>>Blazed's 50 Week Journey To The Stage <<

[Blahzay128]

Great progress!!

I'm definitely going to check out your thread. I'm also from NY and will be competing again around the same time as you....

If your from Long Island, another good show to check out around that time is the INBF NYS Championships held in Poughkeepsie, NY (www.inbfnys.com). This is a great show. It's usually held the last week of October.

I'm also considering doing the USBF show....

Well, best of luck....keep strong my friend.

[thebasil]

"Lil progress" over a long time is all you need. Keep it up. Your taking some shape now.....keep cutting diligently.

Wise words from a man with experience. I can definitely see that you're taking shape too man, keep it up. Just keep pluggin' and chuggin' and the rezultz will come!

[Blazed]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I know its hard to tell because of the angles and lighting but the difference on my waist is about 1.5" between those pics and the ones from oct 1st. I am happy and the cut is only going to get harder from here with each lb I drop. Tomorrow will be leg/lower back.

[Blazed]

Legs last night

Squats
Bar x a lot
135 x 12
225 x 8
225 x 8
275 x 4
225 x 6

Deadlifts
135 x 8
225 x 8
275 x 8

DOne and done. Weight was 228 clothed lol holding a lot of water and crap I guess.

[ygbodybuilder10]

so u are not taking in any carbs

[Blazed]

so u are not taking in any carbs

Where did I say that?

[ygbodybuilder10]

Where did I say that?

i didnt see any in ur meal plans

[Blazed]

Herro, small update. I came down with the flu. Have been sick since last thursday. Treid going to the gym on sunday and hit a weak shoulder/Bi session and went home feeling like crap. Diet has been good, just resting and trying to nurse myself back to health. Took some crappy pics today first thing after waking up. Lookin flat as hell. But I took waist measurement and low and behold

Oct 1st 39.7" -----7 weeks---> Nov 19th 37.4" -2.3" =)

Weight at the gym was 223 clothed.

[thebasil]

Lookin' good bro!

[Blazed]

Hit the gym today for chest/back. Felt kind of weak recovering from the flu.

BB Rows
45 x 12
135 x 8
155 x 8
160 x 8

DB Press
35's x 8
80's x 8
80's x 7
60's x 7

Cable Rows
130 x 8
150 x 8
165 x 8

Peck Deck
Rack x 8
Rack x 8

Lat Pulldowns
165 x 8
180 x 8

Pullups
BW x 5
BW x 3

Weight 221 Clothed.

[Jaredia123]

youre looking awesome bro!! Man just imagine late 09' steppin up on the stage. Thats what keeps me going during my cardio and abs.
I was wondering what supplements are taking now?

[Blazed]

None, just a little whey on days I dont eat a lot meat.

And I know about the stage feeling. It will be my first time so the anticipation is crazy I can't even imagine what it will be like when I get closer to D-Day. A lot of work to do until then. I don't want to step on stage too small or too soft.

[Blazed]

Legs and lower back today

Squats
Bar x a lot
135 x 12
235 x 8
235 x 8
235 x 6

SLDL
135 x 8
225 x 8
225 x 8

Calf Raises
345 x 12
375 x 12
355 x 9

Weight 225 clothed and 218 naked on electric scale this morning.

[stayfit2008]

Amazing, I dont understand it?? How come you get to lose BF along your waist first?? Thats the last thing to go on me!! Man old mid age sucks at times!! haha

[Blazed]

Amazing, I dont understand it?? How come you get to lose BF along your waist first?? Thats the last thing to go on me!! Man old mid age sucks at times!! haha

I would say in the long haul of things this is the last area to go. I've already dropped over 20%

[AustrianOakJr]

I would say in the long haul of things this is the last area to go. I've already dropped over 20%

I agree. When I started cutting, the fat just melted off my mid section......I dropped like 8 inches off my waist in about the first 3 months. But, the mid section was also the last to go....my lower back was still fat when I competed. I think in men, the mid section is the MAIN source of back up energy, so its the first the body taps into because most of its fat is stored there. Then, when reserves get low, the body clings to whats left there for survival reasons.

[thebasil]

I agree. When I started cutting, the fat just melted off my mid section......I dropped like 8 inches off my waist in about the first 3 months. But, the mid section was also the last to go....my lower back was still fat when I competed. I think in men, the mid section is the MAIN source of back up energy, so its the first the body taps into because most of its fat is stored there. Then, when reserves get low, the body clings to whats left there for survival reasons.

sounds very reasonable lol

[stayfit2008]

Next competition i'm going to be on the brink of death,..haha

[Blazed]

So after reading more and more of these prep logs on this site and a few others I have decided to start a more rigorous regimen for getting as lean as possible by January. I have decided that I will start transitioning into a bulk by the end of January and would like to get as lean as possible over these next 8 or so weeks.

Although I have been estimating my cals and trying to get a lot of protein I think that I need to start tracking macros and calories more exactly, as well as doing Cardio 3 x a week. HIIT 2 x a week. SS 1 x a week.

New diet plan as well.

Workout days - 2800 cals, 250g protein, 100g fat, 200g carbs
Off Days - 2300 cals, 250g protein 100g fat, <100g carbs

Carbs on workout days I will try to eat mostly around my workouts.

I am starting to realize that these next 48 weeks will go by faster then I can imagine and I do not want to waste any time.

Going to hit Shoulders/Arms/Abs this afternoon.

[Blahzay128]

Why bulk in January? Why not maintain calories at that time, while focusing on building muscle.....IMO makes more sense to maintain right before you are going to transition into a contest prep....If there is any time to 'bulk' now would be it.......

[Blazed]

Why bulk in January? Why not maintain calories at that time, while focusing on building muscle.....IMO makes more sense to maintain right before you are going to transition into a contest prep....If there is any time to 'bulk' now would be it.......

True that. I guess that is the problem with working in a limited time frame. Trying to get it all done in time.

I would bulk right now, if I wasn't so fat. I feel like bulking now with my current bf% would be a disaster. I am trying to get down to a BF% I am comfortable maintaining. When I get there, hopefully soon I will rev up the calories and go into building more. Maintaining calories and focusing on building is exactly what I plan on doing. I might stay in a slight caloric excess but I am trying to making small lean gains. Mostly bringing up lagging body parts. This whole prep is going to be one long learning experience.

I figure if I cut till mid-end of January I can get leaner and then have 4-5 months to put on a few LBS of muscle before prep.

Who knows haha.

[stayfit2008]

True that. I guess that is the problem with working in a limited time frame. Trying to get it all done in time.

I would bulk right now, if I wasn't so fat. I feel like bulking now with my current bf% would be a disaster. I am trying to get down to a BF% I am comfortable maintaining. When I get there, hopefully soon I will rev up the calories and go into building more. Maintaining calories and focusing on building is exactly what I plan on doing. I might stay in a slight caloric excess but I am trying to making small lean gains. Mostly bringing up lagging body parts. This whole prep is going to be one long learning experience.

I figure if I cut till mid-end of January I can get leaner and then have 4-5 months to put on a few LBS of muscle before prep.

Who knows haha.

Have you considered hiring a trainer? From your last statement of "Who Knows" sounds like you are all over the place in your plan.

[Blazed]

Have you considered hiring a trainer? From your last statement of "Who Knows" sounds like you are all over the place in your plan.

I have considered it and even contacted a few on these boards. Unfortunately the price is holding me back right now. I will most likely hire someone to do my last 20 weeks or so but for now I can't afford it.

As far as being all over the place. I guess its just too early to tell what I will have to do 3-4 months down the line. This is the leanest I have been in years and I don't even know how I will look once I lean out a bit more. I just wish I knew what the best approach is as far as my timing goes and what I need to do as far as bulking/cutting before actual prep.

I'm hoping to get some advice from you guys =o

Oh I signed up for the free Scivation thing but don't know how much help it will be.

