Me - Disappointed

[Sophie]

I look horrible. Maybe because I just got over "that time" of the month. Ugh. I looked better in the summer pictures before I started lifting at all. Hopefully it's just my distorted self image left over from the anorexia, but I doubt it.

Very disappointed.

December 30

[adrenaline]

omg na gal, u look kewl.. and im 16, very pici... asum figure ..

[jennyd]

Dang Giiiiirl.
Back that thang up.
You got such a booty on you, huh?
BTW...that's NOT an insult at all. If my booty could EVER get like that I'd be happy.

But, about your pics, I don't think that you look bad, maybe you think you're looking worse because you're adding muscle, but I read that you haven't started the cardio yet, so maybe your disappointed cause you're seeing the muscle under some body fat that you can drop with cardio.

I think that if you're looking to compete, then you should get the cardio started as quickly as you can, and just start lifting heavy.
I did see that your deads are increasing which is good, but I think that you might wanna go heavier with everything else and then rest. 6 days a week might be too much.
Maybe do a 4 day split of some sort and do cardio on the other days.
Ultimately, you're the one that knows your body, not me. So if you think that 6 days is better suited for you, then by all means, continue with that.
I just think that your muscles will come out more if you work them hard and then give them some time to repair themselves before you work them again.

Either way, don't be discouraged. That's the worst thing you can do for yourself. Keep at it and your results will come.

(BTW...I don't recall your diet, so maybe you can do some tweaking with that as well to help move you along in reaching your goal).

[mcchunter]

girl you look good. take jenn's advice and go heavy it looks to me you need to bulk. any way your a beautiful girl and remember nothing comes easy. where at in ohio im right on the pa / ohio line

[fitme]

Looking good Sophie. I think you're just not use to seeing the added muscle. Great work. Keep going. Hard work pays off. Listen to Jen she's right.

[hrpiii]

Jen is correct. You look great.

[TorontoMoFo]

Hey, remember that only proper dieting and cardio will actualy make you look good.

Having muscles alone wont do much for ya if you're in it for the looks.

Right now I think I look like sh!t because I am not in shape.

You look very petite but I can tell your BF% is high. I think that if you took a different approach in your training by sheeding fat and lifting for toning, then you would look great in no time!

However, if you're set on adding as much muscle as you can before wanting to firm up, by all means go for it!

[Sophie]

Thanks for all the comments.

JennyD - I'd be very happy to give you some of my booty. I hate it. Makes shopping for pants impossible.

Yeah, maybe it's just the added muscle I'm not used to, I hope. Seeing the pictures was disappointing though.

I'm looking to lift heavy for upper body to gain some bulk but lighter for lower body as I don't want more bulk in those areas. If my upper body was more in proportion to my lower body, maybe I could actually fit in clothes!!!

I've always lifted 6x a week. We'll have to see how it goes for the first month-month and a half and then I'll reevaluate.

I'm not discouraged so much as surprised I guess.

Oh yes, the diet is being tweaked, a lot. Hopefully that will change things as well.

mcchunter - I'm in central Ohio. about an hour north of Columbus.

fitme - Thanks. I guess with everyone saying I look okay it must just be the body image issues left over from the anorexia, which is nice to know. If I looked how I see myself. . . .

hrpiii - Thanks.

TorontoMoFo - I'm not "in it for the looks" so much as in it for me, and what the judges are looking for.



In regards to body fat, I have a Tanita scale that says 20% and the 3-pinch (abdominals, superilliac, and triceps) on the skinfold calipers say 9-12% I guess the "real" number is somewhere in between. Either way, my body fat percent is within the range that others have competed at in the competition I'm going to compete at.

I'll take some measurements tomorrow morning and put them up.

[hrpiii]

Just throw the Tanita scale out the window, it's trash. You are no where close to 20%. Looks more like 10-12%. You do look good girl.

[Boogeyman]

Even if you don't look like you want to, you're still sexy Sophie.

[Sophie]

I got the Tanita more for it's accuracy in weighing. For a digital scale, it's right on with my balance beam. I don't take much heed in the BF% reading. It depends on WAY to many things.

Thanks boogeyman and hrpiii

[narcsarge]

Looking good Sophie! Jen speaks mountains of truth. All of your hard work over the past several months has added muscle to your frame and now you are trying to sculpt your physique to reveal all of your hard work. Patience is one thing that we all lack in this lifestyle. We want results yesterday. You have already laid the foundation and you have sought out advice from those with experience. You have educated yourself along the way and therefore, you know what you are doing. Add all of the things above and I have no doubt that you will succeed. Anyone that has followed your progress will know that you have Pitbull determination! Just keep at it!

[Sophie]

Here are some measurements to go along with the pictures.

Measurements:

Weight: 109 lbs
Neck: 11.5
Rt. Biceps: 10
Lt. Biceps: 10.5
Rt. Forearm: 8.5
Lt: Forearm: 8.5
Chest: 33.5
Waist: 24.5
Hips: 37
Upper Rt. Thigh: 21.5
Upper Lt. Thigh: 21.5
Mid Rt. Thigh: 18.5
Mid Lt. Thigh: 18.5
Lower Rt. Thigh: 13.5
Lower Lt. Thigh: 13.5
Rt Calf: 11.75
Lt. Calf: 12

BF%: 10 (according to 3 pinch skin fold: abdomen, superilliac, triceps)

With the above information, what do I need to work on for contest? Definition? Muscle mass? Cutting?

Originally Posted by Sophie

Here are some measurements to go along with the pictures.

