing it, my goal would be to actually do well (if not win). If I don’t feel that would happen, I won’t bother with jumping on stage just for the experience.
There have been many people on this forum in the past who have posted pics talking about how they are about to compete who look like they just started lifting. That’s a retarded way to approach this. They have no clue if they even have the genetics to stand out against other lifters, something they wouldn’t know until they put several years into this.
I agree. I have competed in the past to “stay lean” or do it for myself. I now only want to go on stage to win.
I have never seen Joe. I do know that a 5’7" 190 lb natural bb is really impressive. It would be way bigger than me.
I would have to see pics to really assess any BB before telling them my opinions. When a BB is on stage that really shouldn’t be up there I tend to blame the trainer for filling him or her with false hope. Sometimes our perceptions of ourself can be distorted. Some have bigorexia and other have visions of yates when they look in the mirror.
[/quote]
Who said i was natural?! AND who said i was 5’ fucking 7"?? I’m 5’8" actually… haha!
I tell you what, i think i have issues. I dont feel big, or even in that great shape… but i get consistent looks and comments from perfect strangers, hear whispers etc… I’ll update my pics soon. I think i am"ok" but i have a very high standard from reading all the fitness mags for years!! And then seeing some of you lot too!
I am competing in my first show September 20th. It is an INBF show. I am starting my dieting May 26th, for 16 weeks.
Currently, I am 5’9 and 237, around 12-13% bf. I’d like to be around 210. I was thinking about starting my own contest prep thread, but stumbled onto this one. I never thought about competing until last year. I’ve always been big, almost 290 at one point, but I’d like to finally see how I’d look with a lower bf. I am currently the leanest I can remember being in the past 7 years.
[quote]Joe Joseph wrote:
zaydadog wrote:
Professor X wrote:
zaydadog wrote:
I agree completelythat I help back tons of progress in the first five years of competing. I probaly should have waited 5 years after my first show but, I was young and stupid. I have seen guys with great size put off and wait before competing because they were to shy to get on stage.
My reason has nothing to do with “shyness”. I simply see no point in half assing anything that I do put my time and effort into. If I plan on doing it, my goal would be to actually do well (if not win). If I don’t feel that would happen, I won’t bother with jumping on stage just for the experience.
There have been many people on this forum in the past who have posted pics talking about how they are about to compete who look like they just started lifting. That’s a retarded way to approach this. They have no clue if they even have the genetics to stand out against other lifters, something they wouldn’t know until they put several years into this.
I agree. I have competed in the past to “stay lean” or do it for myself. I now only want to go on stage to win.
I have never seen Joe. I do know that a 5’7" 190 lb natural bb is really impressive. It would be way bigger than me.
I would have to see pics to really assess any BB before telling them my opinions. When a BB is on stage that really shouldn’t be up there I tend to blame the trainer for filling him or her with false hope. Sometimes our perceptions of ourself can be distorted. Some have bigorexia and other have visions of yates when they look in the mirror.
Who said i was natural?! AND who said i was 5’ fucking 7"?? I’m 5’8" actually… haha!
I tell you what, i think i have issues. I dont feel big, or even in that great shape… but i get consistent looks and comments from perfect strangers, hear whispers etc… I’ll update my pics soon. I think i am"ok" but i have a very high standard from reading all the fitness mags for years!! And then seeing some of you lot too! ;)[/quote]
I apologize. I shouldn’t assume you are natural and I don’t know why I wrote 5’7".
Before I decide to start dieting down I have a couple pros I see and ask them for their opinion. They give me honest feedback on whether I am ready or not. This is why I spent 5 years gaining before I dieted down last year. I would find someone in your area who can asses you as to whether you should start dieting down now or if you need more work.
I gave up doing my own diets because I look at myself differently than I would my own client.
[quote]ImmenseFiend50 wrote:
I am competing in my first show September 20th. It is an INBF show. I am starting my dieting May 26th, for 16 weeks.
Currently, I am 5’9 and 237, around 12-13% bf. I’d like to be around 210. I was thinking about starting my own contest prep thread, but stumbled onto this one. I never thought about competing until last year. I’ve always been big, almost 290 at one point, but I’d like to finally see how I’d look with a lower bf. I am currently the leanest I can remember being in the past 7 years.[/quote]
5’9" @ 210 would be huge. What is your diet like?
[quote]zaydadog wrote:
ImmenseFiend50 wrote:
I am competing in my first show September 20th. It is an INBF show. I am starting my dieting May 26th, for 16 weeks.
Currently, I am 5’9 and 237, around 12-13% bf. I’d like to be around 210. I was thinking about starting my own contest prep thread, but stumbled onto this one. I never thought about competing until last year. I’ve always been big, almost 290 at one point, but I’d like to finally see how I’d look with a lower bf. I am currently the leanest I can remember being in the past 7 years.
5’9" @ 210 would be huge. What is your diet like?[/quote]
My diet now, as I’m trying to cut down? Or when I’ve been bulking for the last 10 years? lol.
I never knew I was “bulking” by eating large amounts of good food. I just add mass, both fat and muscle, real easily depending on what I eat. I never had a protein shake until I was in my 20’s. I’m 25 now. But as I grew up I ate large amounts of red meats, pasta, and junk too. I’ve always been big, just not lean.