Back to the grind…

[Shelby]

2009 Michigan Recap

Well my first time competing as a light heavyweight was a blast. The final week prep went smoothly and I ended up very dry, but substantially bigger and also fuller than I’ve ever been before.
The light heavyweight class was big and deep this year – 11 guys, and most had done their homework. Michigan definitely puts out some class competitors.

I ended up placing 5th, and the guys that beat me were very impressive:

1st place – went on to win the overall (at the toughest Michigan in a long time)
2nd place – “Paz” – won the LHW and overall here a couple years ago, and placed 3rd at the 2006 Jr Nationals as a LHW
3rd place – won the heavyweight class at the Grand Rapids show last week, and sucked down to LHWs for this show
4th place – won the LHW class at the Grand Rapids show last week


5th seemed to be a fair placing, which is all you can really hope for in bodybuilding.

My conditioning is always very good, and my shape is decent – I just need more meat on my bones (you can see in the top 5 awards clip that I’m the smallest by far). I’ll probably need to be a heavyweight (210ish) before my frame looks “filled out”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5JDwuJVi48

My plan now is to get back to offseason eating, training, growing, and improving. I won’t compete again until next year, probably at the Michigan again.
Thanks to everyone that supported me along the way this year. I’m very grateful to be able to compete in this sport, and give it my all, day in and day out.

Here’s one more pic from the morning of the show:

 

[Mr.G]

I think you called about right. How much did you weigh in at? Great job, thanks for sharing.

 

[617ricky]

Wow, the definition you have in the lower-back / glute region really is pretty impressive.. Good job on your show, but it must have been at least a little frustrating when YOUR weight class was stacked with such stiff competition..

 

[Lenny]

Shelby, Great job! From the Youtube you can tell you the top five were stacked! You all looked ready to do battle. You went from middleweight to light heavy weight in a year and ended up looking awesome! Congrats and now time to have a productive offseason! I enjoyed your prepping progression and can't wait to see your offseason progression! Hats off to you!

 

[Shelby]

I think you called about right. How much did you weigh in at? Great job, thanks for sharing.

187.

Thanks guys.

 

[shawnkarbabacz]

yea man, your an inspiration on this board! not only for the improvements you made in only a yrs time, but just your humbleness and overall view of the sport. i wanted to stick around to meet you but the show ran a bit longer then i thought it would and i had to be somewhere.

And yes, this show was MUCH different then last yr, at least in a few classes. The good guys were VERY good! I personally still think you coulda took 4th but its a close call.

Anyway, great job bro and its awesome you had such a good time!

P.s.-do me a favor and tell your SHW client that he had the best music of the night. 'clean my wounds'. I LOVE that song and never expected to hear it at a BB show

 

[buselmo]

WOW!!! 5th!!! AWESOME BRO!!! judging from how the top 5 looked in your video, that was a very very tough contest!
you did great bro! and i can't wait to see the pics

P.S. WTF is that monster wearing blue??????is that a LHW????

 

[shawnkarbabacz]

WOW!!! 5th!!! AWESOME BRO!!! judging from how the top 5 looked in your video, that was a very very tough contest!
you did great bro! and i can't wait to see the pics

P.S. WTF is that monster wearing blue??????is that a LHW????

that video is very poor quality. it does NOT do those guys justice. i think youre talkin bout brian paz. I dont know how he is POSSIBLY a LHW, but i guess the scale doesnt lie. He had an awesome posing routine. He was the biggest 'freak' in the whole show

 

[Shelby]

yea man, your an inspiration on this board! not only for the improvements you made in only a yrs time, but just your humbleness and overall view of the sport. i wanted to stick around to meet you but the show ran a bit longer then i thought it would and i had to be somewhere.

And yes, this show was MUCH different then last yr, at least in a few classes. The good guys were VERY good! I personally still think you coulda took 4th but its a close call.

Anyway, great job bro and its awesome you had such a good time!

Thanks Shawn. I just want to be known as a guy that busts his ass and improves what he's got. Winning is nice, but this sport means a lot more to me than placings.

Here's my night routine. Sorry about the lighting, it was pretty bright (and hot) up there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZfSOaKm4q0 (uploading, may take a minute)...

 

[Designbuilt]

That looked like pretty tough lineup. Congrats on the great improvements over last year. The link to the new video doesn't seem to work.

