James Llewellin's 'Arnold Classic' preparation thread

[supercell]

Hi guys,

Back in the UK.

Good flight back and hit some wicked turbulance mid Atlantic, threw us all over the place. I slept well on the flight as I had 3 seat to myself, popped the arm rests up and away I went.

Anyway back to my assessment.

I can honestly say I looked absolutely embarrasingly awful. I looked better 8 weeks out than I did on stage. Why?

I think a combination of factors really. But I am not making any excuses for myself, this show was an experiment but when I looked closely at my physique before I left I was honestly convinced that I was looking good and I think I was.

I looked at the pictures yesterday and I could have cried. I went back to the hotel room and just sat there in silence thinking I really did look better than this at the start of my diet.

My worries started on the wednesday after we had been in the hotel for a day. I wasn't hungry, I felt really bloated and my weight had gone up slightly from when I had landed.

I took a little aldactone and drank a lot of water but even though the carbs were fairly low (around 450-500) I was still gaining weight and feeling bloated. I said to Nic 'What was happening?'
I didn't want to post what I was going through as nothing really could have changed it, I was doing everything i should have been doing but nothing was working.

I awoke on the thursday at the same weight as I woke up at on the weds. This wasn't right. I know that I normally drop at least 2-3 lbs over night.

This obviously started to cause a little concern. At the weigh in I was 14st still stripped to my briefs, I was expecting to be around 13st 10-11lbs.

I awoke on the pre judge morning still the same weight, I was baffled and stressed. The losing of the bags, the feeling bloated, the panic of my body just not reponding, it was ALL not good for me.

Then we had the prejudge. We were told that we would be on around 10.15am, in reality it was just after 9.30 (one of the reasons Daz missed his class) There was nonone back stage to help me prepare, no tanners, no oilers, fcuk all. I had to apply my own sheen and get some guy to put some on my back. We were than called. There was a fantastic pump up area but I had time to do about 10 press ups. I was really ****ed off. Here was the greatest show on earth and the organisation was just a farce.

I came off stage with no enthusiasm, thats just not me, not me at all. Even Scott said it. 'Whats up James, you looked like you didn't want to be up there?!'
To be honest I didn't because I had no confidence in my physique, absolutely none, I looked shocking and the stress, travelling flying, the lost bags the tiredness had all caught up with me. My eyes were blood shot for 3 days leading up to and including the show, this isn't me, this isn't what was supposed to happen.

Anyway out of 14 I made the top 5 after making the first call out and the second.

I was relieved but confused at how I managed to beat some of the other guys. I was feeling really negative and this again is just not me. I am normally confident in myself and how I look. Take that away and I lose all my sparkle.

Everyone said well done but that I was holding a load of water and was bloated. I knew this, my head was down but I put on a brave face. I then did a photo shoot, probably no the ideal time to put your body through a workout but I knew that the photos were more important at this point than the show and the photos came out really well and I will post once the disk comes through from Australia.

The rest of the day was spent drinking water and eating protein only but chicken that was cooked and bought from a fast food place, not really the sort of protein I wanted to eat but I had no choice.

I dropped some weight overnight but then was flattening off. By this point I gave up trying. I had breakfast then decided to just sip some water and eat if hungry which I wasn't and this was the strangest thing. I am normally ravenous leading up to a show but my head was down.
The back stage area for the finals was a small area, smaller than that for the British with a few pairs of dumbells, it weasn't ideal but it ws the same for all of us.

My tan was applied by Marius and he did apply it a lot thicker than Nic would have done and used the oil which I told him I wasn't sure about, he said not to worry and I agreed I would leave it. I am not blaming the tan one bit, although yes it may have been a little thick, it was my physique that was to blame.

I walked off stage a little happier, as I did enjoy being up there and listening to the huge crowd but I knew that I was way off and this was just a token gesture really.

So to sum up, I have competed around 16 times now and have ALWAYS been in shape on stage. I WAS in shape before I left but something happened to my physique that has never happened before and I can only put it down to the travel and the stress plus the enormous lack of sleep.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip but the competing was for me an absolute nightmare and I would have to think VERY carefully about doing it again after an 18 hour ride to get there.

The EXPO and the friends I had out there made the trip a 'once in a lifetime' event for me.

I have already started my prep for the British and my training started on Sat afternoon.

I am running myself in this week and then its back in proper from monday next week.

I will be posting some pics below of the weekend but after that I will be taking a well earned rest from the board and posting as it has taken up a good eal of my very precious spare time.

I am going to be eating well this week, not sh1t but well and enjoying the company of Nic and my family. Please do not PM me any more questions this week, I would really appreciate just a little bit of ME time as I have given so much over the last few months and have nothing left to give.

I will not be doing a thread this year for the British, I made that decision not lightly but I made it so I can concentrate on me and winning the show and gaining redemption for the USA trip.
I will continue to support those who are prepping at the moment and offer my words of encouragement just as everyone here has for me.

I want to thank you all so much for ALL the words you have written and Paul L thankyou for your post. We both know that we are our own worst critics and trust each others judgements. As far as the conditioning between the 05 and 07 British I think they were comparable the only difference being in 07 I was a lot fuller so therefore looked better in my opinion and not so bloody depleted!!!! :-)))

Anyway enjoy the photos.

1. Pre judge at the Veterans Memorial Halls
2. Inside stage side
3. Samw as above
4. Main Finals Stage inside Expo hall
5. Small backstage area for finals

[supercell]

And some more.....

1,2 and 3 An empty Expo Hall before the Amateur Finals
4. Me with my Arnold Trophy
5. Nic and Me with trophy

[supercell]

1. Mr O, Cutler
2. Mr Levrone
3. Big Loui
4. Mr Zane
5. The Ripmeister Mr Gaspari

[redsgift101]

Originally Posted by Pscarb

sorry mate but that is so not true, james himself will admit that ther are many threats that can win the Britain this year two to mention are Tom Blackman and Shaun Taverner both are as capable of winning the class.....it will be by far the toughest LH line up for years....

thats just my personal opinion youd be hating on me if i was hating on him , im complimenting him and im still getting some flak for it

[pitbull]

Hey bud

Not alot i can say, i'm not in a postion to offer advice thats for you and the vets on here to talk over..

One thing i will say is you have been an inspiration to so many of us on here and no doubt will carry on to be.

Get some down time then head back in it for the Brits


Live and learn

I'll leave it up to you bud to contact me when you're ready ok.

Speak soon

[supercell]

1. The big nasty, Mr Coleman
2. Desmond Miller
3. David Henry
4. Scott, Nic and Linds at VIP after show party
5. Main dance area of VIP party

[supercell]

1. Outside LifeTime Fitness, Weston, Columbus (£5 for a day pass!!)
2. Inside
3. Inside
4&5 Sunday morning after the finals after eating lasagne, cheesecake and about 3 litres of water at the VIP party. Funny what a difference a day makes when you are relaxed and happy eh??!!

[Nine Pack]

I would have to say that any long haul flights to shows need to be taken a week out from the show to allow the compression & decompression of your water table to settle. Some people don't get affected by it, but some do & it seems you are the latter. Obviously, the stresses of the trip played a big part but some things are out of your control so don't be too hard on yourself. This sport is a learning experience even at your level & I believe you have salvaged a lot of good information away from this trip.

I'll speak to you soon buddy, let me know when you are ready to talk about the British, although I would say at this point it's a little too early to begin prep. You have time for a brief offseason (staying lean of course) before it's time to drag it in again. Try to allow your body (and your knees more importantly) at least a bit of a rest from endless cardio.

[amjad.khan]

Welcome back buddy and a very well done on the Arnolds. You lucky sod you got to meet up with some heavy bodybuilder there but how bloody small do you look against the big man Coleman.

[Kezz]

I bet it was ace meeting all those people!!!

[hackskii]

Those pics are awesome, Lou is huge and still looking good.
I bet you had a great time meeting those dudes.

That was an insightful post James.
Its like the flight put your body into shock or something.

[supercell]

Originally Posted by Nine Pack

I would have to say that any long haul flights to shows need to be taken a week out from the show to allow the compression & decompression of your water table to settle. Some people don't get affected by it, but some do & it seems you are the latter. Obviously, the stresses of the trip played a big part but some things are out of your control so don't be too hard on yourself. This sport is a learning experience even at your level & I believe you have salvaged a lot of good information away from this trip.

I'll speak to you soon buddy, let me know when you are ready to talk about the British, although I would say at this point it's a little too early to begin prep. You have time for a brief offseason (staying lean of course) before it's time to drag it in again. Try to allow your body (and your knees more importantly) at least a bit of a rest from endless cardio.

Hi Paul,

Dont worry mate I am not thinking about my prep for the British just my 'off season' prep for the British.

I am rested well and will continue to take active rest this week. Next week the stricter off season diet will start but this week I will eat what I want and when I want and I dont care...SO THERE!!!! God, I'd never thought I'd say that!!!! However you know me Paul I have 1.5kgs of Chicken defrosting as we speak so it wont all be sh!t, far from it but I am sure a few whole eggs, peanut butter, protein bars (free ones from Expo) will be consumed.
I also have a photo shoot for Oliver and Myprotein on Thursday so that will keep my feet on the ground and hands out of the cookie jar!!!!

I am excited about the next 5-6 months and I know with you there with me (for the WHOLE journey) I will again be at my best come Oct.:love:

Cheers mate. Feeling better already for spouting all that negativity out of my mouth and through my fingers in that last post. Speak very soon.:lift:

J

[d@n]

when are you planing on starting your prep for the british?

[anabolic lion]

we need more gyms like that one over here