Thread: I'm scared....first contest....

You have about 10-12 weeks to cut up right??? You are very lean now, it wont be a problem at all to cut up. The big problem I had for my first show was over dieting. I was ripped at 208 but kept starving myself down to 190 and looked like shit. Next show 1 month later I was 206 and looked and felt good.

I would get a detailed diet plan from Emma or one of the guys who have comped often.

Im going to start my cut right after August long weekend, so I can party my ass off , so I will have about 6 to 7 weeks. I hope its enough, If I dont feel that I look ready I will probably not even show up... Its my first comp and its not anything huge so hopefully I will do ok. I have a Canadian bb judge helping me out a little and shes pretty hard on me so It should be good.Im about 225 right now, what do you think would be a good contest weight for me. Just round about?

Thats a hard call, 210 mabey...just a wild guess. I had a friend who competed in the Boarder State Classic in 2004 he was 5'8 and looked shredded at 200 Lbs 2 weeks before the show, but he competed at 186. He didn't look more cut at that weight, I think allot of people over diet the last 3 or 4 weeks.

don't worry about your weight. Just try and drop BF. Any time I contest dieted I wouldn't loose that much weight for like the first 5-6 weeks but my BF would go down. You look really lean already. You can probably start at 8 weeks out.

Are you crazy dude? You look great and you are going to do well! My first comp is in August which is in a month. I may do one earlier. So, I feel you. I agree you need about 10-12 weeks to cut. All together with my cutting diet it will be 20 weeks. Believe me thats a very long time to diet. But, this is b/c I was and am getting help f/m a pro. But, next time I know to start my diet at 10 weeks or so. Good luck. If you like I can tell you what my diet is. It's basically High protein, low carbs, w/ fat (healthy fats) like natural peanut butter, fish and steak.

I think you look great, but I wouldn't cut it so close on the first competition. You were talking about starting your diet last week of August for a show mid October? That seems a little short to me, even with you being so lean already. Unexpected things do tend to come up that derail your efforts no matter how hard you try to stay on track. Like recently we had the hurricane scare and had to evacuate. That totally screwed up my training for a couple of days.

Thanks for all the replies people.Still freaking out a little!... So I should start the diet at 8 weeks out? I just dont want to diet too long. I dont do any cardio right now and since I gain really easy I tend to be carb phobic! My buddies that have competed laugh and tell me to up the carbs if I wanna grow but I just eat a super high protein diet all the timee. Should I up the carbs for a few weeks and then start the diet? Thwe idea being that my body will cut better after its had some carbs? Plus, I really dont want to over diet.... this is tough.... Oh ya, can I step out to "everybody in the club get tipsy" ? . If I am a good enough poser can I pull off walking out all drunk and then posing it up right when the first lyrics start? Dont wanna be a fool. For anyone who doesnt know the song, get it from limewire, Its called Tipsy, by J-kwon. Thanks. Oh, and stop doing legs 10 days out? Thanks again people.....

Carb deplete/carb cycle. Keep proetin high, have three cycling carb days - super low, low, and average to keep the metabolism elevated. Glycogen deplete in your last week before the comp. It will give you a fuller, harder look on stage. If your already lean, i would steer clear of maraton cardio sessions. But once again, I have no idea about your training routine, diet, how your body responds to carbs etc.

Hey 19" Just want to say that my comp too is in Oct (end of) I have some pics in my gallery of where i am at now...
I competed for the first time last year and all i can say is from where you are at now you will be ready if you do it right.... listen to your mate!!
Even if you think you are not ready, compete anyway!! I didn't think i was ready and then once i had carb depleted then carbed back up and dropped water it made a huge difference!! (once again check pics in gall from last year) I have my eats posted in my journal.
Last year i trained legs light 2 weeks before comp (not nearly to failure) don't train em on the last week

Thanks guys, Im gonna do some reading of your journal later today when I get some time. Pretty freaky shit, dont wanna place last you know! But I am being pushed by some supportive people and hopefully I can pull it off ok.!Thanks allot.

Damn, those are some wicked ass calves you've got going on there!!!
Good luck with your contest prep, I wouldn't start contest prep any shorter than 8 weeks out personally - regardless of conditioning.
Have you thought about getting yourself a trainer in your area?
It does help to take all the guess work out of your contest prep.
This is my second year competing - 5th show coming up, I know I could figure it out on my own but I'd much rather follow the advice of someone who I have complete faith in the bring me in in my best condition... it's easy to play head games with yourself during contest prep and over analyze everything to hell. It's also tough when asking people for general advice as there are so many different ways to approach a contest and rarely do people have the same ideas on what is 'the right way'. If you don't hire a trainer try to find someone who will offer you advice and feedback that you trust and listen to that person, you're less likely to screw yourself over that way imo.
All the best.

