Too Early?

brademan76 · 08-30-2009, 04:54 PM

My show is on the 26th of September (4 weeks out). I'm basically ready to step on stage right now, conditioning wise. Has anyone ever been in this position, and if so, what did you do with your diet? I feel like I could add back a couple hundred calories per day and still be perfect on stage. I fear, that if I continue as I am I might start sacrificing a little bit of muscle before the show.

Current stats:

6'3"
200lbs

Diet
2600-2650kcal/day
320PRO
215CHO
55-60 FAT

I started dieting at 12 wks out weighing between 215-220. First 3 weeks at 3200kcal. 2nd 3 wks at 2900 and. 3rd 3 weeks at the totals above. I've lost a negligible amount of strength and my energy levels are pretty good.

Any advice on the diet?

FATHER FLEX · 08-30-2009, 05:11 PM

Do you have a picture? More often than not people think they are ready, when in reality they can still geta little sharper. Ideally you want to be ready 4 week out, right about there.

Now what you can do if you are lean enough, is carefully start adding food back in. This will make the final week less hit or miss. I did this after my last show August of last year, I slowly added more food to the point were my metabolic rate had caught up, yet I was still in good condition.

For this picture was taken 4 months after my last, I was at around 3.5-3.6Kcal, and cardio was very optional.

Their is NO worst case scenario with you, if indeed you are ready early.

brademan76 · 08-30-2009, 05:30 PM

I knew pics would be the first response/request! I do need to take some. I'm leaner that I was in my avatar pic and I"m seeing more vascularity than I've ever had. I don't think my legs are QUITE that lean, but not too far off. I'm thinking maybe just add back a 25-50 more grams of carbs for the next 2 weeks then coming back down to where I am currently for the week before peak week.

I'll see what I can do about getting pics sometime in the next day or 2.

Ian_B · 08-30-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brademan76

I knew pics would be the first response/request! I do need to take some. I'm leaner that I was in my avatar pic and I"m seeing more vascularity than I've ever had. I don't think my legs are QUITE that lean, but not too far off. I'm thinking maybe just add back a 25-50 more grams of carbs for the next 2 weeks then coming back down to where I am currently for the week before peak week.

I'll see what I can do about getting pics sometime in the next day or 2.

You do realize that that photo was taken four months AFTER his show?

If you aren't that lean then you definitely aren't stage lean.

As Father_Flex has said in the past, if you don't have lines on your ass then you aren't lean enough.

Barn01 · 08-30-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian_B

You do realize that that photo was taken four months AFTER his show?

If you aren't that lean then you definitely aren't stage lean.

As Father_Flex has said in the past, if you don't have lines on your ass then you aren't lean enough.

You do realize that very few naturals step on stage with glute striations right?

sloboda · 08-30-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian_B

You do realize that that photo was taken four months AFTER his show?

If you aren't that lean then you definitely aren't stage lean.

As Father_Flex has said in the past, if you don't have lines on your ass then you aren't lean enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barn01

You do realize that very few naturals step on stage with glute striations right?

X2, I was about to post the same thing.

brademan76 · 08-30-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barn01

You do realize that very few naturals step on stage with glute striations right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloboda

X2, I was about to post the same thing.

Haha, Thanks guys

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian_B

You do realize that that photo was taken four months AFTER his show?

If you aren't that lean then you definitely aren't stage lean.

As Father_Flex has said in the past, if you don't have lines on your ass then you aren't lean enough.

If a person isn't as lean as FF is on stage that doesn't neccesarily mean that they aren't "stage lean". Not everybody is able to acheive that kind of conditioning. Yes we all strive to get to that point but in reality not everyone has the genetics and willpower to do so.

DanTheManB · 08-30-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barn01

You do realize that very few naturals step on stage with glute striations right?

Glute striations are the most overrated concept ever.

Not everyone (ESPECIALLY!!! NATURALS) has the ability to get them.

