All this for a lousy $15 trophy??

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-19-2009, 09:29 PM

YOU BET!!

Ahead of me is the greatest challenge of my life. I must first and foremost juggle my love for Lady W and her fight with stroke and breast cancer, then my job where I am almost a one man army keeping the doors open and 120 people employed, and my love for Bodybuilding which has served me well since I was 12. The prize will be the title of Over 70 National Bodybuilding Champion. It lies 2128 miles due east and one year from today. I also want to bring the look of a Bodybuilder to this age group. The current champion and recent winners have amazing personal stories, great gentlemen all, are marvelous examples of training consistency, dedication, and diet. They all have been blessed with youthfull skin for their age (my nemises having had an auto immune disease and tattoos). In my minds eye they all miss muscle mass, bicept peak, shoulder width, glute/hamstring development. Last Saturday at 6am I went into the ballroom where the NPC Masters Nationals prejudging was held the night before. Alone in the vast room , I stood on the X marked on center stage and did my mandantories. I marked my spot like the DOG I am. In a year I will not be a stranger to that X....I OWN IT!!!!

I must thank my friends on the Board and in particular my young brothers I shared a day with a few days ago in Pittsburg. I love all of you. Each and every one of you inspire me and have proven to me beyond a shadow of doubt that I have chosen my path in life wisely.

Tomorrow is day one in the gym. What will be different is that I will NOT allow myself to ever bulk again. I will control carbs on a daily basis...doing Keto again early on if I must. My skin can not stretch like it did for the past 12 years. I will grow legs/hams/glutes/and even larger biceps. I have everything else needed in this O 70 class. My new lifting belt and dip/chin weight belt is on order. I have ordered a tractor trailer full of suppliments.

Lets do it!!

Baldie

bustasinclair · 07-19-2009, 10:38 PM

It might only be a $15 trophy, but it sure as hell will be $1,000,000 worth of pride!

Great to see you again Bill; you look phenomenal--dial in those wheels, and you're golden. I think you can win the O70 and place top 3 (if not win) in the O60 next year!!

You provide me with so much inspriation that I cannot put it into words....hope to see you in a few months in Tulsa.

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-20-2009, 05:22 AM

Matt if I knew how to work the photo part of this puter I would love to put up a before/after of you from when we trained in Tulsa to what you brought to Pitt. Dayum I am proud of you. Yes you were amongst some great men to draw from when you are ready for your first show. And I might add...you are not far off.

Those of you who followed along in my previous "14 months....." thread probably thought you were witnessing a physical train wreck...I mean with all the maladies I seem to come up with. Good grief. I held nothing back only that you could learn from my mistakes. Fortunatly for me I seem to gain from these bumps in the road. Well are you ready for this one? Ever since I got back from Pitt 2 days ago my lower back hurt like a lat pull. Kydneys you say? Baldie you are fighting gout after all. Nah not me. Well guess what? Last night my lower right back hurt like a mo fo and while I was peeing a sharp pain traveled internally from the kydney down into my bladder. OUCH....GOOD GRIEF. I quicky jumped on the puter at midnight....kydney stone. I researched on. I was dehydrating for Pitt *BAD*. I was carbing with sweet potato *OXALATES---VERY BAD*. I know now what not to do next year. The Alopurinoll I am taking for gout is apparantly effective for stones. Well not so far.

Enough of that. I have my heat belt on to comfort my still sore lower back. I am full of one Aleve, whey and coffee and anxious to hit the legs. I will weigh myself once I hit the door them it will be hacks instead of squats. We have a hack sled which will keep pressure off of the lower back. Then I will hit arms.

Before I forget...Dream Tan. "The NPC judges do not like Dream Tan as it flattens the physique under the lights". Yadda yadda yadda. Heard it for months. So here I am in the pump room and I spot this dude I thought would be the Overall (and he did) and that was so dark it amazed me. I have tats that need to be dimishished so I told him that 'the night was his' and I had to ask him "WTF do you use for that color?" "2 coats of Pro Tan and one heavy ass coat of Dream Tan".

Baldie

freebirdmac · 07-20-2009, 06:14 AM

So by saying "I will NOT allow myself to ever bulk again" I assume you mean you'll forgo gaining fat 2:1 or greater over muscle? How will you go about assessing fat gains for caloric adjustment? The mirror? The scale? Many of us are trying to add muscle with minimum fat gains but none of us want to screw it up and limit muscle gains.

