Show or no advice

[OldFatAndSlow]

so here I am, I turn 37 in two months and five weeks ago i decided that I want to get into the best shape ive ever been in my entire life. I’ve gotten back in line training and eating clean and Ive got my fat ass back below 200#.
Im no stranger to training, lifting, diet, gear, ect. And not afraid to use any tool in the box so to say. Ive lifted, dieted, ect my entire life but I’ve never gotten really serious about it though, and I’m currently in no real shape.
When I was in the corps I was fairly lean in the 10-12% maybe lower 170s, after I got out I geared up to 210 but never really cut to get shredded. I was completely ok with just being muscular 210# 5’8” guy. I’ve never been lean like contest lean in my entire life at any time.

Now I feel like there’s nothing to motivate someone like a looming date on a calendar. And I think I want to enter into a local NPC competition in late November as a true novice. Is this something that sounds feasible? Or am I shooting for the moon here?
I’ve dumped 20# in 5 weeks and feel like I’ve got at least another 20# to go before I can see what I’m working with so to speak. I feel like I need to get to that point to have a solid square one starting point. I currently feel great, actually the best I’ve ever felt cutting weight, and have no doubt that If I keep pace that should put me somewhere around late Feb early March, and somewhere around a reasonable % 175#s. After that I can go to work so to speak on what I need to work on. Do a small bulk, then cut again before the show.

Am I going about this the right way?

I’m completely new to competition BB. What novice NPC class should have I look at to get my feet wet?

Am I going to realistically need more time than what I’m giving myself? Can I go from dad bod to contest in what will be 11 months?

Either way I’m committed to getting into the best shape I’ve ever been in and I’d like everyone’s advice on how to go about getting there....any and all is appreciated, I know there’s a mountain to climb. The only way up it is to take the first step and not quit. What’s your thoughts? Don’t worry, you won’t hurt my feelings.
Thanks guys

 

[EcpertRealistic]

When I was in the corps I was fairly lean in the 10-12% maybe lower 170s, after I got out I geared up to 210 but never really cut to get shredded

That's what happens when you run test. There are better compounds out there for real

I would run some Anavar, Masteron and Deca at 300(first 4 weeks only to prevent deca dick) along 100mgs of test (to keep fat down). I would exchange deca for tren if I want to take it to another level and cardio is not an issue

Otherwise you will never get SOLID lean.

 

[OldFatAndSlow]

Understand, at the time I was completely ok with soft/full, but if I’m gonna do what I’m planning on doing, I’m gonna have to change up a lot from anything I’ve ever done before

 

[Evom1]

If you're 5'8 @200 and you feel you have another 20lbs to drop I would not go anywhere near open bodybuilding since you're going to want to be over 200lbs on stage for that. Sounds like you'll be low 170s or so for the stage.

Classic physique at your height for 5'7-5'8 the weight cap is 182lbs so you'd be fairly well sized for that.

Think honestly, and if you'd say your stage weight will be under 170 I would suggest men's physique.

Let's say the show is the second Saturday in November....

In a couple weeks start a hard clean bulk for about 14-16 weeks to add some size

Then clean out and cruise May 26th to July 24th. Depending on your conditioning you may want to start the beginning stages of prep here.

Then you would start a full 16 week prep July 24th leading you up to the show. I'd imagine if say your stage weight is currently 170lbs, if done right you could come in at the very top of your weight class in classic

 

[LordSamuilo]

If you're 5'8 @200 and you feel you have another 20lbs to drop I would not go anywhere near open bodybuilding since you're going to want to be over 200lbs on stage for that. Sounds like you'll be low 170s or so for the stage.

Right , and thats if hes being realistic about how much bf he needs to drop to hit the stage .. not being a dick at all , but i constantly see dudes grossly underestimating how lean they need to be to get into stage condition.

 

[Evom1]

Right , and thats if hes being realistic about how much bf he needs to drop to hit the stage .. not being a dick at all , but i constantly see dudes grossly underestimating how lean they need to be to get into stage condition.

Very true. My friends who don't compete always say I'm ripped, when in reality I'm at least 20+ pounds from stage weight

 

[OldFatAndSlow]

Just to clarify, I feel like I need to drop another 20 before starting any kind of bulk. That would put me at 175 and reasonably lean to the point I know I could bulk again and still cut before the show date. I would truly believe a stage weight of 170# or so I would be in phenomenal shape.
As far as class goes, I know novice B.B. is not in the cards. I guess I’ll go ahead and blast this last 20# and make an assessment from there.
Should I try to fit in a small short ester test run during my bulk, pct, then go on test/Tren/mast for the 16 week prep?
Or should I just diet clean, eat up, train hard, and save the prep cycle for the final 16wks? Basically do I have time for 2 runs or just one.

 

[OldFatAndSlow]

If I don’t have time for 2 runs I’d say I’ll be 170 or below. If I could get in 2, I’m positive I’d be above 170. But, like you all say, I’ve never seen myself in stage shape do I really don’t know where I’ll be.

 

[LordSamuilo]

If I don’t have time for 2 runs I’d say I’ll be 170 or below. If I could get in 2, I’m positive I’d be above 170. But, like you all say, I’ve never seen myself in stage shape do I really don’t know where I’ll be.

Just my opinion if i was in the same position . I'd lean out then do a proper growth phase , pct if that is your plan and give yourself enough time to do a 16 week prep minimum. Even if that means pushing back to a later show . You've never dieted to show condition before so you really need to give yourself time to figure out how to get into mid single digit bf% ... its a whole different monster from just getting lean , and theres no point of giving yourself a time constraint especially since you dont know exactly what its going to take for you to diet down to that kind of condition ...

 

[OldFatAndSlow]

That will be the plan then. Finish my lean out, hit a clean bulking cycle, pct, then assess a show that allows a full 16 wk prep. If it’s not this year it’s not this year.
Trying to do, what I’m trying to do, would you suggest a std test deca dbol bulked? Or try to keep the gains on the leaner side?
Or even run something like prop/Tren ace or npp? A short ester run for a quicker pct and from my experience a little cleaner mass builder.

 

[LordSamuilo]

That will be the plan then. Finish my lean out, hit a clean bulking cycle, pct, then assess a show that allows a full 16 wk prep. If it’s not this year it’s not this year.
Trying to do, what I’m trying to do, would you suggest a std test deca dbol bulked? Or try to keep the gains on the leaner side?
Or even run something like prop/Tren ace or npp? A short ester run for a quicker pct and from my experience a little cleaner mass builder.

I honestly think that this is your best bet at having a successful run at your first show.

As far as your proposed bulk , that could work great , id personally opt for npp over deca . Save the tren for your prep , you'll feel and grow better with deca/npp . You could use prop or a longer ester with the npp , not real important . I always run cyp more or less no matter what short esters im running but i dont pct so prop might be easier for you in terms of transitioning into pct .

And i wouldn't try to "lean bulk" , but I also wouldnt try to blow the fuck up and pig out just to push numbers on the scale . Set your nutrition up to were you're gaining 1.5 to 2 lbs a week , no need to go to the extreme on either side of the spectrum.

 

[OldFatAndSlow]

Appreciate the assistance, it has allowed me to get some perspective on the timeline required to achieve this goal successfully.

 

[LordSamuilo]

Appreciate the assistance, it has allowed me to get some perspective on the timeline required to achieve this goal successfully.

No problem , and 16 weeks for a prep is average for most people depending on how often you compete . Once you figure out what it takes for you to get contest lean , and you learn your body you my be able to cut that timeline a good bit.

It personally took me couple times to really learn my body and get to a legitimate single digit bf% ... anyone can get beach lean with some cardio and a half decent diet , getting freaky lean I unimaginably harder . So just stay positive and dont get discouraged if you dont get it perfect the first time around . Its a process and everytime you do it (i wont say it geys easier) but you learn from your former mistakes.

 

[OldFatAndSlow]

Thanks

 

[Switcher]

Most people are very surprised how much weight they drop when the get ripped for a contest. Between losing the fat and the water, it can be dumbfounding. If competing is all about showing accomplishment, go at the best shape and do not worry about weight, just go at your best.

 

[OldFatAndSlow]

Most people are very surprised how much weight they drop when the get ripped for a contest. Between losing the fat and the water, it can be dumbfounding. If competing is all about showing accomplishment, go at the best shape and do not worry about weight, just go at your best.

This is true. I’ve been lean and in good shape, but I’ve never been to or tried to get to contest shape. That being said, I really won’t know weight until I get there. So far I’m maintaining progress on my initial lean out. I should be able to start a bulker around mid March. I plan to run a std test/deca/dbol without getting out of control cal wise. Or maybe Prop/npp to run shorter. Hit PCT and assess if if I have the timeframe to properly prep for a late November show. If not I’ll look for something early 2019.