9 Weeks out, side chest (in unlit bedroom -lol)
S
Your arms and delts are so stand out. Everything is come contest time though, awesome physique. I love that you have good calves too, some guys seems to forget them.
Looking good, Stu.
Great pics for 9 weeks out.
Agree with all of the above, also think chest looks a bit fuller?
Great arms and delts, obviously. You seem on target to come in peeled.
Can i ask a quick question regarding cutting?
I am in the last week of a 12 week cut and have gone from 193 to 173lbs. I ate about 2600 calories on training days (4 times a week) and 2400 on non-training days. Also 20 minutes cardio every moring and evening. I would pretty much lose 1.5lbs a week but every three weeks or so i would suddenly drop 3lbs or more? After that i would freak out about losing muscle (not got loads to lose) and incrase calories another 200 or so. This would put me back at 1.5lbs a week loss, then a few weeks later another 3lb drop so i would increase again. So now im eating about 3000 cals on training days and 2800 on non. I kept my carbs high the whole time with no refeeds/low carb days. Protein was also high and fat fairly low about 30-40g a day.
Thing thats got me is i was expecting to have to lower calories and increase cardio as the weeks went on but i’ve gone the other way? What gives (not that im complaining)?
Looking very sharp, as usual. I tried to scroll back and look it up, but could not find it…did you decided to use Indigo during your prep this time around?
[quote]ESX wrote:
Can i ask a quick question regarding cutting?
I am in the last week of a 12 week cut and have gone from 193 to 173lbs. I ate about 2600 calories on training days (4 times a week) and 2400 on non-training days. Also 20 minutes cardio every moring and evening. I would pretty much lose 1.5lbs a week but every three weeks or so i would suddenly drop 3lbs or more? After that i would freak out about losing muscle (not got loads to lose) and incrase calories another 200 or so. This would put me back at 1.5lbs a week loss, then a few weeks later another 3lb drop so i would increase again. So now im eating about 3000 cals on training days and 2800 on non. I kept my carbs high the whole time with no refeeds/low carb days. Protein was also high and fat fairly low about 30-40g a day.
Thing thats got me is i was expecting to have to lower calories and increase cardio as the weeks went on but i’ve gone the other way? What gives (not that im complaining)?[/quote]
First, keep in mind that a lot of times the scale weight isn’t truly reflective of fat loss. Fluctuations of anywhere up to 5 lbs can be attributed to glycogen levels, water levels (which are tied somewhat to carb intake as well as sodium intake), and even how much ‘fibrous bulk’ is in your intestine at any given time. Obviously you couldn’t possibly be eating enough of a deficit to lose 3+ lbs of fat per week. The humongous weight losses people see on “reality tv shows” are possible because the insanely overweight people are overeating at such an excessive rate that simply by switching to what should be maintenance numbers, their body can register a loss on the scale.
In your case, I would venture to guess that you lost 1.5-2 lbs per week, but it didn’t register as such immediately. I’ve had a good number of prep clients who may go a week or more without any loss of weight according to the bathroom scale, and then one morning, POW!, a sudden loss of 4 lbs! So in the grand scheme, I wouldn’t worry about the huge drop.
Now,. getting to the possible speeding up of your metabolism, you have to realize that any type of change, can cause the body to react in some manner. Many a natural competitor will crash their weight down several weeks before a contest, and as they can only cut calories so much before excessive muscle loss occurs, they can then begin raising macros, which can have a stimulatory effect on the metabolism as well (raising #s = speeding up met rate). It all depends on the current situation your body is being subjected to when you either raise, or lower any of your #s.
We’ve got a serious amount of variables when we’re dealing with the human body and it’s metabolic processes, specifically in terms of the individual issues each trainee brings to the table. In your case, so long as you were able to maintain the majority of your muscle mass while dropping a very commendable 20 lbs, I wouldn’t think that you had done anything incorrectly in the process 
S
[quote]Myosin wrote:
Looking very sharp, as usual. I tried to scroll back and look it up, but could not find it…did you decided to use Indigo during your prep this time around?[/quote]
I actually can’t this time around. Things are just really really stressful with my personal life at the moment. Not only did Cat and I just move into a new Apt (where the rent is quite a bit more than my old digs), but as we’re a few months away from having to pay for our Wedding, we recently found out that Cat’s going to be losing her job due to budget cut backs.
