Correct I was on stage at 215lbs I should have ideally been about 205lbs. I was slamming fluids with the carbs after weigh ins and the next day. I was worried about not being full and I should have just taken in carbs without the fluids. I had a least a gallon of fluids post weigh in that's 8lbs. I also just got nervous and ate too much. If I had simply eaten carbs that night after weigh ins and cut all fluids then not eaten at all the next day I would have had a much leaner look but really just a water change not fat.  But live and learn.

The thing is I can be 215 and in better condition but I would need to weigh in heavier the previous day. It's not a matter of being fat it is a matter of being mid digestion process on stage. My condition can change dramatically in a few hours with fluid and sodium. I need to be empty and not digesting or processing food or fluids. I didn't do that this last time. I was 203lbs the Tuesday morning after the show and looked spectacular. But yeah I was a little heavier and holding fluid and digesting food at the show. However regardless of not hitting my peak right I still had the muscle to win. I can peak a lot better but yeah I probably should be about 205lbs on stage. But the weight class is 209 and I had a day to eat so I came in as big of a 209 as I could. Does that mean i was just carrying 10lbs of undigested food and extra water yeah probably.  I really just wanted to get through the show and I did that. Next show I will diet the last day vs pigging out not a big fix. My body cant really replenish itself overnight like that.

Honestly I would look better I think if I competed heavier but like as in weighed in heavier and everything was fully digested and carb loaded. I did actually have to cut calories the last week to make weight.

Light heavy is 198lbs this is too much for me
Heavyweight is 225lbs I am not there yet.
Classic is 209lbs this is skip eating 1 day make weight for me

I would like to think I could make the jump to 225lb heavy in the next year or 2 but I also think I would be more competitive at Classic as Heavy guys are shorter and will have larger legs. Eventually given my height I should be a super but it will take time. Also yeah the over 40 classes sometimes dont have the weight divisions anyway.

But regardless I am out going to get some work done may be 2026 by the time I get back to stage.

How the ever-living shit does something like this even happen?

Steroids, that’s how.

4 weeks after the operation I was lifting 2.5 lbs plates to start with that arm.