A little over four weeks out pics

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 07:28 PM

here are some pics of me at a lil over four weeks out. This is my first show, right now I am 21 yrs old 6'1" 222-224lbs in the morning on empty stomach. I know I am thin and need some more mass everywhere, arms could come up, so could traps and lats for sure. I feel my strengths are quads, hams and maybe back thickness (not width lol) SHoulders are decent. I would apprecitae some feedback, although please do not rip me to shreds right now as that would not help my mindset for this comp. I know I am pretty small already. You can start really giving me serious critiques after the show, when my mindset doesnt matter as much, and I actually have enough calories and energy and time to actually make changes. Obviously not many things are going to chagne this close to the show (except conditioning).

I feel I am a little behind schedule, but please dont start throwing all kinds of sugestions, b/c I have a prep guy who I am working with currently who I trust 100%%. My sodium is very high right now (has been all prep) and I hold water easily, so I am very bloated. THings will change heavily in the nesxt few weeks. I plan to compete in the novie class as a heavy wieght, it is a state level show.

THe rear relaxed shot is from a couple days ago, and the one with me in jeans was 10 weeks out. The rest are form this evening.

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 07:31 PM

Also, the lightsource is coming from straight in front of me (camera flash), so it washes out a lot of my definition. I put it on a timer as well, so posing was tough to do in like 2 seconds LOL

**WEBB** · 06-08-2006, 07:39 PM

goo dwork man....4 weeks is lots of time imo to tighten up....stay focuse dand if it gets bad hit me up...i am 16 days out so we can suffer together...

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 07:42 PM

Thanks bro, I may be hittin you up LOL.

Be straight with me tho....you think I am carryin enough mass to hold me own in the novice class of a state level show? I am kind worried, I do not have the thickness I thought I did.

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 07:45 PM

Here is me at 17 weeks out sitting at about 255-258 lbs while I was in cancun on spring break lol. I can not believe how fat I let myself get...I plan to stay around 9% year around now... I started my diet one week after this pic.

**WEBB** · 06-08-2006, 07:49 PM

stayin lean makes it easier for sure.....i was 280 when i was 8 weeeks out....and i am 233 now...and i would like to stay at 265 from now on...you have come a long way and your gonna tear up the stage no doubt man...

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 08:08 PM

Thanks a lot bro, that is re-assuring. Honestly though, my prep guy has worked magic with me.

I am sorry I have not commented on your threads yet WEBB, I have been following a long closely, I just tend to stay quiet most of the time. You look great though bro, that rear lat spread and those quads are nasty!! Chest thickness is great too. You and I seem to both hold a lot of water....in the same places as well (lower back/love handles and around the navel) Good luck bro!

**WEBB** · 06-08-2006, 08:13 PM

i think you will do very well...dont worry about mass..get in the best condition and the judges will pick hands down...to many guys play the size game and come in big and loose...come in dry, hard and peeled...you'll look bigger anyway....

I will lose my water there around 8 days out...i did last time..i woke up and it was gone....but i t likes to mess with my head and get me worried first...then it leaves...

if you got MSN hit me up anytime [email protected] we can chat easier and more freely about things...

**ManWhore** · 06-08-2006, 08:15 PM

looking good bro...

**mwolffey** · 06-08-2006, 08:28 PM

you need to tighten up a bit more...but you are looking good, whats your cardio like right now....you might need to bump it up

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by mwolffey

you need to tighten up a bit more...but you are looking good, whats your cardio like right now....you might need to bump it up

Cardio is 30min ED in the am on empty, about to bump it up to 2 X ED

**mwolffey** · 06-08-2006, 08:37 PM

ye bump it up or maybe do an hour every morning and maybe 20-30 minutes another time like before bed with nothing but a shake....mr. ment1on has suggested this as well....it may help you keep some muscle while doing so much cardio...but you will come in diced bro....good luck bro, keep us updated

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 08:39 PM

Thanks for the comments!!

