Successful Competing

[Metalject]

i really want to compete in the near future maybe in a year or two, of course not in bodybuilding division cuz of health wise money wise and everything else wise. i really like physique division but yet in my country (iran) there was no show in this particular division until just now.

-do you think physique guys also run test year around or maybe 3-4 cycles(not just test of course) per year + contest preps would be enough ?
-is GH a must for physique athletes?

I honestly don't know what the normal is in terms of how long physique competitors are staying on gear, cycles per year, etc. I really don't have any experience with male physique competitors.
As far as GH, it would definitely help with prep but it can be done without.

[SOL!D5NAK3]

i really want to compete in the near future maybe in a year or two, of course not in bodybuilding division cuz of health wise money wise and everything else wise. i really like physique division but yet in my country (iran) there was no show in this particular division until just now.

-do you think physique guys also run test year around or maybe 3-4 cycles(not just test of course) per year + contest preps would be enough ?
-is GH a must for physique athletes?

would you plz share your thoughts on this?

[SOL!D5NAK3]

best thread of all times.
as kelkel said invaluable info indeed.

[Metalject]

It's funny, maybe a bit ironic. Before Christmas this past year my shoulder began to hurt pretty bad, same one that always gives me trouble. I had been lifting much heavier than I had in quite awhile, eating more like a bodybuilder than I had in quite a while but the shoulder, specifically the bicep tendon just became too much. My hips had also started to hurt really bad on both sides at the femoral head. When squatting, getting lose was impossible and the more I'd squat the tighter it would get. It started to get very frustrating.

So I really backed off the week before Christmas and even then I could tell that wasn't enough. So I decided to take time off. So I didn't lift at all for 5wks, I could feel I needed it. I did get a massive shot of some corticoids in my shoulder that have helped in the past and increased my cardio a bit simply because I need to do something to keep from going crazy. I've kept my food intake very clean, only two cheat meals in that 5wk period and they were cheat meals most wouldn't call a cheat. In fact, I've been slacking on my eating more than anything. But with the added cardio I've been able to drop a bit of fat, nothing spectacular but it's still always nice to drop some. I think I saw 1.5 abs yesterday morning, lol!

Anyway, this week I did lift twice, upper-body circuit style. The second time was today and I was shocked at not necessarily how week I had gotten (although that wasn't really surprising since I've been averaging 1200 or so calories per day but a few sets in today, and I mean light weight and I was done. I think it's going to take a little longer to get back into full training after a good break than it did in the past. I'd say I have at least two weeks of circuit training I'll need to bore my way through for a bit.

I call it ironic because I've caught myself doing things the past few weeks that I tell others not to do and didn't realize I was doing them at first until I caught myself in the mirror and laughed, lol!
Oh Tren and Masteron, how I miss you!!! Maybe it's about time I reintroduce myself

Alright, this really doesn't have to do with anything else in this thread but since it's a metalject thread I thought this was as good a place as any to vent my frustrations. Honestly, I am a bit concerned that I may not ever be able to lift that heavy anymore without causing injury to my shoulders. It's kind of sad on one hand but that's life, will simply have to enter a new phase in life.

[kelkel]

Slow and steady gets around most injuries Metal. And as you know, there's usually a way to train around most injuries as long as it's not debilitating.
Not necessarily a new phase in life, just a new phase in training.
You'll get there.

[MIKE_XXL]

That gives me a small glimmer of light...i just tore my right pec at 8 weeks out of my show, not sure if i should keep pushing through or just say fuk it...but for now i am pushing forward...

in last 12 months i tore left shoulder tendon, my right ham and groin, my right pec, my right shoulder, my left bicep and then again my left pec after healing the first injury...this is BS at best, but i aint no quitter so stupid as it is and stubborn as it is, i am going to keep pushing, might look a little bit messed up on stage and out of proportion but if i am standing on stage that will be a self accomplishment worth fighting for...

Slow and steady gets around most injuries Metal. And as you know, there's usually a way to train around most injuries as long as it's not debilitating.
Not necessarily a new phase in life, just a new phase in training.
You'll get there.

[EquilibriumZ]

That gives me a small glimmer of light...i just tore my right pec at 8 weeks out of my show, not sure if i should keep pushing through or just say fuk it...but for now i am pushing forward... in last 12 months i tore left shoulder tendon, my right ham and groin, my right pec, my right shoulder, my left bicep and then again my left pec after healing the first injury...this is BS at best, but i aint no quitter so stupid as it is and stubborn as it is, i am going to keep pushing, might look a little bit messed up on stage and out of proportion but if i am standing on stage that will be a self accomplishment worth fighting for...

Oh man how do you walk with all those torn tendons? i d hit some serious recovery!
But hey cant you stimulate your muscle in a different way to get same result without injuries?
Is it worth being injured for the rest of your life?

[lui]

Thanks for this thread, as a "recreational user" i find this information very interesting, it looks like competing is a whole different level.

- Sorry for being captain obvious... but we can take for granted that contest preppers give gear advice and in some cases supply it too for some extra cash, right?

- Lets say you get a new client who wants to compete, what first impression signs tell you he wont get too far? Do you still bother with that kind of people or you just tell them they have no chance?

- What age do you find "too late" to start competing?

- Bonus training question: i train calves, gain strength but almost 0 size added, how is that? im desperate... would gear help? would they be "forced" to grow if i was heavier? could i train them EOD on cycle?

[Metalject]

Thanks for this thread, as a "recreational user" i find this information very interesting, it looks like competing is a whole different level.

- Sorry for being captain obvious... but we can take for granted that contest preppers give gear advice and in some cases supply it too for some extra cash, right?

- Lets say you get a new client who wants to compete, what first impression signs tell you he wont get too far? Do you still bother with that kind of people or you just tell them they have no chance?

- What age do you find "too late" to start competing?

- Bonus training question: i train calves, gain strength but almost 0 size added, how is that? im desperate... would gear help? would they be "forced" to grow if i was heavier? could i train them EOD on cycle?

1. Sure, some prep guys sell gear and some don't. I wouldn't assume all do. That's one of those bodybuilding rumors - people like to think the prep coaches have access to the best gear out there and that they do because they're selling it. Truth is, if it's not crap, meaning it's not fake or underdosed, testosterone is testosterone, there's nothing special about what one man has vs. another. Anyway, I have pointed my clients in the right direction in the past, but even that I wouldn't do anymore. My job is to help you get ready. If you can't get the gear you need or the groceries you need, well that's on you.

2. I can't say I've ever told anyone they have no chance. I might try to talk them into waiting a little longer, say they wanted to do an April show I might try to talk them into doing one in Sept. But I'm fairly confident that most can do well if they'll simply stick to the plan that you're asking them to follow. Sure, if some guy walked in that had never worked out in his life and was just a pile of skin and fat and wanted to do a show in 16wks, you bet I'd be honest with him from the start but I've personally never had that happen. Now as the years went by I did turn away people that I didn't want to work with as I was able to pick and choose a little more. No point in me taking their money if I can't give them my full attention. And I have fired a couple clients mid-diet, but this has only happened twice in 15yrs. Currently I take no one - don't do it anymore and I don't know what it would take to do it again. The right magical person would have to show up I guess.

3. There is no age that's too late to compete. If you can still walk and still workout you can still compete if you want to.

4. Calves are hard, no denying that. I think it may be the single most genetically based body part of all. As for strength, strength and growth do not mean anything, as it seems you have discovered. And if what you're doing now isn't working, well it's not going to start working all of the sudden. Calves were always a struggle for me - heck, they're a struggle for a lot of pros. I tried everything, training them multiple times a week, heavy low rep with squeezes, high rep till I couldn't walk and nothing really worked. What did work best for me, twice a week, two sets of 15 on two exercises, so 4 total sets. Each rep hold for a three count at top and bottom and lower controlled in between. From there, walking on an incline on the treadmill. In all honesty though, I think the treadmill did more for them than anything else.

[lui]

1. Sure, some prep guys sell gear and some don't. I wouldn't assume all do. That's one of those bodybuilding rumors - people like to think the prep coaches have access to the best gear out there and that they do because they're selling it. Truth is, if it's not crap, meaning it's not fake or underdosed, testosterone is testosterone, there's nothing special about what one man has vs. another. Anyway, I have pointed my clients in the right direction in the past, but even that I wouldn't do anymore. My job is to help you get ready. If you can't get the gear you need or the groceries you need, well that's on you.

Gear is usually a taboo. Do you wait for the guy to mention it (if he ever does) or you just talk about it straight away? Did you ever get any unexpected reaction? Like people willing to compete but not willing to use it.

Good job on this thread!

[Metalject]

Gear is usually a taboo. Do you wait for the guy to mention it (if he ever does) or you just talk about it straight away? Did you ever get any unexpected reaction? Like people willing to compete but not willing to use it.

Good job on this thread!

It depends. If it's a seasoned competitor, you already know he's using gear. It doesn't have to be asked, you just give them the plan. If it's a newbie, it comes up. I might bring it up or I might not, just depends on the situation and what they're wanting to do. But I've never pumped a bunch of sunshine up anyone's but and told them they're going to kill it if they stay natural just to tell them what they want to hear.

[bsterling]

Hey Metal, I have a show coming up and you talk about running oxy for some size during the last few weeks. I am about 3 weeks from the show and am taking 50 winny oral and 30dbol oral / day. Is this unheard of with any of the clinets you trained. I know I don't have hold water with dbol the driest I've ever been is when I was on this oral. I was just wondering about the what you thought about the toxicity on this? Is this something I can manage for the last 3 weeks pre contest? I am at about 5.5% right now and am going to be dieting hard into the show. I did my body comp with Lange Calibers using the Jackson-Pollick 3 site test.

Thanks for your time man!

[Metalject]

Hey Metal, I have a show coming up and you talk about running oxy for some size during the last few weeks. I am about 3 weeks from the show and am taking 50 winny oral and 30dbol oral / day. Is this unheard of with any of the clinets you trained. I know I don't have hold water with dbol the driest I've ever been is when I was on this oral. I was just wondering about the what you thought about the toxicity on this? Is this something I can manage for the last 3 weeks pre contest? I am at about 5.5% right now and am going to be dieting hard into the show. I did my body comp with Lange Calibers using the Jackson-Pollick 3 site test.

Thanks for your time man!

Your liver enzyme values will be sky high during this time if using both Wintrol and Dbol. Enzyme values being high doesn't automatically mean liver damage though, but it does mean there is stress that could potentially lead to liver damage. But will it? If you're otherwise in good health probably not. Personally I wouldn't care for Dbol at this stage but whatever works for you.

[bsterling]

What would you suggest for supplementation to aid in liver support? I am currently using NAC, do you have any other suggestions?

Also, what would be some signs and symptoms that I should look for due to elevated enzymes. So far even my appetite hasn't even faltered.

Thanks for the input Metal, it means an incredible amount to get advice from you.

[MR-FQ320]

Milk thistle ?

[bsterling]

Metal,

If I may, what would be a good dose of Adex for the last 2 weeks to drop me e down to where I need it to be? .75mgs/day?

Thanks

[Metalject]

Milk thistle is the only thing I've ever used, and even that has been sporadic. Enzyme levels have been pretty high at times, but no damage and they always go back to normal.

I always took 1mg/ed the last two weeks.

[lui]

Whats important on bikini fitness competitors: Legs, glutes...? Do they train lighter in some muscles and heavier in others?

Average cycle for them?

[Metalject]

Whats important on bikini fitness competitors: Legs, glutes...? Do they train lighter in some muscles and heavier in others?

Average cycle for them?

There's no right answer to this that's one size fits all. It depends on how she looks and what she needs. I had a girl a few years ago that I had stop all leg training except for body weight exercises and whatever she got out of her cardio as her legs were too big and muscular for bikini. And then I've had girls that do heavy training in their legs all the way up to the show. Again, it just depends.