I had them at an emaciated 145lbs my first show but I lost 10 lbs of muscle to get them. TOTALLY overrated

Vascularity is another genetic thing

DanTheManB · 08-30-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brademan76

Haha, Thanks guys

If a person isn't as lean as FF is on stage that doesn't neccesarily mean that they aren't "stage lean". Not everybody is able to acheive that kind of conditioning. Yes we all strive to get to that point but in reality not everyone has the genetics and willpower to do so.

That's another good point. FF was like 4% on stage but if you're at 5-6% (depending on how your body looks at that percentage) you might look better then the leaner guys.

Even at natural shows for the most part I've seen the guys who weren't quite in the best condition but still thick and kept a lot of muscle end up winning.

Ian_B · 08-30-2009, 08:33 PM

If you're competing at an amateur level show then shredded glutes aren't needed, sure.

But I'll be damned if you can find a single competitor at the WNBF World's (hell, most pro shows for that matter) that doesn't have striated glutes.

Edit: And in response to the statement that some people just can't get that lean... reality check here: if you are willing to put in the work, you can get as lean as you want.

DanTheManB · 08-30-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian_B

If you're competing at an amateur level show then shredded glutes aren't needed, sure.

But I'll be damned if you can find a single competitor at the WNBF World's (hell, most pro shows for that matter) that doesn't have striated glutes.

Edit: And in response to the statement that some people just can't get that lean... reality check here: if you are willing to put in the work, you can get as lean as you want.

Ok thanks mr 16 yr old who's been working out for how many years?

Reality check for you is that it's insanely difficult to get glute stri's as a natural while keeping most of your muscle.

yeah s hit its easy to keep getting LEANER i've done that. but not without burning up more muscle for fuel

sloboda · 08-30-2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheManB

Ok thanks mr 16 yr old who's been working out for how many years?

Reality check for you is that it's insanely difficult to get glute stri's as a natural while keeping most of your muscle.

yeah s hit its easy to keep getting LEANER i've done that. but not without burning up more muscle for fuel

lol @ him thinking he knows everything.. he runs his mouth in every section of this forum thinking hes a guru. come back once you've tried to get striated glutes ian and tell us all how it went

FATHER FLEX · 08-31-2009, 01:33 AM

I hate to say it guys, but how lean you can come in is probably the thing you have the most control of out of what you are judged on. Symmetry, muscularity, and conditioning, from most genetically dependant to least. Its just that conditioning can be very illusive, but if you are in a positio to go for it. GO FOR IT!

Lines in the ass FTW. Literally, unless you are Daniel Martin or some other Marsian.

DanTheManB · 08-31-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FATHER FLEX

I hate to say it guys, but how lean you can come in is probably the thing you have the most control of out of what you are judged on. Symmetry, muscularity, and conditioning, from most genetically dependant to least. Its just that conditioning can be very illusive, but if you are in a positio to go for it. GO FOR IT!

Lines in the ass FTW. Literally, unless you are Daniel Martin or some other Marsian.

I agree that how lean you are is the one thing you're most in control of. That's also kinda genetic. Coming from personal experience I have to worry about losing muscle more then being in good condition. I had the second best conditioning in my last show without really "going for it" so to speak. Blessing and a curse

DanTheManB · 08-31-2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloboda

lol @ him thinking he knows everything.. he runs his mouth in every section of this forum thinking hes a guru. come back once you've tried to get striated glutes ian and tell us all how it went

indeed

Whomper107 · 08-31-2009, 07:16 AM

Even if someone can't necessarily get glute striation lean, you have to remember that your best represents something asymptomatic. You can get closer and closer to your maximum leanness, but never quite get there. My advice is to keep pushing it!

DanTheManB · 08-31-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whomper107

Even if someone can't necessarily get glute striation lean, you have to remember that your best represents something asymptomatic. You can get closer and closer to your maximum leanness, but never quite get there. My advice is to keep pushing it!

great point!

TQsmooth5 · 08-31-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheManB

That's another good point. FF was like 4% on stage but if you're at 5-6% (depending on how your body looks at that percentage) you might look better then the leaner guys.

Even at natural shows for the most part I've seen the guys who weren't quite in the best condition but still thick and kept a lot of muscle end up winning.

I don't know what shows you've been to, but in my experience the vast majority of the winners are the competitors who are the leanest. Between two similar physiques, if one person is obviously bigger but isn't lean, 9 times out of 10 it will go to the smaller ripped person (who can still pose and throw the "X")...unless it's a case of the other person being absolutely so much bigger that it's obvious that he/she overwhelms the others.

I would much rather burn a small amount of muscle and come in shredded than to try to keep a eye on my weight and come in a few pounds too heavy. Of course, you want to keep as much muscle as possible but more importantly you want to burn the fat!...and I can talk, I've got plenty of experience.

DanTheManB · 08-31-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TQsmooth5

I don't know what shows you've been to, but in my experience the vast majority of the winners are the competitors who are the leanest. Between two similar physiques, if one person is obviously bigger but isn't lean, 9 times out of 10 it will go to the smaller ripped person (who can still pose and throw the "X")...unless it's a case of the other person being absolutely so much bigger that it's obvious that he/she overwhelms the others.

I would much rather burn a small amount of muscle and come in shredded than to try to keep a eye on my weight and come in a few pounds too heavy. Of course, you want to keep as much muscle as possible but more importantly you want to burn the fat!...and I can talk, I've got plenty of experience.

Wrong and wrong. Stop speaking in absolutes.

My first two shows my conditioning was out of this world-glute stri's and all...didn't do any better than 5th out of 10 my first show and 4th out of 6 my second.

I was the second best conditioned in the entire show this most recent one and came in 3rd in novice and 5 in open.

DanTheManB · 08-31-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuscleSFniners

this^^^

Maybe I just compete at the wrong shows =/

FATHER FLEX · 08-31-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TQsmooth5

I don't know what shows you've been to, but in my experience the vast majority of the winners are the competitors who are the leanest. Between two similar physiques, if one person is obviously bigger but isn't lean, 9 times out of 10 it will go to the smaller ripped person (who can still pose and throw the "X")...unless it's a case of the other person being absolutely so much bigger that it's obvious that he/she overwhelms the others.

I would much rather burn a small amount of muscle and come in shredded than to try to keep a eye on my weight and come in a few pounds too heavy. Of course, you want to keep as much muscle as possible but more importantly you want to burn the fat!...and I can talk, I've got plenty of experience.

Most often this is the case.

brademan76 · 09-27-2009, 05:29 PM

Well I took the collegiate, open tall, and overall open at the contest. It was the Bluffs Classic in Council Bluffs Iowa, a NANBF sanctioned show. I really wish I woulda chose a pro qualifier show but I'm thinking I'll save that for late spring of 2010. We'll see what happens. Heres pics:
Collegiate:

Top 3 Open Tall

Open Overall Short+ Tall Pose Off

brademan76 · 09-27-2009, 05:29 PM

brademan76 · 09-27-2009, 05:38 PM

COULD A MOD UPDATE THE THREAD TITLE TO SAY "(UPDATED WITH PICS)" After the original thread title?

PLEASE!!!!

stayfit2008 · 09-27-2009, 05:43 PM

Bravo!! you look fantastic! You look much heavier than 200lbs!

brademan76 · 09-27-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stayfit2008

Bravo!! you look fantastic! You look much heavier than 200lbs!

Thanks so much man!

I'm assuming I was a tad under 200. I was at 198ish in clothes a on like Tues of Wed of Peak week. I hated seeing it so low, so I just stopped weighing and let the diet take its course over the last few days. So, I'm sure I was closer to 195 completely depleted.

Ian_B · 09-27-2009, 06:30 PM

You looked great man. You have a very complete physique.

Only critique is that you could use some more size in your chest and triceps and could have been leaner in the lower body (especially glutes/hams).

Oh and your traps are huge as hell.