***Narkissos*** · 06-08-2006, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by spound

Cardio is 30min ED in the am on empty, about to bump it up to 2 X ED

I think your should've bumped it up before this time.. however increasing it now should bring about noticeable changes.

Personally i would increase it to a minimum of 45 mins twice daily.

What's your training like?

Are you clean?

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Narkissos

I think your should've bumped it up before this time.. however increasing it now should bring about noticeable changes.

Personally i would increase it to a minimum of 45 mins twice daily.

What's your training like?

Are you clean?

I am doing Iron man HIT training RIght now, although I am having to train around a naggin injury (strained lower abdominal muscle) So heavy leg pressing movements are limited and deads are out. I thoguht ti was a hernia (doc said it was) then the surgeon I was referred to said it was just strained msucle, he felt no hernia.

**Death** · 06-08-2006, 09:29 PM

First of all, at first glance, for a 21 year old, you are not small. Your height warrants packing a lot of size on for a bodybuilder, but in time, that will come. If we are to talk about now, i would say your size is great for your age, sodium and water is still not a main issue yet at week four, but that will come, and so will results, having addressed those concerns. If it were me, i would still be focussed on bodyfat, and by the looks of it your going ok. Remember, dont worry about your weight, just worry about how hard your getting, because with being lean, comes the appearance of size onstage.... Keep working hard on the bodyfat! Goodluck.

**spound** · 06-08-2006, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by Death

First of all, at first glance, for a 21 year old, you are not small. Your height warrants packing a lot of size on for a bodybuilder, but in time, that will come. If we are to talk about now, i would say your size is great for your age, sodium and water is still not a main issue yet at week four, but that will come, and so will results, having addressed those concerns. If it were me, i would still be focussed on bodyfat, and by the looks of it your going ok. Remember, dont worry about your weight, just worry about how hard your getting, because with being lean, comes the appearance of size onstage.... Keep working hard on the bodyfat! Goodluck.

Thanks for the comments man. You aren't lyin'....being 6'1" is going to require me to really carry around some mass in due time. I plan to do just that too

My long term goal is to compete around 230-250ish, meaning I will walk around at a not very sloppy 280-290. That will take a couple years though obviously.

You are right, and yes, bodyfat is my #1 concern, I am honestly not worried about weight, I jsut want to be as peeled and shreaded as possible. I am talking shrinkwrapped. I just hope I can get there by show time. I trust I will though bc I have seen my prep guy work some serious magic and I trust him 100%.

**Death** · 06-08-2006, 09:41 PM

Thats great, best of luck, as everyone is suggesting, morning cardio on an empty stomach, brings results, evening cardio is the go too....

**MrMent1on** · 06-08-2006, 11:15 PM

Bro you can do it. I just had a friend that prep fo ronly 4 weeks for a competition last weekend, went from 265lbs to 226lbs and to 4th place in the open and novice super heavy weight as yo usee he missed heavy weight by 1 lbs and was the smallest super heavy weight but still beat out quite a few of them... oh he is 5'9". I tell you this because I put him on a cardio regiment of 1 hour in the morning on an empty stomach and 45 minutes last thing before bed. if he had only 4 more weeks he would have won easily even though he wasnt the biggest biut would have been the most shredded. so you can do it. just focus and dont worry about size, its only your first show, have fun.

**spound** · 06-09-2006, 05:52 AM

THanks MM and everyone else. I plan to stay focused on pretty much nothing but this show for the next four weeks, I have every intention of hitting the stage peeled....that is my only concern at the moment.

I suddenly found out I have to leave town this mornign though, as my cousin died in a car accident yesterday morning

I will be ook, but it hasnt hit me yet, it probably will when I get home. I will bring all my food with me and stay exactly on schedule none the less. I have really been tested through this prep with this bullshit among other issues, but I will not be stopped now.
Thanks for all the support and help fellas.

**MrMent1on** · 06-09-2006, 06:07 AM

Sorry to hear that bro... stay strong.

