Growing into a show?

Hey guys I am new to this forum, been researching on here for awhile but just decided to join! Anyways, I'm doing my first show November 1st. I am 22 sitting at 5'7 199lbs at around 13% body fat. My goal is to compete in light heavies. As of right now I'll be at the bottom of my class as my lbm is roughly 172 and stage weight is 180, anyone have advice for growing into the show? I started prep 20 weeks out was 204 17%. I know I'm young for bodybuilding but my dream is to be pro, I have currently done 3 cycles and am on my 3rd. I get blood tests after each cycle and I'm in perfect health.


cycle history : 1st test 400mg weeks 1-14, winny 50mg weeks 1-4, 10-14
2nd test 600mg weeks 1-16, masteron prop 100eod wk 1-9, winny 40mg 8-16
3rd test 750mg 1-20, deca 450mg wk 1-12, tren ace 75eod wk 11-17, winny 40mg ed 10-16 right after did
peptide cycle igf1 des 50mcg wk1-6 , mod grf 200mcg+ipamorelin 200mcg Ed weeks 1-8


CURRENT PRE CONTEST CYCLE (15.5 weeks out)
Wk 20-5 sustanon 350 a wk
20-12 eq 900wk
11-8 eq 600wk
15-8 Tren E 300wk
8-5 tren E 400wk
10-4 mast E 400wk
4-1 test prop 50mg ed (dropped a week out)
4-0 tren ace 75 ed
4-0 mast prop 75ed
8-2 winny 50ed
2-0 winny 100ed
3-0 superdrol 20ed
Igf1 lr3 (don't know where to add this on? Run up to show)
clen 2 weeks on 2 off started 16 weeks out, t3 tapered from 12.5 up to 50 12 weeks out , currently using letro ed at .75 mg will taper up to 2.5 up to show . Prami use at .25 ed once tren is used


diet : cyclic keto


meal 1: 50g whey 2tbsp nat pb
meal 2: 2 cans tuna , 1tbsp mayo, 1 cup broccoli
meal 3: 8oz beef , 1 cup broccoli
meal 4: 50g whey
meal 5: 8oz chicken, 1/2 avacado
meal 6: 6 eggs
totals around 2300 cals 280 protein 100 fat 40carbs


on Fridays I drink 4 50g whey shakes throughout the day and carbup with protein cookie or cake recipe with low fat frozen yogurt till I'm full.... Usually macros on this day around250 protein 400g carbs and minimal fats.


My training is 5 day split arms/legs/delts/back/chest+calves. Abs eod and cardio 20mins ed


any advice on tweaking anything ! My goal is to grow into this show!!!!

welcome to mc brutha! ill bump this for others to see and help with, as I'm on my phone and can't chime in to good right now, but welcome

Welcome aboard Bro!!!

Welcome, you did yourself a favor by becoming a member, the first step is admitting you have a problem......don't wanna be normal......good for you and your goal, without goals and dreams we die.......

thats ts a pretty knarly diet so far away from show date with that low of carbs and at your age.....just a suggestion,,,you might want to tweak that carb ratio or make sur you have a dirty cheat day to keep your muscle full.....that low of carbs and being this is your first time dieting down you just might lose more than you think and be flat as hell...again just a suggestion...my two cents that's only worth a penny.:sport:

MattGanimal said:

diet : cyclic keto


meal 1: 50g whey 2tbsp nat pb
meal 2: 2 cans tuna , 1tbsp mayo, 1 cup broccoli
meal 3: 8oz beef , 1 cup broccoli
meal 4: 50g whey
meal 5: 8oz chicken, 1/2 avacado
meal 6: 6 eggs
totals around 2300 cals 280 protein 100 fat 40carbs

Click to expand...

Seriously?! Thats all??? :shocked::chicken:

IronPlease said:

Seriously?! Thats all??? :shocked::chicken:

Click to expand...