Do_Somethin · 07-20-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

I have tats that need to be dimishished so I told him that 'the night was his' and I had to ask him "WTF do you use for that color?" "2 coats of Pro Tan and one heavy ass coat of Dream Tan".

Baldie

You have no idea how important this information is to me. Thank you.

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-20-2009, 08:02 AM

Good question Bird. Never having done this Mr. Lean (while looking like Mr. Clean) before we shall learn together. This upcomming year will fly bye. Only recently have I used a scale and then only to see how much fat I had dropped since T Giving.(40 pounds) I forgot to weigh myself this morning at the gym for my 'start' point. Tomorrow for sure. In the mirror I am 98% stage ready. Adding carbs a bit at a time will be easy as I have just finished a 7 month Keto. Today will be oatmeal and tonight one Matzo ball in my homemade chicken soup. That's all except for what comes in a few cups of non fat cottage cheese and a tablespoon of sunflower butter. I will check my abbs and lower glutes daily and adjust from there. I have been lifting since age 12 so I know when I am lacking glycogen. I have also expanded my workouts since about 2 months ago from 60 to 90 minutes...burning more calories.

Wonder Boy was MIA this morning which has me and G (our new Girlie training partner) concerened. He is a 28 year Leukemia survivor and recently under xtra surveilance via chip/satellite by his Docs. G is a gamer and reeks positive vibes and enthusiasm. She held her own as we did 7 sets of hacks, lunges, stiff legs, brachs and bicep. I finished with hanging leg raises and a hundred crunches. If G hangs in there with us she will make the boyz cry and her girlfriends green.

Today I will drink the Pacific Ocean to flush out my kydneys. My back feels better after the training. Go figure??

Baldie

bodyhard · 07-20-2009, 08:12 AM

Bill, you are a true inspiration to say the least. Meeting you was my pleasure and it is something I will never forget, your knowledge us unmatched. Even at your current physique you would have done extremely well on stage with a quick cut.

I was truly impressed with your size and conditioning, I thought I was going to see an old man who was past his time and you shocked the sh!t out of me!!! Way to go man!!

I have no doubt in my mind that you will blow away the competition!! Kick f'cking ass Bill

Big Ups!!

SeaSiren · 07-20-2009, 08:22 AM

very inspirational .... go kick some butt!

namtrag · 07-20-2009, 09:50 AM

Bill

I learned more and was inspired more by my few hours with you than you know. I am there in spirit with you. I will be at your show next year, that's a promise. Just have to find a cheaper place to stay! lol

I will do a show next year as well. I think you, Ed and Carl have put the bug in a lot of us.

Nikonguy · 07-20-2009, 10:24 AM

FWIW Baldie you inspire even those who train for purposes other than bodybuilding.

This section of the O-35 is my last stop before training. I come here for a big ol' cup of "STFU and Work" before heading to the garage.

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-21-2009, 08:11 AM

OK valuable lesson time. On this subject I am a fairly good coach...however, not a very good example of my own school. I have had the fortune to train a Mr. USA and Mr. World. I also judged dozens of shows and was a National judge for the AAU when they ran the Mr. America series.

Bodybuilding shows come in two (2) parts with the exception of some small regional shows. Pre Judging and Finals. 100% of your effort should go into Pre Judging preparation unless you are a shoe in 1st or 2nd and a knock out Finals routine could spell the difference in picking up Ist or better yet, your Pro Card. Most organizations list their 'manantories'. About 3 months out start nailing down your mandantories. Get critiqued by someone who knows his/her business. STICK TO THE MANANTORIES. NO artsie fartsie Swan Lake crap. You will look like a Whooping Crane comming in for a landing. Learn to keep your posing within a 'box'. a rectangular box. The head judge will ask you for your favorite pose....make it your best Mandantory shot. Learn to tweek each mandantory a smidge here or there highlighting your physique. Memorize those poses and hold them for a minute at a time with smiling face. Do them until you do not shake stumble or vibrate. Isometric posing is a wonderful fat burner when needed in those final days of prep. Damn it....learn to flex your lower back/glutes and hammies. The back view is half of your presentation. Learn to do smooth transitions from one shot to the next. And AT NO TIME RELAX ANY BODY PART EXCEPT FACE WHEN ON STAGE. If you are a 'I don't smile' guy like me...then at least give the judges a I am happy as chit to be here face.

