Hugheser's Road To The NSABBA

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Originally Posted by steve_d

looking awesome. hang in there! I know exactly how you feel... I have resorted to 50mg benadryl before bed, and it takes about 3 hours before it kicks in enough to knock me out. Only a few more weeks to go!

I forget, are you still planning on provincials, and atlantics? or just 1 or the other? I really think you are going to do well in all 3 shows. Just get those last few ounces out, dry up, tan on, carb up, boom!

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50mg benadryl eh? May have to try that.

I am doing to Saint John show as kind of a warm up for the NSABBA's. Don't think I am doing Atlantics though. Was in at fitness fx for a quick workout and some posing before I hit costco for my last chicken run before the show. No carb day today, brutal! Going to be very difficult to get any kind of sleep tonight. I find the more prepared I am for the next day the easier I sleep though. Snacking on almonds before bed helps a bit as well. Any other tips?

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Originally Posted by Hugheser

50mg benadryl eh? May have to try that.

I am doing to Saint John show as kind of a warm up for the NSABBA's. Don't think I am doing Atlantics though. Was in at fitness fx for a quick workout and some posing before I hit costco for my last chicken run before the show. No carb day today, brutal! Going to be very difficult to get any kind of sleep tonight. I find the more prepared I am for the next day the easier I sleep though. Snacking on almonds before bed helps a bit as well. Any other tips?

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melatonin, and make sure you are eating enough veggies througout the day with sodium to keep your belly full... I lose between 7-8 pounds per night, and even though it means a lot of getting up to pee, its better than tossing and turning all night!

Yeah I pop 2, 3mg melatonin pills around 930ish and it seems to make me wake up in the middle of the night, fully rested but I know I am not and need more sleep considering the activity levels. Looks like your bro is doing the heavies now?

Yep, but he would be lt heavy at nationals. I saw him today and lets just say there is no amateur lt heavy in canada that could touch him, IMO.

Dropped carbs to around 100g per day, and tightened thing up this week. Never lost a pound but look leaner.Attachment 29288Attachment 29289

Ps. These are at 7am. No pump or carbs, so very flat.

Moving into my first house tomorrow, and packing and bills and running around doing this and that while working stacked up on me. Last night was so hungry and tired I went to needs and bought a 2l of utterly devine ice cream and a bag of oats. Mixed them all together in a spagetti pot and ate it all. Then just about cried. Did my cardio this morning and back on track today. Moving all day tomorrow and unpacking and get situated is going to be rough. I really can't afford another slip up. Need to stay concentrated on the task at hand. 8 Days to go!

But on another note, this lifestyle really shows what your made of, and not how weak you are but how strong and determined you can be when things go arye. You really have to love what your doing because if you don't your probably going to give up. Off to the gym on my day off to do cardio and posing. No routine yet but crushing the more important mandatories.

I am all for cheat meals...And even at a week out, many people are still doing it...but I HOPE this was planned, and not just a break in willpower! Not only that, I truly feel that anyone chosing to cheat *(at a week out), should try to do it on something other than 2 litres of ice cream! lol...

The good part, is your shredded already, and this wont hurt you in the end...Enjoy the last week! Look forward to seeing the end result!

The worst part Steve is I don't feel shredded at all with Kenny running around the gym here on base. I feel so damn far behind. I need to grab some protan and dream tan asap. Got any suggestions to order from in Canada?

pose down.ca... however I'd call them up ASAP... speak to the guy (I think his name is mike) on the phone...he'll get it to you by next week. But really do it up quick!

If you can't, I may be able to help you out, at least for the nSABBA show. I have some extra lying around (i think), but I'd have to dig it out. But don't count on me! haha...I been doing so much running around lately, and carb depleted, I'd probably ship it to hong kong by accident, lol.\


And yeah, kenny is way too ripped. Seriously, can't look at him if you want to feel ready! I just saw pics, but damn...the guy is the most peeled guy I think that will have ever graced the stage in NS. But like everyone says. Conditioning is only 1 part of the equation. posing, symmetry, size, balance...I am curious to see how he fares in NS as a light heavy! Personally, I been debating back and forth forever if i was going to do light heavy, but because the weight came down just enough the last week or so, I really think middle is for me. I should be 174 on stage.

Thanks going to call in a sec, what is better the golden bronze or the red bronze for dream tan?

You're looking great. I know it's hard not to, but try ot to stress....you'll be ready.

I've always used Dream Tan #2 over Jan Tana and always had great colour.

