Taking it to the next level at the SouthEastern Gold's Classic

[VenomXL]

Alright guys, i've commited to my first open show which will be this weekend in Gadsden Alabama. It is a National Qualifier so this will be my first dose of reality to see where i stand and possibly earn a qualification.

I've bumped up the cardio and have really leaned up in a short amount of time so i should bring the same mass from my previous show with tighter conditioning. Glutes are starting to come in, and i have crazy vascularity all through my abs and obliques.

I've never been to this show so i really don't know what kind of competition it brings, i just know i'm going to bring the best package i can to the stage and give it my all, thats all i can do.

I will keep you guys updated.

[cmamath13]

Venom,

Good Luck! I really don't think you need it. You will do fine. You have a fantastic physique and you know what you need to do! Kick some @$$!

[VenomXL]

SNEAK PEEK FOR SATURDAY!

This is where i'm at as of today, i'm right where i want to be going into the final two days. Thought i would give you guys a little preview, thats all for now... don't want to give too much away ;)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/sneak1.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/sneak2.jpg

[NPC_Jim]

Kick it up with the big boyz!

Will I would point on only the following - Based on the photos which are not stage set.

Calves need to be raised to the level of the quad development. From both sides (front/back) the quad sweep and hammies make them appears small.

The Lats look short, since the torso appears long. Suit place high on hips might change that optical.

Your shoulders are over powering the chest development. But the delts are outstanding in their fullness and complete round development. True cannonballs, especially the rear head.

You really have been hitting the deads, the inner back fullness is impressive. I hope by Saturday that Xmas tree is showing.

Ya, you can kill me later. Jen's diet is doing that already.

[VenomXL]

Thanks for keeping it real Jim, constructive critiques are always welcome.

I'm comfortable with where i'm at today, just cruising and letting the water fall off. Should be full and dry tomorrow. I just hope i can make weight, i should be right at 197 which would put me at the top of my division. Christmas tree will be in full effect i assure you :)

We're pulling out of Starkville at 5 should be in Gadsden at 8 for weigh in. Getting pumped!

[Warneckutz]

Thanks for keeping it real Jim, constructive critiques are always welcome.

I'm comfortable with where i'm at today, just cruising and letting the water fall off. Should be full and dry tomorrow. I just hope i can make weight, i should be right at 197 which would put me at the top of my division. Christmas tree will be in full effect i assure you :)

We're pulling out of Starkville at 5 should be in Gadsden at 8 for weigh in. Getting pumped!

Good Luck, Bro!!!! Looking good!!!!

[Captain Sagara]

Looking great bro,just insane...

[mass_chaos]

Venom, you are looking great. Thick, ripped and helluva a V-taper. I don't believe in luck so i will wish you well this weekend. Man, i'm new to this bodybuilding thing and I don't know who will show up but I think you got this man!!!!

[tviceman]

And how did you do?

[DJINN]

Waiting for update.......................

In the meantime, I gotta say you have done your homework in preparing and I'm sure you kicked some azz yesterday! Also, props to you for being open and welcoming of the constructive remarks made by NPC_Jim. There are so many people that would've gotten defensive in response to critique. Stay big Bro!

[RBEliminator]

What's the Verdict!!!

[VenomXL]

Well guys i had real humbling experience this weekend. I competed in one of the best classes i have seen or been in on stage. These guys were all on point which is exactly the competion i wanted, to know where i stood and what i needed to work on.

I placed 6th out of 7. I was 1 or 2 points away from 4th or 5th and getting a trophy but i wasn't concerned with a trophy, its not what i was there for. The head judge came by and told me the comp was so tight there was only a point or so separating each placing, there was no clear cut winner. It was that tough.

I brought my best conditioning to date, but i'm just not there in terms of leaness yet, i thought i knew what lean was but i had no idea. It was a humbling experience that i will use to fuel my progress for the rest of my competitive career. This is the next level and i'm going to have to bring it everytime i step on stage, "good" leaness isn't going to cut it at this level, you have to be at your best.