Yeah bro :/ I have a slow metabolism, looking at foods makes me fat. 3 years ago I was 220 30% body fat and I cut down to 6%, I have ahit genetics as far as metabolism and fat gain. I grow from minimal effort and food , however my point of the post was growing Ito a show? Not sure why no one has replied to that, I am eating Lower calories right now to lean out faster and as higher androgens are added calories will be increased in order to fill out muscle and put on size closer to a show, many pros do this and I see people grow Into shows all the time! Hence I started at 201 17% and now I'm 199 13%, that's significant lbm gain! But what would you suggest doing to my diet as of now? Open to all advice bro!

eswol said:

Welcome, you did yourself a favor by becoming a member, the first step is admitting you have a problem......don't wanna be normal......good for you and your goal, without goals and dreams we die.......

thats ts a pretty knarly diet so far away from show date with that low of carbs and at your age.....just a suggestion,,,you might want to tweak that carb ratio or make sur you have a dirty cheat day to keep your muscle full.....that low of carbs and being this is your first time dieting down you just might lose more than you think and be flat as hell...again just a suggestion...my two cents that's only worth a penny.:sport:

Click to expand...

as all pros have a problem, yeah I'll admit I have a problem and want to be far from normal, a freak lol. But everyone picks their poison, IMO peds vs drugs and alcohol or cigs no comparison man! Anyways I have been doing dirty cheats I my Fridays eating junk all day and it fills me out all week! Carbs makes me bloat and gain weight so easily a lil goes along way for me, I stay full on minimal carbs, high fats high sodium pump me up best... Strange. So I should keep Doing the dirty cheat day vs the controlled cheat only fri night in one meal?

MattGanimal said:

as all pros have a problem, yeah I'll admit I have a problem and want to be far from normal, a freak lol. But everyone picks their poison, IMO peds vs drugs and alcohol or cigs no comparison man! Anyways I have been doing dirty cheats I my Fridays eating junk all day and it fills me out all week! Carbs makes me bloat and gain weight so easily a lil goes along way for me, I stay full on minimal carbs, high fats high sodium pump me up best... Strange. So I should keep Doing the dirty cheat day vs the controlled cheat only fri night in one meal?

Click to expand...

yeah i wouldn't do the friday eating junk all day cheat day lol, i would reign it in brutha lol

can you workout in the morning?
if so i think that speeds up your metabolism for the day.

Update almost 13 weeks out now and I changed diet up, added cardio 30mins ed as well. Since adding the igf and tren I have gone up from 196 to 204, still 13% bf. I'm eating between 2200-2600 cals 1 high carb day 2 moderate 4 zero besides veggies , I am not sure why but I seem to be holding water. I know people say tren doesn't bloat but could it? Or could be the igf? My muscles do look much fuller and rounder.... Different looking.

mattganimal said:

update almost 13 weeks out now and i changed diet up, added cardio 30mins ed as well. Since adding the igf and tren i have gone up from 196 to 204, still 13% bf. I'm eating between 2200-2600 cals 1 high carb day 2 moderate 4 zero besides veggies , i am not sure why but i seem to be holding water. I know people say tren doesn't bloat but could it? Or could be the igf? My muscles do look much fuller and rounder.... Different looking.

Click to expand...

you could be holding water from either of them bro. But at still 13 weeks out theres nothing wrong with holding some water. And if you put on 8 pounds and remained the same body fat percentage then your doing something right for sure!!!!! Kudos to you bro, sounds like your doing really really well!

Keep the updates coming my man! I will help wherever i can in your show prep, and we have loads of guys and gals here who have competed as well! So great job!!

Update, 11 weeks out Saturday, weighed 200.6 and around 12% I would say. Current diet still carb cycling but I think my body was working better with the palumbo style diet so I might switch back before it's too late, being my first show trying different things out! Currently this week for gear running
test prop 100mg eod, tren E 400wk, tren a 175wk, mast e 300wk, mast prop 175 wk, added var at 50mg day. also still using igflr3 at 30mcg rest of this week.... And adding in ipamorelin/cjc 100mcg 3x daily.... T3 30mcg am/30mcg pm , clen 60mcg am/60mcg pm, gw50156 20mg pre workout. And letro 1.5mg ed... Anyone have any advice on anythin I should change? Also curious as why I see people stacking nolvadex with letro or adex pre contest ? Can someone explain why so many do that?

Have a coach for posing, he told me I shoot for middles, so I guess I have to get down to 176! 25lbs to go 10.5 weeks out... Will be cuttin it close lol

MattGanimal said:

Yeah bro :/ I have a slow metabolism, looking at foods makes me fat. 3 years ago I was 220 30% body fat and I cut down to 6%, I have ahit genetics as far as metabolism and fat gain. I grow from minimal effort and food , however my point of the post was growing Ito a show? Not sure why no one has replied to that, I am eating Lower calories right now to lean out faster and as higher androgens are added calories will be increased in order to fill out muscle and put on size closer to a show, many pros do this and I see people grow Into shows all the time! Hence I started at 201 17% and now I'm 199 13%, that's significant lbm gain! But what would you suggest doing to my diet as of now? Open to all advice bro!

Click to expand...

Are you an Endo by any chance?

Yep as endo as they get, I'm genetically gifted in size and strength but fat comes On like nothing and is a bitch to get off!!! lean for me is 13% LOL, at 5 foot 7 I'm 200 even and 12% right now 10 weeks out..

MattGanimal said:

Yep as endo as they get, I'm genetically gifted in size and strength but fat comes On like nothing and is a bitch to get off!!! lean for me is 13% LOL, at 5 foot 7 I'm 200 even and 12% right now 10 weeks out..

Click to expand...

Thanks Bro! I'm the same Type and having issues losing weight. How did you mange to get to 13% while being at 200lbs?

KletoReese said:

Thanks Bro! I'm the same Type and having issues losing weight. How did you mange to get to 13% while being at 200lbs?

Click to expand...

Genetics... Food.. Heavy training and the right drugs bro!!! First year natural training went from 220 31% to 160 6% very aesthetic and built for my height naturally. I plan on competing in 10 weeks and coming in lighter than. Planned hopefully to nail top end of middles ad kill it!!!, what troubles are you having? Shoot me a pm maybe I can help you out...

MattGanimal said:

Genetics... Food.. Heavy training and the right drugs bro!!! First year natural training went from 220 31% to 160 6% very aesthetic and built for my height naturally. I plan on competing in 10 weeks and coming in lighter than. Planned hopefully to nail top end of middles ad kill it!!!, what troubles are you having? Shoot me a pm maybe I can help you out...

Click to expand...

I was about to ask if I could PM you! Thanks Brother will certainly do. Naturally when I was your age I reached 6% at 160, I was shredded but flat because back then I did not know any of the good diet protocols as I have learned of now such as Carb cycling etc. Like you I look at food and I gain, I can pack on easily but can't budge. Looking forward to learning from you.

MattGanimal said:

Update almost 13 weeks out now and I changed diet up, added cardio 30mins ed as well. Since adding the igf and tren I have gone up from 196 to 204, still 13% bf. I'm eating between 2200-2600 cals 1 high carb day 2 moderate 4 zero besides veggies , I am not sure why but I seem to be holding water. I know people say tren doesn't bloat but could it? Or could be the igf? My muscles do look much fuller and rounder.... Different looking.

Click to expand...

IGF can and will make you hold water, its something that happens to a number of people but not ALL people so its not a really well known fact. Tren facilitates some release of the bodies natural IGF from the liver, you add in L3 and you have a good amount.
So, if I was a betting man your assertion is probably correct. I have found horse chestnut 2-400 mg to be an effective remedy for the water retention from IGF in the past.
As for growing into a show, this is a subject that seems only doable by the genetically elite. If you manage to pull it off congrats, but I would be more concerned about getting as conditioned as possible. Just my .02. Good luck.

I'm not genetically gifted to be an elite competitor, I know that but I sure as FCUK want to sport a shredded physique at my age! I'm 40. As an Endo I find it to be a challenge from hell.