Average cycle, again it depends. Some clen, low dose HGH and maybe some low dose Anavar and then again maybe not. Plenty of amateur bikini girls take nothing.

I know these answers aren't the ones you wanted, but there is no answer that is "do this" that fits everyone.

[william981125]

MJ, if I may can I ask for your contest photos at your best shape?

[Metalject]

MJ, if I may can I ask for your contest photos at your best shape?

If you've read through the thread then you know I was never anything that impressive. I'd call myself a decent bodybuilder at best. I placed well at a handful of shows and won my class a few times but nothing worth bragging about. Plus it's bodybuilding, so nothing worth bragging about, lol! Heaviest I ever was, was around 240 and it was a bit uncomfortable and not enjoyable. Best shape I was ever in was 197lbs 4.3% in the dunk tank and I felt mentally retarded, as in my brain did not work right. I was miserable, running a fever and actually ended up in the hospital. That was the end of my bodybuilding days back in 2006. Anyway, that would be my best, I was two weeks out or so and never had a pic taken for it. Was a little heartbreaking at the time. I had planned and worked for that particular show for a year, meaning my entire life revolved around that upcoming show for a solid year.

When I look back in retrospect I don't have regrets but I do question if I would have done things differently. I wasted a lot of time and money on a pursuit that doesn't really get you anywhere in the grand scheme of life. I know that sounds like I'm mocking bodybuilding and I've done that a bit in this thread. Don't get me wrong, I was someone who loved bodybuilding and fortunate to learn a lot of things first hand that others aren't always as fortunate to learn. I was still competing when I started doing prep for others and that gave me a host of lab rats, willing ones to try new and different mixes and matches of gear and food. In time I simply felt I was better suited to do that and so when it comes to bodybuilding that's all I've done the last going on 10yrs or so. Although I don't do nearly as many as I used to, not even close. I don't have the time to take too many.

[william981125]

If you've read through the thread then you know I was never anything that impressive. I'd call myself a decent bodybuilder at best. I placed well at a handful of shows and won my class a few times but nothing worth bragging about. Plus it's bodybuilding, so nothing worth bragging about, lol! Heaviest I ever was, was around 240 and it was a bit uncomfortable and not enjoyable. Best shape I was ever in was 197lbs 4.3% in the dunk tank and I felt mentally retarded, as in my brain did not work right. I was miserable, running a fever and actually ended up in the hospital. That was the end of my bodybuilding days back in 2006. Anyway, that would be my best, I was two weeks out or so and never had a pic taken for it. Was a little heartbreaking at the time. I had planned and worked for that particular show for a year, meaning my entire life revolved around that upcoming show for a solid year.

When I look back in retrospect I don't have regrets but I do question if I would have done things differently. I wasted a lot of time and money on a pursuit that doesn't really get you anywhere in the grand scheme of life. I know that sounds like I'm mocking bodybuilding and I've done that a bit in this thread. Don't get me wrong, I was someone who loved bodybuilding and fortunate to learn a lot of things first hand that others aren't always as fortunate to learn. I was still competing when I started doing prep for others and that gave me a host of lab rats, willing ones to try new and different mixes and matches of gear and food. In time I simply felt I was better suited to do that and so when it comes to bodybuilding that's all I've done the last going on 10yrs or so. Although I don't do nearly as many as I used to, not even close. I don't have the time to take too many.

I've seen and read so many stories of guys getting sick and ended up in hospital towards the end of a prep. Is there anything you make your clients do to avoid getting too sick?

[NACH3]

I've seen and read so many stories of guys getting sick and ended up in hospital towards the end of a prep. Is there anything you make your clients do to avoid getting too sick?

From what I've read and heard first hand from many competitors is the lack of reverse dieting in the right way - Lands people sick and Irvin the hospital... Or worst their metabolism is fvked - so getting/finding a good coach is key...

MJ - obviously this isn't directed towards you lol - and yes 4.3 is SICK(in a good and bad way - your body is fighting that(bf%) the whole time, correct?

