6-weeks out pics... Critique me hard....

Ivan25 · 08-03-2007, 03:02 PM

Hey everybody... I am 6-weeks out and here are some quick-shot photos... Obivous flaws to expect here are as follows:

1) Facial expressions... I was in a hurry, but I know I need to work on this as to look either confident or smile..

2) Posing Contraction Intensity... I did not squeeze hard on certain poses... Legs as usual, I definitely know I need to work on keeping the legs tight (calves, glutes, and hamstrings in particular)...

3) Body Lean... On side chest and tricep poses, I might want to get lower to get legs to come out more... Also, what should my head position be on various poses? Let me know if in any of these pics, it could be better...

4) Not Lean Enough... As usual, my lowerbody is not lean enough yet.. I got 6-weeks to continue with cardio and nutritional manipulations.... Back is not as ripped as in the past, I will work harder on this in the upcoming weeks... Abs can be more ripped, especially lower abs...

But these are my own criticisms.. I'd like to hear from you guys...

Thanks!!

Ivan25 · 08-03-2007, 03:08 PM

Here are some more pics...

user23960508710783 · 08-03-2007, 04:00 PM

On the plus side, you've got great delts and traps, and your side tricep pose looks great.

On the down side, your legs look soft, especially your glutes.

Overall you look fine, especially for 6 weeks out. Just hit that cardio.

Blahzay128 · 08-03-2007, 07:39 PM

Looking good...great job so far...

Upper body is looking nice and tight...in 6 wks it will look ridiculous....Lower body, like you stated is not as conditioned as your upper...However, legs are usually one of the last bodyparts to come in...If your not already, add in some sprints for cardio....In my opinion you are on track w/ 6 wks left....As you know...the last few weeks is where things really come together....Keep working hard...can't wait to see the finished product!

RBEliminator · 08-03-2007, 10:23 PM

At worst your only a tad bit behind. If your not doing some type of HIIT on your off days I might suggest this. It really helped bring out my hams and glutes. Specifically sprinting.

DJINN · 08-04-2007, 07:19 AM

Looking good! Lower body should "come in" in the next few weeks. Your poses look good. Here are suggestions:

1) Your leg spread and spike may be a tad "too big", if that makes sense. Try a few rear shots with a slightly more compact leg spread and back spike and contract your calves, hams and glutes on both legs.

2) You left side chest shot is good, except you are leaning rearward. Compare it to your right side chest and you'll see what I mean.

3) I would drop the vacuum pose...not that it is bad, but it really doesn't do much.

4) Front ab/thigh shot: Same as the rear poses, try a slightly more compact leg position.

Other than these ideas, you're looking solid. In a couple more weeks, your conditioning will improve. Once you slap on your comp color, it will all "pop". Great job!

Ivan25 · 08-04-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJINN

Looking good! Lower body should "come in" in the next few weeks. Your poses look good. Here are suggestions:

1) Your leg spread and spike may be a tad "too big", if that makes sense. Try a few rear shots with a slightly more compact leg spread and back spike and contract your calves, hams and glutes on both legs.

2) You left side chest shot is good, except you are leaning rearward. Compare it to your right side chest and you'll see what I mean.

3) I would drop the vacuum pose...not that it is bad, but it really doesn't do much.

4) Front ab/thigh shot: Same as the rear poses, try a slightly more compact leg position.

Other than these ideas, you're looking solid. In a couple more weeks, your conditioning will improve. Once you slap on your comp color, it will all "pop". Great job!

Thanks guys.. It really means a lot.. Djinn, I totally agree with you.. Thanks for the posing advice.. I know exactly what you are telling me... I will definitely work on posing the legs and improving the aesthetic appeal... As for sprinting, funny it was mentioned, I just did a session this morning, and plan on doing another tonight... I have to be careful with sprinting though, as I have a tight left hamstring, and if I overdo it, it will get pulled.. Last thing I need is an injury this close.. However, I do incorporate sprinting once evey 1-2 weeks, and in-between I do cardio 3-4 days per week.. I also include HIIT on the stair-climber at the highest level for 30-60 seconds on, and 60-seconds off... I do this for 15-20-minutes in a glyco-loaded state to spare muscle...

I'd like to hear from more ppl in their evaluation...

aguy fish · 08-04-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RBEliminator

At worst your only a tad bit behind. If your not doing some type of HIIT on your off days I might suggest this. It really helped bring out my hams and glutes. Specifically sprinting.

I think you conditioning is great for 6 weeks out ! I agree though your lower body is a little bit behind but not upper body. You already do a lot of cardio... For some people legs come out last ... Keep it up, looking good ! Well done so far

MaximumTaxation · 08-04-2007, 03:44 PM

For every shot, exhale as you hit each shot. It will help you get a tighter squeeze. Stand in front of a mirror with your shirt off, and exhale as you squeeze your abs so you know what I'm talking about. It can make a big difference for every upper body shot.

THENIZZZEIL · 08-04-2007, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaximumTaxation

For every shot, exhale as you hit each shot. It will help you get a tighter squeeze. Stand in front of a mirror with your shirt off, and exhale as you squeeze your abs so you know what I'm talking about. It can make a big difference for every upper body shot.

yup, just finished my Physio class for nursing and just to touch up on the subject, here are some of my notes..hope this helps get the visual of whats goin on if you exhale...great physique...

what are you going to do about body hair removal?