I have the mass, i just need to reveal it now. I have 5 weeks till the mississippi state championships. I have to say after not getting called out for top 5 part of me wanted to quit and wait till next year. But that quickly changed into a fire that burned within to overcome adversity, to rise above this setback and transform my physique to a level of development i have never accomplished. In five weeks i will step on stage a different person, a better competitor because of this experience.

I want to thank everyone for there support and encouragement. I appreciate it more than you know. And remember this saying that keep repeating over and over to myself.

Losers avoid adversity, Winners overcome it!

[VenomXL]

Pictures from the show... I'm in the red trunks.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/2-3.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/3-2.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/4-2.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/5-2.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/6-2.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/7-2.jpg

[VenomXL]

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/8-2.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/9-2.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/11-2.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/10-2.jpg

[Blahzay128]

First off...great attitude!!!

From the pics...your right..that class looked TIGHT....and each guy looked shredded....Post some more pics if you have any!

[VenomXL]

Thanks bro, my wife took the only pics we have, it was to get a good shot of me because i was stuck on the end and had to angle myself toward the judges to get a decent look.

Couple Blurry night show pics

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/12-1.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/13.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/atherjen/14.jpg

[DJINN]

First and foremost...congrats! Another show, another learning experience...and at this point in your competitive career, that is exactly what you want and need. You looked awesome, and lining up next to guys who, in your view, were all on point, is a good way to gauge where you stand with the level of competition you endeavor to partake in. It is also quite refreshing to hear your perspective on things...you view it as a humbling, learning experience. Now....

You have 5 weeks to dial it in and bring it to the stage. Don't knee-jerk this though and go crazy with things as you don't want to sacrifice too much lean mass in the pursuit of crazy conditioning. You know what you need to do, you know how to do it, so now the only thing left is to get to work. Step on stage at the MSC and kick some butt!

Thanks for posting pics as well...stay strong, stay focused, stay big

[georgia14]

Just wanted to say congrats! I was at that show and the competition was tough! You look great!!

[RBEliminator]

The competition looks stellar no doubt. But I can see what your saying about being lean enough, no worries you'll have that figured out 5 weeks from now :)

[aguy fish]

well done,
You've done great !
That was very tough and all the athletes looked great. I'm sure in the next 5 weeks you'll improve a lot more. but You already looked great really ! Congrats ! Your legs and shoulders are outstanding ! That and your positive attitude inspire me for my show in 2 week time ! thank you, you're a great athlete.Keep us updated !

[VenomXL]

Thanks for all the support guys, i really appreciate it. I'm feeling great today from all the carbs this weekend, i weighed in at 204 this morning full of glycogen and not showing any signs of excess water retention. Which means its full steam ahead for the MSC. I hit some poses in the gym and i looked 10 lbs heavier mass wise than this weekend. I may tweak my carb load for the next show since i will be leaner i can afford to carb up more since there will be more wiggle room under the cutoff weight. I was concerned about making weight at this last show so i limited my carbs to under 500 and manipulated my sodium a little to come in at 196. I was on stage at probably 193, Seeing my physique today i know i can come in a lot fuller without sacrificing conditioning. We're getting closer with every show.

I wanted to state again, that i welcome ALL constructive criticism, i do not see it as a sign of disrespect at all. I have heard that my good friend NPC JIM recieved some negative feedback for his post in this thread. While i appreciate the effort of the individuals to take up for me, it is not necessary. NPC JIM is a good friend of mine and an NPC JUDGE He has helped me out greatly in the past and i respect his opinion more than i can say in words.

People tend to get a little touchy on these boards when someone offers an actual critique of their physique rather than just telling them what they want to hear. I hope that one day we can all reach a point where we can accept our flaws, learn from criticism and use it as motivation to further progress in this sport.

Blahzay128: Thanks bro, a positive attitude goes a long way in this sport, The class was really tight, i'm glad i got to stand on stage with some real competition.

