My first steps toward stage...

[stone2611]

Alright I'll start with a lil background. Started lifting in junior high, and then high school. Didn't know anything besides i wanted to get strong for football. College came and I lifted with no rhyme or reason, just to relieve stress and get away from school. 3 semesters ago started thinking about bodybuilding, then met a guy at school who im sure a lot of you know as whomperfit, and well since then, became convinced to do a show. I'm a junior now at Texas A&M in College Station and studying Mechanical Engineering. I have to admit, at times its hard to find the 1.5-2 hrs in the weightroom everyday, but it honestly keeps me sane. I'm sure many feel this way! For the record, I owe much credit to whomper!! seriously! I read these forums at least twice a day for a good while each time, and have to say, this forum is by far the best that I've been to!! Not gonna keep going on with the boring stuff..

Im looking to do the INBF Southwestern in Austin, Texas on July 17th. So it's still a good ways away. About 18 weeks away actually. Im currently eating about 2200-2250 calories a day with macros at an average of 50-60/180-190/220-230 (f/c/p) and been averaging about -1 lb a week.

Some stats:

Age: Just turned 21 (not a good time to start a cut, I KNOW, but its dedication)
Current Weight: 166-168 lbs
Current Height: 5'7
Shoe size: haha just kiddin

From what ive seen, not gonna really post anything about workouts, don't find that information all that interesting cuz i think everybody is a lil different and you don't get too much out of reading someone elses workout during a cut.

I want to get some opinions. Based on my pictures, just kind of curious if yall think im on track and any suggestions yall may have...im open to all of them. I'm not experience, as this is my first show, therefore im really curiuos and open-minded to suggestions and advice.

Well heres the pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48371337@N02/4431222072/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48371337@N02/4431222082/

[jth16]

Alright I'll start with a lil background. Started lifting in junior high, and then high school. Didn't know anything besides i wanted to get strong for football. College came and I lifted with no rhyme or reason, just to relieve stress and get away from school. 3 semesters ago started thinking about bodybuilding, then met a guy at school who im sure a lot of you know as whomperfit, and well since then, became convinced to do a show. I'm a junior now at Texas A&M in College Station and studying Mechanical Engineering. I have to admit, at times its hard to find the 1.5-2 hrs in the weightroom everyday, but it honestly keeps me sane. I'm sure many feel this way! For the record, I owe much credit to whomper!! seriously! I read these forums at least twice a day for a good while each time, and have to say, this forum is by far the best that I've been to!! Not gonna keep going on with the boring stuff..

Im looking to do the INBF Southwestern in Austin, Texas on July 17th. So it's still a good ways away. About 18 weeks away actually. Im currently eating about 2200-2250 calories a day with macros at an average of 50-60/180-190/220-230 (f/c/p) and been averaging about -1 lb a week.

Some stats:

Age: Just turned 21 (not a good time to start a cut, I KNOW, but its dedication)
Current Weight: 166-168 lbs
Current Height: 5'7
Shoe size: haha just kiddin

From what ive seen, not gonna really post anything about workouts, don't find that information all that interesting cuz i think everybody is a lil different and you don't get too much out of reading someone elses workout during a cut.

I want to get some opinions. Based on my pictures, just kind of curious if yall think im on track and any suggestions yall may have...im open to all of them. I'm not experience, as this is my first show, therefore im really curiuos and open-minded to suggestions and advice.

Well heres the pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48371337@N02/4431222072/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48371337@N02/4431222082/

I would start implementing refeeds twice per week. This will help speed fat loss, help you maintain strength, keep you sane, and preserve lean mass. Do a little searching around on information about refeed formats, but to give you a basic idea...
Find your maintenance calories, 1-1.2X bodyweight in protein, minimum to 45g fat, calculate how many calories that is, then the rest of the calories for the day come from carbs.

Nutrient timing is important, having a larger percent of your carbs before and after your workout can be beneficial both for fat loss and for lean mass preservation.

You're looking lean for 18 weeks out, which is a very good thing. Sets you up for slow drop that will preserve your muscle mass and keep you full for the show.

What kind of a metabolism do you have? 180g carbs per day this far out seems a bit low, and may leave you feeling sluggish and weak pretty early out if you have to keep dropping.

Hope I was of some help,
-Jordan

[stone2611]

ya ive been reading about refeeds and have known about them for some time...a few things i kinda forgot to put in the first post..

im planning on taking shots every 2-3 weeks for progress and in about 6 weeks will really start asking for some posing critique. I practice about every other day for about 20 mins. I know this isn't probably near enough but with school, its so hard! but im not here to make excuses, it will get done, and i would like yalls input when the time comes.

I kinda consider myself a meso-endo, so I have carbs around 190. There are times when I think it would be nice to have them around 210-220, but I think thats just the hunger talking. Ive always felt carb sensitive, but honestly have kind of been scared to test that.

jth16:
thanks for the info. i dont know how to take your post and put it in here so you know im talking about your post, but i guess ill figure it out sooner or later. I am kind of hoping I am a little bit ahead. My buddy said if at all possible, it would be really beneficial to eat into the show, and so thats the plan.

Just one more thing...everything is coming along fat-loss wise, i just tend to hold onto it in my thighs pretty tightly. this is my main concern. with that in mind, it kind of confuses me with my progress. anybody have a lil light to shed on this concern?

[stone2611]

Well I find myself everyday thinking if I'm on track...ahead, behind, etc. I'm sure this is common for anybody preppin. Anyway, I need a little bit of help. Initially, at the beginning of my prep I though 165 was gonna be my contest weight, but I was obviously holding a lot more fat than i thought. Im about 166ish, and am wondering if my contest weight goal should be closer to 150-155. I know the mirror tells all, and thats really the only way to know regardless of weight, but I need a weight goal so that I know about how much weight I should be losing per week. Just a recap, I'm 17.5 weeks out from my show, the pics in the first post were takin about a week ago and since, the scale fluctuates from 164.6-166.4... Some HELP please!!

[stone2611]

I'm trying to delete this thread...not sure it should be in the journal section, but rather just the general contest prep section...if somebody can delete it please do, if not, how do I do so?