My plan is to compete at the '06 Northern KY.
This will be my first contest. I have been trying to compete for a very long time now but it always seems I would allow myself to fail in my quest for various reasons, some out of my control, some not.
However, its got to be next year or I may not do it at all. I am focused and off-season wise in okay shape. I feel as though I'm only about 1 month behind where I need to be.
I have set a goal to start a contest diet on or about the second week of Dec.
Is this a good time to contact Beverly and start the whole process? Is there anything I should be doing now except training hard and not getting too fat?

This is my first time competing (Oct 15 & 22), but my philosophy for myself and my clients is to give yourself PLENTY of time to prepare both mentally and physically. Why not 16 weeks versus 12 weeks? Why not even earlier, so you can stack on some additional muscle before precontest time? This way you'll have plenty of time to be in your best shape.

keep your diet clean in the offseason and you should be able to ease right into the precontest diet and go into the show practially on auto pilot. Try doing hardening/gaining weeks in the offseason to keep bodyfat at a low or maintainable percentage. keeping your bodyfat low and doing the hardening phases will help get you prepared for a precontest mentality. the farther you start out too, the slower you can ease into the calorie reductions.

I would contact beverly now, tell them what your plans are, and they may give you something to keep you in striking distance for the show. no reason to delay, you might as well get used to their style of diets now... what works for you, what doesn't etc.

and the only thing i can say about preparing for a show is POSE POSE POSE. it will separate your muscle groups much more (especially legs) and it won't be an effort to present yourself in the best manner on stage (as you will see many competitors struggle with)

I'm really cleaning up my diet and it seems my body responds well. i'm looking forward to contest diet( I know stupid, huh?) but I'm anxious to see how my body responds. The lowest bf I've ever had is just under 9% wich I did simply by cutting calories and adding 7-keto and lean out for about 5 weeks.
The closer I get, the more I'll ask.
Thanks for the help.
Now about that posing practice,,...