Road to 2008

[j_neatherlin]

So, it's been since 2004 since I stepped on stage...which was my first and only time doing so.

In 2005, I began prepping for the NPC Louisiana Championships (http://www.lachampionships.com), but due to an arm injury sustained while roofing a house, I had to stop training for a few weeks and was unable to compete. Even so, I will admit that I wasn't on track at that time.

Later in 2005, I moved to Atlanta and my training fell off. I took about 6 months off from the gym as I struggled to find balance with work and life. I lived in Atlanta for about 2 years and my training fell off from time to time while I was there, as work many times became my primary focus and I would work endless hours, foregoing my gym time.

A few months ago, I moved back to Louisiana and have been training hard, but as I've come to realize...I don't really enjoy training anymore. I need a goal and I need something to drive me. Over the last month or so, I've been getting more into my old habits and the gym is more enjoyable and I'm trying to get "back into the game." At this point, I know that I need a bigger goal than a lazy cut to just look good.

I am not going to commit 100% to saying that I will compete in 2008, but I intend to do so at this time. In a way, I will admit that I am somewhat hesitant to get back into competing, because I don't find getting on stage in posing trunks to be a very desirable thing...however, I do want to get back into competitive shape. My tentative goal is the 2008 NPC Louisiana Championships (http://www.lachampionships.com).

At any rate, performing cutting logs and starting this thread WILL hold me accountable to my actions, my performance in the gym, eating clean and my results...so this thread is mostly to keep my ass on point.

I recently joined on with EPIC Nutrition as a board rep and I am currently running a cutting log for the new PharmaGenX Ventilean Cubed product.

Anyway, here we go.... (stats coming soon, once I find my measuring tape and calipers)

I currently weigh 197. My goal is to compete at 175.

Training:
My training is largely unplanned, but I hope to become more focused with this log. A couple of months ago, I was performing HST - with great results - but I wanted to add in more cardio and I just didn't have the energy for cardio after the HST sessions. Typically my training looks like this:

Monday - Arms Tuesday - Shoulders Wednesday - Back Thursday - Chest Friday - Legs

I go out of town quite a bit on the weekends, so I usually only hit cardio, if anything at all on Saturday/Sunday.

Nutrition:
I have been eating clean lately, but not on a structured plan. I intend to maintain clean eating until I have a plan developed, which will likely be based on 2400 - 2600 calories and a 33/33/33 PCF.

Pictures:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0596.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0599.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0598.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0597.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0600.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0602.jpg

[j_neatherlin]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0605.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0610.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0603.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0604.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0608.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/IMG_0601.jpg

[Jrich54338]

Unreal Size, your gonna look nasty cut up just make sure to give yourself enough time, and before you step on stage make sure to ditch those nipple pinchers.

[j_neatherlin]

well the contest is in July 2008...so I have plenty of time. Will probably do a 12 week prep period and I wont have the rings in for contest...however, it's very likely that I will have more tattoos by then

[Jrich54338]

Well if youwatch your diet closely now and get as lean as you can before that 12 week mark you will be golden. GOOD LUCK

[j_neatherlin]

thanks. i'm probably just as lean now as i was when i started dieting for my first contest, but i'm about 10 pounds heavier now. weighed 168 last time, but could have been (or should have been) harder.

[j_neatherlin]

update pics ~3 weeks progress

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2fr.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2sider.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2srel.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2rr.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2fdb.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2fl.jpg

[j_neatherlin]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2crab.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2mm.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2st.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2sc.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2bdb.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/11-2rl.jpg

[dvsness]

Show us the wheels. ;)

[semper27]

Awesome physique but I would recommend prepping for longer than 12 weeks... Consider a minimum of 20-25 weeks. Slow and steady will allow you to preserve the mass that you have IMO.

[Jrich54338]

Awesome physique but I would recommend prepping for longer than 12 weeks... Consider a minimum of 20-25 weeks. Slow and steady will allow you to preserve the mass that you have IMO.


Gotta Agree With Semp, or atleast 16 weeks, 12 weeks is just to short of a time, unless you have abs showing already

[yzrider400f]

another thing, contest shape is going to come from 22lbs of fat loss off of that body, i'd say 30lbs maybe even a little more.

