Help a competition noob out.

[AnabolicGuy]

My goal is to compete in a show next November (around 5 months away). My dilemma is I have no idea how to go about preparing for it, in terms of dieting, training, cardio, supplements, basically anything involved with competing.

I am around 195lbs right now and skinny as ****. I was just outside practicing the mandatory poses and realized 3 things.

1. Even at 195lbs, I am still thin and don't have alot of muscle mass.

2. I need to bulk more

3. I need a freakin tan.


With the competition only 5 months away, is there anyone who could shed some light on me on what steps I should take to prepare? I think I have to add 10-15 more lbs to look somewhat decent, if it means not competing this november to add more weight then I can always wait another year.

Any advice??

[jstone28]

Don?t worry so much about it. Take this opportunity to go through the process. Your first time you will make a bunch of mistakes.

In the offseason you be more knowledgeable about what your need to do to improve.

My advice: go through contest prep and take it as a learning process

[Blahzay128]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne36.htm

Layne's article is a great place to start.

[Eightpak]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne36.htm

Layne's article is a great place to start.
Agreed^^

[AnabolicGuy]

Thanks for the article, a great read.

What is your guy's opinion on when a person should compete? Like I'm no where near the max weight I know I can be but I'd still like to compete. Anyone understand what I'm saying?

[jstone28]

Thanks for the article, a great read.

What is your guy's opinion on when a person should compete? Like I'm no where near the max weight I know I can be but I'd still like to compete. Anyone understand what I'm saying?

Its really up to you. I know my first show I made 1000000 mistakes, but now I know what I did wrong and the areas I need to improve in. It just makes me work harder because I have a clearer picture of my goals.

[Blahzay128]

Thanks for the article, a great read.

What is your guy's opinion on when a person should compete? Like I'm no where near the max weight I know I can be but I'd still like to compete. Anyone understand what I'm saying?


For your first shows...I'd say don't worry about weight....just worry about your conditioning....A show in Nov. would give you the perfect amount of time to diet down should you choose...I'm always one to say GO FOR IT!! You have to start some where.

[Warneckutz]

I'm 17 days out from doing my first show and perhaps the most challenging thing for me has been getting the posing down correctly.
I went as far as to but all three Perfect DVD's (Posing, Routine & Diet) and I've watched them over and over and tried to replicate everything I see but I really wish I had someone critiquing me the entire time. I can't see my back (I use a digital camera to film it, but... other opinions help).

So, for me the diet hasn't been too bad, I'm still almost as strong as before (certainly no muscle gains but I'm holding on to what I have) and I'm doing OK with the "look", it's just the damn posing that I'm scared to death of!!!

Just don't forget about the posing! ;-)

-ANT

[Power-Quest]

Its really up to you. I know my first show I made 1000000 mistakes, but now I know what I did wrong and the areas I need to improve in. It just makes me work harder because I have a clearer picture of my goals.

Ditto for me , i'm doing my 2nd show this weekend ( Battle At The River) and only made 500,000 mistakes this time.

1.Yes tan

2. Get your posing trunks , dark colors 2 pair incase something happens , protan/dream tan#2 , Supps , comp music on 2 cd's at the start so your not concerned with those things and can focus on training , diet , cardio.

3.Start far enough out , don't start out cardio doing a rediculous amount , leave yourself ways to increase intensity instead of running 5 miles from the start , and burning your self out to soon , but don't be lazy about it either.

4.Tips for first time competitors http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=1352421

5. Def , laynes article ,and even better now that i'm soon to be on my 2nd show then 3rd show August 11th , i wish i would have gotten/hired Layne or one of the other few well known trainers here on the board to monitor me / diet / carb , water and all other aspects of a contest prep , it will or can keep you from making a lot of mistakes. There first timers look very very good.

Have fun your first show will be a huge learning adventure , and you will not regret it , make it happen ,plan.