As she always earned more than I did, and now we’ve lost more than half of our income (I don’t really make much as a NYC teacher)we’re trying to be pretty smart about our ‘investments’. Obviously we can still rationalize a lot of the ‘support’ stuff I need for a prep, simply because my past contest successes have generated a small, albeit steady revenue stream the last few years. That’s actually how I was able to get Cat her engagement ring in the first place
The actual prize money in Pro Shows isn’t really anything that you can count on as a source of income, in fact, it’s usually pretty laughable. So even competing in my upcoming contest isn’t for any monetary rewards, merely trying to prove that I can still keep improving.
This certainly isn’t a negative review of the I3G, as I was more than happy with my 2011 contest results. I do believe that nutrient partitioning supplements have their place at a certain level, I’ll just have to settle for the less-than-the-very-best supplement this time around, and hope that everything else falls into place.
S
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
[quote]Myosin wrote:
Looking very sharp, as usual. I tried to scroll back and look it up, but could not find it…did you decided to use Indigo during your prep this time around?[/quote]
I actually can’t this time around. Things are just really really stressful with my personal life at the moment. Not only did Cat and I just move into a new Apt (where the rent is quite a bit more than my old digs), but as we’re a few months away from having to pay for our Wedding, we recently found out that Cat’s going to be losing her job due to budget cut backs.
As she always earned more than I did, and now we’ve lost more than half of our income (I don’t really make much as a NYC teacher)we’re trying to be pretty smart about our ‘investments’. Obviously we can still rationalize a lot of the ‘support’ stuff I need for a prep, simply because my past contest successes have generated a small, albeit steady revenue stream the last few years. That’s actually how I was able to get Cat her engagement ring in the first place
The actual prize money in Pro Shows isn’t really anything that you can count on as a source of income, in fact, it’s usually pretty laughable. So even competing in my upcoming contest isn’t for any monetary rewards, merely trying to prove that I can still keep improving.
This certainly isn’t a negative review of the I3G, as I was more than happy with my 2011 contest results. I do believe that nutrient partitioning supplements have their place at a certain level, I’ll just have to settle for the less-than-the-very-best supplement this time around, and hope that everything else falls into place.
S[/quote]
Bodybuilding, or any passion, outside of work, is really difficult. I competed several times before I was married. Now, 12 years later, married with 2 young kids, I’m now thinking of competing again. It’s difficult enough to compete when one is single. With so many more commitments, it’s a tremendous challenge. Doing homework with kids, kids activities, doing work around house , while trying to do food prep, train, sleep well. In addition, we can’t ignore our jobs. I commend you for doing this. Again, it’s been 12 years since I last stepped on stage, hopefully I can do it again this fall. I’m gearing myself up more mentally than physically right now.
So here I am, 8 weeks out, and 181.6 lbs. The tightest I have ever been at this point for a contest. I’ve got upper quad cuts (been visible for the last few weeks already), delt striations, veins running the front of my calves, and according to my brother, a couple of veins through my upper back / lat area.
In the past, I’ve always counted on the last week water to allow me to just barely squeak under the 176 lbs limit for the Middleweight class. At this show I’m doing, there will only be Pro Men’s Lightweight, and Pro Men’s Heavyweight. So I figure worrying about what I actually weigh is pointless, and that by just trying to raise the bar with my conditioning, I’ll avoid beating myself up mentally as I am sometimes prone to doing. The last couple of weeks have seen me adding in a bit more in terms of steady state cardio sessions, as I think they played a role in my thinner and grainier appearance last June. As I can already see hints of that look peaking through (in certain lighting -lol), I’m feeling really good, and even hopeful that I can come in a couple of lbs tighter than my best showing to date (shredded hams? Glutes?!)
Cat caught a few video shots of my training session this morning, and while the abundance of fluorescent lights really washes me out horribly, I think I’m holding onto some serious size considering my current weight (we all know how unreliable the scale is come game day). Maybe I should start tanning just for these videos
S
Awesome video, keep killing it. Looking great at 8 weeks out.
Awesome man… looking really great. Just watched your 2011 Hercules footage again on your channel, your dominance in that class was truly inspiring, your most muscular in particular is just amazing. Definitely one of my biggest inspirations in the natty BB world.
