[quote]Lonnie123 wrote:
Knock em dead tomorrow Stu![/quote]
X2!
What they said.
Best of luck to you Stu. You look amazing - I’m sure you’ll kill it! : )
man, it must be awesome getting up there and competing with the heavy hitters
Friday morning, 6/1/12
Weighed in 1.8 lbs HEAVIER than I did last year at this time. Definitely sporting a bit more size, as evidenced by the improved conditioning showing many more weeks out than previous preps. Managed to get 2 coats of pro tan last night, gonna get some food in me, hit the gym for a quick pumping session, and hopefully get on the road early (4 hour ride ahead of me).
If time permits, I’ll try to get a 3rd coat of pro tan before my Polygraph appointment, if not, then after the competitors meeting later in the evening. I’ve never had to worry about being at a show the day before for meetings or sign ins before. I know this is a pretty big show, I believe a recent email from the promoter listed about 150 competitors (I think about 16 Pro Men).
In a nice turn of events, my brother and one of my oldest friends who has never been to one of my contests will be driving up with me, with Cat, my other brother, and my old buddy Scott (the guy who dragged me into the college gym so many years ago, and never misses a show) meeting us later tonight.
I figure all the hard work is done, the chips will fall where they may. I know without a doubt that I busted my ass getting ready for this one, and that no matter the level of the competition, that I did indeed raise my game from last year. All any honest competitor can ask of himself at the end of the day… Did you leave nothing in the tank? Did you beat your previous self?
S
Couple of quick shots in the poorly lit gym locker room before I hit the road…
S
You look excellent.
You’ve done your best, now enjoy yourself!
Damn! You look SOLID!
Looking jacked good luck!
Currently walking round the lobby and recognizing a lot of seriously huge pros from the magazines!
Weighed in at 178.4 lbs, not that it matters at this level. The competition seems fierce!
S
Good luck to you.
Yeahhh Stuuuuu!!
Got out of the competitors meeting a little while ago. Definitely a cool sense of commeraderie (sp?!) all around. I get the sense that for most of these pros that this is all a big game. If you win, great, if not you come back next time. A few of the other class winners from the '11 Hercules were present and it was like seeing old friends that you share a common experience with. Makes me feel a lot better about the whole experience. Cat arrived a few minutes ago and hit me with a 3rd coat of protan. If the bathroom mirror is to be believed I definitely improved from last year. Something to focus on when I’m giving up 20 lbs to the other pro heavyweights tomorrow morning 
Oh yeah,… Saw some new feathering in my right quad. Now if only it were larger instead of more detailed -lol
S
Stu, I’ve recently been following your progress and have read trough the old “Stu how do you train?” thread and your contest threads and I have to say you are a real inspiration to me. Best of luck for today and I’m looking forward to seeing the end results. I’m sure you’ll tear it up and if it’s ok when it’s all done with I have a few questions I’d like to fire your way.
All the best, man.
Wow what a lineup! Definitely the hardest level of competition I’ve ever faced! Prejudging lasted about 20-25 mins and damn those lights were hot! My back had been bothering me the last couple of weeks and it picked this morning to remind me again of old injuries.
I did get to see some pics and video of this morning and without a doubt I improved from last year. Still, I can honestly say that in this level of contest, it won’t be enough for a placing. They told us last night that the 2012 Worlds will be in Atlantic city, so my eye is already on that. Hopefully I can make a bit more progress while also healing up a bit. On my honeymoon (August).
A cool thing was a few other pro’s amazent at my condition at 39 years old. Which is something that doesn’t usually occur to me when I’m being my own harshest critic.
Currently sitting at a diner with Cat, my bros and a few friends (I’ll probably grab a plain chicken breast), gonna go back in a few hours for the night show (get some professional pics), and enjoy a well deserved post contest feast in the company of loved ones.
S
Very cool, Stu. Excited to see everything and hear some more analysis
Stu, you are a star for posting!
Stu,
I was at that show and the competition was definitely fierce! It was great watching all you pros, you did great man! Nothing to feel bad about! I competed in Novice and junior men and man those lights were hot! Long day man.
@SweatDrip- Dude! I wish I had known! I didn’t stick around for the whole evening show, but I know the sheer # of competitors was insane! Nancy Andrews’ shows always seem to draw top talent, so I’m sure it was a fierce battle within every class throughout the day. Those lights -lol, you forget from one show to the next just how damn hard they beat down on you. I remember looking down and watching black/brown beads of sweat running down my torso as I switched poses on stage. Even after a good number of shows, you never truly recall just how it is out there under the lights, staring out into the blackness, and trying to remember every little thing you need to for each pose, each transition, each stance. Hell of an experience though. What were your thoughts? Have you competed before?
Also, while I’m hoping to be getting some good photos from friends, and eventually the professional photographer, Cat snapped this one on my phone (why I have it now) of me and fellow WNBF Pro Alex Groumbas. The guy is not only a beast of a bodybuilder (and a bantamweight at that! Biggest f-ing bantamweight you’ll ever see), but a hell of a nice guy. We each won our respective classes at last year’s Hercules, with him eventually getting the nod in the Overall. Since then, we’ve realized that we share a lot of the same friends and contacts on Long Island, and have chatted quite a bit about bodybuilding and other assorted nonsense. Anyway, I thought this was a cool pic. Everyone was just having a great day, regardless of the competitive aspect of the actual event
S