How to look like the guys on stage?

[Pseudonym]

Following on from this topic, Carve wants to know how to look like the guys on stage. Can you look like a bodybuilder, even if you're just going to the beach?

Hi when you find time would you please be able to advise me on the basics of getting stage ready or close to it?

I am really interested in how my body would change by going through the motions

I've been training for 10 years, had great results getting bigger or smaller.......but when i look at pics of guys, they dont look like me, other then lighting, tan, oils etc etc etc they must be doing something totally different that I'm not doing :cry:

I have read abit about changing sodium,water,carbs, but not enough good solid advice on what I could do to make a safe change and just see changes, I know it can be dangerous if done extremely wrong.

I went to a show a while ago in taranaki and they all looked good as!

Any help will be greatly appreciated and I'm happy to give you more info about nutrition, weight training, cardio, supplements, stats etc if needed :pray:

CARVE

[Cameron_R]

From what I've seen (not done) to look like they do on stage, you have to change your whole focus and everything you do.

After you have the solid base of muscle you want, you start about 8-12 weeks out from the show. You cardio like a mother f*cker, every single day, and drop your calorie intake so that you start to loose weight, whilst at the same time being smart about what you eat so that you minimize muscle loss and maximize fat loss. Then you keep cardioing like a mother f*cker, and keep dropping calories.

I've seen it turn smart, well balanced people into dumb arse (can't remember the word for 'spoon') irritable people. It is NOT sustainable or healthy.

If you want any more detail than that, I'm not your guy. It's just what I've seen mates go through.

[thatwaslight]

The whole point is it's a dumb idea, stage condition is not sustainable.

Why not how do I sustain 10% bf at the beach so all the girls will admire my abs instead.

Or you could just cruise on Clen and use diuretics every Saturday at the beach :x

[trainlikeafreak]

The whole point is it's a dumb idea, stage condition is not sustainable.

Why not how do I sustain 10% bf at the beach so all the girls will admire my abs instead.

Or you could just cruise on Clen and use diuretics every Saturday at the beach :x

exactly.

[maassive]

TBH mate, (and pseudo) while we were taking the piss instead of answering the question, the reason for this was really as TWL said. Stage condition is extremely hard to maintain (although, as someone who has never competed, I admit I'm not speaking from experience), and it is also not healthy. Your body will fight you to put on more BF, not because it's being a dick, but because it's trying to be healthy.

Plus, if you're doing it for the ladies, a quick poll of your lady friends using google images will reveal to you that chicks don't really dig the stage look. 'too freaky', they usually say. Instead bro, I would recommend trying to look like a fitness model at the beach - still very low bf but not stage. And still hard, but much more maintainable.

One of the most useful things I've done since becoming a member here was actually post up my diet and let people critique it. I learnt so much by just writing down everything I eat and working out the macros for it. That's my $.02

[Cameron_R]

Something that might help you get an idea of what's required and the sacrifices you would need to make, is to watch the movie "I want to look like that guy"

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11272

[maassive]

Something that might help you get an idea of what's required and the sacrifices you would need to make, is to watch the movie "I want to look like that guy"

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11272

+ the movie "bigger, stronger faster" lol

[Snatchy McClean]

^ awesome movie!

What kind of body fat percentage do competitors usually hold?

High Intensity Interval cardio + sensible diet seems to strip fat off really quickly in my limited experience, but this is more going for the visible abs look not the ripped freak look.

[Pseudonym]

Instead bro, I would recommend trying to look like a fitness model at the beach - still very low bf but not stage. And still hard, but much more maintainable.

Agreed. :nod:

Carve, you might like to take a look at Loochi's pics. He's managed to get himself pretty damn ripped, and has done it so slowly that it looks like it might be more maintainable than competition diets usually are. It'd be interesting to see what he thinks about this.

You could also post your own photos, and we can offer advice on what to work on.

[carve]

hey i do like this idea

i see what you guys are saying thnks for the hints

low body fat,abs, maintain muscle ive gained, maintainable for longer :oops:

i notice when i change around my carbs and water i seem pumped and lean but sometimes i look and feel flat why does this happen? :-s

Instead bro, I would recommend trying to look like a fitness model at the beach - still very low bf but not stage. And still hard, but much more maintainable.

