Thoughts on crossing over

[ronnyg0891]

So I am in my first competition on October 17th (The Olympus, in Buffalo, NY) and I am entering the first time bodybuilding division.

My question is should I cross over and do the novice, I honestly dont feel like I have the muscle mass in a "natural" show, but this isn't an area I know much about so would like your thoughts on this. The only extra posing I would be doing is the mandatorys at the morning show, so I dont see how much experience this would give me, just to walk out on stage as I dont have much of a fear of being in public or being half naked lol.

Any advice anyone can give would be greatly appreciated, and if you want to get more in depth you can look at last years results on www.naturalmuscle.com

[Sean15782]

First of all congratulations on your progress thus far, you have done great.

This may not be what you want to hear, but I think you should consider a later show. Judging by your most recent pics, its not necessarily your muscle mass that will hold you back, its your conditioning. If you want to be competitive and place well, you could really use more time to bring your best possible package to the stage.

Huge, massive freaks are not the norm in natural competition, but you can expect anyone thats competitive to be shredded! There is an OCB show on November 21st in NY so that could be a good option. Maybe you could even do both and not try to peak for the Olympus, just diet straight through.

Again great job, and I am not trying to be negative, just offering some input.

[ronnyg0891]

Thank you for your words of encouragement

I appreciate the honesty, the reason we picked the October show was because the amount of time already spent dieting down, we started this in April my original plan was to wait actually till March/April so I had a year to get things together. At this point I dont know how much more I can take the cutting, and they had a first time division which was people who have never ever done a competition. Plus I just wanted to get my feet wet and see if this something I will even continue to doing.

I appreciate the 100% honesty!

[Cape1]

Op:

I agree with Sean. Great JOb so far!! Caveat: it's impossible to assess these things by looking at a picture so try to get advice from someone who can see you in person. Just take this as one possible idea to explore.

My initial thoughts: Get off your diet for about 8-12 weeks or so. Do it nice and clean but send some extra nutrients into that system and switch the training to more of a Hypertophy/strength regimine. When I say extra nutrients, I'm not suggesting that you set out to eat like a Pig. I'm just thinking bring it back to maintenance nice and slow and then maybe add a few hundred calories. In all likelyhood, you may not even gain any fat but you'll fill out a bit, get stronger and help your Thryoid and other hormones.

My concern is that you've been on a diet for about 20+ weeks and, by the looks of you, no offense, you have another 12 weeks of dieting to hit this unless you come in for a crash landing. Crashing it down at this point to hit a show in 4-8 weeks will probably leave you flat and stringy looking. Sure you can do it but I promise you will not like the way you look and you'll like the way you feel even less.

Taking the next 8-12 weeks or so to break from the diet and to fill out a little could really help your system. Than you could start in Dec/January to bring it down for like an April/May contest. You would be starting out strong, healthy and relatively lean; and hitting a logical 12-16 week diet at that point, I think the end result would be much better.

You're right there in striking distance so don't get discouraged with this feedback. i"m just thinking for the sake of another few months, just do it right.

Just my two cents.

[AustrianOakJr]

Hey man, AWESOME progress. You've got something to really be proud of there and no matter how your first show turns out, you've won because of the change you've made. I did the Olympus last year and had the same question on crossing over. I chose not to. Reason being was that it was my first show and I just wanted a taste of the stage and to see what it was like. I had no expectations of placing (although we all WANT to win). The only regret for me was that I chose the novice class instead of the open. I placed 2nd in the novice and in that particular situation with those competitors on that day, I would have placed higher in the open. I think that was an extremely unusual case though. Regardless I did it for the experience and do not regret not crossing over.......if youre only in it for the experience, whats crossing over gonna get you? ......another plastic trophy. But, it was an awesome experience......and a great show, great organization. There are a couple of us on the forum that will be doing the show this year so if you choose to compete, we'll see you there. Look out for me and if you need any advice or help, let me know.....id be glad to try and point you in the right direction.

[ronnyg0891]

Oak: Thank you for actually answering the question LOL! And thank you for the words of encouragement.

I am doing this show to see if bodybuilding is something I want to seriously get into or if just being healthy and have a good physique is more my thing.

After doing a lot of considering things I have decided to just enter the first time division, I just feel that crossing over is just a bigger expense, I dont really think I will fare to well in the novice or open. Right now I am just hoping to be close to were I need to be and then weigh my options for a future competition

I will definitly be looking for you and good luck in the show!

[AustrianOakJr]

Oak: Thank you for actually answering the question LOL! And thank you for the words of encouragement.

I am doing this show to see if bodybuilding is something I want to seriously get into or if just being healthy and have a good physique is more my thing.

After doing a lot of considering things I have decided to just enter the first time division, I just feel that crossing over is just a bigger expense, I dont really think I will fare to well in the novice or open. Right now I am just hoping to be close to were I need to be and then weigh my options for a future competition

I will definitly be looking for you and good luck in the show!

Yea man.....sounds good. I agree that you need to lean out more. But, if you just want a taste.....go for it. The only thing is that if you are discouraged b/c you didnt place as well as you wanted, it might detur you from competing again. Just go in with an open mind.

[ronnyg0891]

I am pretty much going in with the mindset of whatever happens, happens as great as it would be to place, nto placing would make me work that much harder should I choose to compete again so I guess to me its a win, win if that makes any sense