Monkfish - Rate my fins.....

[Monkfish]

Hi guys,

I've been training for about five years, and since moving gyms and discovering this forum 9 months ago I've added squats/deadlifts into my routine and generally tightened things up. Since my training's gained intensity and brought some results a few guys at my gym have suggested entering a natural bodybuilding event next year, to which I'm giving some serious thought.

Now, I know this is nowhere near show physique! I've done my research and have also seen a friend go through the 12 weeks of dieting/show preperation, so I know what needs to be done and am not kidding myself about how I look now.

My question is, what imbalances/weaknesses do I need to address over the next 6 months if I'm to have a physique worth dieting down for?!

Just from taking these pics I can see my right arm triceps/biceps need to be brought into proportion, and my bf% needs bringing down much more (I'm pretty endomorphic!) but does anyone else have any suggestions/comments? Dont worry about offending, as long as its constructive I dont care. I'm not very happy with these pics anyway, but this is the only way I can get outside opinions and actually do something about it!

Thanks for your time.

[BanZeh]

Quads, are pretty good and calfs are impressive. My feeling is you need to add quite alot of muscle if you want to look to compete. For a normal physique looks very good tho, are you very tall? If you want an example of a natural bodybuilder on here look up MartinM.

[Monkfish]

Thanks. I think especially chest and lats need to add a fair amount of mass to try and get more of a V shape?

I'm 6ft 2in, which doesnt help matters!

I weigh 90kg's and my main lift figures for my last training sessions were:

bench 110kg x 2
squat 140kg x 5
dead 170kg x 5

Do you think a focus on improving these numbers over the coming months would bring about the mass needed?

[stronglikewood]

Quote

Do you think a focus on improving these numbers over the coming months would bring about the mass needed?

No, not at all. Infact stop lifting such heavy weights and start using the multi-color dumbbells that go up to 3kg if you want to have any chance of adding any more size.



Seriously though, for 6'2 and natural competing I'd say you'd need to be atleast 90kg, but in contest shape. I'd say you need a lot more upper back mass, plus more chest. The lower body and arms look good, but would also be better if there was more size. Finally, yes get your weights up and eat with it and you'll fill out.

[Monkfish]

Thanks guys, I'm going to prioritise my weakest areas (chest thickness and back width) in my training from now on, and post some pictures in September.

Hold me accoutable if there's not a marked improvement!!!

Anyone else have any suggestions? I looked at MartinM's thread, very impressive physique. If I were to compete I believe the heaviest weight class is over 80kg. So if i'm not going to weigh less than that I may as well try and get as heavy as possible whilst staying lean in my off-season training. Does that make sense?

[suj]

good physique mate (if you stroll down from the 2nd pic (of your back shot) to the legs it is freaky, looks like your legs are on wrong way round haha)

i would work on the chest, lats/traps and delts (it will make you look so much wider)
but looking very good/lean mate!
good luck!

[Indiscreet]

The legs are good. You look more ecto than endo to me! I wouldn't worry about cutting - concentrate on building your upper body with heavy basics (squats, deadlifts, standing press, bench press, pull-ups, heavy rows) and eat enough.

People are either limb people or torso people - in terms of where they add muscle. You're clearly a limb guy - whereas I can grow nice pecs and lats but have trouble with arms and delts. So really focus on the chest and back, and particularly the back, and you'll get a bit more balance to your physique.

[Monkfish]

Thanks for the comments guys. It's been about ten weeks since I took the above pictures and LionHair has reminded me in my journal that I said I'd take some of my progress (if there is any!)

Here they are, tried to take them the same, but have moved house! This is the closest that I could get.

Any comments on weak points or where I need to focus would be great. Personally, I've noticed my upper chest/delts feel a little 'fuller' and my hamstrings come on a wee bit too. This isn't 'I got shreaded in four weeks' tho I'm afraid, no massive changes! Just a slow, steady lean bulk.

Anyway, here I am....





Leaning left a bit in the back shot, oops!

[Monkfish]

[HollywoodJon]

You look better than 99% of men in this country, but...

..probably 12-14 pounds of muscle short of competition standard.

I'm not at any sort of great level but you'll know when you're ready- every other 18 year old in the gym will keep stopping you to ask what you're taking and how long you've been training for!

There are probably only 2 or 3 guys in my gym who have that 'wow' factor; maybe one day it'll be me too?