Operation: Don't Get Laughed Off the Pro Stage
[b]2015 Offseason Log to the Pro Stage[/b]
[b]Introduction[/b]
My name is Matt Hilliard, I am 24 years old at the time of writing this and will be turning 25 within the next month. This will be my first official offseason after competing in my first bodybuilding competition this past season. Two weeks ago I competed in the NANBF Natural Pittsburgh where I won the Overall Title, an IFPA Pro Card, 1st Place Open Tall, 1st Place Novice Tall, and Best Poser Novice. It was an unreal day from start to finish, I was not expected to place so favorably. I’ve been fascinated with the human body since I was a kid. I grew up watching the World’s Strongest Man competition on ESPN and thought to myself God**** I want to be like these guys someday. I began lifting weights in 6th grade for athletic reasons. I never imagined I would be good enough to compete in a bodybuilding competition. I have lifted pretty consistently over the past ten years now, with a brief period of time off to pursue running. I got serious about weight training when I decided to no longer play college basketball following my freshman year. In December 2013, I wrote down in a notebook that I would consider competing in a natural bodybuilding competition if I could grow enough muscle. In February of 2014 I committed to compete in a natural bodybuilding competition by writing it down as a goal in my training notebook. Around April 2014 I wrote a goal to place in the top 3 in Novice of a natural bodybuilding event. Needless to say, I crushed my goals.
Competing for the first time:
[URL=http://s123.photobucket.com/user/mt13hill/media/Operation%20Dont%20Get%20Laughed%20Off%20the%20Pro%20Stage/Overall%20lat%20spread%20resize2_zpszufgmrac.jpg.html][IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o308/mt13hill/Operation%20Dont%20Get%20Laughed%20Off%20the%20Pro%20Stage/Overall%20lat%20spread%20resize2_zpszufgmrac.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
At my heaviest around 227lb:
[URL=http://s123.photobucket.com/user/mt13hill/media/Operation%20Dont%20Get%20Laughed%20Off%20the%20Pro%20Stage/DSCN4720_crop_zpss8twoz6s.jpg.html][IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o308/mt13hill/Operation%20Dont%20Get%20Laughed%20Off%20the%20Pro%20Stage/DSCN4720_crop_zpss8twoz6s.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Basketball days:
[URL=http://s123.photobucket.com/user/mt13hill/media/Operation%20Dont%20Get%20Laughed%20Off%20the%20Pro%20Stage/july%202011%207_resize_zps55e7puct.jpg.html][IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o308/mt13hill/Operation%20Dont%20Get%20Laughed%20Off%20the%20Pro%20Stage/july%202011%207_resize_zps55e7puct.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[b]Purpose of This Log[/b]
The purpose of this log is to keep myself accountable, increase my knowledge about bodybuilding, serve as motivation for improvement, and to interact with others who have the same interests. I also hope that someday this log will be beneficial for another newcomer to the bodybuilding stage. As I have learned much from bodybuilders' past logs on here, I hope that one day my log will serve as a learning tool to someone.
[b]Why I Love Bodybuilding[/b]
Bodybuilding is about art, science, dedication, discipline, nutrition, health, competition, setting goals, strategic planning, analyzing, its about expecting more out of yourself and never settling for less than you’re worth. There couldn’t be a more perfect hobby to fit my values and interests. What you can learn through bodybuilding transfers over to all over aspects of your life. It can help make you a very well rounded and respected individual. Bodybuilding is not my life, but has become a very important aspect of my life and who I am and who want to be for the next few decades.
[b]Link to my first time competing log:[/b]
[url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=161857393[/url]
[b]Plans for the Future[/b]
Originally I was planning to take a 2 year offseason after competing for the first time to make the progress I felt I needed to make a run at a natural pro card. Plans have since changed and I am looking to take 2.5 to 3 year off before I compete again to make the necessary improvements I need to be competitive on the pro stage in the IFPA. I don’t consider myself pro physique worthy at the current moment and feel I have a lot to prove to have the credential, which motivates me even more to make progress right now.
[b]Offseason Plan[/b]
Weaknesses:
- Chest
- Biceps and triceps
- Hip adductors
- Medial and posterior delts
- Overall mass/thickness
My focus is on bodyparts as opposed to lift numbers currently. For my first competition I dieted from 225 to 185lb in 29 weeks, which I believe was too quick, I feel I lost too much muscle mass in the process. If I start next prep around 215lb and diet down smartly to 185-190lb in the same amount of time probably even longer, I should retain more muscle mass.
[b]Assessment of Potential[/b]
I definitely don’t feel I live up to pro status right now; however, I believe with at least two years to grow muscle I should live up to these standards. I think I have good potential to be competitive on the pro stage in the future despite my height at 6’3”. Now that I have had a chance to review my competition pictures, I can vision my future physique a few years from now, and boy does it look good. I got on stage at approximately 188lb this time around, dieting quicker than I should have. Realistically, if I would have dieted to completely shredded glutes I could have been 183/184lb on stage. No one ever brings their best conditioning their first time competing, this is good news for my future. There isn’t any reason why I can’t get on stage with better conditioning and weighing at least 5lb heavier still the next time I compete. The only thing that can stop me from achieving that is myself. At 6’3” I have a very good frame with good muscle insertion points and good muscle bellies. I just need more time to fill it out properly before I can do some real damage on stage.
The journey to developing one’s physique in attempts to reach its fullest capacity is absolutely amazing. I’m not sure how to describe it any other way.
[b]Role Models[/b]
Some of the earliest bodybuilders I remember looking up to were Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Phil Heath, and Layne Norton. I knew the first three were unrealistic attainable physiques at an early age, but I was always intrigued by Layne Norton. Then I discovered the world of natural bodybuilding. I thought it was cool there was a drug-free division of bodybuilding, but I never imagined I would be good enough to compete in a bodybuilding competition.
Some of my favorite role models right now are:
- Richard Gozdecki
- Paul Revelia
- Robbie Sardinia
- Brian Whitacre
- Doug Miller
- Samuel Okunola
[b]Conclusion[/b]
For those who followed my first time competing log and contributed to my bodybuilding knowledge and encouraged me along the way, I am eternally grateful for. I hope you guys are all back in for a nice long ride this time around!!! Glad to have anyone in here, I’m pretty easy going, enjoy interacting with everyone here, and am pretty good with responding to questions!
Stay tuned for more competition pictures this week :)