 

[hard2core2]

Great job Shelby

Good job Shelby in a very tough class... Michigan produces some outstanding athletes....I like your dedication and commitment...your constantly striving to improve...you don't know how many times I have trained in gyms where I have met guys that have outstanding genetics but they are never committed to training and improving themselves over the long haul. Some of these guys will do a show or two and do well.. and then sluff off in the offseason.. then competed again got whipped..and then they quit... then the next thing you know they don't even lift anymore sad.
Since I have been in NYC since 2000 ...you don't know HOW many guys that I competed against or have seen compete...who are no longer competing or training for that matter..
I also have friends that were outstanding competitors who after they stopped competing won't go anywhere remotely close to a gym..again sad..

Thanks again for your continual updates regarding your diet.. and all the clips showing you lifting heavy compound movements...keep it up.. I wish you a healthy offseason and I already know productive offseason!

all the best,

Ivor - H2C2

 

[pesty4077]

Great job Shelby! Make the improvements like you did over last year for next year and you will be a force to be reckon with.

 

[buselmo]

wait... is this "Paz" dude the guy with the enormous hands? if he is... damn! i think he's good friends with luvmahroids from this site... that dude is tough...

shelby,
you looked amazing... seriously bro, I've been following your progress on this site ever since i joined and every year you get thicker and in better condition.

you are really improving your weak points (arms mainly) and keeping your body aesthetic and balanced. so just keep on doing what you're doing.

just a little note in posing routine, if i may... ... you seem to focus too much on the "end pose", for lack of a better word, and not focus enough on transition between posing and your emotions. it seems that you are looking at your feet placement a lot and making sure it's just right then you look at the crowd and judges and hit the pose, and it looks perfect as an end result. but you need to work on the transition between one pose to another as if you were "acting out the part"...

i hope i made sense

 

[aeliop]

And then Some

I just want to be known as a guy that busts his ass and improves what he's got. Winning is nice, but this sport means a lot more to me than placings.

That doesn't even scratch the surface of all you have. I think you have accomplished that as well as the respect and admiration of most everyone here, me included. You could of picked an easier show and won an overall but you went the warrior route and took on the best your state had to offer. Shelby that says a lot of the man you appear to be. Most bodybuilders talk the line of "competing against myself", "Just trying to get better" etc... but very few of us really walk this walk. Many of us deep down are happy when we are alone in a class or our competition is subpar, we just want that trophy. Our family, friends, and co-workers don't understand the difference between 5th place in a stacked class and 1st place in a subpar one. I am sure you knew that your class was going to be stacked but that never deterred you. You stuck to your plan and kept grinding and in the end you walk away with your head up because you know what you truely accomplished. Shelby you looked great and much respect from me and thank you again for sharing with us the contest prep of a very good bodybuilder but an even better man.

 

[Dangkolo]

Great job! And a big-up for sharing all of this and your prep.

 

[hilly2008]

looking very good mate inspirational hard work.

keep us updated with your off season as i am very interested in seeing you progress

 

[Phidias]

Terrific performance and an even greater attitude shown in this first post... RESPECT Shelby!

 

[b-boy]

whats freaking mindblowing is you look at how paz stands out on that stage but can't make the top 15 cut at nationals (I feel he gets overlooked sometimes though) and that just shows you how "CRAZY" competitive nationals are


shelby you have to be proud bro, you have improved leaps and bounds from just last year!!!! Only thing i can say to you is keep doing what your doing cause its def. working...LOL

 

[UglyDucklingSyndrome]

Congratulations Shelby!

I was at the Grand Rapids last week and if I'm not mistaken I think Paz took 3rd in LHW, broke his trophy in the parking lot (if anyone knows differently please let me know). I couldn't believe it, he's a monster. Vinnie Candella (4th place) beat out my best friend and training partner last week for the LHW title in GR. Joe Leahy (3rd place) did win the HW in GR this year and he is a good friend of my training partner here in Lansing. He took the overall last year in GR but lost it this year to Jerimichael Pratt who was a SHW and looked amazing at the show.

If you go to youtube there are a couple videos from the GR show if you're interested, tag - 2009 NPC Grand Rapids. (lighting sucked for my HD camcorder)

I wish I couldve made it to the Michigan to see everyone!

Again, congratulations Shelby! Be amazed at what you've accomlished and keep doing what you're doing its working! You'll get there! Sorry man I'm not trying to hijack your thread and get the spotlight off of you, but I feel it may come across that way, I apologize. Just wanted to post what I have. Thanks

 

[cslim]

All these comments have been spot on, Shelby! you look much improved over last year and I know we all can't wait to see what you bring in another year from now!

Congrats on top 5 in that stacked class!