Measurements:

Weight: 109 lbs
Neck: 11.5
Rt. Biceps: 10
Lt. Biceps: 10.5
Rt. Forearm: 8.5
Lt: Forearm: 8.5
Chest: 33.5
Waist: 24.5
Hips: 37
Upper Rt. Thigh: 21.5
Upper Lt. Thigh: 21.5
Mid Rt. Thigh: 18.5
Mid Lt. Thigh: 18.5
Lower Rt. Thigh: 13.5
Lower Lt. Thigh: 13.5
Rt Calf: 11.75
Lt. Calf: 12

BF%: 10 (according to 3 pinch skin fold: abdomen, superilliac, triceps)

With the above information, what do I need to work on for contest? Definition? Muscle mass? Cutting?

First off, did'nt you hire some help? An IFBB Pro at that (Latisha Wilder).
What I am trying to get at, is that she would not appreciate you coming on an open board asking for help. I can bet if she read some of your posts, she would prolly drop you, and if you had to pay her she would keep your money.
Rule is, only 1 chef in the kitchen.

Example: Everyone on here knows that you contacted her, so, you listen to her and every other Tom, Dick, and Harry. Say in the end you end up lookin like sh!t, it's only her rep that is on the line....I'm just sayin.

For your questions:

Not to be harsh, you are prolly 1 to 2 yrs out from a show/contest. Your weight is light, but there is a lot of bf there, scratch the 10% you came up with and I am gonna throw maybe 18% to 20% out there.
Also, what are you wanting to do figure or fitness.
Figure is fairly easy, walk on stage do some Q-turns and walk off.

Fitness on the other hand is a bit more complicated, you need to also hire someone to choreograph a routine. Dancing, tumbling, and overall strength is required. In this sport, you can't have any sugar coating, because you are the one getting on stage, I have seen people get on stage looking like sh!t, and the crowd will let you know it. The promoter's and trainers will tell you to do it cause all they want is your money.

I just don't want you to get on stage unprepared and at the end of the night have an ugly taste in your mouth about competing...What do I know, I am just a bb'er. Have fun girl...

[jennyd]

Sophie,

Just to piggyback off of what Lilsavage said (btw...I'm no bb'er and I do NOT compete, so this is strictly just my two cents), but I do think that the bodyfat calculation that you have is a little off. The reason I'm saying that is because if you were at 10%, I think that there'd be more muscle definition showing with your physique.
For example, I am in the 8-10% bodyfat range, and you can see more muscle definition in my arms, my abs, my legs, etc.
By no means am I comparing myself to you, I'm just using myself as an example considering we are relatively similar in height and weight.
Please don't take any of the advice or info given here negatively.
I think that you can take it, and use it to your advantage.

[Sophie]

LiLSaVaGe: I haven't paid her, I haven't even met her. She's going to give me tips through email.

I want to do both, fitness and figure. I know what both of them entail. I don't plan on hiring anyone to make a routine for the fitness routine. I am hopefully going to get some help with the strength moves and I'm not sure how to do them.

The contest I am going to is not looking for their competitors to be ripped to the bone as they put it. The stats on their competitors have BF% ranging from 12-20%. She has 12% and she has 20%

jennyd: I do not want my BF% to get too low. I do not want to go into essential body fat. According to all my research shows that

Classification Women (% fat)
Essential Fat 10-12%
Athletes 14-20%
Fitness 21-24%
Acceptable 25-31%
Obese 32% plus

I do want to get some more definition in my legs though. I'm working on that.

[jennyd]

Originally Posted by Sophie

jennyd: I do not want my BF% to get too low. I do not want to go into essential body fat. According to all my research shows that

Classification Women (% fat)
Essential Fat 10-12%
Athletes 14-20%
Fitness 21-24%
Acceptable 25-31%
Obese 32% plus

I do want to get some more definition in my legs though. I'm working on that.

You may have misunderstood my post.
I didn't say you SHOULD want to get your bodyfat down too low, I'm just saying that if you were at 10%, like you mentioned you were, you'd be seeing a lot more muscle definition.

I do work hard on staying lean, but I also realize that it's not for everyone.

[mitchcumstein]

Originally Posted by LiLSaVaGe

. Your weight is light, but there is a lot of bf there, scratch the 10% you came up with and I am gonna throw maybe 18% to 20% out there.

Im gonna have to agree with those numbers. You said you did the 3 site method but thats not gonna give an accurate reading in your case cause none of those 3 sites is where youre holding your excess bodyfat. its all pretty much in one spot which is on your rear. Youre a long way from getting into essential bodyfat. Not trying to be harsh, just giving an honest and unbiased opinion.

Originally Posted by Sophie

LiLSaVaGe: I haven't paid her, I haven't even met her. She's going to give me tips through email.

Woops, sorry my bad. But, help is help.

Originally Posted by Sophie

The contest I am going to is not looking for their competitors to be ripped to the bone as they put it. The stats on their competitors have BF% ranging from 12-20%. She has 12% and she has 20%

Well in this sport, there are bottom feeders and people that do well. Whatever show that is, those pics definately look like the bottom feeders. I am not bein a d!ck, just telling you the harsh reality of competitions.

Originally Posted by Sophie

Classification Women (% fat)
Essential Fat 10-12%
Athletes 14-20%
Fitness 21-24%
Acceptable 25-31%
Obese 32% plus.

The research and classifications, you can throw that out the window, cause in competing that does not apply. Remember the worst you feel the better you look.