Once I won a regional show where I was caught up with the audience going nutts for my extended off the wall posing routine. It was captured by NBC and CNN who were there doing a July 4th documentory. I was on the nightly news for a few seconds as background. All full of my bad self I made the fatal error of posing 'out of the box' a few weeks later at the Masters Mr. America and got my ass handed to me. The head judge later asked me "WTF were you doing up there?" It cost me.

I will train only for the Pre Judging. I aim to win the title not fans later at the Finals. Fortunatly there will be no pose downs in the Over 70.

Wonder Boy returned...good news. WB and G spent some 'quality time' on the bikes while I blasted militarys. We hooked up later in the morning and finished delts and traps. Finished off with 50 per side medicine ball decline intercoastal sit ups.

Weight nakie...a girlie 195 even after consuming an ice cream cake after dinner last night. BAD BALDIE.

BuckSpin · 07-21-2009, 08:28 AM

Duly noted, sir.

And, if this is your last round-up, cowboy, while you are focusing on the mandatories you have quite an opportunity for your free pose. In short, the perfect song. Something that completely sums "it" up.

Just let this thought stew & simmer for half a year. I am sure "the" tune will come to you.

namtrag · 07-21-2009, 08:29 AM

Great advice Baldie. A question: if you have no posing coach or access to one, is it possible to learn on your own? And another one: do you have the problem I do, that you can do a pose from one side, but not the other? lol Side chest facing right is fairly easy for me, but facing left feels like crap and I can hardly do it.

Tifflex · 07-21-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namtrag

Great advice Baldie. A question: if you have no posing coach or access to one, is it possible to learn on your own? And another one: do you have the problem I do, that you can do a pose from one side, but not the other? lol Side chest facing right is fairly easy for me, but facing left feels like crap and I can hardly do it.

Practice, practice, practice! There are numerous posing articles on bb.com and youtube. I've been using Bob Chic's posing guide and I'm slowly improving. I do plan to hire a posing coach at 8 weeks out.

namtrag · 07-21-2009, 09:05 AM

Thanks, Tiff. I believe posing is going to be the most difficult part for me. I am very uncoordinated. I will have to work really hard on this. In Pittsburgh, just learning from Ed and Baldie how to flex my bicep correctly about killed me! lol And that is just one arm being flexed. I have to do the rest of my body at the same time too!

I saw first hand how important it was in Pittsburgh. I was sitting with Baldie watching the guys pose, and learned a lot just from Baldie's comments. Lots of guys not blowing out their air to show their abs, not holding the poses long enough, etc

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-21-2009, 09:09 AM

Isometric posing is by itself a great conditioning workout. Mike...practise until you drop. It will come. Video yourself and critique away. Chit, send me the vid for straight answers. Tiff...coaches are great to have...the big HOWEVER....see a few videos of their clients on stage and under the scutiny of the judges first. Then ask yourself..."Is that me?"

Spin I answered your PM....if Lady W has her way that indeed is the music for my final bow.

Baldie

BuckSpin · 07-21-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

Spin I answered your PM....if Lady W has her way that indeed is the music for my final bow.

I can literally see it. You said all along its all about you. That IS you. For 90 seconds you would rule the (expletive) world.

And I already have mine. I've known it since I made the decision. Now just gotta live it.

Tifflex · 07-21-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namtrag

Thanks, Tiff. I believe posing is going to be the most difficult part for me. I am very uncoordinated. I will have to work really hard on this. In Pittsburgh, just learning from Ed and Baldie how to flex my bicep correctly about killed me! lol And that is just one arm being flexed. I have to do the rest of my body at the same time too!

Although my posing has gotten better, I still have a lot to learn. I'm not as comfortable as I need to be and my transitions are not smooth.

