HEY LOOK! Another "Should I compete" in X weeks...w/ PICS!!!

[benjamin0]

Alright guys, need some input. I am on the cut diet, first week in, about the 2000 level. i am TRYING to compete on November 10th. I am currently at approximately 11%. Do you think there is any chance of me coming in with competiton conditioning? I am losing muscle, I can tell. But that is due to some minor time off due to an ankle injury. Please give me any advice or comments or anything...

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w56/benjuito/Quads.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w56/benjuito/MM.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w56/benjuito/BLS.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w56/benjuito/bdblbi.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w56/benjuito/abthigh-1.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w56/benjuito/hamcalve.jpg



I know I have alot of work to do in terms of size (I am a natural and an ecto...whihc doesn't help)

[benjamin0]

BUMP...anything at all?

[aguy fish]

I honestly think you 'd be best waiting a bit more and put more size on before thinking of competing . I hope you don't mind me saying but there is always a muscle loss when cutting so it's best to have enough size.November 10th??? To me you're behind schedule and if you try to be contest ready too fast, you'll lose evn more muscle.I hope you did not mind me saying. Anyway whatever you decide, good luck and keep us updated !

[Snowy91]

I'm no proffesional but selling yourself short for your first competition doesn't seem like a good idea. If you want to compete catch the next one when you'll have LOTS of time to diet down so you can leave room for error.

[benjamin0]

I honestly do appreciate the honesty guys, seriously. It sucks you guys seem timid to be honest because of all the flaming and neg reps given out on this board.

anywhom, I agree completely with you guys. The only reason i am thinking of competing now is because it is the ONLY time of year I can compete, and i want to learn the ropes. I live in a place where there is only one competition in my province PER YEAR, and it is such a small event, that there is usually only 2-3 people per weight category (except light-heavy weight, seems to usually have around 8 or 10). I won't be in the country in the spring for the Atlantics (which is 4 provinces competing in one competition), and won't be living here anymore as of next year at that time.

Thanks for the input, I was thinking the same thing. I also broke my foot and couldn't workout for more than a month, when being an ectomorph lost me 10 lbs. Thanks again for the honesty guys.

[Uncivilization]

I honestly do appreciate the honesty guys, seriously. It sucks you guys seem timid to be honest because of all the flaming and neg reps given out on this board.

anywhom, I agree completely with you guys. The only reason i am thinking of competing now is because it is the ONLY time of year I can compete, and i want to learn the ropes. I live in a place where there is only one competition in my province PER YEAR, and it is such a small event, that there is usually only 2-3 people per weight category (except light-heavy weight, seems to usually have around 8 or 10). I won't be in the country in the spring for the Atlantics (which is 4 provinces competing in one competition), and won't be living here anymore as of next year at that time.

Thanks for the input, I was thinking the same thing. I also broke my foot and couldn't workout for more than a month, when being an ectomorph lost me 10 lbs. Thanks again for the honesty guys.


I agree bulk up more :) why not just go along to the show and watch , take notes ect. Then Bulk for a year and walk in and take them all ! :) Good luck

[mustan9]

Is this contest for body building, fitness, or model?

Your arms, and shoulders don't look in proportion to your lower body. You've done more muscle development on your upper body, and it shows.

Now, people here might tell you that your don't have the muscle but that's not their call. It's up to the contest organizers if they want people entering at your level. You might be there competing against others of equal ability, and you might come first or last. It depends on your class, weight, and age.

Some BB contests have a screening process. If you make it past the screening process, then get on stage and earn your ranking.

If it's a contest where they only award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rankings. Your left without knowing your ranking. Then I wouldn't bother.

[benjamin0]

Is this contest for body building, fitness, or model?

Your arms, and shoulders don't look in proportion to your lower body. You've done more muscle development on your upper body, and it shows.

Now, people here might tell you that your don't have the muscle but that's not their call. It's up to the contest organizers if they want people entering at your level. You might be there competing against others of equal ability, and you might come first or last. It depends on your class, weight, and age.

Some BB contests have a screening process. If you make it past the screening process, then get on stage and earn your ranking.

If it's a contest where they only award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rankings. Your left without knowing your ranking. Then I wouldn't bother.


Appreciate the comments again, here aremy thoughts:

In terms of upper versus lower body, I worked by BUTT OFF to get what I had. I literally went from squatting 135 for 8 last summer to squatting 280 for 1 this spring. I completely tailored my routine to lower body development. THEN due to some crappy circumstances (broken foot, broken finger, unforseen out of town excursions etc) I lost pretty well all of it, this also happened with my chest alot. I actually put on about 4 inches on my legs in a matter of a year, believe it or not, but now they have dwindled, and tomorrow is going to be my first leg workout since July (even though there is still visible bruising left on my foot)


In terms of the competition, let me just say, that there isn't very much competition in the competitions around here. This is the guy that won the lightweight (154 and under) last year:

http://www.nbpfa.com/events/gallery/nb_finals_06/slides/DSC_0321.jpg

And it doesn't look to me like he has a whole lot more muscle mass than I do...if anything I think I would have him beat if i could bring in the conditioning. Oh and another thing HE WAS THE ONLY COMPETITOR!!! welterweight didn't even have a class, and he was the only one in lightweight!!! Do you see the reason that I am considering competing now? i was sitting in the auditorium last year telling myself, "man, I would beat that guy pretty easily if i went on a cut."

And I believe this guy was his only competitor at the ATLANTICS this past May:
(I think I could EASILY beat him, but i may be wrong, i am obviously no expert here)

http://www.nbpfa.com/gallery/atlantics_07/slides/DSC_0223.jpg


and here is the TOP THREE in lightweight form 3 years ago:

http://www.nbpfa.com/events/gallery/nb_finals_04/slides/pic%202004-18.jpg

As you can see, the level of competiton around here is not exactly out of this world.

I am not trying to get the go-ahead from you guys, honestly, I am just trying to give you the picture that I see, which is an extremely low level of competition in the lower weight-classes. Thanks again for all the input fellas, I get the feeling I will just keep hearing the same thing, but it is good to know still...

[Jrich54338]

I hate to be the guy with the bad news but I see striated glutes on some of those guys, and it doesnt look like one guy is lacking size at all, pictures are just pictures once you get up on stage its a whole new ballgame, those guys have size and conditioning. I myself would hate to go up against them.

Joe

[mustan9]

I totally understand your perspective. I'm glad you have confidence entering this contest, and hope you place well. Please post the results, and contest photos when it's done.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but posting their pictures, and then stating "there isn't much competition" isn't very respectful.

You have no idea what these guys will bring to the stage this year.

New comers to contests should show respect for body builders who've paid their dues on the stage.

[Jrich54338]

Mr Kupkee Looks like a 1st place at most shows around here, dont know about anywhere else.

[Agostage]

Andrew and Luc look pretty solid and striated to me and would do awesome in the shows I compete in. In the end it's no one's decision but yours. You don't need our blessing. You say you can beat them, only one way to find out.

[benjamin0]

I hate to be the guy with the bad news but I see striated glutes on some of those guys, and it doesnt look like one guy is lacking size at all, pictures are just pictures once you get up on stage its a whole new ballgame, those guys have size and conditioning. I myself would hate to go up against them.

Joe

I agree. Thanks for the input. The thing is, I have been to every competition in the province since 2004, and 2004 was the last time there was even 3 competitors in that weight class. Their conditioning WAS very good, I won't disagree there at all


I totally understand your perspective. I'm glad you have confidence entering this contest, and hope you place well. Please post the results, and contest photos when it's done.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but posting their pictures, and then stating "there isn't much competition" isn't very respectful.

You have no idea what these guys will bring to the stage this year.

New comers to contests should show respect for body builders who've paid their dues on the stage.

I am sorry, I was a tad out of line there, it wasn't to dis anyone at all, it was meant more to say that those are the ONLY competitors that even stepped foot on stage in the last 3 years. and most years, the weight category doesn't even exist cause most guys just won't enter. I have alot of respect for guys who have stepped on that stage when I haven't. That being said though, there have LITERALLY been guys who have stepped on stage here at 25%+ BF, and still placed 3rd or even 2nd without any muscle because of the lack of participants. (sounds rediculous I know, but you would be amazed at how little people take this stuff seriously around here.


Mr Kupkee Looks like a 1st place at most shows around here, dont know about anywhere else.

He does, he DID win, but he also hasn't competed since then, and neither have any of the other guys in the picture. It's a dying sport around here (not that it ever had it's hayday or anything). I have just checked the placing in welterweight AND lightweight in the Atlantics AND provincials for the last 3 years, and there has been a TOTAL of 14 competitors in both classes/events combined. With only 3 per weight class per contest per year, it should be at least 36, lol.





ANYWHOM, I am just typing now because I am bored. I think i will take most of your guys' advice and leave this one out. I was just afriad of another occassion where no one would have even entered my weight-class and thus the experience goes unhad, with me sitting in the audience, wishing I had. i am gonna continue to cut, since i have already commited to that, and if in months time things are different (conditioning takes a drastic jump or something) then I may re-evaluate.


Thanks agian guys, for the honesty and advice...REPS.

[benjamin0]

Andrew and Luc look pretty solid and striated to me and would do awesome in the shows I compete in. In the end it's no one's decision but yours. You don't need our blessing. You say you can beat them, only one way to find out.

I was never really thinking "i will take this show by storm" or anything rediculous like that, it was more along the lines of "I won't look rediculously out of place up there with those guys, as some guys did in the past". I only really wanted to enter to see for myself what it is like, so that when i DO want to win, I will have a better understanding. Thanks for the input, again.

[mustan9]

I was watching FAME body building contests last year, and there were people over 55+ competing with guys in their 20's. They brought their best to the stage, and showed that body building is a life style. Not something that can be easily judged.

I wish there were statistics on how many people drop out of contests before even hitting the stage. You might be thinking there aren't many people on stage, but I assure you there were lots preparing who backed out at the last minute.

I've known at least 3 huge body builders who dropped out of contests just weeks before the date. One guy was nothing but talk for weeks before the contest, but never even went coming show time. One tried his best on his diet and while cutting down (he crashed and got sick 2 weeks from the contest). The third guy went to the contest and had a brake down and never got out of the car. Turned around and went home.

You just don't understand how hard it is to get up there, and if your a lightweight body builder. It's so much harder!

[benjamin0]

I was watching FAME body building contests last year, and there were people over 55+ competing with guys in their 20's. They brought their best to the stage, and showed that body building is a life style. Not something that can be easily judged.

I wish there were statistics on how many people drop out of contests before even hitting the stage. You might be thinking there aren't many people on stage, but I assure you there were lots preparing who backed out at the last minute.

I've known at least 3 huge body builders who dropped out of contests just weeks before the date. One guy was nothing but talk for weeks before the contest, but never even went coming show time. One tried his best on his diet and while cutting down (he crashed and got sick 2 weeks from the contest). The third guy went to the contest and had a brake down and never got out of the car. Turned around and went home.

You just don't understand how hard it is to get up there, and if your a lightweight body builder. It's so much harder!

Holy crap man, that kinda sucks. I understand though, it is a huge mental struggle more than anything. I just wish that I would have decided a long time ago to compete, cause I have no problem getting up in front of people. Then things would probably be different right now. OH WELL, live and learn.

[30/7/66]

i don't think you are ready IMO. those guys pretty much have you beat. see where you are in 12 months and then make a decision. just my opinion bro, i wouldn't like to see you get embarrased on stage.

[benjamin0]

i don't think you are ready IMO. those guys pretty much have you beat. see where you are in 12 months and then make a decision. just my opinion bro, i wouldn't like to see you get embarrased on stage.

agreed, as per all of the previous discussion, thanks though.