DJINN: Thanks for the comments bro, My wife does all my nutrition and keeps an artistic eye on my physique. She won't let me do anything to sacrifice what i already have. Looking at the pics, i don't think i am far off, i just need to get the last remaining ounces of fat off the problem areas to have that chiseled look. I'm excited to see where i'll be in 5 weeks. Hoping for deep striations in the glutes lol.

georgia14: Thanks its nice to have input from someone who was there. I was a head case after prejudging till i saw the pictures, then i felt a little better. :)

RBEliminator: Progression is what its all about, i improved from my previous condition coming into this show, and i will improve even more going into the next one. Good luck with your training bro.

aguy fish: Thanks again bro, your constant motivation has been greatly appreciated. Due to this experience i have vowed to never place out of the top five again, if i do, its because i didn't prepare myself enough for the competition and its on my shoulders no one elses.

[cmamath13]

Venom,

Wow! That is a tough class! You look awesome! That must be one serious show.

You will continue to improve and "take it to the next level" because of your attitude. Attitude is everything in any endeavor. Congrats and good luck in 5 weeks.

[DJINN]

Thanks for all the support guys, i really appreciate it. I'm feeling great today from all the carbs this weekend, i weighed in at 204 this morning full of glycogen and not showing any signs of excess water retention. Which means its full steam ahead for the MSC. I hit some poses in the gym and i looked 10 lbs heavier mass wise than this weekend. I may tweak my carb load for the next show since i will be leaner i can afford to carb up more since there will be more wiggle room under the cutoff weight. I was concerned about making weight at this last show so i limited my carbs to under 500 and manipulated my sodium a little to come in at 196. I was on stage at probably 193, Seeing my physique today i know i can come in a lot fuller without sacrificing conditioning. We're getting closer with every show.


It sounds like you may have come a step closer to finding the key in getting your formula perfected. Tweaking your carb load (increasing your carbs) next show may do the trick...so long as you don't retain water with it. And you mentioned manipulating your sodium intake to make weight, but it sounds like this isn't going to be such an issue next show with the additional wiggle room to make weight. If those extra carbs make you appear 10lbs heavier, give you a full look, and don't impact your retention of water, I say go for it. Its time for your comp to buckle up, because in 5 weeks its gonna be a rough ride for them.

[DLRey]

Congrats on your hard work! I competed in that show and it was a tough one! Your class was very tight, I made it out into the audience in time to see your class and one other and my hubby commented on how tight that particular class was! I know what you mean about being a head case after pre-judging until you saw the photos... I did the same thing, unfortunately, I havent seen any photos yet so the verdict is still out on my personal feelings regarding my physique! I did not feel good about my conditioning and even though I did well, I still have so many improvements to make! It never ends!

Good luck on your upcoming contest! It is nice to hear the positive attitude, it can be very depressing when you don't show as well as you would hope and can bring a lot of athletes down, but you sound as if you are pumped and ready to do what it takes to make the necessary improvements and that is very refreshing! Tweak that physique and you will be one to reckon with! GOOD LUCK! I will be rooting for you!

[DLRey]

By the way, do you happen to know if there are any pics online anywhere?

[VenomXL]

Congrats on your hard work! I competed in that show and it was a tough one! Your class was very tight, I made it out into the audience in time to see your class and one other and my hubby commented on how tight that particular class was! I know what you mean about being a head case after pre-judging until you saw the photos... I did the same thing, unfortunately, I havent seen any photos yet so the verdict is still out on my personal feelings regarding my physique! I did not feel good about my conditioning and even though I did well, I still have so many improvements to make! It never ends!

Good luck on your upcoming contest! It is nice to hear the positive attitude, it can be very depressing when you don't show as well as you would hope and can bring a lot of athletes down, but you sound as if you are pumped and ready to do what it takes to make the necessary improvements and that is very refreshing! Tweak that physique and you will be one to reckon with! GOOD LUCK! I will be rooting for you!


Thanks, congrats to you on the first place in the medium class, there was some good talent there in figure for sure.

This show as dissapointing as it was, is just the motivation i need to kick it in gear and prove to everyone and myself what i am capable of. the anticipation is killing me! I may do a show in 3 weeks as a tune up or i may just wait for the big show in 5 weeks, haven't really decided yet. It will be the same judges at both, and if i do well in the first i can ride that momentum into the next show. Thanks for your support!

I spoke with the photographer at the show and they said that they won't post the pictures online on there website. So i guess you'd have to buy the CD to see them.