Recent Posts by Luckydog

Raph - I agree completely - we already know where the other stands on critical feedback.  So how do we get this done?  Whine to Steve?  Historically this has gotten me physically beaten by Charlie and abused by Larry  

1) Some people don't mind being "big."  I didn't used to....14-16%....I just loved lifting more weight and looking huge in a shirt (I just must have avoided mirrors or thought it was a necessary off-season evil.)  Some just truly feel better bigger and stronger - maybe an insecurity thing.

Joe!!!  Why would you ever post this ANYWHERE that I could read it!  Do you know how bad that comment could make my 2009 offseason

Annette - What Joe is saying is the "big" size changes are made initially and the subsequent building periods develop denser musculature and the finer points of physique.  Personally I've lifted for freakin ever (on and off) but with determination for body building since late 2005.  I started training with decent muscle but have made huge appreciable changes every year.  I would non scientifically hypothosis that as women with lower testoterone levels we have a slower build potential and stretch the timeline a little longer then men would with the initial gains.  The front relaxed pics I've posted are 2006 (126#),2007 (120#) and 2008 (122#).  I'm leanest in 2007, but you'll get my point (I hope)

DANG - I can only get one up, I get an error on the 2007 picture and have no idea how to attach a snapfish photo.  Just imagine that I look bigger and better and yet I'm lighter.  Sorry!!!

I'll spare you my standard "rally cries" but reading this I had a new thought!!!

Perhaps this has created a break out opportunity.  Yup definately more obstacles this year, but perhaps they will create more perspective and make the dieting more "effortless".  Seriously whats a bit of diet adherence with everything else going on - piece of relative cake

I know it aint much but its all I got

MoT - fix that right shoulder immediately!

Jordan - I was seriously hoping for that shot of you from the back in 5" hooker heels - you know the one

Mary - get this carved out into a whole seperate forum instead of just a thread - it is worthy!!

LOOK OUT PEOPLE - I AM PMS-ING AND FEELING SAPPY TODAY!!!!!!!

MoT's post reminded me of a core belief I've had for a while.  We are a product of the people around us.  I have been beyond blessed with a body building career I'm really proud of.  Its not how I make my living (although this year has made me question my choices ) but it truly defines me.  I enjoy the stage but for me the part of competing I enjoy is the prep, the journey.  The opportunity that presents itself when I can share that journey with others or when others allow me to share theirs is unprecidented.   So I will argue that I would be nowhere without the community that bodybuilding creates.  So thanks!!!

So as 2008 comes to a close I'm leaving behind one of the most trying years of my life and ushering in a year that is by far and away the kind of year that can only follow the one I've had.  It is going to be an unbelievable one - I have set enourmous personal goals for myself and I have all intent of dragging those close to me right along for the ride!!  Jaime is already buckled in and ready for the ride (he is actually in charge of the map), Joe is sporting a crash helmet (poor bastard had to chart the map too) and there are a few others that have no choice but to jump in the back and hold on cause you are completely on my radar.  I'd like to challenge everybody on Team K to rise above yourself in 2009.  I don't care what your goal is whether its the stage or personal just dig that little bit deeper and you wont regret it!

Thanks girl for reminding me of what makes me tick the most ;-)

My range of motion is kinda pathetic (I do mean deep squats).  Deep for me is real power lifter parallel while my training partner is strong with "ass to ground" squats.  Joe just recently posted his thoughts about it (and I always give him physiological credit on this with his physical therapy background) complete with pictures.  I can move a lot of weight if I go to "gym parallel" but when I go deeper it strips a lot off the bar.  I feel it in my tie in for sure.  Personally and I'm not known for my analytic accuracy more my gut instinct in the gym.  This is a huge week point for me in my squat and my dead.  I bring up my strength from deep lifts and I can't not grow all over.  So we are rebuilding my deep work before we let me move big weight again (my ego has taken A LOT of blows this year )

..........and trust me I don't deserve "well versed"

I've been working on bringing up my squat out of the hole (only PLer parallel I'm sorta pathetic) and that has lit up my tie-in more then normal.

I love bulgarian squats for the tie in and Glute Ham raises (I suck at those too)

Its just easier to repost this with a few edits.

I'm feeling anything but inspirational - so if this post ends up depressing versus inspiring, I apologize..........

Jordan I know exactly what you mean.  I really like the stage ready me ALOT!   I know that I look like ass fine right now -  I have no sign of bicep veins and or a soft image of abs (sigh).  But I don't have hard etched lines and I don't hate like the way my clothes fit. 

My problem right now is different then acceptance of what I see in the mirror.  I can't figure out how to settle into contest prep.  I am seeing myself behaving in ways that I think are pretty dysfunctional and border line clinical.   I kinda feel like a fish flapping around @ the end of the line.  I keep thrashing and resisting, then I will give in for a bit think I'm good and about to land back on board, and then I start resisting again.  Time is ticking I'm not doing a thing to help my physique diet wise (thank god my training is still on point) and I don't like it ONE BIT!  Fortunately this phase is behind me, I'm back to prep and in the groove.  The challenge this year will not be repeating this pattern YET AGAIN in 2009 - anybody else wont to join me I hear its heaven

But enough about me :-)

Jordan if you are anywhere near what you looked like in November YOU LOOK GREAT  Judy is still hawt!!!  You are going to have to have the size to play with the big boys (light or heavy).  You know that and your eye will adjust to the growing you.  Just when it does you will start to diet down and start to hate looking flat and small.  **Heavy Sigh**  Such is our lives.

Chad - J pretty much beat me to it.  Just FYI when you pronounce HUAS sounds a little like Marine talk.......

Dude your a big guy, your sitting around 30#s off your stage weight, if youre like the rest of us - if you aren't ripped you feel like soft ass.  Welp, guess what your off season.  Your distractions from the gym and 2 weeks off have caught up with you and the only way to fix it is get back in there and train fierce and hard.  The pumps will comeback as your body gets in the groove again. 

Now lets talk dress code.  I completely agree with cover up till you like what you are seeing in the mirror again.  Jaime is pretending that while being <15 off his stage weight (with freakin abs) that covering up is a necessity to him.  What he isn't mentioning is its freakin cold in jersey right now and he would just die if he didn't.  I on the other hand have had a directive sent down that until I get another 20#s off I am not ALLOWED to train with him with ANY flesh showing.   I have suffered more "tent" jokes with regard to my attire then I care to mention.

In all seriousness it took me a couple weeks from a forced work break from the gym to begin to feel like I had even ever trained before.  My weights were down, I couldn't find a groove.  Then I found some of my groove, and I was able to stand looking @ a fully covered me in the mirrors, my weights are creeping back up and I'm changing again to a better body compe.  Mind you I'm still WAY to big and NO skin will be exposed till spring - but I'm back!!  I'm using this time to trust Joe and the diet to get that piece done while I trust Jaime to ride my ass to use this weight to make me fierce in 2009.

Trust the process, trust you did the right thing for yourself with the time off, and trust that you are the guy Mary described and the mirror doesn't have a clue right now!!! 

Glad to see you on here!  You will get a ton of support and a nice assortment of opinions from people "fighting the good fight".

Good Stuff!!!! 

Joe, I knew that (my OCD is good for something) problem is I can't count past 10 - but failure I'm damn good at!!!  You should know by now that I love meaningless almost as much as a chocolate glazed!!!  

Mary, completely designed to "poke the tiger"

You can look on Musculardevelopment.com and see contest pics from those shows and see what they "used" last year.  In this area we really only have one NPC Natural show in the NJ/NYC area and the drug testing feels the same as INBF (I was polygraphed day before) but the banned substance list is non existent and the time frame is short.  Honestly look @ the natural requirements for Team U - I think its 1 year no AAS or perscription diuretics (honestly I haven't looked @ an entry form for NPC in a couple of years but that was the deal in 2006 & 2007 for Team U)

 You probably wont see the real NPC size monsters but its not going to have the same feel either as a good INBF or NANBF show.  IMHO

What kind of percent differences in growth are we talking.  If we are all a higher percent fast if an individual is in fact a higher percentage individual compared to norms, say pushing 60%.  If they grew that 60% 3% - we conceivable could be looking @ an 18% change (am I being to literal) - where as the other 40% (is this an area %) would have to grow 50% more or 4.5% for the same net overall growth?

 If slow twitch allows for more glycogen storage that right there makes cardio the holy grail ;-)

please don't beat me

Time to do a shameless plug for the E. Coast Camp - shameless only cause I have none........... 

For anyone doing the Matawan, NJ show - Joe will actually get to see you live and in person 1 week out.  and for NE Classic participants you'll only be 8 weeks out.  Plenty of time to fine tune things and dramatically improve your prep. 

