Any beginners need help, just ask

[Alex A]

Steve is one of those guys who is a perfectionist, which is good, he will never be mediocre..
Im kind of the same way.. Even when i was shredded, to me, i didnt think i was lean enough..

[grumpwurst]

I'm currently getting ready to head to the evening portion of my competition at the Oklahoman State NPC competition. I think I'm doing really well. People are really impressed with my conditioning.

I'll report full results later, but they have banned camera from the auditorium so I won't have any pics until Dan from Muscular Development gets his pics up on his website.

Here are pics taken yesterday morning and evening......That's the best I can do....much better showing from 5 weeks ago....

All I can say is I'm ready for that darn cheat meal after this thing is over. If I win my weightclass. It's going to be long night since I'll be in the overall posedown..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rharkne...7605593377040/

[Alex A]

Looking great, good luck.

Shoot man! I didnt even know the show was today.. kick ass man, !

[cfox]

I'm currently getting ready to head to the evening portion of my competition at the Oklahoman State NPC competition. I think I'm doing really well. People are really impressed with my conditioning.

I'll report full results later, but they have banned camera from the auditorium so I won't have any pics until Dan from Muscular Development gets his pics up on his website.

Here are pics taken yesterday morning and evening......That's the best I can do....much better showing from 5 weeks ago....

All I can say is I'm ready for that darn cheat meal after this thing is over. If I win my weightclass. It's going to be long night since I'll be in the overall posedown..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rharkne...7605593377040/

Nice job Grump. Talk about shredded, especially from the back!

[grumpwurst]

I took 3rd in the Novice Lightweight in a field of 15 competitors where I was 35lbs lighter than the next heaviest guy. I cannot tell you how many people thought I got robbed of first. The judges told me I had them all beat of everything except muscle mass and they won't ever give me the novice lightweight title until I put on more muscle.

I took 1st in Bantamweight....

I was told that I took 3rd in the overall round but we'll have to weight till the scorecards come out for that

I went and congratulated the super heavy who took overall and he shook my hand and told me that he may have won the trophy, but I won the audience. I did not let those giants crowd me out. I just kept stepping in front and throwing my shots. Next thing you knew, everything I was throwing, they were turning around and repeating. IT felt great

[Alex A]

I took 3rd in the Novice Lightweight in a field of 15 competitors where I was 35lbs lighter than the next heaviest guy. I cannot tell you how many people thought I got robbed of first. The judges told me I had them all beat of everything except muscle mass and they won't ever give me the novice lightweight title until I put on more muscle.

I took 1st in Bantamweight....

I was told that I took 3rd in the overall round but we'll have to weight till the scorecards come out for that

I went and congratulated the super heavy who took overall and he shook my hand and told me that he may have won the trophy, but I won the audience. I did not let those giants crowd me out. I just kept stepping in front and throwing my shots. Next thing you knew, everything I was throwing, they were turning around and repeating. IT felt great

Congratulations...now you know what you have to do for next years shows...but this year went really good for you..enjoy today and get right back at it...!

[grumpwurst]

Congratulations...now you know what you have to do for next years shows...but this year went really good for you..enjoy today and get right back at it...!

Alex,

I think unlike some the outcome of my Novice Lightweight would prove discouraging. I'm smart enough that I was on stage with a huge weight deficit but I still came out swinging and tried to make the stage my own.

Because of that, by the end of the evening I was being told that I had won over a majority of the audience. When they went down the line asking for crowd response on who should win the overall and they got to the little guy on the end, the place went nuts. Trust me, I was shocked. The other 4 guys were stacked and packed.

Project Get Grumpwurt 10lbs heavier begins tomorrow. My trainer feels that if we can get me to 155 and I can still keep bringing the conditioning I've done over the past two shows, I'll be a force to be reckoned with.

The head judge did say something odd to me at the end of the night. He told me that I was by far one of the best Bantams he's seen in Oklahoma in a long time, but feels that I should stop doing OK shows and do national shows where I can face up against real competition because I'm ready despite the fact I'm still a greenhorn who's only done 2 shows.

I'm excited on how I've performed and cannot see where the future takes me

[Alex A]

Here is a vintage shot taken from my very first contest.. I too know what its like to be out weighed.

I competed at the Junior California, held here in Los Angeles in 2002 and weighed 143.. That was 20lbs ago....

I took the novice lightweight class, the open lightweight class and the novice overall...It was a great experience.

I have steadily improved ever since.

[cfox]

Here is a vintage shot taken from my very first contest.. I too know what its like to be out weighed.

I competed at the Junior California, held here in Los Angeles in 2002 and weighed 143.. That was 20lbs ago....

I took the novice lightweight class, the open lightweight class and the novice overall...It was a great experience.

I have steadily improved ever since.

Looks like since day 1 you had good chest, delts and claves. Kinda hard to tell about the back. It does look like you've really brought your legs up.

Even though you've greatly improved your conditioning, i would say it still looks damn good in those pics.

[Alex A]

Looks like since day 1 you had good chest, delts and claves. Kinda hard to tell about the back. It does look like you've really brought your legs up.

Even though you've greatly improved your conditioning, i would say it still looks damn good in those pics.

Thanks but as you can see, i couldnt pose for shit...but anyways... the kicker was how heavy i was off season.. I dropped 45lbs to get in shape for this show..And the next year I competed i dropped about the same. Boy i was doing things the hard way back then.

Back then my preps were twice as much work, twice the cardio and half the food.

[stavios]

I think you looked great even back then !

[Alex A]

I think you looked great even back then !

thanks, but i used to get too fat.. Thats why i encourage people not to make the mistakes I have done.

Back then i was doing 2 hours of cardio for the last 6 weeks and eating low carbs. it was hell and I kicked ass in the end but what hell it was.

[Lvwyo]

Ok guys heres the secret for chest improvement! Get some sleep!! Dont either of you have bed times? Just Kidding.First off ,Chris,you looked phenominal for your shows,congrats.Believe me, your hotel pics really motivated me to get shreaded,these past few weeks.Now seriously,for chest ive been doing my flye movements first.Here is the real "secret " routine.Incline dumbell flyes on a low 25 degree incline,smith machine inclines(again low angle),close grip decline presses(sounds strange,but their awsome).cable crossovers.3 sets each,light -mod-heavy,on flyes.1 moderate,2 heavy on each other exercise(since your already warm).12 reps for light,9 or so for mod,6 or so for heavy.As far as rest goes,all id do is stretch and change the weights.So not much,this was a big factor,all those years of resting for 3 min,didnt do shit.I guess im really stimulating the pecs now,not the ego! Hope this helps,give it a shot.

I think I am going to give it a shot. My chest is a weakpoint for me and I just cant seem to get it to grow along with everything else. Thanks for the "secret"

[Alex A]

I think I am going to give it a shot. My chest is a weakpoint for me and I just cant seem to get it to grow along with everything else. Thanks for the "secret"

My secret is heavy bench press for many years.

[cfox]

My secret is heavy bench press for many years.

And that shall be my main exercise for this year.