My first pics - strategy, critique etc welcome

[Drake_NZ]

Hey guys

Have just joined this site - have done a lot of competitive fitness in the past but now want to start focusing on building up my body and getting lean. Maybe a competition one day - a guy can dream!

My stats are 71 kg, possibly a bodyfat somewhere in the teens (what do you think it might be from the pics?). I struggle to put on weight, but ironically looking at how well cut you guys are I think losing fat may be even harder.

Should I focus on building up my mass or getting lean? I'm aware there are weight categories etc, so not sure where I should take it with my weight. I'm 171 cm tall by the way, which puts me in the NABBA "short" category by 1 cm - not sure if that is good or bad.

Here are my pics so I can have some progress for later. Have yet to buy some speedos so will show the legs later! The outdoor pic is from 6 months ago, when I was training for the world chin up record - you can tell I've had a bit of a break since then!!!

[SamWall]

How did you go on the Chin up Record? How many can you knock out?

[diamond]

i reckon melbot would give you a run for your money in a chin up contest.

[diamond]

anyway you have a pretty good base. everything looks in fairly good proportion. Don't worry about bf % . If you want to get leaner then start dieting, if you want to put on more muscle then eat more and go hard. It's up to you really.

[Truds]

Hey dude,

Unless you're trying to get lean for a holiday or competition or some other special occasion, I'd concentrate on building mass now.

How did the chin up record go? :clap:

[poos_n_wees]

Should I focus on building up my mass or getting lean?

Ahhh.. the age old cut or bulk? question

...now want to start focusing on building up my body and getting lean

Two different goals, so approaches to diet/training would be different. I agree with whats been said already.. if there's no reason to diet at the moment, then don't.. and focus on getting lifts up, building some muscle mass \:D/

Life's more fun that way lol.

[Drake_NZ]

Thanks for the comments so far.

As for the chin up record - the previous world record for a minute was 46 (full extension, dead hang). I got to 44, but then the record was upped to 53, so I had to give up on that one.

Back in 2004 I did have the world record for push ups in a minute - got to 124. I think its currently 138 however, but these days I'd be lucky to get 90.

Cam

[frogie2001]

i suggest you set your target, for what you want and set it in concrete. f you want to do a comp is 1 year. use 6 months to gain some mass, than diet down.

how tall are you? i you are around 180cm I would suggest gaining around 5kg + of mass (which would take about 2 years ish) than diet down, nice and lean, and see what you look like. if you are shorter, than maybe look at a show next year?

[Drake_NZ]

Hey Frogie

I am only 171 cm (5 ft 7). Does this give me a big advantage?

5 kg in 2 years? Wow, that seems like quite slow progress, especially given how hard its been in just a few months of training.

I noticed that NABBA has a "short" and "tall" category. Tall is 172 cm, so I'm just off. Wondering whether that gives me a huge disadvantage - i.e. all the shorter guys will find it much easier to put on muscle than me.

Cam

[2guns]

Back in 2004 I did have the world record for push ups in a minute - got to 124. I think its currently 138 however, but these days I'd be lucky to get 90.

lol, does this pull the chicks saying u are a world record holder?

[Drake_NZ]

Unfourtunately most chicks just think you're some crazy guy making stuff up to impress them :?

[2guns]

:pfft:

[frogie2001]

not too sure on the advantage side of things. plenty of guys here can tell you. but at your height you would look pretty big at 80kg lean mass.

[mr natural]

you might do well in the figure short class

[Optimass]

I am only 171 cm (5 ft 7). Does this give me a big advantage?

Only if you are 80kg at 5%bft.

5 kg in 2 years? Wow, that seems like quite slow progress, especially given how hard its been in just a few months of training.

5kg of actual muscle is a good gain for 2 years work.

I noticed that NABBA has a "short" and "tall" category. Tall is 172 cm, so I'm just off. Wondering whether that gives me a huge disadvantage - i.e. all the shorter guys will find it much easier to put on muscle than me.

Not easier nessesarily .... just less area to fill up ....

Put some size on mate - no point in cutting back as you will not be happy below 65kg. Like the Natural one says ... at a competitive bfat% you would be a sound figure competitor. Unless thats what you are aiming for?

[2guns]

dude, wats that lotion in a yellow bottle by yr computer for?? dodgy...

[Drake_NZ]

Ha!

You will laugh - its tanning lotion. And no I haven't been using it very much (as you can probably guess!!!).

But yeah my pale skin is one thing I need to remedy.

C

[Arjun]

I reckon you should clean bulk (so just eat like you would on a cut but bigger portion sizes so you create a calorie surplus) --> that way you'll maintain a pretty lean figure while you gain mass as you want, and when you want to cut, it wont be as hard!

[Laver]

A couple things,

Firstly, you look like a lady posing on a cat-walk - funky back/neck bends. Might pay to get that checked out, can't be healthy (this is constructive - really!)

Other than that you look good - big arms!

Secondly, while we're looking at things in the background of the photo, awesome monitor, recommended to all. I own the same one, SyncMaster 226bw? What panel did you get in yours? I ended up with a C

[Optimass]

A couple things,

Firstly, you look like a lady posing on a cat-walk - funky back/neck bends. Might pay to get that checked out, can't be healthy (this is constructive - really!)

The 5th photo is a bit adult friend finder! :pfft: