Hey Guys, Although I am new to this board, I am posting my up and coming contest. July 24th ...this saturday, I am a Jr. Heavy in Jackson, MS and very excited.
I will post pics and a special thank you to each of you who have helped in my preparation both directly and indirectly. I learned several tricks from you guys and feel that the grapefruit/beef method is more sensible than other methods I have tried in the past.
Pup'nIrn - You have done this before - so you probably already plan to do this - but things that can help the last week include posing and flexing after each meal, especially once you start your carb up. It will help to draw the glycogen into the muscles. No leg work as part of your carb depletion workouts. Get your posing down just right, especially the mandatories and the relaxed poses. Have someone who is a good poser watch you practice and help you make the small adjustments that can really improve a particular pose. Have a good time and take pride in your accomplishments no matter how the placings come out - of course we wouldn't be surprised to see you bringing home a large trophy!
VA MadDog
Posts: 961 | Location: Commonwealth of Virginia | Registered: Sun August 17 2003
Jason, Stay focused and you'll do fine. When I sat for my national boards, it was nerve racking. I think the key is being relaxed and confident.
I am very confident this year and it shows in my posing due to my condition. I believe it shows to the judges also. I know that if I can hit my water right and still get a good pump, I can compete hard within the heavy weights. I plan on using the carbo fuel/ glutamine mix before hitting the stage. Man I am pumped up for this contest!! Pup
Pup, Good luck bud! Stay relaxed and exude a lot of confidence on stage and you'll do great. You seem to have a terrific work ethic, and unlike myself, seem to have your head screwed on straight!!.LOL
Give us the good news ASAP!! Aram
Aram N. Hamparian NBI, USBF Pro Natural
Posts: 754 | Location: Bronx, NY USA | Registered: Thu July 31 2003
1FitChic, I don't mind letting you know. Its great to hear we will have at least one fan...lol. My name is Jason Davis and I will be in Jr Heavy Weight.
I feel I am the best I have ever been. Look to step on stage at 193-195lbs @ 5'10". If you see me after the contest, please introduce yourself. Pup
Jason- Good Luck to ya! I'll be at prejudging (I live in Jackson) so hopefully I'll see you at your best! I'll be sure and introduce myself- and as a fellow Beverly user, you'll hear me cheering you on! GOOD LUCK TO YA!
Va ...I got smoked. This year, unlike most years, the heavy weight jr's was loaded with 11 very good competitiors. The top 5 were in the 215 range and up....in very good condition. According to the points, I would have been 6th but that doesn't get you to the night show. I can't cry that it was all them, I was holding large amounts of fluid and my cuts were not there. The sodium cut off day for me will need to be earlier. I know it was working but just not fast enough.
Thank you Fitchik....I did here a woman's voice that did not fit my wife. I believe that was you.
Anyway, as I look over the last couple years of training I believe I have learned a lesson that I knew already to be true. Training natural, you can't balloon up and then loose down and expect to make gains and keep gains. I gained 60 plus pounds and was very strong in the off season but with the rampant use of steriods in none tested contests, I must stay lean and gain lean year round.
Staying within 10-15 lbs of contest weight would alow plenty of time to loose fat and prepare and test water manipulation stratigies. To test how you respond to last week water adjustments, you must be close to contest weight so I have to change my ways.
Hold your head high Pup - 6th out of a competitive class of 11 is nothing to feel low about especially in a non-tested event. All of us would like to win, but you can only do your best - and if you did - feel good about your efforts, persistance and fortitude. Sounds like you have already learned some things from the experience and that is the key to improvement and future success. As I have said in other threads and will say many times again - you won if you did your best to be your best and it sure seemed to me from reading your posts like that is exactly what you did. And one more thing - while I don't mean to knock non-natural competitors, if you do this as a natural you get extra credit from me and many others.
You've got the spirit and you'll achieve your goals if you keep working at it. I've competed about a dozen times, half when I was younger and half as a Masters after a 15 year break from competition. I'm still looking for that first place trophey - lol. But I've got some awfully nice looking 2nd through 5th place ones... If you feel good about your effort and you should - feel good about what you accomplished personally. BBing is more about learning and meeting personal goals than it is about winning a contest. Sounds like you have already learned from the experience and will put those lessons learned to good use.
Anyone who does their best to be their best is a winner - even when you miss the mark you were aiming for by a bit. You still looked beter than 98% of the population out there - but I'll leave those words of encouragement to your wife. Hope to see you hanging around here on the board! If you want to try to dissect what might have gone better for you drop Aram, Sully or I a PM or just post your questions. It is always a learning experience. Congrats on an outstanding effort! BTW I think that you are right on the money with your thoughts about staying within 10-15 lbs of your contest weight in the off-season. I think that there is a lot of merit to that strategy. Later...
VA MadDog
Posts: 961 | Location: Commonwealth of Virginia | Registered: Sun August 17 2003
Smoked? Hardly. In a nontested event you did fantastic.My first effort in a nontested show, I came in last place. After that, I vowed never to settle for mediocrity again. So if you feel "smoked", use it to fuel your desire and resolve to improve beyond yours and anyone elses expectations for the future. Terrific, courageous accomplishment. Again, my congrats!
Aram
Aram N. Hamparian NBI, USBF Pro Natural
Posts: 754 | Location: Bronx, NY USA | Registered: Thu July 31 2003
Pup- I was at prejudging but didn't know your number (they don't announce names at prejudging) so I didn't know who to yell for I had family come in Sat afternoon so I didn't make it to the night show. However, I must say from prejudging that you had a TOUGH class of 11 to compete in- assorted body types (and degrees of conditioning). I do remember you saying in an earlier post that you felt that you were the best you've ever been. That means you've obviously made improvements this time around and that's what matters most. Many times you don't have exactally what the judges are looking for at that particular time (I've learned that from Figure)- but it doesn't mean you didn't look great. Also, I think 6th place was wonderful for that particular division. So, keep working hard and most of all keep enjoying it!
Beverly Nutrition 
I had family come in Sat afternoon so I didn't make it to the night show. However, I must say from prejudging that you had a TOUGH class of 11 to compete in- assorted body types (and degrees of conditioning). I do remember you saying in an earlier post that you felt that you were the best you've ever been. That means you've obviously made improvements this time around and that's what matters most. Many times you don't have exactally what the judges are looking for at that particular time (I've learned that from Figure)- but it doesn't mean you didn't look great. Also, I think 6th place was wonderful for that particular division. So, keep working hard and most of all keep enjoying it!
