Countdown to 1st Contest

Training Bodybuilding
141

ELUSIVE_ i actually can’t believe how little I weigh, and how ‘big’ I look in the pics -lol. Originally when i joked about competing as a middleweight, my training partner Corey laughed at me. The cut-off is ‘under 175’, so the most I can weigh is 174.

I figure I’m aiming for 170 lbs, which will give me a couple of lbs clearance for any carb-up weight gain (which hopefully won’t be much considering I’ll be ingesting carbs, but practically no water with them). This is all just guessing though, because I know you’re not supposed to aim for a number, but for a level of conditioning.

Still, it’s not like I have a ton of time, so the most I could lose, if i continue with my currrent numbers and cardio schedule is a lb a week,… which will hopefully put me at exactly 171 lbs, and ripped to shreds (I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE!).

One thing that has kept me on the saner side, is the constant checking the heights and weights of current WNBF pros who are similar to me. Brad Steere is actually 5’8, and competes at 165-170 lbs. His conditioning is pretty dead on, and his proportions are probably close to perfect (everything just ‘fits’ very well together, especially areas that would typically be ‘weak’, like hams and calves).

Also, this being my first contest, it’s not like I’m expecting to win. What I would be damn happy with though, is to just place in one of the classes I’m entering in. I think i could hold my head high with that outcome. It would also verify for me that this may be something I would like to do again, and would certainly make it easier to stay within 20 lbs of contest weight year round, and focus more on adding quality size instead of just size afterwards.

And as always, I totally appreciate the compliments and suggestions. I’m trying to be as objecive, and analytical as I can here, and any knowledge I don’t have is certainly welcome.

S

142

You’re not going to have a problem with your condition, but you know that already. With that “expected weight” + carb up, you can definitly be one of the bigger guys in your weight class. Bigger guy in weight class + great condition = good news.

Anyways, I hear alot of talk, especially from Natty competitors that they like to keep their weight around 20lbs of their stage weight in the offseason. Do you plan on following a similar route after your contest?

I know thats the last thing on your mind right now, I know you have more important things to worry about. lol.

143

Stu, ya mind giving us youngens a sample of what your training was like when you were 20-25, and just focusing on getting bigger ?

144

[quote]WS4JB wrote:
Stu, ya mind giving us youngens a sample of what your training was like when you were 20-25, and just focusing on getting bigger ?[/quote]

He did the cybergenics routine. Like all of us.

;D

145

Back shots look really really good, I’d throw plenty of those into your routine.

Props Stu.

146

I’ve been following this thread since day one and just wanted to add my props stu. Huuge difference between your latest update pics and the previous ones. I definitely think you’re gonna kill in the comp., keep it up.

147

So, I’m only ‘officially’ weighing myself at the beginning of each week as I know with water and salt fluctuations (and fiber as well -lol)that there can be some discrepancies. This past Monday, I was 177 lbs. Normally, I would expect the 1/10s of a lbs on the scale to bob up and down throughout the week, but last night, and this morning, my scale weight was quite a bit different from monday. So far, I’ve been going down a lb a week like clockwork. I haven’t changed my numbers, or even my cardio in the last few weeks.

Well, this morning I weighed in at 175 lbs. Now if that’s accurate, that would be a 3 lb drop from last week, which would be impossible. I’m actually a little confused by this, and hoping I didn;t suddenly lose a whole ton of muscle (my cuts are getting deeper, but no way did I lose 3 lbs of fat, I can admit that much). I sent Cordova an email to see if he has any ideas, or if I should just throw in an extra serving of Peanut Butter every day to hopefully slow things down a little (healthy fats? I’m already eating well over 350g a protein a day, with a 150g carbs intake on most days -not the ‘high’ or ‘low’ days). ANy thoughts? ANyone? -lol

WS4JB- If I were to suggest a basic routine to a newbie, it would be a simple 4 day split. For most of my training experience, I kept the following basic split:
Chest
Delts and Tris
Back and Bis
Legs and Abs

I always kept chest by itself because it’s been my weak point for as long as I can remember. Positioning delts the day after, while some would suggest giving it some rest after chest day because of the overlap, my thinking was the opposite. I figured hit it right after, and then allow it more recovery time. Everything else was self explanatory. I’d focus on big lifts, occasionally (and even moreso as I progressed) starting with an isolation exercise in an attempt to get the big muscles more fully spent after a session.

Dietwise, as long as I was eating frequently, and getting a ‘decent’ amount of protein at each sitting, I felt I was doing okay. If I knew I was gonna go hit a Taco Bell, I’d quickly scarf down a can of tuna before heading out the door. Sure I’d be eating crap, but at least there was a good amount of ‘good’ protein to be had. If I was at a diner, I’d be the guy getting a double cheeseburger. Sure it wasn’t the healthiest, but I was getting 2 burger patties (I’d usually skip the fries and get a side salad or veggies). Good + Bad = mostly good… unless you really need to lose weight.

S

148

Okay, that weird ‘175’ reading on the scale must have been some atmospheric anomaly or something b/c I’m back to 177 today.

Did Back and Bis tonight, and started my back with some nice pre-exhaust stuff. I know I won’t be gaining any real size in the next 5 weeks, so I figure any extra detail I can get out of hitting the smaller muscles will add to the overall product.

Started with straight arm pressdowns using the tricep rope attachment, then went on to scapular retractions with the cables… and after my midback was nice and toasted, did bent over rows with 2 DBs pulling so low into my waist that my arms were barely moving (ouch!!! -lol).

I am noticing a lot more veins lately. I know the pics I post are low quality, but I’ve gotten a few popping out in my medial delts, which is just cool as hell! Hopefully the fake tan will really make 'em pop.

Food wise, I’m just starving tonight. It’s not a ‘high’ or ‘low’ day, just typical, so I really have no extra cals to play with. After my Whey Shake and Pop Tart PWO (Brown sugar n cinnamon!), I ate a few pickles just to shut my stomach up for a little bit.

Aarghhh some days I really don’t mind dieting, and others,… well, others it’s just hard as hell. I have started eating 2 snack packs of imitation sugar free jello each day as well (5 cals each, no carbs, 1 g of protein!)… ahh… I miss my Pancakes!

S

149

Ever thought of doing a practice run with the tanning product or is this pointless? I thought maybe it would be good to know how it would look and make sure you get it right before the real day.

150

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Okay, that weird ‘175’ reading on the scale must have been some atmospheric anomaly or something b/c I’m back to 177 today.[/quote] remember that there’ll be always water/glycogen fluctuations. I think your eating and resting patterns are under control, but there’ll always be variance on those. I must be honest and at first I believed you were overdieting, but your weight seems to be coming down at a steady pace. However, if these abnormal fluctuations become more frequent I would suggest you take corrective measures.

[quote]Did Back and Bis tonight, and started my back with some nice pre-exhaust stuff. I know I won’t be gaining any real size in the next 5 weeks, so I figure any extra detail I can get out of hitting the smaller muscles will add to the overall product.

Started with straight arm pressdowns using the tricep rope attachment, [/quote] wasn’t it back and tris? [quote]then went on to scapular retractions with the cables… and after my midback was nice and toasted, did bent over rows with 2 DBs pulling so low into my waist that my arms were barely moving (ouch!!! -lol).

I am noticing a lot more veins lately. I know the pics I post are low quality, but I’ve gotten a few popping out in my medial delts, which is just cool as hell! Hopefully the fake tan will really make 'em pop.[/quote] now that’s cool as hell, but I’m gonna have to wait 'till may 2010 :frowning:

[quote]Food wise, I’m just starving tonight. It’s not a ‘high’ or ‘low’ day, just typical, so I really have no extra cals to play with. After my Whey Shake and Pop Tart PWO (Brown sugar n cinnamon!), I ate a few pickles just to shut my stomach up for a little bit.

Aarghhh some days I really don’t mind dieting, and others,… well, others it’s just hard as hell. I have started eating 2 snack packs of imitation sugar free jello each day as well (5 cals each, no carbs, 1 g of protein!)… ahh… I miss my Pancakes!

S
[/quote]

Waiting for your next pics Stu, your getting some crazy detail.

151

lookin’ great Stu. the back looks thick and detailed. great work man.

152

Stu

If you look THAT good and detailed in those shitty front-flash pics, you’re going to look otherworldly under stage lights!

Work on your poses a bit. Some look slightly awkward. The best posers in the biz have always looked firmly planted. Some of your poses look like you might topple over. One artist to another. :wink:

I really hope to get to the show, camera in hand.

153

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
Work on your poses a bit. Some look slightly awkward. The best posers in the biz have always looked firmly planted. Some of your poses look like you might topple over. One artist to another. :wink:

I really hope to get to the show, camera in hand.[/quote]

LOL, wouldja believe I actually lost my balance a split second after a couple of those pics were snapped? I know I need to work on the posing, and let me tell you, trying to hold a ‘relaxed’ stance for a couple of minutes is really difficult! I remember at the Gaspari seminar I went to,… Rich was telling me certain things to adjust while I was posing, and I just couldn’t even tell what muscles were flexing and which ones weren’t after a while!

Shaun Clarida recommended trying to hold poses while watching TV, I guess trying to space out while tensing so you don’t really focus so much on it and start to ‘lose it’… I’m going to have to try that, because when I consciously think about keeping everything tight, after a few seconds, I actually start to shake (maybe I’m flexing too hard? Is that even possible?)