Great opportunity to fine tune your posing, make sure your tanning protocol is on spot, suits are getting rigged right and are the most flattering to your physique.  Also a great opportunity to get a good dose of enthusiasm to help carry you through no matter where you are in your prep.  

The Doc has specifically picked the date to dove tail the momentum of Nancy's camp and help continue to drive you through precontest.   

This actually may be one of Dr. Joe's first peaking/nutrition lectures in the NY Metro area - SHAZAM!! 

Kristin - I'm confused I thought you were in Evansville and now your saying the North East.............

Dog is a Jersey Girl!  

I use woolite dark and soak it in cold water.  I will use a nail brush to lightly scrub if necessary DT off the inside (Dawn works too) but really carefully.  I would be really nervous putting my prejudging suit in the machine and definately not a "bling" suit.  I try to keep the bling in the water as little as possible.

I had a suit designer recommend not leaving suits in the plastic bag between shows.  Apparantly the glues, or the trapped moisture or something (can't remember) start to break down in the bag and the bling comes undone more easily.

Glad to see I'm in good company.

Sean please note Joe is just trying to keep "the man down" and you all to himself.  All great men are there because of a great woman!  By the way that extra macro isn't going to kill you - its the macro you didn't eat off season or the 10#s you didn't load onto a bar - cause you thought your were done - the 2009 die has been cast man - you will get lean enough the real question did you get big enough?? 

I am running my ass off to avoid the ass kicking that I know is coming - you might catch me I'm fat and certainly not fit - nows your chance man ;-)

By the way - what the heck is this thread about? - I've only read the last few posts............  Is ia about a snowballs chance in hell of Sean having a meaningful relationship with a another living creature (cause Bubba doesn't count)?

Bronco was that more Seuss - the Delusional World of the Whoo?

Dan - I actually had a prideful moment just knowing you!!!!  I was forced to actually log in and post - you have no idea!!! 

Sean - heed young Dan's sage words!  This is a freakin fantastic sport it brings out greatness in many of us.  To Mary's point it provides structure and stability and an outlet that allows us to function better for others and ourselves. 

HOWEVER

It is a hobby - we DO NOT make football money and it is not worth losing meaningful interactions.  If you have found balance, if you have found the right person for the right reasons there will be very few issues that keep you from your goals. 

I hope she doesn't mind but I would like to use Melissa as an extreme example.  She was blessed with a marriage that embraced and supported her sport.  I have no doubt they made sacrifices together for her sport cause I am sure it was THEIR sport.  When her husband needed her focus on him there was no hesitation she turned her sights to what really matters knowing the stage would always be there. 

I see this with my husband and myself, one of my dearest friends and his wife and kids.  There is balance but when push comes to shove real life and loved ones have to win or we are being short sighted.  And by win I only mean the battles not the war.

**disclosure - I have not proof read or spell checked this post - I have a public school education - LIVE WITH IT  

I haven't been on the boards very often lately and I certainly haven't been posting much at all - but I can't let you get away with feeling this way for long. 

Coming to you live is The Queen of Lower Body Fat, The Diva of Estrogen, the best friend to Stair Mills around the tri-state area - Dog herself...........

Honey I can write books about perfecting your legs and the work it takes when you don't have a natural predisposition to "hawt babe"  wheels.  I wish I could tell you it was easy, but I know personally I have to train heavy, hit them from every angle, and LOVE CARDIO - and did I mention CARDIO.  In 2006 I never got legs, it was my entire quest for 2007 and starting in Feburary I had them by Novemeber (or damn close to the ideal I wanted for bbing) and in 2008 I missed the mark for August and didn't get a chance to finish dialing them in with my season cut short. 

Right now you have a choice.  You can give up when you are on the brink of what you want or you can rally yourself out of your current state of self loathing realize like everyone said how far you have come and how wonderful your accomplishments are.  Give yourself a few moments to be sad for falling short or YOUR goals for this past show, realize how little 11/1 means, embrace your accomplishments, congratulate yourself on being on the brink of accomplishing what you want and then design the next step of your plan with Joe to figure out your next steps toward your goals. 

DO NOT fall into the trap of falling completely off the deep end and getting yourself further away from what you want to accomplish.  This is a voice of experience talking.  Everytime I crash into the off season I lengthen my pre contest and put myself further away from my goals.  It doesn't feel good and its not healthy or productive.  Please be smarter then me

Your stage presence will come - a true champion is NEVER satisfied with there performance they are always looking for what can be improved - so again be proud of what you accomplished and know that you will be better next time!