Need input on pics!

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 05:35 PM

Hi guys, i'd like some (real) comment on my pics... not just the looking good bro, but more like.. work this and that etc

im 21 working out 7 years 2 cycles under my belt
bf 19 % 258 lbs heavy 191 cm/6'3" tall

i would like to compete am i stage material?

thx guys

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 05:37 PM

pic 1

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 05:38 PM

pic 2

**musclemagGIRL** · 12-04-2002, 05:38 PM

Bare in mind... those who compete .... are like 5% BF on stage... if not less.

When do you want to compete?

Diet and see how it goes.

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 05:39 PM

pic 3

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 05:41 PM

last pic btw was thinking of competing in 2 years or so... i know i need to cut.. but in general.. good genetics/built already good mass etc...

**Aragorn** · 12-04-2002, 05:42 PM

You've got a great foundation to work with bro...what are you diet and workout regime like?

Aragorn

**BigGreen** · 12-04-2002, 06:17 PM

It looks like your arms overwhelm your chest in a few of those pics...but, nothing hides even a great chest like that bulking cycle bodyfat (just see lee priest in the celltech ads).

**Muscular_Mike** · 12-04-2002, 06:31 PM

bro you look not good, not being mean just honest.

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 06:31 PM

well i tend to workout 5 days a week
mo chest shoulder
tue back tri
we legs biceps
thu chest tri
vr back biceps

diets, lo fat, protein and 5 meals a day...

thinking of doing a cycle in 3 months

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by Muscular_Mike
bro you look not good, not being mean just honest.

ok but if ud explain ur comment i know what to work on

**Aragorn** · 12-04-2002, 06:34 PM

How about cardio? You should be getting in at least 3 days a week if not more. What are you keeping your reps and sets at(number wise)?

Aragorn

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 06:36 PM

sets aiming at 4x8 or higher (tending to make 10 reps) no cardio (yet) first wanna have a good build before cutting

**clubbinkid** · 12-04-2002, 06:39 PM

u need to cutr that up then build but nice foundation could pack alot of nice lean muscle on that after its cut

**clubbinkid** · 12-04-2002, 06:40 PM

muscalar mike we seen worse on thois page u harsh soul LOL

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 06:41 PM

so u guys say, no more bulking, start cutting?

any good cutting cycles

?

**Aragorn** · 12-04-2002, 06:42 PM

IMHO I think some intense cardio will be beneficial in cutting your bf% to a range that'll be good for a cycle. At the moment it seems a little high for a cycle...but bump for more opinions on what you should try to do here...

Aragorn

**johndope** · 12-04-2002, 06:43 PM

i apreciate the honesty, but is it that bad as muscular mike says?!

**BigGreen** · 12-04-2002, 08:03 PM

Is it as bad as muscular mike says? IMO, no...remember you're dealing with a self-selecting group here. Compared to the average joe, hell, even your average fitness enthusiast, i'd say you're ahead of the pack. However, even a cursory glance through these posts reveals that your average member on this board is a wealth of knowledge with a fair amount of training experience and results to show. A good analogy might be thinking of high school kids who post on a college admissions discussion board. While in reality an 1100 on your SAT's puts you firmly above average and then some, on a self-selecting board (where its members and posters are likely, by the nature of them simply being there, to be a very unrepresentative sample of people who are quite passionate and involved in the topic) a student scoring a "mere" 1100 will likely be ridiculed to the point of being called illiterate, even though that's very much so not the case, as all the students scoring in the 14 and 1500's, by nature of their competitiveness and involvedness flock to these boards, making up a disproportionate share of the members. Hope that analogy sheds some light onto the matter.

**johndope** · 12-05-2002, 04:52 AM

Originally posted by BigGreen
Is it as bad as muscular mike says? IMO, no...remember you're dealing with a self-selecting group here. Compared to the average joe, hell, even your average fitness enthusiast, i'd say you're ahead of the pack. However, even a cursory glance through these posts reveals that your average member on this board is a wealth of knowledge with a fair amount of training experience and results to show. A good analogy might be thinking of high school kids who post on a college admissions discussion board. While in reality an 1100 on your SAT's puts you firmly above average and then some, on a self-selecting board (where its members and posters are likely, by the nature of them simply being there, to be a very unrepresentative sample of people who are quite passionate and involved in the topic) a student scoring a "mere" 1100 will likely be ridiculed to the point of being called illiterate, even though that's very much so not the case, as all the students scoring in the 14 and 1500's, by nature of their competitiveness and involvedness flock to these boards, making up a disproportionate share of the members. Hope that analogy sheds some light onto the matter.

well appreciated m8, u just made my day :P

**Pete235** · 12-05-2002, 06:29 AM

I can relate to your line of thinking bro. I too am (was 18-20%) bf and still wanted to be bigger muscle wise. But I decided that I will cut first and tyhen try to add some quality muscle. Fron what I can see there are two areas I would focus on if I were you. First the positive. Overall you look decent. It's obvious that you're a big thick guy and that you have muscle. You have big thick arms, and they probably look good in a short sleeve shirt...am I right?

But t rust me, when they are cut they will look much bigger. The two areas that I feel need a little work are your delts and lats. You need more of a round sweeping delt as they are now over powered by your arms and upper chest. You also need to widen (is that a word?) and thicken you back. Can you give us an idea of what your delt and back routines look like? Maybe we can make a few suggestions.

**johndope** · 12-05-2002, 08:25 AM

gr8 input m8 thx a lot! with that comment i can work

for delts i do a behind the back barbell press 4x8
shoulder press
front raises
and upright rows

for back i do the lat pully behind the back
lat pulley in front of me
low rows
and a sort of pull down with a small grip, dunno waht it is called

gimme more input!! i like it

**Maytag** · 12-05-2002, 09:06 AM

you're neglecting the rear deltoids from your routine

although most say that upright row and the act of doing lat pull downs/pull ups as well as bent over rows will work it enough, ITS NOT...you need to throw in another isolation excercise like bent over shoulder raise.....

**johndope** · 12-05-2002, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by Maytag
you're neglecting the rear deltoids from your routine

although most say that upright row and the act of doing lat pull downs/pull ups as well as bent over rows will work it enough, ITS NOT...you need to throw in another isolation excercise like bent over shoulder raise.....

what do u have in mind m8?

**Maytag** · 12-05-2002, 11:20 AM

since you are doing front raises to bring out those front deltoids why not do bent over shoulder raises to bring out the rear deltoids as well....makes you look really awsome when hitting a back double bicep pose.....and when ppl look at you from the side you shoulder won't have that akward slanted look

next time your in a gym go check out the peepz shoulders, find those ppl who have low body fat and see how their shoulders look....you'll see that a lot of them have front deltoids that over powers their rear deltoids

judges in bb contests also look for symmetry within muscle groups

**johndope** · 12-05-2002, 11:44 AM

thx m8, but not in my gym though nor another one here, i am the biggest thing in there (no shit

**Butch** · 12-05-2002, 12:51 PM

Hey dawg...like most hace said here you ahve a great foundation....cut the shiat out of your body then go for the muscular....your on thew right track dude...keep up the good work

Time and effort always pay off.....Good luck bud!

***Sicilian30*** · 12-05-2002, 12:57 PM

wow you are a pretty big mofo. I bet with a nice cutting cycle, you would look awesome. YOu have a great base, and a good foundation, work off of that, set goals, and acheive them.

**saboudian** · 12-06-2002, 08:56 PM

basically my criticism is a lil redundant of what other people said but here it is.

good traps, looks like your arms are solid

work on your chest to match the guns, overall the entire back needs work, rear delts need some work too

Post some pics of wheels too, can't hurt to have a look at em.

I would say read up a ton about cutting, the first time anyone cuts down i guarantee they will bitch about losing muscle. Dieting is a bitch but once u get the look its almost hard to start bulking up again.

**johndope** · 12-09-2002, 06:21 AM

thx m8's for the input, i now generally have an idea of where to start, in march i will do a cutting cycle.

wheels are lagging but trying my best to make them match ...

ill keep u guys informed, thx again!

btw, any cutting cycle suggestions are welcome

**Pete235** · 12-09-2002, 06:39 AM

John, shoot me a PM and I will give you an idea of some great exercises that I think can help. I'm on my way to the gym but will reply later

**bodyd19** · 12-09-2002, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by johndope
thx m8's for the input, i now generally have an idea of where to start, in march i will do a cutting cycle.

wheels are lagging but trying my best to make them match ...

ill keep u guys informed, thx again!

btw, any cutting cycle suggestions are welcome

Hey bro,
Everyone has to start some where. If it was easy then everyone would look fuckin awsome and proportioned. But in reality it is not. Before jumping into a cutting cycle, try to diet down for at least three months and see how your results come from dieting alone. Like as said before 45 min cardio sessions at least three times a week in the morning on an empty stomach. Try keepin your caloriesbetween 2000-3000 a day. I am not sure for your wiehgt but i am 200 and i keep mind between there usually 2500 or so. But also throw a cheat day in there b/c it is hard to jump right into a diet plan with out a cheat day. Try also on cycling your carbs and eating the bulk of them before 5-6 oclock. hope this hepls. Kepp up the good work bro!

**johndope** · 12-09-2002, 05:03 PM

thx thx m8 currently i am about 257 lbs

**Aguro** · 12-10-2002, 02:06 AM

Maytag if i lay down on an inclined bench and do front raise will it actually help my rear delt? or i should add an extra exercise, i have the same problem with my rear delt it not isolated from my back.

**johndope** · 12-10-2002, 11:56 AM

good question

**unclebeets** · 12-10-2002, 10:54 PM

Pete, i cant believe your avatar, I love Trailer Park Boys.

**Terinox** · 12-10-2002, 11:03 PM

Dude, your looking THICK

Great mass, nice and big...maybe you should start cutting like others suggested. However it depends all on what u want to do? I keep going through a similar dilemma in my head...keep putting on mass...or get cutting and lose my big belly (i got a really big bellay)!

U would look great if you cut down, just work at it hard...and if u want to compete...then obviously your gonna have to cut kinda soon.