[Metalject]

4.3 is killer low. A-la Andreas Munzer.

From what I've read and heard first hand from many competitors is the lack of reverse dieting in the right way - Lands people sick and Irvin the hospital... Or worst their metabolism is fvked - so getting/finding a good coach is key...

MJ - obviously this isn't directed towards you lol - and yes 4.3 is SICK(in a good and bad way - your body is fighting that(bf%) the whole time, correct?

It was stupid in retrospect. The fall out:

*I was at work (even though I was starting to miss work a lot because I couldn't mentally function) and my lips and eyes swelled up and I passed out.

*The next day all the capillaries in my legs from my knees to my ankles burst. It looked like my legs had been attacked by a weedeater under the skin.

*I started running a fever of 102 around that time and had been running a slight one for a few weeks already.

*I went to the ER because of the leg deal and I had passed out again. The doctor came in, looked at me and asked if I used steroids, I admitted it and he said "well there's you're problem." He walked out of the room and did nothing.

*I went to a walkin ER after that, again admitted to what all I took...I'm still a believer in whoever is trying to help you needs the full story if they can actually help you. Anyway, long and short, I was dehydrated, on the verge of a stroke and so nutrient deficient it was killing me. And I was dehydrated despite 1.5g of water per day if not two.

The reason for the insane diet and trying to get so low of BF, shows prior I had always struggled being in good enough shape to really stand out. I knew I didn't have superior genetics to be a mass monster so I went for as shredded as possible. Just took it too far.

[kelkel]

Best shape I was ever in was 197lbs 4.3% in the dunk tank and I felt mentally retarded, as in my brain did not work right. I was miserable

4.3 is killer low. A-la Andreas Munzer.

[MR-FQ320]

^^^^^^^^
Are you saying you prep ppl for comps now as a living or for the fun of it ?

I'd still like to see your best pics

[Metalject]

^^^^^^^^
Are you saying you prep ppl for comps now as a living or for the fun of it ?

I'd still like to see your best pics

I made my living off of prep coaching for a good while, at least a fair amount of my living. The only way you can do that IMO is if you get into the female side of it, figure and bikini because there's so many of them. Now I just do a small number of people per year, pretty much because I enjoy doing it...admittedly I don't do it for free. The worst clients I ever had were ones I did for free (most of the worst ones) because not paying seems to demotivate most people.

[MR-FQ320]

^^^ take vitamin c

[william981125]

How the hell do guys like Mike O Hearn stays around low BF year round like nearly 4%? Oh yeah he's NATURAL.

[SOL!D5NAK3]

How the hell do guys like Mike O Hearn stays around low BF year round like nearly 4%? Oh yeah he's NATURAL.

he IS on HRT no doubt (gh and test at least) + good diet + training.

[The Deadlifting Dog]

he IS on HRT no doubt (gh and test at least) + good diet + training.

Seriously the dude is on much more then just a TRT dose.
Let's get real.
He's heavier and leaner than Arnold ever was.

[Metalject]

Genetics is everything. Some people can simply handle and function at lower levels of body fat and some can't. All the drugs in the world won't change that fact.

[SOL!D5NAK3]

Seriously the dude is on much more then just a TRT dose.
Let's get real.
He's heavier and leaner than Arnold ever was.

for sure , but i think you get to a point with certain cycles and keep just like that with test and gh (mo)

and another thing is how do they fly to other cities, i mean the for something like mro athletes come from various locations, don't they have any gear? beside injectables which i think they use long esters but what about orals or t3 or etc. .

[krugerr]

for sure , but i think you get to a point with certain cycles and keep just like that with test and gh (mo) and another thing is how do they fly to other cities, i mean the for something like mro athletes come from various locations, don't they have any gear? beside injectables which i think they use long esters but what about orals or t3 or etc. .

Probably Has a script for the stuff they have to carry.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum

[MSphysique]

Amazing post, thank you so much for sharing

[carbman]

What is better for contest prep. a lot of tren (500-1000mg) and little test (250mg) or lot of test and moderate tren?