[AustrianOakJr]

If I were in your position (and I was at one point, so I feel I can say this with some confidence).....I would just start cutting. You are fat enough (no disrespect intended) that you could SLOWLY cut and probably even continue to build, if not...just refine, muscle as you go. I basicly cut from January to October with 3 month break in the middle at maintenance (maybe a slight surplus at times). I go back in forth in my mind as to whether or not this was a good idea. On the one hand, the 3 month break from May-July, probably boosted my metabolism and helped mentally, but I could have definately come in leaner for the show. I only allowed myself 12 weeks (from August to October) to come down the rest of the way. Thats not a lot of time considering I was still probably 12-13% BF after my "break".

Not to mention, when I first started my cut, I was balls to the wall trying to win a transformation contest, dropping 3lbs a week for 14 weeks straight.

If I were you, I would just start a SLOW cut (1 -2lbs a week) from now until you show in October. Allow yourself cheat time for t-giving, Christmas, birthdays, etc. and just chip away at the fat. Come in as LEAN as possible. The extra muscle isnt gonna do a whole lot for you at your first show. LEAN is how you win.

P.S. Whats the free scivation thing?

[Blazed]

Almost like a free online nutrition/training consult. Kinda neat if it actually helps.
And no disrespect taken at all mate. I have been cutting and will continue to do so. Thank you for the advice sir. Although I don't think I will need the remaining 11 1/2 months for cutting purposes I think time is a good thing to have lol. I'm about to step it up a notch so we will see what happens by new years.

[imccarthy]

Almost like a free online nutrition/training consult. Kinda neat if it actually helps.
And no disrespect taken at all mate. I have been cutting and will continue to do so. Thank you for the advice sir. Although I don't think I will need the remaining 11 1/2 months for cutting purposes I think time is a good thing to have lol. I'm about to step it up a notch so we will see what happens by new years.

I wouldn't be surprised if it took you 9-10 months of cutting to get contest lean... considering you probably won't be able to nail your diet all the time 11 1/2 months sound reasonable.

[Step Beyond]

Looking good, bro.............keep up the hard work. Nice thickness in the pics. The first year can be tough, but just remember how far you have come if you get frustrated. Don't try to overcomplicate things either - just keep it simple and moving ahead. I think especially with us newbies we tend to outthink ourselves and make this more coplicated than need be. Keep lifting hard and eating clean and you'll rock the stage when the time comes.

[Blazed]

Thanks for the awesome tips and advice guys. Really helps.

Weight in the gym was 222 with shorts and shoes, at night though. So morning weight around 217-218 consistantly now.

Shoulders/Bi's/Abs

Seated DB Press
60's x 8
60's x 7
60's x 5

Alt DB Curl
40's x 8
45's x 8
40's x 8
35's x 5

Side Lateral Raises
25's x 8
30's x 7
25's x 6

Leg Raises
BW x 12
BW x 10
BW x 10

Done and done.

Felt great. I respond well to lower volume high intensity sessions. This was no different. Felt really good today.

I watched Bigger Faster Stronger today. Recommend everyone sees it!

Tomorrow is Turkey day and I will still be shooting for my ~2500 cals since I will not be lifting.

I am going with the advice here and going to continue to cut and unless I get super lean super quick, which won't happen since I am an Endo/Meso I guess It will all be about conditioning. Looks like I will be competing at a pathetic 170-175lbs lol.

[AustrianOakJr]

I wouldn't be surprised if it took you 9-10 months of cutting to get contest lean... considering you probably won't be able to nail your diet all the time 11 1/2 months sound reasonable.

Agreed. If you were spot on with your diet day in and day out, it would take 9 mos or so. Dont expect to be spot on everyday. If you give yourself 11 mos, that means you can do refeeds once per week and planned cheats for special occasions. Takes a lot of pressure off.

[stayfit2008]

I think a consistant training plan along with a pretty basic diet designed to lose bf 1-1.5lbs/week could eventually get him to contest condition. You would come in a bit on the lighter side for 6'. The best bet would start your agressive training/diet plan and see re-evaluate your condition every 3 months.