I went to a show on Saturday and the guys/gals who knew how to pose stood out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by namtrag

I saw first hand how important it was in Pittsburgh. I was sitting with Baldie watching the guys pose, and learned a lot just from Baldie's comments. Lots of guys not blowing out their air to show their abs, not holding the poses long enough, etc

I learned that relaxed doesn't mean relaxed

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

Isometric posing is by itself a great conditioning workout. Mike...practise until you drop. It will come. Video yourself and critique away. Chit, send me the vid for straight answers. Tiff...coaches are great to have...the big HOWEVER....see a few videos of their clients on stage and under the scutiny of the judges first. Then ask yourself..."Is that me?"

Baldie

Thanks for the advice Baldie!

OldManSkinny · 07-21-2009, 04:28 PM

In your old thread you commented about what the judges were looking for--different than what one might normally expect:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

I see where the judges are going.

And where ARE they going? Describe what you are seeing for us less-informed or -observant bodybuilders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

If I can fix my broken camera I will post a final pic of me with my shirt off with this years winner. You all be the judge.....

So are you still going to show the pic? It will serve as your "before" shot for this year's work.

And you asked me to post a current one, too. It's over in my "Help OMS" thread.

I'd be glad for input from ANYONE.

Intenceman · 07-21-2009, 05:17 PM

Go get em Bill! (I almost feel asorry for the other guys, they have no idea whats going to hit them..)

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-22-2009, 05:02 AM

James...gonna do the 2010 Mr. Muscle Beach with me? Those 'other guys' at the Nationals are quite amazing for 70....tight skinned little fitty fits... But somehow I am not 70. Can't be....There must have been a mistake on my birth certificate. (reality check is that I do remember going with my parents to the street celebration on V day in 1945 when the troops came home from WWll).

Not only am I training wiser this next year I am training fully aware that there is always an aging Ferrigno type in the shadows waiting to step on stage the very day I think I am the biggest baddest cat in the jungle. It has happened before. I have several 2nd place trophys left behind in far away hotel rooms. Heavy squats, weighted dips, weighted chins, heavy one arm rows, big boy incline dumbells, the sled, weighted stair climbing, weighted lunges....that's what is in store for Baldie. I can't fathom those 'other guys' doing any of this....yet I must imagine they are. I am monitoring carb intake daily in the mirror. My abs MUST remain visable every day or it's extreem Keto time. I will remain '30 days out' from here on until June 2010. My broken sleep will be augmented with naps. My suppliments are near perfect. Expensive but chit, I don't golf, gamble, party, or vacation these days. Just work, eat and train.

Then it is reality check time. I am small boned, assembled by geeks (looooong torso and thank God wide clavicles), long history of age realted and self induced maladies, and work stressed to the very max. 24hours is not enough time for my day. I dream and visualise...I do not document nor ponder. The glass is half full at all times. Only experience tells me that my narrow 'daily' approach to life itself and to my Bodybuilding goal will collectively end up where it needs to be. One day at a time....2010 30 years clean and sober and National Over 70 Champion. Quite frankly my trip to the podium at AA on March 1st to receive my 30 year cake for sobriety could be the biggy next year.

Baldie

BuckSpin · 07-22-2009, 05:40 AM

*hopes you bank enough cals & carbs to enjoy a huge slice of that cake*

That is awesome. Major props on 3 decades of staying sober....

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-23-2009, 05:16 AM

I have an associate that collects old guns. He is crazy about old guns. I listen to him but can not concieve the extent of his enthusiasm....it's beyond me. His wife, family, friends outside the gun collectors word, work mates and customers could care less. We are glad for him but....really? Old guns?? He goes to gun collector shows and conventions alone and comes back recharged. This I understand.

Its the same with me and Bodybuilding. Aside from Wonder Boy and Lady Wonkanobi there is no one within a hundred miles of me that quite frankly understands or really really gives a jolly damn. Even Lady W sees me as a boderline train wreck with age and injury related health issues. Does she really understand my joy at completing a 75 min. chin/tricept superset marathon? I think all she hears sometimes at the gutteral groan I make getting up off the floor where I was stretching my back while watching TV.

To a great degree I am beholding to all of you here in the ether of the cyber world. I know you are 100% genuine. Each and every man I met in Pitt last weekend was the real deal and then some. You all understand.

