Pikey's progress

Tall

RE Dieting comments - What Weight / BF do you get to off season mate?

Pikey

I tend to get heavier each time, when I first got it into my head in 05 that I was going to compete I weighed approx 85K before dieting and I think my BF was around 15% indicated on the scales on stage at the UK in 05 I was 71.1K. When I started dieting for the NE in 06 I'd got to about 89K and BF from the scales at about 13 - 14%, I was about 72.5K on the day of the show but a good bit harder than 6-months previous.
On Jan 1st this year when I started dieting I weighed about 92K with around 12% indicated and at the NE this year I weighed 76K again improved condition, then at the finals 5 weeks later I was 78.5K and better condition, I remeber my BF scales read error on the measurement ....
If I read back through the log I'd see what I got up to prior to starting dieting but I think 93 - 94K and about 11% showing on the scales, today I weigh 84.5K and BF is indicating at 8%.
I don't hold much store against the bodyfat measurement more than showing an idication which way it's going as the scales are never calibrated for bodybuilders etc so the reading to actual will be different, I think hydro weighing is the only truly accurate way to go but personally believe a mirror is a good indicator and better still a knowlegable friend you can trust to tell you the way you look and not what you want to hear tells you everything you need to know.

I had hoped to get to approx 100K at a reasonable BF percentage which in my head means having some suggestion of something like abs for me that tends to be an indicated 12 – 13% (I don’t want to be walking round with my gut hanging over my belt) before starting dieting as I’d realised by going to this years finals if I hope to achieve a top 6 place I will need to be in the region of 85K in good hard condition and I seem to have lost close to 15K with each diet to get in shape.

I decided to go for the Pudsey show in October for three reasons; post diet I have each time grown like mad so on the rebound I might push my weight closer to the 100K goal, retain my focus, support a friend who is preparing for the same show and fingers crossed qualify for next years finals.

Pikey

Just over seven weeks out, this week I’ve increased Cardio to an hour each morning first thing, low intensity, basically a brisk walk with the dogs and I changed my last meal to 300gram (uncooked weight) white fish and Broccoli removing the baked potato to reduce my overall carbohydrate intake.

I’ve changed my protein source from Turkey in the evening mainly because I wanted to gag eating it.

H is being an absolute star preparing all my Tupperware meals first thing for me while I’m out doing cardio, this really does help as it gives me an extra half hour in bed and she’ll never know how much I appreciate her help.

The contest prep is biting now and I have all the usual symptoms. One of my big issues is motivation, I like to be good at anything I do, I realise I’m never going to be top flight or anywhere near it, which I can just about deal with and do the best I can. What keeps drawing this into ultra sharp focus is my training partner he’s also prepping for the show, he has really good genetics, and when we’re practising posing while I’ll flex up next to him he’s just in a different league and I look like “a bit dropped off”

I’m also missing a hobby I’ve indulged in since my early twenties which is ridge walking, I only ever go now when I’m not trying to bulk and not dieting as the calorie burn is huge and counter productive to the bodybuilding. I’ve booked a cottage in Snowdonia for a few days after the show and am looking forward to getting away with H and the dogs, aiming to indulge in Tryfan’s north ridge and Crib Goch, and get some nice indulgent meals down my neck! I’ll shut up on that as I doubt anyone’s particularly interested…

Anyway more or less on track I think even if I'm not particuarly enjoying it...

Ali M

Nice thread mate, i like ridge walking to, i tend to go to Leek in the moorlands they have the Roaches there and great fantastik climbs and ridge walking.

Ive ridge walked up mount gable what a #astard that was. got to the bottom and my entire rucksack was soacking wet and yeah my clothes id got on were wet to so im sat there putting my wet clothes through a mangle whilst me mates were in the pub.

good luck with the comps

Tall

Chin up Pikey.

Snowdonia will be great Mid/Late Oct. I used to live at the foot of the Ochils (as in they were 20ft from my back garden) and I used to go hill running with a mate of my dads, I totally know what you mean about it being a big calorie burner!

Pikey

Cheers guy's, I'm not so far from Leek, I know the Roaches area well from climbing as a kid. Great Gable is a meaty hill one of my favorites!! I've spent quite a bit of time in the lakes as you'd expect...

Fell running now that would be goodbye to any muscle mass those guy's amaze me with how light and sure footed they are.

Just had meal 3 Turkey some salad and 150gram baked spud so perking up a bit... looking round the canteen at work I might never be British champ but compared to the average Joe on the street....

Tall

Exactly mate - you can stand tall () knowing that most people don't have the dedication to do what you've done.

Pikey

:-) I could if I stood on a box

CDMullins

Really great read! Your motivation inspires me!

Just one question though, do you tend to have mood swings? Or tend to go feeling very high highs to very low lows?

There a very big guy who i see very often on a night out, we tend to be in the same place all the time and i notice he goes from being very happy and jolly to looking so low and to the point that he finds any1 to fight with. I also notice as the night goes on he his constanly taking it out on his missus, which just makes him worse.

Pikey

Well if you’ve been reading you’ll have noticed I’ve not been totally chuffed for a few weeks, loads of reasons perhaps the main is work is tough right now, easy to make excuses but for whatever reason I’ve been following the prep not cheating but not feeling good about myself.

Anyhow for about a week I’ve been craving fats which if I review my diet isn’t so surprising as apart from what is in Turkey breast I haven’t been getting any at all and there aint much in skinned Turkey breast. The sensible approach would doubtless be Udo’s oil, oily fish, nuts or similar. But I also decided I needed a real treat so this morning I did something I normally only ever do if I’m off out for the day walking. I went up to the café at “Outside” at Calver and had a full English breakfast complete with Black pudding etc washed down with a massive slab of Parkin and a great big mug of Coffee, probably about a million calories and half a kilo of animal fats. While I’m sure my condition will look pants tomorrow and my arteries will have more fur than a mammoth, it was bloody marvellous, I felt a proper bloater and have been in a good mood all day, I even had a kip for a couple of hours this afternoon, probably all the blood in my guts trying to digest the fat…then decided to do some work in the garden which I’ve been avoiding.

I’ve had good dieting food for the rest of the day and hope I’ve given myself the psychological break I needed to put my mind in the right place to kick myself up the arse and buckle down for the next seven weeks. I’ve also been out and bought some omega 3, 6 and 9 oil as I think I should supplement with that not black pudding :-) .

It’s easy for me to become obsessed with competing. I’ve always been the same with anything competitive and actually forget why I bodybuild, which is I enjoy the discipline of the regime and I like how it makes me look, I’ve never been one to follow the herd… I’m going to focus on that and get myself in the best shape I can for the show.

If nothing else today has given H a break from the grumpy bloke she’s been living with…she’s been out for a 12 mile run with one of her friends this evening, just waiting for her to come home now the bath is run and some food is ready. My way of saying thanks for being there for me.

CD while I hadn’t seen your question when I started writing the update it probably answers it and I have added this last paragraph since. The truth is yes I get mood swings pre contest, I think most people do when they are dieting and in contest prep, at least everyone I know well enough to talk to about it does. I don't when not in contest prep. I truly believe this sport is hardest on your loved ones, I do my best not to take it out on H or anyone else, its my choice to put myself through this, no one is making me and I try to limit the impact on anyone but me. While my temper is much less placid than usual when dieting I’m long enough in the tooth to keep it calm at least on the outside, I take it out on the iron in the gym :-)