Agreed. :nod:

Carve, you might like to take a look at Loochi's pics. He's managed to get himself pretty damn ripped, and has done it so slowly that it looks like it might be more maintainable than competition diets usually are. It'd be interesting to see what he thinks about this.

You could also post your own photos, and we can offer advice on what to work on.

[trainlikeafreak]

hey i do like this idea

i see what you guys are saying thnks for the hints

low body fat,abs, maintain muscle ive gained, maintainable for longer :oops:

i notice when i change around my carbs and water i seem pumped and lean but sometimes i look and feel flat why does this happen? :-s

Instead bro, I would recommend trying to look like a fitness model at the beach - still very low bf but not stage. And still hard, but much more maintainable.

Agreed. :nod:

Carve, you might like to take a look at Loochi's pics. He's managed to get himself pretty damn ripped, and has done it so slowly that it looks like it might be more maintainable than competition diets usually are. It'd be interesting to see what he thinks about this.

You could also post your own photos, and we can offer advice on what to work on.

Probs because you don't have enough experience with carb cycling/dehydration and another reason is your probably not big enough to do this and look good. you wanna be lean? just get to a low bf% and maintain. something like 7% you'll be one of the leanest uys on the beach. lol

[musclenz]

Its relatively easy to maintain a BF% around 10% once you have added a good amount of muscle to your frame. Muscle actually burns BF & puts you in a higher metabolic state, providing you keep your training intense & diet cleanish. For a novice BBer it is easy to look ripped & beach ready but you muscle mass will be depleted in the process of dieting. Its something that takes years to get to a level where you can maintain a good sized & muscular physique. I'm off to Bali in a week so I have dieted down for the beach bunnies. Its my comp for this year :pfft:

[Loochi]

Instead bro, I would recommend trying to look like a fitness model at the beach - still very low bf but not stage. And still hard, but much more maintainable.

Agreed. :nod:

Carve, you might like to take a look at Loochi's pics. He's managed to get himself pretty damn ripped, and has done it so slowly that it looks like it might be more maintainable than competition diets usually are. It'd be interesting to see what he thinks about this.

You could also post your own photos, and we can offer advice on what to work on.

:oops: thanks for using me as an example Pseudonym

Bro there is not magical trick to getting lean. All it is, is time, patience and consistency... First off I suggest having the same amount of calories for a week or 2 to see what your body weight stays at, then slowly start to reduce. By same amount I mean, for example if you're bulking, track how much calories you ate in that day then just use that number as a target to stay at until your body reaches a steady number.

Think of your body as a bank. If you go to the bank and take out too much money, they will suspect you of stealing and they will change their locks. This is the same as your body. If you subtract calories TOO fast and too much, your body will only respond by being what it's best at. A survival mechanism. What Cameron said (And he did state he doesn't know much about the process or hasn't experienced it) is a receipe for total disaster in my opinion. Others and including himself might think not, but try it if you want.

The best way is to track what you eat, and slowly subtract your calories until you reach your desired body weight. Plus it's easier on you mentally and not to mention healthier. Hope this helps you out man. :nod:

[Cameron_R]

What Cameron said (And he did state he doesn't know much about the process or hasn't experienced it) is a receipe for total disaster in my opinion. Others and including himself might think not, but try it if you want.

Actually I don't think what I said above is a smart thing to do. It is just the only way I've seen it done - no one else was being constructive and helping Carve so I thought I'd try and get something started by posting the little I know.

I have no intention of ever going in a show; one of the main reasons is that I don't think the bulk then cut 'cycle' is healthy at all - and I'm not disciplined enough to take the slow road.

Your post was the first time I've seen anyone explain in some detail an alternative. I thought it was awesome.

[Loochi]

My misunderstanding Cameron. I think you're right in a way about the bulk and cut being a bit unhealthy. But I think it's how you transition between the two which ultimately makes its either healthy or unhealthy. I'm glad you liked it mate :nod: