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24 post(s)
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Hi everyone, this is my very first post on the Diet Doc's forum. I am new here and would like to introduce myself. My name is Cory McLindsay and I am a college student in Missouri. I have been wanting to compete for quite a long time now and for whatever reason(s) just haven't done it. My question is, "how do you know when it's time to start competing?" I kind of feel like no matter what I do, how long I wait, I am never going to be as big or symmetrical or lean as I want to be. That leads me to believe that I should just do it. Any advice from anyone would be much appreciated to this wanna-be bodybuilder. Thanks everyone!
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1,117 post(s)
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Welcome Cory! My experience is not too dissimilar to what you are asking about. I hooked up with Dr. Joe in August last year with the sole objective of losing weight. However, as I got leaner I got the itch to take my body to the next level and starting wanting to compete...at least once. I'm quite a bit older than you (48), but I have committed to competing in my first show this coming August. Will I be ready? Yeah, I trust that Joe, Sean and the members of this forum will make sure that I am. My advice...go for it! ...and your best bet at succeeding is to hire Joe. He is no doubt the best in the business. BTW...what school do you attend in Missouri? My daughter wants to go to UM-Columbia. |
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24 post(s)
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Thanks for the reply Craig! I do need to hire Joe ; ) Right now I go to Columbia College which is not in Columbia Missouri but there is a Columbia College in Columbia that is not the University of Missouri which is also in Columbia... did any of that make sense? haha... I have to transfer to a different school at the end of May because I want to teach health and PE but the school that I am attending doesn't offer this. I am probably going to attend either Missouri State or the University of Central Missouri in August. What show are you doing in August... please say it is the Springfield show! Do you guys live in Missouri? |
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274 post(s)
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Corey, Welcome Cory. Everyone has to have a starting point. Each show you compete in you come away with more insite. Everyone pays their dues as they move up from novice........to Pro. Dr. Joe would give you that early edge. I competed for 3 years before I hooked up with Dr. Joe and his team. Last Sept. I earned my Pro card, I can personally say he's the best. Good luck. Kerrie |
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1,117 post(s)
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Actually, no...I didn't follow that  , but that's okay. I live near Evansville, Indiana which is great because I have face to face access to Joe and even train twice a week with Sean at the Diet Doc facility (the rest of my training is at my work gym). I'm doing Joe and Sean's show in Evansville in August...the Mid-America Pro-Am. There is a link to it on the home page here. |
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3,474 post(s)
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Cory, I'll be at the Springfield, MO show August 9th. I live just a couple hours away in S.E. Kansas. There are also shows near St. Louis, MO twice this year. You should hire Joe & just do it. |
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605 post(s)
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Hey Cory! Kori here! :) Glad you are posting...it's great to be able to reach out to others with similar passions and "compare notes!" Like Kerrie, I competed for almost 3 years before hiring Joe, moving up in the ranks each time, but instead coming away with a lot of disappointment. I decided to compete in the natural orgs this past summer-- best decision ever. Living in Colorado, not many competitions are offered in this area, so it has been difficult. Having Team K to bounce ideas off of and get support from has been instrumental! Dr. Joe is a real guy with real passions and a genuine desire to help you reach your goals. At some point you jump in and go for it. You learn along the way! Your body AND mind are capable of a lot more than you probably ever could imagine! If you decide to do a competition, you will find this out quickly! Good luck, and keep posting! |
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24 post(s)
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Kori, Shellie, Craig, Kerrie, Thanks so much for the warm welcome and support. It is very nice to see so many people with similar goals. I used to be around a lot of steroid use and though I never used myself, many close to me still do. It's tough because it was turning me into a "doubter" in terms of if I could even compete in a bodybuilding contest. Thanks for all your support and keep the advice coming! Shellie, are you going to be competing in the show in Springfield? Is that to early to do a show? I guess you all just got done saying to just jump in the water didn't you? haha... I'm such a chicken! I'm sure that is going to change soon!
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Administator
3,065 post(s)
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Cory, I think most people feel like they're never quite ready for that first show if they over-analyze it. Once you hit the stage for the first time you'll know whether you love it want to pursue it or not, but until you do compete (knowing you're contemplating it now) can leave you with a certain sense of anxiety. If you don't mind emailing or posting a couple shots I can (or the whole forum can) help with an estimated amount of time it'll take to be ready and then you can compare that to your schedule (school, etc.).
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3,474 post(s)
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Yes, I'm competing at the Springfield show. |
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24 post(s)
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Joe, I have no problem emailing some pictures. Would front, side and back "relaxed" poses work? Shellie, Thats great that you will be competing in August. Weather I am physically competing or just in the seats observing I will be there one way or the other! |
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497 post(s)
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How do you know..........Or more to the point why would you want to? That is what I have been asking myself for the past 9 years. Yup 9 seasons of wondering if I am ready to get on stage. First getting up there is a WIN in itself. Not many people can say they ever did it. Then after that WIN you really want to WIN or at least I do. I used to compete in the "tested" shows before coming over to the INBF. I mean I am clean, but you cannot compete with those who say they are. I have been using the Doctor for 4 or 5 years now (lost count) we have made progress, but need to take one more step to reach my goal, PRO status. So Cory I say welcome and jump in with both feet the water is fine.............. |
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24 post(s)
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Thanks my friend and I believe you are right. I never really thought about stepping on stage as a win in itself. I have been to a couple natural shows where I see some guys in PHENOMENAL shape, then standing next to them is someone who looks like they should have never considered doing a contest. Being that second guy is my biggest fear in terms of bodybuilding... well, that and passing out on stage. But thanks for the positive comments and I appreciate the feedback. I am looking into my summer plans right now and hopefully will make a definitive decision within the next 2 weeks. Thanks again!
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262 post(s)
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I agree with middle child. You've already won just by getting up on stage. For many years, I sat in the audience cheering my friends and wondering if I had what it takes to do that too. My husband encouraged me by saying, "Just do it. You'll never know unless you try. You'll regret it later in life if you don't - looking back when you're 80 years old wondering. Don't live on coulda, woulda, shoulda. Live for today. GO FOR IT!!!!" It is such a blast and you'll meet a lot of wonderful people. I'm having the time of my life now!
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Administator
4,180 post(s)
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Even the best physiques on the planet fully believe they are not ready to compete...a bodybuilder never feels ready. But at the end of the day, I think the best move is to diet, hit the stage in your best possible shape and then only after that first show, can you step back and assess where you are, where you want to go and how long it will take to get there. You just have to do it man!  I also think the fear of losing scares people. For some odd reason, people always feel like they have to win. Don't get me wrong, I love competing and I love placing high. But the people who last in this sport are not doing it for a trophy...they do it because they love it with every atom in their being. Furthermore, nobody on stage is perfect (ready, ect)...so its not a matter of being perfect. You just have to be more so than the dude standing next to you.  |
27 post(s),
14 voice(s)
