[aefx2387]

Competing for my very first time in late august, please critique my pics. Came a long way from being 173 lbs and 23% bodyfat back in mid february. Let me know what you all think and what body parts i should work on.

[serbmarko]

you look very young... it does look like you have some good potential.. but if you ask me you need more time to build on your frame.. if i were you i would take a year or two and hit the weights really hard and see how that goes.. but u do look good.. please dont get me wrong.. how old are you?

[aefx2387]

I'm 18, i started seriously training to be a natural bodybuilder in mid-february, i just want to get my feet wet and do one competition but i plan on taking close to a year off to put on more mass after this competition

[fog_hat1981]

Do the show - it will teach you a lot about your body...

Your calves make your thighs look small while your hamstrings need to come up in proportion to your thighs but your upper body will come in nicely. It will all come down to conditioning in the end so make sure to be as lean as humanly possibly. Little guys beat the monsters all the time in novice classes as long as they're shredded....

Also, get with someone who is a succesful competitor or a judge and have them help you with your posing. Presenting your body better than anyone else will take you farther than you may believe......

[Rocky]

I agree that doing the show will give you the experience for next time and you do look good. You need to cut down more (as you probably know) and as Fog_hat said, your posing can make all the difference to the way you present yourself.
Good luck for it and just keep training.

[Q80_MuscleHed]

best of luck to u man .. u look good .. especially in ur back :)

[beach body boy]

good base

[Knuckles]

Def nice base. For the short amount of time uve been training hardcore u look good! The size will come as you get older and stay consistant. Good luck to you with the contest. Post some more pics as u get closer to the day.

[xjae]

hit the rear delts..

looking good so far..practice posing..it'll help you

and good luck

[Vinsulin]

Yeah,I'd say build up the foundation first.It's like building a house.First build a sturdy foundation,than you worry about the trim.I'm 26 yrs old,5ft7-1/2 235lbs 12%BF and still not at the point where I'd step on stage.I've been lifting for 10 yrs.If I shredded now,I'd be low 200's,and at my hieght,I would'nt be where I want to be.I'm going to hit a few more kits,and slin,and see if I can get to 260 by Fall.If I can step on stage at 230lbs,shredded,I'll be happy.

[Vinsulin]

Rocky and Fog are right.Hit a show.Just pick a date,and do it.It's better to get the 1st one out of the way and over with so the 2nd time when you look good,you'll be really ready.I'm just too self conscious to step on stage at this point.I have my goals,and I won't comprimise for anything.My wife helps a lot.She pusheds me where a lot of old workout partners I had did'nt.A lot of guys I've trained with in the past were not totaly honest with me about what bodyparts needed the most work,and sometimes I need someone to tell me I'm a weak little bitch.Keeps me going harder and harder.

[bbsexnews]

You are on the right path, I can see you also train legs unlike others.

Keep it up and go for the show. You will enjoy the experience.

[Vinsulin]

I'm going to give you some usefull info.I wish someone would have told me this.
When you start putting on the mass,make sure you work on your lats and legs the most.Sure,you need to gain size equally in every aspect of your physique,but lats are the single most overlooked bodypart by younger guys.I know,because I was one.I naturally have a strong back,so I figured,Ah,what the hell,I can work harder on my chest,and my arms because my back is big naturaly.WRONG.I mean I've got 19-1/2" arms,27-1/2" upper legs,pretty massive chest,but my lats are not what they once where.Now the bodypart that I once took pride in,are the smallest part of me.Lats take a long time to sculpt.And you need to absolutely demolish them when you work them,because they're not easily built.Strict form,heavy weight,and efficient routines.Same thing goes for legs.Make sure you build your entire body not leaving one part to lag.Good luck.

[philosopher]

Looks like a sold base bro. Keep up the good work and keep us updated on youre show results bro

[aefx2387]

vinsulin, thanks for that, i love to train legs and lats more than any other bodypart. I've always had a strong lower body and unlike most people who stick to squat,leg press, and leg extensions, i use every leg exercise listed in arnolds bodybuilding encyclopedia,(not all in one workout though). I know that lats are one of my weak points so i really focus them on hitting them every back workout, i started to doing nautilus pullovers and the pump i get in my lats is amazing, also during my barbell rows i try to pull the bar towards my navel and use a shoulder grip width to somewhat hit the lower lats, I'll probably employ wide grip pullups into my workout soon and once i can hit 12 reps on my first set i'll add a weight belt to really blast my lats.