I have a Canadian bb judge helping me a little but I may ask her for more. Ya, Im kinda worried, I really have a lot of pride and sorta a big ego and dont wanna place last.... at least I know it though, hopefully that will help me in my preperation. Contest is Oct. 16. So Im gonna try and clean bulk for 2 weeks and then diet down, to hopefully compete around 208-216 ....we will see. I got some good attributes but also some weak spots that I hope will get better to look at as I cut. My back is weak, my glutes are kinda weak.... scary shit. Thanks for the support though, it means a tonne. I have a lot of tattoos, will they be easy to cover and what do I do about that? Thanks.

Originally Posted by 19inchpump

I have a Canadian bb judge helping me a little but I may ask her for more. Ya, Im kinda worried, I really have a lot of pride and sorta a big ego and dont wanna place last.... at least I know it though, hopefully that will help me in my preperation. Contest is Oct. 16. So Im gonna try and clean bulk for 2 weeks and then diet down, to hopefully compete around 208-216 ....we will see. I got some good attributes but also some weak spots that I hope will get better to look at as I cut. My back is weak, my glutes are kinda weak.... scary shit. Thanks for the support though, it means a tonne. I have a lot of tattoos, will they be easy to cover and what do I do about that? Thanks.

Looking good.

I'd skip the aforementioned party weekend, if you're serious about doing well.

Ya, im gonna. Think I will try and focus a bit more too, get rid of the ladies and such, just eat and train. I have the time so I mise well. Am however having a cheat nite tonite, chicken wings and a few Coronas. Its about 33 c today so I'm friggin cooking..! and I deserve it...or I dont, either way, mmmmm, wings....

lookie here:

This is your first contest. Dont worry about winning, dont worry about being shredded, dont worry if you will place. I went through the same worries at first and said to myself, I dont care if I win, lose come in last place-this is a learning experience. Write down everything. Get a trainer. If I might suggest one who does contact with email and phone contact, his name is Joe Franco and personally I think he's the best. Check him out at www.fitfranco.com He taught me a lot of stuff for my first contest and I came in third! This year, I look amazing thus far and I dont intend on placing third again.

I look 200% better than last year all because I learned how my body worked and what didnt work.

and by the way-skip the party attitude. If youre really serious you will. It will do more damage than good.

Thanks Jugger,your adcvice is appreciated. Ya , Im really focused lately, plus I cant wait to post up pics for a few people who hate me over on my skinny thread! Motivation, right! Anyway, I am skipping the partying, I dont really party too much anyway.Also was curious about my tattoos, is it going to be a big problem? Thanks for the good words everyone else, means a bunch right now.

I have a tattoo. Didnt make a damn bit of difference to the judges, as I asked them after the show. Personally, I think its more widely accepted than ever, so I wouldnt think twice.

I have a lot of tats. Will it matter then?

Originally Posted by 19inchpump

I have a lot of tats. Will it matter then?

no, it shouldn't.

nah

people said that it might mess with my definition, or the look of itr, I guess I will have to go in extra ripped! Thanks guys.

Some women cover their tats, but I've never seen tats on men as any detriment when posing or showing definition. Obviously if you have sleeves, your forearms won't quite be as defined.

I wouldn't worry about your tats 19".... I've seen a guy with twice the tats you have take overall

some more pics up. Gonna blast my rear delts more. Also got to bring the legs , well upper, into spec with the rest of me. I have a symmetry problem with my traps, I tore the tendon off the muscleon my right shoulder 2 and a half years ago and havent got it sown back on cause the dr. said I'd be out for 6 months and I cant afford to be.... so gonna have to try and fix the symmetry problem somehow? !I'll try and get a pic of it.

Today my buddy at GNC gave me a big bottle of this stuff called Superpump 250. I have heard amazing things about it, even though Im quite skeptical, so I will be on that starting in the morning.... Ill let everyone know how it goes. Supposed to be great, we'll see. They dont even list how much of each thing is in it...just 20,000 milligrams all together.,...weird? Adios.

Just remember that you are cutting so don't expect to put that much muscle on....

gonna start cutting in 3 weeks. I think I can do it, i lose weight fast. But youre right, not expecting to pack it on, just maintain what I got while I cut.

Ok bud this is what i reckon you should do.....
START A JOURNAL!!
12 weeks will go past you like a bullet so now is the time for action... belive me... can can't belive i am at 6 weeks
Work out what you are gonna eat, maybe around 3500 cals training day with a 500 cal drop on a non training day. No cardio and see what happens to your body over the next 2 weeks. Yeah i reckon you'll cut pretty fast and will hardly need to do any cardio so that will be sweet for you. If you want i can do you a diet outline like mine but with the extra cals.... it's up to you
I am sure you are like me and even though it's your first comp you'll wanna go in hard and do the beast that you can