When I am eulogised someday I know that whoever speaks will miss the essence of me....Bodybuilder. From pimply 12 year old kid in his room lifting sand filled Sears weights, 15 year old skinny kid relishing in awe while lifting with Steve Reeves, lifting and eating my way into the heavyweight class in highschool wrestling and taking the silver in the L.A. City finals, winning the Mr. Muscle Beach, competeing 3 times in Mr. America, publishing Bodybuilding articles in 5 languages, and having the opportunity of still reaching for the gold at 70. That will go un mentioned....yet, that is my core.

When you all post serious questions I hear you. I wish I had both all the answers and the time.

Baldie

Most Muscular · 07-23-2009, 06:42 AM

You are on the right track on setting a long range goal to attain. Never lose sight of it. Keep a vision in your head of what you want to look like on stage and burn it in your mind. You go to sleep with it, you wake with it, you live with it all day. It is what you will become.

As JFK said: "You choose to go to Pittsburgh. You choose to go to Pittsburght next year and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of your energies and skills, because that chanllege is one that you are willing to accept, one you are unwilling to postpone, and one which you intend to win, and the others, too."

nuff said...

Veganpussoir · 07-23-2009, 07:13 AM

I flew to Phoenix for my first show. On the way back the only things in my backpack were protein powder and my trophy. Damn right its well worth it! I figured if the plane went down at least Id go down with my $15 trophy and all the pride I had winning it.

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-23-2009, 07:37 AM

Randy that is so cool....

Thanx,
Bill

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-24-2009, 08:08 AM

I have not trained at home since I was 12 & 13. I love gyms and their dynamics. If there is energy that morning I feed upon it and if no energy, I create it. Wonder Boy is the perfect training partner when it comes to energy and creativity. My gym is typical for early morning. Higher age demographic of which half the gym is 50 plus. No teens. 40% female. There is one competetive martial arts 35 year old and then myself in contest prep. With the exception of WB and G (the new girlie that joined us) everyone else trains mundane....never ever raising the bar...same o same o year after year and it shows. Well at least they are in the gym. Good for them.

When we run the stairs with weights or do the sled pull we get glowing nasty staring from all over the gym. We can see the jaws flapping and hear the buzz. Well this morning was sled pulling/power rack squats with resistance bands super sets. Heh heh. Don't forget we now have G with us. Pretty woman (divorced mom/school administrator/teacher/athlete) with a great figure and super smile and attitude. (right there she is a threat to all the other women). After just one trip by G up the gym pulling and return back dragging she caught the eye of Debbie. Debbie has always looked away when we sledded. I have known her around the local gyms for 30+ years. She asked to try a trip up and back. Off she went to the scowl of the men (wossies) in the gym. They must have all peed in their pants. Debbie said that was the hardest thing she has done in 25 years. (no chit). I lost no time while this was going on with those banded squats before me. 135 plus bands 1" below parallel to bench = ??. Debbie gone now and G pulling an added 45/25/10 plates. WOW. What a girl. Wonder Boy was showing off for G and damn near running with the sled. I plodded up and back like a contented bull. We clocked 45 min of non stop super sets. 15 min of machine hammies and extensions. My arse is shot big time.

The dynamics this past 5 days has been amazing. Every training session a 9 or 10. I have pounded down the protein and suppliments. Hydrated. Added in quality carbs and weigh to the ounce the same as I did a week ago in Pitt. PERFECT.

Baldie

namtrag · 07-24-2009, 08:51 AM

Go Bill, I wish my gym had people like you and Debbie around. I am sure I would work harder!

I can't say how much you have inspired me. I got a late start in lifting, age 43 the first time I got into it, and I regret not having a long life of it. But on the bright side, your example shows me I have a long time ahead of me to do it as well!

Baldiewonkanobi · 07-24-2009, 10:57 AM

Mike it's G you want to train with...not Debbie. Debbie is a 60 year old fitness broad who has looked the same for 30 years by always training the same and NEVER trying anything new until this morning. Actualy it's Wonder Boy you would love as a WO partner. That skinny little mo fo is the strongest man pound for pound that I have ever witnessed. He is also running on some exotic secret sauce....has to be but won't tell.

Baldie

namtrag · 07-24-2009, 11:40 AM

Reread, and saw G, not Debbie. Man I must have been sleepy when I read that.

We got one Wonder Boy at the Y, he only comes in at the same time as I do maybe once a week. 160lbs, if that, and he benches 275 for reps, incline press 245 for reps, etc. Looks like a cross country runner.