Pics from my First Show! [Forum Archive]

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Pics from my First Show!

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Posted by: Merkaba

Ok, first off I bought a new house two months ago, changed careers, and didnt really get to focus like I thought I would. So I started cleaning up my diet in late april but didnt really "cut" until about 4 weeks out. Figured I would just try to dry out a little and see what would happen. I placed 2nd in heavy open (192 1/4 lb and above) and placed 4th in Novice. I was pleased. I thought the guy that got first in heavy was a bit cleaner but many were saying that I should have beat him. i don't care. But I do plan on competing again and perhaps next year trying to come in straight shredded.

I would like to Personally thank Built for helping me with my cut. She really went through some time explaining things to me and how things really work. I've been a student of fitness and a trainer for a while but trying a higher level really brought out a new level of knowledge and Its exciting. Built also helped me with the water cut. I messed up I guess by going to the sauna two days out because I panicked when i wasnt losing much water. In any event I dropped from 213 on Thursday to weigh in at 201 on Saturday morning. It was fun and new, but the most tiresome thing I've ever done in my life right next to two a day football practices!!

Also thanks to everyone else on the forum for answering us noob's questions without flaming us....much.

Posted by: Merkaba

ok, think my files are too big...lets see what I can do...

Posted by: Merkaba

ok here...

Merkaba29607 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Posted by: Built

DAYUM, bud! You look SMOKIN' up there!

You are most welcome for the support. I'll be very interested to watch your progress over the coming years.

Considering the crash-diet nature of the cut we put you through, (for those of you out there in tv-land, exactly four weeks to go from 223 fully-loaded to 201 and dry on contest day, and he's natural) what are your thoughts regarding muscle loss etc? And how did you feel throughout the way we did it?

Posted by: quark

Good job Merkaba, you look great!

Posted by: lucifuge

nice work bro

Posted by: bcute4u

Do you win cash at these contests? or do they just give you trophies?

Anyway, post your diet and supplements.

Very impressive pics, congragulations on your win and the progress that you made.

Posted by: Merkaba

Thanks guys.

lol....no cash! I wish! Supplements were pretty much nonexistent. Built had me on a gang of fish oil caps which actually I probably didnt take enough of. I took nitrotech protein and kre creatine in the off season. Multivitamins and vitamin C. I've never really been much for supplements and everyone that popped into my mind, built said don't waste your time, which I kinda already would know beforehand. I just tried to get my protein in which was the hardest part. I've always been working out so I've had muscle for a while.

Posted by: min0 lee

Great job!

Posted by: Merkaba

Note: This was a Natural competition

Posted by: Prince

Posted by: Built

Not only is Mercaba natty, he hardly used any of the few supplements he would have been allowed to use! The man's got killer genes, and he's clearly done his homework with regard to how he trains.

How did you find the cut we did, bud? Did I manage to make it as least-bad as possible, given the timeline?

Posted by: scifisubzero

wow that is crazy man keep up the good work

Posted by: cadnkides

great build for a natty!!!

Posted by: Built

Oh, I know! Especially considering how fast we dieted him down for this.

Posted by: jpolito830

Looking good...Nice work!

Posted by: Little Wing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

Not only is Mercaba natty, he hardly used any of the few supplements he would have been allowed to use! The man's got killer genes, and he's clearly done his homework with regard to how he trains.

How did you find the cut we did, bud? Did I manage to make it as least-bad as possible, given the timeline?

i was wondering about the natural part. amazing

Posted by: ZECH

Looking good Merkaba. Where at in SC are you?

Posted by: bcute4u

Its pretty sad that they don't actually give out any cash considering this is such an expensive sport.
Back when I was a competing bodybuilder (late 80's to early 90's) there wasnt any cash then either and I could not even find a job. This was back in India where I had won many titles and championships. I currently work as a Senior Systems Analyst now here in Oakland, CA. I have started working out really hard once again, I want to get back to a good physique once again. It will be interestig to see how it goes, I am 37 now.

Posted by: min0 lee

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcute4u

It will be interestig to see how it goes, I am 37 now.

Your never too old.

Posted by: Merkaba

well thanks for all the compliments. Yea I've never taken anything other than some creatine and centrum. some amino's and thats about it.

Dg, I'm in Greenville, upstate.

And Built, any diet that is low in carbs is harder to me. lol I live right off of one of the busiest roads in the state so I could live here ten years and noteat all of the crap and carbs I could manage. Overall it wasnt that bad and I realized I feel way better on lower carbs as opposed to the bloated carb load. I didnt lose too much muscle I dont think. I lost 8lbs during that 3 weeks or so.

Posted by: Merkaba

Edit to the above...I didnt lose 8lbs of muscle....during that 3 weeks. Mostly fat and water.

Posted by: Built

Hmm... let me restate that - I didn't mean "was it easy". I meant "given the standard "2 hours of cardio a day while starving", how did what I had you do compare?"

Posted by: Merkaba

I really didnt eat enough! but I was still ok.

And i'll never do two hours of cardio while starving.

I can do cardio all day but that starving thing won't happen.

Posted by: Merkaba

By the way if any of you watch "The workout" on Bravo, Andre is my first cousin.
Go Dre!

Posted by: Built

You had to diet SO hard for this.

NEXT show you'll spend the last month maintaining. You won't have to go through that again.

I'll have to try to catch that show!

Posted by: Merkaba

well another edit...I didnt eat enough because I was slack. It would have been plenty if I was getting enough meals but i was missing meals. Thats why I didnt eat enough! However the chicken and cabbage soup thing is gonna be a staple when i'm dieting down.

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