Contest Preparation with out CARDIO

[AussieTank]

I was just wondering has anyone ever dieted for a show without supplementing thier routine with cardio.

At the moment im 8 weeks out from a show, i started dieting 12 weeks out and havent done one cardio session yet and everything seems to be on track as far as weight and looks go!

I have keeped up my weekly weight routine and added in an extra touch up session ( a session working on the body parts that come to life when body fat is low) so weights training 5 times per week for 1 hour.

I dont plan on doing any cardio until about 4 weeks out do you think this is wise or a big mistake ?

Please post comments and experiences

Thankyou in advance

[bigswole30]

As long as your shape come contest time. Mark Ritter, one of my Beverly consultants never does cardio. It also depends alot on your metabolism.

[AussieTank]

ne 1 else ?

[bigfina]

the less cardio you can do the better. you can retain muscle a lot better without the extra cardio.

[toolegit2quit]

Did my first show and came in great condition last year with not one second of cardio, doing another show, looking even better (4 weeks out) and have still done no cardio whatsoever. I think a lot depends on your offseason nutritional approach and your pre-contest dieting approach.

[big P]

I am less tham 3 weeks out of a show, I am already under the weight I need to be, but did a body fat test last night and it said 9.5%. When I started It was around 12% but I have lost 14lbs. I have only been doing cardio for the last 2 weeks at about 3 times a week, and let my diet take the weight off. I've been on my diet for about 10 weeks already. Does the bdyfat% sound right, the only place I am holding any is my love handles. Need help.

[AussieTank]

Originally posted by big P
I am less tham 3 weeks out of a show, I am already under the weight I need to be, but did a body fat test last night and it said 9.5%. When I started It was around 12% but I have lost 14lbs. I have only been doing cardio for the last 2 weeks at about 3 times a week, and let my diet take the weight off. I've been on my diet for about 10 weeks already. Does the bdyfat% sound right, the only place I am holding any is my love handles. Need help.

This mean you have lost alot of muscle, bit unlucky but you will know next time not to drop your calories so drastically.

[big P]

you call eating:
breakfast-3 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 5oz steak, oatmeal
Snack-Protein shake+flax seed oil
lunch-8 oz chicken, cup of green beans
Snack-5 oz steak and a salad
Supper-chicken and a sweet pot.
Snack-7 egg whites+flax seed oil
Does this look like cutting calories...
And this doesn't include all of the glutimane and bcaa..

[TORNQUAD]

IWOULD SAY DON'T GO BY THOSE BODYFAT TESTERS AS THEY MEAN NOTHIG ONLY GO BY WHAT THE MIRROR IS TELLING YOU.IF YOU CAN HONESTLY SAY YOU LOOK HARD THEN OK IF NOT YOU HAVE THREE WEEKS TO GET THERE.CARDO S IMPORTANT IN MY OPINION AND WOULD LOVE NOT TO HAVE TO DO AS MOST WOULD ALSO.BUT IT DOES GET THOSE STUBORN FAT CELLS SO I WOULD SAY IF YOU HAVE DONE NONE THEN START TWO A DAY TILL YOUR SHOW 30-40 IN EACH AND ONE TING THAT ALWAYS HELPS ME IS TO POSE EVERYDAY FOR 60 MIN. JUST HOLDING EACH POSE LONGER IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE HARDNESS WISE.GOOD LUCK

[big P]

Staring this week I have done cardio everyday for 30-40 min. in the morning, and workout and pose in the evening. I go through the mandatorys and quarter turns for abut 45min. holding each pose for 15-20 sec. Plus doing my music every night for 2-3 times after posing. I plan on doing cardio 6 times a week for the next 2 weeks, and having my last cardio session the mon. before the show.

[bigfina]

bigswole
what kind of training are you doing?

[AussieTank]

Originally posted by TORNQUAD
IWOULD SAY DON'T GO BY THOSE BODYFAT TESTERS AS THEY MEAN NOTHIG ONLY GO BY WHAT THE MIRROR IS TELLING YOU.IF YOU CAN HONESTLY SAY YOU LOOK HARD THEN OK IF NOT YOU HAVE THREE WEEKS TO GET THERE.CARDO S IMPORTANT IN MY OPINION AND WOULD LOVE NOT TO HAVE TO DO AS MOST WOULD ALSO.BUT IT DOES GET THOSE STUBORN FAT CELLS SO I WOULD SAY IF YOU HAVE DONE NONE THEN START TWO A DAY TILL YOUR SHOW 30-40 IN EACH AND ONE TING THAT ALWAYS HELPS ME IS TO POSE EVERYDAY FOR 60 MIN. JUST HOLDING EACH POSE LONGER IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE HARDNESS WISE.GOOD LUCK

You must be kidding twice a day i dont plan on doing twice a week i want to have some muscle left when i hit stage Gesse

[BIG-C-TANK]

I agree with bigswole, it all depends on your metabolism. I'm two weeks out and have done next to no cardio, but my diet is right on...my bodyfat is down to 3.7% I've done a little sprint work on the treadmill just to prepare for the rigour of being on stage and posing. I think I'm one of the lucky few tho, most people need to hit the cardio to drop those last few % points. Good luck to all competing soon.

[bigfina]

bic c, where are you form?

[2getHUGE]

I agree. It all depends on the individual. The diet also is a big factor. Me and a freind are getting ready for a show this weekend. He did cardio up to 3 times a day!!! Me on the other hand, have not done cardio in years. Last year I was at 3.2% and this year I went down to 3.4% at 5 lbs heavier (6 months apart). We just have different metabolisms and body types. We also follow a different diet plan. My friends at Beverly Int. set up my plan and I follow it to a "T". anyway, that is my opinion on the matter. If you do not need to do it, then do not. If so, then do.

[BIG-C-TANK]

wassup big fina. To answer your question, I'm living in Boston. My show is the NPC New England Bodybuilding Championships on May 4th. I just met with some trainers here who told me to not do any more cardio before the show. I've been doing very little anyway. But along the topic of this thread, some people will actually do themselves harm by doing too much (if any at all) cardio b4 their show. Anyway, that's that. Good luck all.

C

[bigfina]

whats up
i live in boston over the summer thats why i asked. good to hear you are coming in prepared for your competition.

[Baumer]

Big C...Good luck at the New Englands, I'll be there to see a friend of mine compete. What class are you coming in at? Isn't the show on the 5th?

[Most Muscular]

I used to not have to do any cardio for the first half of my diet... I'd let my diet do the work for me and would only add it as I required it. Unfortunately, I've gotten a lot older since then and my metabolism has ssslllllllooooowwwwweeeeedddd down a lot.

When I started my current diet I thought, "hey, I'll just glide along, clean up my diet and the fat will melt away" NOT.

I've had to start doing it 6 days a week now, but I''m only doing it for 20 minutes in the morning, not so much to use calories up, but rather to boost my metabolism... and it's working.

I do a high intensity cardio session, similar to Max-OT Cardio. .... let me tell you it works plus I don't sacrifice my hard earned muscle mass.