Active expiration occurs(FORCED EXPIRATION) ? when you blow things out
DECREASE VOLUME of LUNGS

-creating PSI ON ABDOMEN which PUSHES DIAPHRAGHM UP, so this DECREASES SIZE OF THORACIC CAVITY
-thus LOWERING THE VOLUME IN LUNGS

and the INTERNAL INTERCOSTALS also CONTRACTS (DOWN & IN)

EXPIRATORY Reserve Volume- Maximum volume of air that can be FORCEFULLY EXHALED after a normal tidal exhalation
- 1200 ml

LiFtHaTiRoN · 08-05-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan25

Here are some more pics...

Your chest is looking shredded. It just stands out. Lower back could be more defined so could abs and obliques. Try some HARD HIT cardio to preserve the muscle you have and shed some more fat. Keep up the good work tho. DONT MESS WITH YOUR WATER INTAKE, layne has already proven that to just flatten you out. With a darker tan youl look more defined, so dont worry too much about everything. More cardio, dont overkill it tho, keep the diet the same. Do a little more lower back and oblique work. The lower back may be too late to chizzle in, but you cna build obliques in 6 weeks, so no worries. Keep up the good work.

Ivan25 · 08-05-2007, 01:13 PM

Thanks for the comments.. Yeah honestly, I'm not really too concerned on whether I win this show or not... My philosophy is: Be the best YOU can be... And right now, this show is in line for me to get some more on-stage experience and practice my contest prep.... I plan on trying for my pro card, not sure if I have enough time to get absolutely shredded for this one... I got 5 weeks left, and I'd say I'm good enough to be on stage, not sure if I'm good enough to get the pro card.. But again, after this show, I plan on competing in one in November in Texas... This would mean, 8 more weeks to get the lowerback, hams and glutes really dialed in... But, you never know.. I may see some great changes in these next 5 weeks... Never know... However, my approach is to just be the best I can be... Back then, I was kind of arrogant and had an ego.. Well that is actually long gone now... My standards are so high that I do not think my physique will ever be good enough for me... It will when I see completely striated glutes, ham separation, quad striations, and tricep striations... Until then, I still got lots of work to do...

And yes, I love Laynes post on water intake.. I will drink water as normal for this show... I just read a lot of Dr. K's stuff... This guy is incredibly inciteful and down to earth in his writing..

Ivan25 · 08-05-2007, 01:17 PM

And yes, my legs were NOT shaved in these photos... So some you take that into account and assume slightly better definition... This is why I like waiting until the show to shave.. I want to think my legs are not ripped yet, so I keep pushing myself hard to get them there.. And that night, you never know, I may just see the cross-striations with shaving and tan application.. I hope so!

Flex500 · 08-07-2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan25

Hey everybody... I am 6-weeks out and here are some quick-shot photos... Obivous flaws to expect here are as follows:

1) Facial expressions... I was in a hurry, but I know I need to work on this as to look either confident or smile..

2) Posing Contraction Intensity... I did not squeeze hard on certain poses... Legs as usual, I definitely know I need to work on keeping the legs tight (calves, glutes, and hamstrings in particular)...

3) Body Lean... On side chest and tricep poses, I might want to get lower to get legs to come out more... Also, what should my head position be on various poses? Let me know if in any of these pics, it could be better...

4) Not Lean Enough... As usual, my lowerbody is not lean enough yet.. I got 6-weeks to continue with cardio and nutritional manipulations.... Back is not as ripped as in the past, I will work harder on this in the upcoming weeks... Abs can be more ripped, especially lower abs...

But these are my own criticisms.. I'd like to hear from you guys...

Thanks!!

on your rear lat spread keep your hands back and push your elbows forward. Remember on the rear lat spread it is 100% irrelevant how the front of you looks. That is why even at natural shows if you are looking from backstage those guys are pushing their guts out and they look funny from the front.

Make sure you keep your hands far back and push the elbows forward. The hands stay put on the hips and let the elbows move foward and foward and forward. I push my elbows so far foward they stick out farther than my chest.

I'm just saying that because you CAN spread you lats farther in your rear lat spread.

Ivan25 · 08-07-2007, 05:55 PM

Thanks man.. I'll definitely give that a try and look at it...

Agostage · 08-07-2007, 10:04 PM

One more subtle point. Look at your right and left poses for side triceps. In one you can see a space between your arm and back and it makes your waist look smaller, this is good. The other shot you are not turned enough and the space disappears and it takes away from the look. I have the same issue. Also, you have good delts and traps so experiment with dropping your shoulder in those side triceps shots to make you look more massive.

Ivan25 · 08-08-2007, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agostage

One more subtle point. Look at your right and left poses for side triceps. In one you can see a space between your arm and back and it makes your waist look smaller, this is good. The other shot you are not turned enough and the space disappears and it takes away from the look. I have the same issue. Also, you have good delts and traps so experiment with dropping your shoulder in those side triceps shots to make you look more massive.

Thanks Agostage... You are right... I agree, defintely like the waist looking smaller...