Tonight was Abs, Forearms, and INtervals. I’m trying to do weighted ab work to thicken up the front portion of my midsection so that it looks better when I’m sucking in and not actually flexing it. I’ve never really trained forearms at all, but the little bit of higher rep stuff I’ve been doing is really seeming to bring out the vascularity.

And for those of you wondering if I would follow through on it,… tonight I spent about 14 minutes in a fake n bake tanning bed. Actually, it wasn’t a bed, I kind of stood upright in a capsule, and it started to get kinda boring so I practiced what little posing I could do in the cramped quarters. I don’t know why I got 14 minutes, the girl at the front desk programmed the thing for me. We’ll see if it has any effect over the next few weeks. I’m going to try to get in 10-15 minutes every night I do my cardio work (twice every 6 days). Hopefully it will make the Pro-Tan look a little better come game day.

S

154

I have no idea how any bodybuilder goes through a whole posing routine. Its tough shit man! I screw around after my workouts and hit some poses to try to get better at them, but damn… After a round of poses Im out of breath.

Your poses are looking better though Stu. Definitly improved over time.

155


Okay, I think I actually got some color from the small tanning bed session last night! It’s only a slight redness, not anything bronze, or tan-colored, but it’s a start, and maybe it’s my head playing games, but my veins are popping quite a bit more even when not pumped. I’m now sporting quite an array through my delts, not just the one that typically ties into the pec, but a couple of small squiggly ones that seem to run through the middle head.

So because I just love sharing with you guys, I snapped this in my bathroom mirror this morning. I look a little better than my usual ‘morning pastiness’, and although a little ‘flat’, certainly not bad in my own humble opinion -lol (starting to see cuts in my side obliques too!)

(Now I’m eating and going back to bed!)

S

156

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Okay, I think I actually got some color from the small tanning bed session last night! It’s only a slight redness, not anything bronze, or tan-colored, but it’s a start, and maybe it’s my head playing games, but my veins are popping quite a bit more even when not pumped. I’m now sporting quite an array through my delts, not just the one that typically ties into the pec, but a couple of small squiggly ones that seem to run through the middle head.

So because I just love sharing with you guys, I snapped this in my bathroom mirror this morning. I look a little better than my usual ‘morning pastiness’, and although a little ‘flat’, certainly not bad in my own humble opinion -lol (starting to see cuts in my side obliques too!)

(Now I’m eating and going back to bed!)

S
[/quote]

f*ckin eh…looking shreeeedddeeeddd brotha.

Your going to tear that contest up dood. Just wait til you apply the paint too… you will look even more conditioned with dark skin :wink:

delts/arms are looking great dood!

157

Lookin’ dry, Stu!
Awesome!

158

Shoulders look ridiculous Stu.

159

Awesome Stu. Looking forward to what you look like on game day.

160

THanks guys. Pretty cool seeing things start to come together. I do have a few thoughts/concerns that I could certainly use some input about…

1- I was wavering back and forth about adding in a small amount of steady-state cardio on weight training days (not the days I do my intervals), just to shave off a few extra cals each week, and hopefully bring my legs in a bit tighter.

Corey and I decided after last weeks’ pics that it shouldn’t be necessary, as I’m making progress on a steady basis, and 5 weeks should be enough time to drop the ~5 lbs we’re guessing will make the difference.

I received an email from Brian Whitacre earlier today, commenting on the pics I snapped a couple of weeks back, and he thinks the small amount of steady state will help. Now for those of you who don’t know how insanely shredded Whitacre gets, take a moment and google the guy, it will blow your mind.

Anyways, I’m curious what other people on here think. I’ve been losing a lb a week every week, and am trying to be mindful of not losing any more muscle if I can help it. I had actually commented to Corey that I probably wouldn’t have to drop my numbers for the next few weeks either, but now I’m unsure again…,… Thoughts?

2- I purchased two different pairs of posing trunks. Both black, one simple, basic material, one velvet. The simple one is a “European” cut, and although it is billed as having larger coverage, it’s the skimpiest thing I’ve ever worn. The velvet one, is a “classic” cut, and while not the huge 3" sided trunks worn by Arnold and the like, it certainly feels a little more like I’m wearing something.

Here are my thoughts on the two,… the tiny one is exactly that,… damn tiny. IN fact, even though it is a Large, I feel like one bad sneeze and a testicle could pop out of the sides of the little pouch. Still, everyone I see in the magazines wears these, and in most cases ones that appear even smaller.

THe velvet one looks classy, but is a little roomier in front, which makes me wonder if it will look bad with the lighting, or if it will just look like black velvet. Also of concern, is if I’ll look like an idiot wearing actual trunks (although barely at that)when everyone else is wearing a sack of marbles.

THe decision I’m leaning towards (I had my girl assess the situtation several times this evening -lol), is wearing the skimpy one for the prejudging, and then the less-ridiculous one for the actual night show. Again,… thoughts?

S