I called the guy you suggested Steve and yes I got number 2. For the dream tan. Should go good with my green posing trunks. Rocking the same pair I did in 09' at the IDFA Natural Novice Classic except I am easily going to be 35-40lbs heavier, going to be TIGHT! Well it is time for me to go start throwing boxes in my uhaul. Hope these eggs and egg whites can keep some gas in the tank for a couple hours. It kinda sucks. I have taken a picture every Saturday in the same spot in this house and flipping through them it looks like a cartoon flip book of progress. Now my picture tomorrow will be at my new crib lol. But I guess if that is the only thing I am worrying about at this point I am doing alright.

Great work H, good luck with the final prep.

i hope the officials in NS arent following suit with the CBBF and OPA and banning dream tan already this yr. if so you might be in trouble. apparently they re doing a wipe test (whatever that means). lol On another note i remember in 2007 when i won my first local level show...falling apart 1 week out on 10burgers from McD's and a half dozen muffins from Tim Hortons. if you re ripped enough then it shouldn t hurt you though. Kill the final week bro and bring home a trophy!

not banned this year...might be next though

You've come a long way from that IDFA show alright!

All depleted now, 3 days no carbs, just finished arms, calves, cardio and posing. One or two more workouts and then probably nothing but some posing. Shaved today, not fun, razor burn everywhere and skin is breaking out bad. Need to get a spray tan Thursday night and paint up Friday. Hopping on the ferry over to Saint John Friday night and staying with the old man. Going to freak out a few relatives for sure. My girl got the weekend off work so have a travelling companion now and someone to paint and oil me up friday night. Feel a little behind but taking some pictures of me depleted as I am going to be tomorrow morning before my cardio.

Maybe you guys can give me some feedback, head doesn't seem to be in the right place right now.

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These shots are from this morning 3 Days Out from Martime Bodies show in Saint John and 8 Days Out from NSABBA Provincials. Sitting at 235.5lbs first thing in the morning pre cardio/breakfast. Was feeling like shit last night but these pictures gave me a little confidence boost. Totally depleted now and just debating when to start carbing up, lowering the salt intake to about half today, and increasing water. Just going to play it by ear.

Damn, you look to be in a great place right now Hughes. I know it's bound to happen, but try not to let the head games get the best of you. Go rock that stage, you're ready!

Looking good bud! HUGE improvements since your IDFA show.

looking drier each day. It will only get drier from here...Once the salt is out, and a little carbs are in, trust me - your skin will feel ultra paper thin! Just don't cut salt out completely...even tomorrow or else you might cramp up pretty bad! Just keep some salty snacks handy...once water is gone, it won't hurt you and can only help!

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Originally Posted by steve_d

looking drier each day. It will only get drier from here...Once the salt is out, and a little carbs are in, trust me - your skin will feel ultra paper thin! Just don't cut salt out completely...even tomorrow or else you might cramp up pretty bad! Just keep some salty snacks handy...once water is gone, it won't hurt you and can only help!

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Going to start carbing up first thing tomorrow morning on a 2 sweet potatoes with each chicken meal I think, for 6 meals. Can you explain a little more steve about when to reduce the salt and water?

now probably isn't the best time to change your plans...But my advice for friday would be to avoid adding salt to things. Eating sweet potatoes and chicken for 6 meals is fine. Hardly any salt there! Unless of course you cooked your chicken like we have been for the past couple weeks! I think you'll be fine with the plan you have laid out. Honestly, when your ripped your ripped...not much left to do but cut water and even if you didn't do anything at all different you would be ripped.

If you're lean already in the AM, dry, etc...then all that really needs to be done is nothing too drastic. But generally speaking, most people are successful keeping sodium relatively high until thursday night. cutting it out friday to small amounts, ie whatever is found in normal foods including even things like eggs, will do drastic things to holding water under skin - particularly if you are holding water there already because you're not lean enough. I used to drop at least 8 pounds the last few days. I don't drop as much anymore because no amount of salt holds water under my skin after 8 hours overnight without water.

in terms of water, I honestly don't think anyone would need to cut it until 18 hours before stage.... you can probably get away with even less. I've drank 4 litres at midnight before a morning show and still peed almost sludge by the time i hit stage! There are lots of theories, and I've spoken to many people about their protocols and I was honestly shocked at how many people get dry as a bone doing so many different things...Some things where people would say is the complete opposite of what you should do!! My motto is, get ripped, REALLY ripped....then you don't neeed to worry about messing things up the last week, because almost nothing (with even just a tiny bit of common sense) can mess up a totally ripped physique.

Woke up this morning, no cardio. Feel off already, after doing morning cardio for almost 100 days straight it feels odd not to be on that recumbent bike.

Ate 10oz chicken and 2 sweet potatos at 7am. Already feeling relaxed. Plan on eating the same thing until tonight, with 8L of water until 6pm.

Then I have a 1L bottle I am going to sip on for the next 26hrs.

Only sodium I am getting is directly from the food and put some cinnamon spice on the sweet potatos. SO DELICIOUS!! Just packing my bags now with food and tanning supplies etc, and hoping on the Ferry @ 4pm.

Can't wait to hear abou the show...and see the pics of course! I'm sure you killed it...

Heard from my bro you looked phenomenal! I am not surprised. I knew you would be the moment I saw your pics from a month or two out.

I also heard that you actually deserved the win, but its not about placings, its about showing. Heard the winner was pretty shredded... Hope to see you hold conditioning or improve even by provincials! You should do very well at a cbbf sanctioned event! Going to be a tough class in NS - and I look forward to seeing you at the weigh-ins friday

Congrats on your placing Hugh - excellent! Have any pics you can share?

So the show ran a such.

First off the did the individual posing routines first which was weird and gave none of the juniors any time to pump up and a matter of fact I was actually applying dream tan downstairs to a young guy while they were calling his name. He literally had no pump, ran up the stairs and was back down in about 2mins just bewildered. So confused and exhausted.

I felt my routine went well and got a standing ovation from my friends and family who I could just barely see under the stage lights but was great to see them yelling and screaming.

There was only 2 heavyweights, myself and a guy names Paul. He was 52yrs old and a long time powerlifter, he was absolutely diced and had so much grainy muscle. We talked a lot backstage and i met his son who was older than me lol. I felt good though and right after the show my Dad and girlfriend and rest of my relatives went to McDonalds and I just drank my water, not depressed but just thinking to the next weekend and how I needed to stay on track, went home salted 10oz of chicken and a cup of brown rice and went to bed. Went to thanksgiving dinner at the girlfriends and was tempted by every kind of delicious food you can imagine, I have to go to the basement, toss a chew because truthfully I felt like I was going to cry, she came down and sat with me, told me all the desert tasted like garbage (what an awesome chick!). I ate nothing but Turkey (about 24oz lol) and raw broccoli. Depleting again and going to try something different this week and eat some more ground eye of round beef and see how that does. Didn't get very many pictures from the show but will take some from her camera and throw them up.

PS. Steve, thanks for the motivation bro, and to hear your brother even thought I looked good made me just yell "**** YEAH" by myself in my house!Attachment 29383Attachment 29385Attachment 29387Attachment 29384Attachment 29386

I didn't get many shots which blows and the photographer took terrible pictures, not even worth ordering off the website.

Don't be discouraged bro...you look great. Take another run at it this weekend. Don't change too much right now as your body is used to what you are doing / did so stay close to what you know for sure. Stay away from the unknown right now. Try the new stuff next year....sometimes in a week when you are depleted etc lots of things can change...hang in there and rock it with Steve and Greg...you will have some guys to chat with this time and hopefully the show will run more smoothly. Great job!!

Great work! You brought a great package to the stage

Thanks guys! I got a picture from the day after the show, while doing some chest and hams, 10lbs heavier, full of water and salt, had a nice pump for once. I may try a more agressive carb up with a little more water this time, as i felt pretty flat.

feeling flat and looking good are two seperate things~! I always say its better to come in flat and diced than it is to come in full and watery! Although, by the looks of it, you certainly aren't holding water! Wow! amazing transformation in the last 2 years to say the least. You have a bright future...

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Originally Posted by steve_d

feeling flat and looking good are two seperate things~! I always say its better to come in flat and diced than it is to come in full and watery! Although, by the looks of it, you certainly aren't holding water! Wow! amazing transformation in the last 2 years to say the least. You have a bright future...

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Huge strides is right! Very motivating to say the least...

232.0lbs Filling Out! Nice and dry already and glutes almost there. Can I have another week please!

congratulations on the shows Hugh... followed your logs all the way through... very interesting and motivational... keep killing it man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmK9N...ature=youtu.be

Great work Hugheser - that video makes me miss Greenwood gym :)

chest looks like its about to explode in that vid