TweetThanks for everyone's kinds comments. I really thought that I had missed it. I was looking really good the saturday before the competition, and I thought I had carb depeleted too long. Then that morning before prejudging, I didn't have time to get all the carbs I wanted to eat in. We were in an old historic theatre and they wouldn't let us eat during the competitors meeting. We were all stuffing of faces back stage before prejudging started. It was crazy.

firstenrgy, for the first time in my life I finally have some quad. I've always had chicken legs.

Here's another photo of my back.

TweetDixie, you look awesome!!! I have enjoyed watching get in shape for this competition. Keep up the great work!

TweetWell done. You look great! I'm jealous!

TweetVery good looking. I see you work very hard. Good work.. Amazing really..

Tweetlook at those arms

Tweetdang sista!!! looking amazing!

TweetStop putting this up top. There has been an excessive use of lubricants in my house!

TweetIt was definitely hard work this time around. It seems like everything I have done in the past didn't work. My pre-contest diet and training went out the window. I ended up losing 30 lbs. (Can't believe I got that fat! ) I dieted for 18 wks.

I've learned my lesson. I'm back on a "clean' diet, so I can stay between 8-10 pound from competition weight.

I did put some good quality muscle since my last competition. In 2000 I weighed in at 108 (my first show). 2005 weighed in 112 and this year weighed 123.

TweetLet me ask a question? As you can see in my avatar, I'm not 5% bodyfat. I remember a guy at the gym that said "you can get down there, you just can't live there" This has been my experience my body does not want to be less than 15% bodyfat. How much of a struggle was it to lose those last (giving your total weight) 5lbs? For me, its the last 10-12lbs. I hate trying, what a struggle.
By the way, you look great and I am jealous. You came out striated, tan and looking quite sexy.

TweetI've been meaning to get back to you, but I had some personal stuff come up and had to go out of town to take care of it.

It's always the last pounds that are the hardest too loose. Generally you have to stay clean until it come off which would me no cheat meals. That's why staying in contest shape year round in almost impossible. However, you can stay pretty lean year round by eating clean with limited cheat meals. This is my goal. I don't believe in "bulking" any more. It's too difficult to get this weight off. The older you get the slower your metabolism gets. This varies from person to person, but trust me when you hear people tell you this, because it is true.