dealing with feeling "small"

[Michael2]

been dieting for competition and i hate the stage of feeling "small"- it is really getting to me.... any suggestions to get through it??

 

[PHIL HERNON]

?

been dieting for competition and i hate the stage of feeling "small"- it is really getting to me.... any suggestions to get through it??

you should not be small at this point...........you should be your strongest and biggest ( muscular) while dieting

 

[Michael2]

still strong in the gym-- but muscles dont look as round and full -- carb depletion i guess... and still with the lba'a ( another order in a week)

 

[SABAGOY]

Buy shirts two sizes to small...people will be OMG your arms sooo big its going to rip right through your shirt

 

[oldfella]

Just keep in mind this......a ripped 17-18" arm looks way bigger than a soft 20" arm. I agree with Phil. You should be looking in the mirror and going wow I look great. Aside from being flat you should look nice and hard, veiny and freaky! Keep your head up bro. Put up some pic and let us have a look at your hard work. We will tell you straight and no one here is going to ridicule you. That is not what we are about. I have yet to see anyone here get bashed for putting pics up no matter how soft or hard, big or small. We are all here to help each other.

 

[jrmuscle]

all mental

if you think your big and hard looking youll actually feel better about cutting carbs. so there it is just change your state of mind

 

[Fa Seeshus]

i e-mailed palumbo about the same concern (i lost all my muscle and now look like aids patient), and he sent me a pair of those custom vinyl "baboon" pants without the butt cheeks. now that everyone can see my shredded glutes, they are left in awe at my hardcoreness.

in 2009 the NPC is going to add a new back pose (sorta a reverse most-muscular) called the "crack-yanker."

 

[Michael2]

LOL --- well what im getting is this is normal then--

Pic at 255 15 weeks out

 

[oldfella]

WOW, you are one thick Mofo!! Insane calves m2. Just stick to your diet and keep us updated. But thick is the only word that comes to mind. Keep putting up progress pics. They are motivational also. with 15 weeks you should be able to not stress this and come in nice and hard and hang on to that thickness as well.

 

[Michael2]

ok-- will do
i turned 40 this year
last show was 5 years ago-
my goal was to add size and get thick-- i accomplished that
my kids want me to do a show and thay gave me the GO to do so--im really into it and i forgot how flat and small dieting can make u feel... i cover up alot to sweat but i think its also to hide what i dont want to see - ( MENTAL )
ill update pics periodically and find some pics from last shwo 5 years ago

Thanks you OF for the comps and advice.....

 

[P4D2A022]

bro youre wide and thick as hell!

 

[JohnnyPro]

I don't think you're as small as you think you are.

 

[asleep]

brother, you def. are not small. definately your head f'ing with you. i call it the little motherf'er in my head when i get to thinking that way.

 

[pimpman]

LOL --- well what im getting is this is normal then--

Pic at 255 15 weeks out

bro you are one swole mofo.let me tell you this i know from experience you feel small when you lean down for a show but i promise you this if you lean down alot more before your show you will look 2 times biger than now.even though you mentally feel smaller but the lean show look make you look bigger

 

[PlateStacker45]

LOL --- well what im getting is this is normal then--

Pic at 255 15 weeks out

Damn man, don't ever use the world "small" and "yourself" in the same sentence! There are tons of people that would love to have your "smallness"!

 

[gymfreak81]

shitt.

Youre a big ass mofo. How tall are you? I know i get frustrated when trying to cut up because i start loosing strength in the gym. so im still fat and havent lost it yet lol.

 

[W8killa]

Palumbo said you have to look bad before you look good following his diet. Most people dont look great when around 8% body fat and carb depleted. your bodyfat sticks out and your muscles dont. but when they are 4% and carb depleted they look awesome. and you are not small to say the least. I stay away from the scale when dieting.

 

[Michael2]

im 5'8 to answer a previous question
and yes, i try to weigh in every 2 weeks-- i use the mirror to guide me--
last comp i weighed 191 im anticipating competing in the heavy weight division


I appreciate the PM's and responses guys-- im by far not a professional at this and just need to understand this dieting concept more-- mentally and physically..

im going to follow Big A's diet starting at 9 weeks out
still continue with LBA's
and well, see what happens

 

[MR. BMJ]

If you are flat + any body fat (more the worse), it will give you a feeling of what you are experiencing right now. When the muscles are full with glycogen, they will look much better. If you are following a lower carb diet approach, just stick in there and as you lean up, it will get better as bodyfat drops.

Also, if you are carrying a lot of water and fat, and the further you are away from stage ready, when you diet down, you are going to lose that and your clothes will be baggier. This doesn't mean muscle is wasting away, you just have to expect that to happen before going into the diet, and definately while following it. If glycogen is depleted, it will be even worse.

The only way to really fix that is to stay fully glycogenated, or buy new clothes that fit tighter again. However, if low-carbing, then it may be hard regardless until you carb-up again.

Just stick with the diet, and as you lean up, you will appear bigger.

If you have doubts on your diet, then just post it up to be looked at by the members here.

btw.....don't forget it's not always gonna be how big you look in clothes, but how big you are and the illusion you present when it is off. A lean tapered body will not always look bigger in a shirt, but when off, it can make guys 20-30lbs heavier look bad. You cannot wear the same clothes at 220-lbs as you do if bulked to 260+ lbs

BMJ

 

[markl]

You look good and full, you have plenty of time to lose so just make sure you're not cutting back too much. I'm going through exactly the same thing right now. I feel kinda small in clothes, but then when I take my clothes off to pose I'm more like wow, okay things are changing. Just keep your head up and stay positive!