**Death** · 06-09-2006, 06:20 AM

Im sorry to hear that spound, staying focussed for a comp may be hard in a time like this and life can throw big curve balls at you, but im sure you will come thru it......

**spound** · 06-09-2006, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by MrMent1on

Sorry to hear that bro... stay strong.

Thanks guys.

HEY MM, I just arrived home in Texas, and I grabbed the new MD to read on the plane and you are in there in a small pic on pg 70. Did you know that? I was like holy shit, he was responding to my posts last night!! LOL THought I would let ya know, I thought that was pretty cool

Unfortunately, when I looked in the fridge here at home the fam has all kinds of goodies in the fridge, I havent been craving anything yet, b/c I dont buy any junk, so I never see it, but its a lot harder when its in your face and you can smell it!! This will be tough, but I will be strong, I have all my food/protein with me.

**Random** · 06-09-2006, 03:39 PM

Yea man i noticed that pic in MD too! pretty cool! Best of luck Spound....

**muscle1** · 06-09-2006, 04:07 PM

i think if you hit ur cardio like MM said and come in shredded, you have a good shot at comin in at the top of the lit heavy class...so 198, just my thought

**hurley11** · 06-14-2006, 01:31 PM

You have good size for 21, like muscle1 said I think the top of light heavy would be a good weight to shoot for. Make sure you practice your posing and good luck w/ the comp.

**spound** · 06-14-2006, 08:07 PM

Thank you....this shit is getting rough though, the prep was relatively easy until this last week or so, I am as close to a living hell as it gets. I am feeling ok on training days b/c my carbs are higher, but otehr days I am a zombie. I also have to get up at 4:30 am every morning in order to get my cardio in on empty and still make it to work on time (i commute 1 hr to work). Not to mention having to go back in the evening and do cardio again....UGH.... THis sucks, I will make it through though, I will get there. I don't even care about having to eat the same shit, nor am I craving anything, I just wanna sleep in and not have to get on the ****in tr3eadmill in the morning!! Shit, its dark when I get on the treadmill and still dark when I get off!!!

**copenhagen** · 06-14-2006, 08:31 PM

good luck spound, looks like your battling your way through.

**MrMent1on** · 06-15-2006, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by spound

Thanks guys.

HEY MM, I just arrived home in Texas, and I grabbed the new MD to read on the plane and you are in there in a small pic on pg 70. Did you know that? I was like holy shit, he was responding to my posts last night!! LOL THought I would let ya know, I thought that was pretty cool

Unfortunately, when I looked in the fridge here at home the fam has all kinds of goodies in the fridge, I havent been craving anything yet, b/c I dont buy any junk, so I never see it, but its a lot harder when its in your face and you can smell it!! This will be tough, but I will be strong, I have all my food/protein with me.

Oh wow I didnt know that I have to go check it out.

**MrMent1on** · 06-15-2006, 07:12 AM

Is thats the MD with Branch Warren on the cover????

**Random** · 06-15-2006, 03:27 PM

Its the newest MD with Gary Strydom on the cover...pretty sweet bro...!

**spound** · 06-15-2006, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by CaptainDominate

Its the newest MD with Gary Strydom on the cover...pretty sweet bro...!

Yup....the one with strydom on the front... I THINK it was pg 70, but not 100% sure...

**MrMent1on** · 06-15-2006, 10:08 PM

I picked it up, thats me and my girl and my long time trainer Colette Nelson. didnt think that picture would show up in there. but good look, my girl is all excited, she's about to compete in November. but back to your tread bro. so how is the diet coming along?? are you holding out??

**spound** · 06-15-2006, 10:32 PM

Yes I am....I am not gonna lie...I am suffering now...but thats what it takes...I jsut took new pics and I look a ton better....weight is down around 219-220 now as well. I think I will be there on point...jsut gotta hold out another 3.5 weeks. Wish me luck!! The only thing that is killin me is the fact that I have to get up at 4:30 am in order to do cardio on an empty stomach and still make it to work on time....I am tired and dilerious all day.