Some progress pics....advice needed with water depletion

[Nathan]

No real pump in these, though I lifted about an hour earlier. I am natural - the only supplement I currently use is whey protein.

I took these on Friday evening and was aiming to peak on the Sunday, since I was going to do a comp (drug-tested....but I don't know if that actually means anything), but totally screwed the whole thing up since I couldn't bring myself to commit fully. Christ almighty, it's so much damn work to get everything together the way I would want to. I tried to do a carb-up (began Tuesday evening) and water depletion (began *after* I took these pictures). In general, I think I understand the carb-up now, after like 10 runs. Takes me about 4 days. I took these pics at about where I think I peaked with it - although I think I needed another few big meals that night, then a couple the next morning and I'd be fully GLYCOGENATED.

The water depletion did not go well. I took Taraxotone (an OTC diuretic), which did absolutely nothing. I felt bloated with water when I took these pics, since I was drinking lots of water still at the time, with the intention of dropping off my water intake for the next 2 days. I did that, but came in looking even more watery come Sunday. I do not understand. To be fair, I drank a fair bit of Diet Pepsi and coffee, but I figure hey, they are both diuretics. I need to try again and take it more seriously. Anyways, pics.

Progress Pics 22 Oct 2010 003 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Progress Pics 22 Oct 2010 006 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67177705@N00/5119514370/
Progress Pics 22 Oct 2010 016 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Progress Pics 22 Oct 2010 005 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

There are other ones in there of the back. I would be appreciative for commentary/suggestions for improvement/etc., although I fully realize I have given you dick-all to work with, but yeah, trying to bring out symmetry. Also, any knowledge about the water stuff? I meant to take some good pics, but couldn't force anybody to do it for me....and felt weird doing it in the locker room of the gym. I may just say to hell with it nd do that though, since it's the only way to get anything representative.

 

[wcjcMr.O]

i competed last year and had an older competitor help me out with my diet and stuff. i didnt have the money for a diuretic so i did this for a competition that was on a saturday morning. monday drank two galons of water, tuesday drank a gallon, wednesday half gallon, thursday about 2 cups of water, no water friday, and saturday morning no water but i was allowed to have a few sips of coffee but i was so thirsty i figured it would just make me thirstier so i chose not to drink any coffee. it worked pretty well, i was pretty dry but not crazy dry. i have heard of sodium loading and such but havent tried it. the goal of this is to trick your body into thinking it has SOOOO much water so it starts pissing it out, than when you begin to lower the water your body still thinks its getting alot so you continue to pee it out. i was still pissing friday night and saturday morning even tho i had no liquid in me for over 24 hours.

 

[rnch]

loose the Face Fuzz already!

 

[wcjcMr.O]

face fuzz?

 

[Roxy722]

If you're natty and you're lean enough, you really shouldn't drop your water imo. It goes against the "traditional" bodybuilding ways but a lot of the natty guys don't drop water...taper slightly maybe. You end up looking exactly like you did..flat and watery. The body is so fine tuned that it's tough to trick it. The water dropping really comes more for enhanced users who may be holding interstitial water because of what they are taking. Taraxotone may help some but I'd double the dose and take it at least 2 weeks out, maybe 3. It won't do much in just a few days.

For what it's worth..I think you look pretty lean and conditioned and dry in those pics. Are you thinking of competing sometime soon?

 

[SouthernLord]

Nathan, you look great bro.

I wish I could offer you advice, but you already know way more than me about this.

It's good to see you around here

 

[rnch]

Nathan, you look great bro.

I wish I could offer you advice, but you already know way more than me about this.

It's good to see you around here

what-he-said!

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

Imo, I think you look contest ready right there. You look dry with veins and separation, but still appear to have pump in the arms and chest.

I think it'll be really tricky to come in looking more ripped than you already are without being REALLY careful and end up coming in looking flat.

Under stage lights with fake tan and oil you'd look solid just as you are atm imo.

I've seen pre-contest photos of soooo many bodybuilders anywhere from a week to 3 days before a show and they look unbelievably huge and ripped with veins everywhere and I swear they ALL deplete too much and almost never look as good they day of the show.

One of my favorites is a black and white picture of Shawn Ray taken from the front that I believe is like a week before the Olympia and he looks retardedly amazing. Never seen him look as yoked or veiny on actual competition day.

 

[Nathan]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback! Really, really appreciate it. I was actually going to do a comp that weekend, but decided not to. I have done two in the past, and learned I need time and energy to really commit. I want to have fun with the posing, so figure I'll take another year and just work on that and my physique slowly.

It's great to hear this abuot water, and I agree with what has been said about peaking. I am learning a lot about that, having consistently come in flat in the past. I may just say to hell with it, and give er without worrying about water depletion....not to mention, I really don't want to do it in the first place.

There is also alcohol - never looked more shredded than a night after drinking.

Anyways, running around like a chicken with its head cut off all day teaching, but I will try to post back and leg shots tonight for symmetry feedback, if you guys are up for it.

Thanks again!