[thicky]

Good luck mate. I'm shocked that your avatar is not how you currently look though ;)

[j_neatherlin]

Show us the wheels. ;)
i'll show them for the next round.

Awesome physique but I would recommend prepping for longer than 12 weeks... Consider a minimum of 20-25 weeks. Slow and steady will allow you to preserve the mass that you have IMO.


Gotta Agree With Semp, or atleast 16 weeks, 12 weeks is just to short of a time, unless you have abs showing already
i appreciate both of your opinions and i will keep them in mind...however, I am trying to lean up now, so that i will be in a better position to prep for 12 weeks come crunch time.

20+ weeks is almost out of the question for me. past experience has shown me what i can achieve in 12 weeks and the most i would probably do is 16 weeks.

but, like i said, i appreciate your input and will keep it in mind...as I will plan along with my progression.

another thing, contest shape is going to come from 22lbs of fat loss off of that body, i'd say 30lbs maybe even a little more.maybe, but i honestly doubt it. 30 pounds would put me at the same weight that i competed at in 2004 and while i could have been in better condition for that show, i don't think i'll weigh less for contest (if i compete) in 2008 than i did in 2004.

but, we'll see. maybe i'll compete at 154 (haha)


Good luck mate. I'm shocked that your avatar is not how you currently look though ;)

haha...well, i would guess that most people who have avatars from contest/contest shape don't look like that on a year-round basis, regardless of their avatar.

[jannek]

dude ur gonna look so sick once u get shreded

[fmrazoroller]

lookin THICK bro. ill be creeping around this log from time to time to see if my competetion is sticking with me!

[j_neatherlin]

something i want to just kind throw out there....

another goal here is to improve weak points (which I suppose is always a goal)...but in particular, I want to work on the following: Delts - in the past, I've been able to have relatively round shoulders, but come the last 2 weeks prior to contest and on contest day, my shoulders tend to flatten out. Either way, they are a weak point and I want to improve them Biceps - I've never had very good biceps...and a lot of that is probably b/c I hate training them, so I've been training them first every week to try and bring them up and increase their overall size Abs - not only do I need to achieve a better level of conditioning - I could go on forever about mistakes I made last time - but the development of my abs is also lacking. Again, I hate training this muscle group, which is a problem Back - I want more overall lat width
Some problems that have recently cropped up: Legs - after not training my legs seriously for a while, I noticed that I have lost some size. I've been training the hell out of them lately, so hopefully they will be better than ever before Lower lats - just recently I've decided that I want to add more thickness to my lower lats. Whether or not I am able to achieve this is another story, as I'm not exactly sure how to even attempt to go about it Triceps - I'm going on at least a month now with this nagging triceps injury and I haven't been training my triceps at all since the injury happened. I hope it heals up soon

[Agostage]

Sounds like you have a pretty sound plan and that you know what you're doing. I have faith you'll tear it up so keep us updated :D Can't wait to see the finished package!

[j_neatherlin]

just to give you an idea of what i'm talking about as far as weak points are concerned and what I'm trying to improve upon:

From 2003

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/M%20and%20F%20Pics/__3_0049.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/M%20and%20F%20Pics/14A_0037.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/M%20and%20F%20Pics/13A_0038.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/M%20and%20F%20Pics/11A_0040.jpg

[j_neatherlin]

from 2004

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/Mid%20Illinois/side_chest.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/Mid%20Illinois/front_bicep.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/Mid%20Illinois/rear_lat.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/Mid%20Illinois/most_muscular.jpg

[Carloz]

Hey Jason, haven't see on bb.com or spoken to you in a while. Looking good my friend. Keep it up!

Your buddy in California.

Carloz

[jannek]

dude ur back thickness is insane

[j_neatherlin]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0675.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0676.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0664.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0663.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0665.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0666.jpg

[j_neatherlin]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0667.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0669.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0671.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0670.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0673.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c195/j_neatherlin/Fitness/V-Cubed/Start/End/IMG_0672.jpg