On that note, do you do much work for your great symmetry or is it just a result of good exercise selection? I have noticeable right to left imbalances as most do.
Hey 4-eyes, you definitely need a tan, lol. But seriously, looking great Stu. Gonna kill it at the show and looking forward to training together.
Stu, would you mind checking out the posing routine I just put in my log? ( http://tnation.T-Nation.com/free_online_forum/sports_body_training_performance_bodybuilding_indigo_2/lonnie123s_indigo3g_log?id=5115124&pageNo=6 )
Any advice and comments are welcome. I’m really happy with it, and will get a better version of it tomorrow night after the carb up and tanning.
[quote]jake_j_m wrote:
Awesome man… looking really great. Just watched your 2011 Hercules footage again on your channel, your dominance in that class was truly inspiring, your most muscular in particular is just amazing. Definitely one of my biggest inspirations in the natty BB world.
On that note, do you do much work for your great symmetry or is it just a result of good exercise selection? I have noticeable right to left imbalances as most do. [/quote]
Thanks man. It’s always cool, and quite humbling at the same time to hear how other people draw inspiration from my own training and competitions. I guess it’s just part of the cycle, as I’m now going to be ‘up there’ with the guys I first drew inspiration from myself.
As far as symmetry goes, it’s not like I consciously worry about it (aside from a bit of atrophy in my left tricep due to injury that I’m well aware of!) I assume it’s most likely from my growing preference of dumbell work in recent years. When one side is doing the majority of the work, it’s certainly easy to see. Unless of course you may have a bit of nerve damage, or even scar tissue build up, which can create development problems.
Are your imbalances left/right all over, or simply in one area(arms, legs)?
S
So for the last week or so, I’ve been looking over results and pics of recent WNBF Pro shows, and I’ve really become focused on Trevor Sajdak. In pics from his most recent Pro Win, the guy is clearly the lightest competitor in the Pro Heavyweight class (~183 lbs), but his conditioning is just the most insane thing since Whitacre. As I’ve been re-inspired here to push the envelope in my own contest condition, I’m looking for any excuse to go for a walk, stay on the bike a little bit longer, and of course suffer a bit more on my Low Diet Days.
Taking a page from my brother’s book (He competed once before, and although I did his diet and entire prep, he made a few substitutions that I later found out about -lol) and enjoyed an entire Shrimp Ring from the deli counter at the super market. Of course I replaced the Cocktail Sauce with Frank’s Red Hot, but the total caloric breakdown was only 90 calories! Crazy, I know. I’ve always used Scallops, and Tilapia (‘white’ fish) on my diets when I need to cut #s a bit, but it never occurred to me to eat shrimp (yummy -lol).
S
Stu - huge and conditioned, loving it man. Keep giving us more!
Your conditioning has been pretty amazing as it is, my mind would be further blown if you could take it even further… can only imagine the amount of visible chest fibres that would be on show!
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
Thanks man. It’s always cool, and quite humbling at the same time to hear how other people draw inspiration from my own training and competitions. I guess it’s just part of the cycle, as I’m now going to be ‘up there’ with the guys I first drew inspiration from myself.
As far as symmetry goes, it’s not like I consciously worry about it (aside from a bit of atrophy in my left tricep due to injury that I’m well aware of!) I assume it’s most likely from my growing preference of dumbell work in recent years. When one side is doing the majority of the work, it’s certainly easy to see. Unless of course you may have a bit of nerve damage, or even scar tissue build up, which can create development problems.
Are your imbalances left/right all over, or simply in one area(arms, legs)?
S[/quote]
Yes I imagine it’s very cool to be getting into that tier of experienced pros! Exciting.
It’s all over to slight extent but it was a big visual different in my lats, and a measurement difference (1/8" or so) on my arms. My chest especially in front relaxed looks way wider/fuller on my right side compared to my left (http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9900/cropped3.jpg)
It’s interesting you mention the dumbbell work because I have definitely seen significant left-to-right improvements (I hope my current avatar is getting towards balanced lat wise) using more unilateral work (at least one dumbbell exercise for chest training, one arm barbell rows/meadows rows for back etc). I guess if I make sure to always use at least some unilateral or dumbbell work I should work my way towards symmetry. I will make sure to foam roll/work on my mobility so that isn’t the limiting factor too.