AnglicanBeachParty's Arnold Challenge prep thread.

**AnglicanBeachParty** · 10-30-2009, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by buckimscl

ABP, pm me for my email addy for the before pics.

I'm not entering the Most Improved category ('cause I was too good to start with!) ... so do you still want before pics?

**buckimscl** · 10-30-2009, 08:51 AM

Hmmmm, not sure if you need before pics if there is no most improved. Let me get back with you.

**AnglicanBeachParty** · 10-30-2009, 10:56 PM

I took some progress pics tonight. For some reason, all the indoor pictures I've taken with this camera come out very grainy. I used to be able to get nice, clean indoor images.

Anyhow, here is what I looked like tonight (185 pounds):

**Baldiewonkanobi** · 10-31-2009, 06:26 AM

Dayum...you look 10 years younger than my son!! You have a great shape my friend. Genetic fairy was good to you. Here comes the however...your posing. When you pose for even for fun shots like this you should have perfect display engrained in your psyche. You are not showing us everything you have. My old trained eye can see it but should not have to work so hard. I am a shitty free poser but its the posing mandantories (backing up conditioning) that wins shows. Thats what I rely on. I can help you here.

Baldie

**AnglicanBeachParty** · 10-31-2009, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

Dayum...you look 10 years younger than my son!! You have a great shape my friend. Genetic fairy was good to you.

Thanks. I tend to look only at the weaknesses. Especially things like the distance between my shoulder joints. I see guys at work who barely train that have a better V-taper, simply because of wide-set shoulders.

Still, thank for the compliment.

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

Here comes the however...your posing. When you pose for even for fun shots like this you should have perfect display engrained in your psyche. You are not showing us everything you have. My old trained eye can see it but should not have to work so hard. I am a shitty free poser but its the posing mandantories (backing up conditioning) that wins shows. Thats what I rely on. I can help you here.

Baldie

I totally agree with you, and will take whatever help you can give. There are at least two separate problems I'm having: (1) My mind is "out of touch" with my posing. If I stand before a mirror, strike a pose, and then open my eyes, I am always surprised what I see. Sometimes it is asymmetric (one hand higher than the other), sometimes I'm angled sideways when I didn't think I was.

(2) Even with my eyes open, I can't seem to get the poses just right. When I do, it is by luck, and the next set of photographs it is wrong again. One of my coaches, an excellent poser, has worked with me on this, but I am a slow learner.

I even bought the Russ Testo posing video. It makes sense to me, and I "think" I am doing it, but the photos show otherwise.

So, any helpful hints you can give will be appreciated!

**Baldiewonkanobi** · 10-31-2009, 11:56 AM

OK

pic 1. with arms in same position pull elbows back about 2-3". Suck some air into your chest and hold it high. This is tough but try to get a mind/pec thing going here and as you flex the upper lats bring in the pecs. Always flex the legs....always.

**Baldiewonkanobi** · 10-31-2009, 12:00 PM

pic 2. Again elbows back 2-3". Flare out the upper lats (think WIDE) and work on the mind/lower back xmas tree connectio. When you are ripped city this will show. One leg back with calf flexed. Flex your glutes.

**Baldiewonkanobi** · 10-31-2009, 12:02 PM

pic 3. Get some air up and into your chest. Flex those pecs. Shallow breaths here. Rotate a little more tricep towards us. Suck in the lower belly.

**Baldiewonkanobi** · 10-31-2009, 12:04 PM

pic 4. not bad but I know you can make the upper lats spread even wider. Think V.

**Baldiewonkanobi** · 10-31-2009, 12:07 PM

pic 5. I hate doing the crab and when I judged did not like lookin at them. For what it is you do it well. Perhaps head back a wee bit more and shoulders spread a bit wider.

You do have a great physique...

Baldie

**AnglicanBeachParty** · 10-31-2009, 12:27 PM

Thanks very much, Baldiewonkanobi; I am in your debt!

I will try to implement each of these suggestions for my next photo set.

**gman** · 10-31-2009, 01:02 PM

my chiro who is a bodybuilder tells me to try to grip the floor with my toes on all poses, and lift my heels just a bit off the ground at the same time...makes you flex your legs more. I don't think it's legal to lift the heels though!

**AnglicanBeachParty** · 10-31-2009, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by gman

my chiro who is a bodybuilder tells me to try to grip the floor with my toes on all poses, and lift my heels just a bit off the ground at the same time...makes you flex your legs more. I don't think it's legal to lift the heels though!

Russ Testo describes this in his posing DVD. It is as if your heels are still barely touching the floor, but with all the weight on the toes and balls of your feet.

**AnglicanBeachParty** · 11-01-2009, 07:02 AM

I totally forgot: I have an expert bodybuilding posing coach right in my own family - my 11-year-old daughter.

Seriously, that is a video of her impression of some of the more arrogant posers at a bodybuilding contest I took her to see earlier this year. The one guy's "relaxed" pose looked like he was riding a chopper bike with ape-hanger handlebars on it. I kid you not.