[Vinsulin]

Sounds like your on the right path.Just don't get like some guys do after they get a little bit stronger in there back,and start adding on more and more weight on the bar and get sloppier and sloppier.I see so many guys start out with like 135lbs or even 225lbs on the bar rows.They think it's too easy,so they put 315 or 405 on,and next thing you know,all they are doing is partiel deadlifts.At your weight,even 135 or 185lbs is perfect.I always say as long as your rowing as much as your own bodyweight,your ok.Even some of the pros I see rowing with 4 plates on each end,and they do the sloppiest form I've ever seen.I mean,when your on every anabolic known to man,plus insulin and growth ofcoarse they are going to grow regaurdless.But when your natural,you really want to make sure of a few things.Eating right,training right,and resting for long enough.As long as you follow those three golden rules,I see good things for you.Good luck pal.By the way,where in CT you from.My sister used to live in Danbury.I go to Rt.6 Starbucks on Fridays and Saturdays for the street races.

[aefx2387]

i live in north haven/hamden area. I totally understand what your saying, couple months ago i was squatting 305 but my form was awful, so i lowered the weight back to 225 and made sure to complete a full squat with good form and once i felt a stretch in my glute i knew i was going down far enough, currently i row 170 for about 10 reps, im always going for more weight and reps but i only move the weight up once i complete 10 good form reps, say i hit 8 and pump out 2 more but i don't feel they were quality ill stick with 170 for the next week, just my way of telling my body to grow to the point where i can put it up 10 times with good form

[Lineski]

Originally Posted by Vinsulin

Yeah,I'd say build up the foundation first.It's like building a house.First build a sturdy foundation,than you worry about the trim.I'm 26 yrs old,5ft7-1/2 235lbs 12%BF and still not at the point where I'd step on stage.I've been lifting for 10 yrs.If I shredded now,I'd be low 200's,and at my hieght,I would'nt be where I want to be.I'm going to hit a few more kits,and slin,and see if I can get to 260 by Fall.If I can step on stage at 230lbs,shredded,I'll be happy.

I don't think this is really good advice. Sure, I believe that stepping onstage with the intent of winning should be foremost in your mind but I think him doing a comp here would do a world of good. It will give him experience onstage, allow him to realize how well he can diet down to contest shape (what foods work for him, cardio time, etc...), and generally the best gains you can make come post-contest. Some people just want to get onstage because they love the sport and want to compete and I think that should be encouraged; IMO I don't think coming into a thread about an 18 y/o preparing for his first show and rattling off what you plan on taking to bulk up is sound advice. It's fine if that's your route but if he's choosing to do things natural and bulk up next year what good does it do to come in here and start listing anabolics?

aefx2387, I'd start a log or at least keep us posted with photo updates as you prepare because if you just started getting serious in February you've made fantastic strides so far. As others mentioned, definately work on the posing and pratice it a lot. Keep us updated, hit 'em hard

[robcardu]

Look good man, you need to work on your ham, chest and shoulders.

[aefx2387]

lineski, thanks for that, i was def thinking to myself, that can't be possible w/o some gear,lol, no offense to him though, gear or not i'm amazed by all bodybuilders
i'll be updating pics every 4 weeks, with work and hitten the gym its hard to keep an on-line log but i'll try my best

[dieseld]

nice base, your chest and delts can use some work...keep it up and remember..EVERYONE has weakpoints, all the way from big ronnie C to you

[Vinsulin]

I agree a show would do him some good.But I also think once he does the show,he should undergo a serious mass gaining diet,and excersize plan.He obviously has a good motabalism,so why not try to put some weight on your frame.I don't think you'll have to worry aboutgetting fat.Some guys have to get big slowly,because excessive carbs make them fat.I don't see that as a problem for you.I would say at your height and weight 4,500cal., 650 carbs,250-275g protien daily,along with intense 3-4 day a week training routines would be ideal.I think if you get up to 210lbs.-215lbs.,you could shred to a ripped 185lbs.-190lbs.By the look of the pics,I think you would look good at 190lbs. with 6%BF.Juice or no juice,I know you can do it.You don'tr need sauce to hit 215lbs or 190lbs at 6%.Even 180lbs at 6-7% would look good.

[aefx2387]

well i am about 5'5, my goal is to put on 40 pounds of lean mass to be around 175 lean for my next competition which will most likely be fall 07

[aefx2387]

o yea, updating pics in 2 weeks :)