Is this dangerous

[jmkos]

Hi all, I am 8 days out from my first figure competition. I have a trainer who has helped me lose weight with lifting and cardio, but she refered me to another trainer who helped with my diet. I have followed everything that I was told to do, but now, I am wondering if this is right. The guy helping with my diet has told me on three seperate occassions that I will never be ready to compete. I have lost a lot of weight to get here, and the competition is just the goal I set to help motivate me. My trainer thinks that I will probably not place high, if at all, but I won't look like I don't belong on stage, she said that I am a at a good place to start. So anyhow, I get an email from diet guy consisting of a diet of 4 oz of chicken breast 5x's a day from Wed June 4th until the show, including show day. Wed before the show I get 3 baked potatos. I am to drink 2 gallons of water from wed to wed and 1 1/2 gal on Thurs and no water friday. I am still to lift and do two 45 min cardio sessions a day. I am concerned by everyone's reaction to this, others that have competed before did not have to do straight chicken so far in advance and will that even be enough calories to work out. The first day I was okay, but today I couldn't even hold a conversation with out stuttering, I feel like I am in a haze and I am completely exhausted. I have no idea what to expect, so if this is normal dieting for a contest I will suck it up, but I would love any and all input or suggestions of where to find a pre contest diet that might work better for me. My fear is that the diet was made to strict on purpose so that I will quit and not compete, or that I will lose more weight do to starvation this close to the show. I am currently 123 at about 14 to 15% body fat. I know that is high for a competitor, but I am not looking to win, just merely completing a goal and getting my feet wet for next year, when I hope to compete again. Thank you to all in advance and sorry this is so long.

Jess

[TurbulentFluid]

I'm no competitor, but sounds you're financing an idiot...

[_HARV3Y_]

Haha

[twinnett]

http://www.scivationbooks.com/gameday.htm

Try downloading this...they have some great ideas!

[limniade]

That diet sounds ridiculous. If he wants you to lean out before the show, there's no reason you couldn't do a diet similar to Atkins' induction period (20 carbs a day, lean meats and leafy vegetables, water). You don't say when, exactly, the show is (the following Friday?) but people cannot live on a protein-only diet. You need SOME carbs, for chrissake, especially if you're doing that much cardio. I would fire that dumbass immediately and go look on the articles on this site for better pre-contest diets.

Just briefly glancing over some of the articles in the contest prep section, every single one of them has carbs. Not one has an all-anything diet, much less all-chicken.

[jmkos]

Originally Posted by limniade

That diet sounds ridiculous. If he wants you to lean out before the show, there's no reason you couldn't do a diet similar to Atkins' induction period (20 carbs a day, lean meats and leafy vegetables, water). You don't say when, exactly, the show is (the following Friday?) but people cannot live on a protein-only diet. You need SOME carbs, for chrissake, especially if you're doing that much cardio. I would fire that dumbass immediately and go look on the articles on this site for better pre-contest diets.

Just briefly glancing over some of the articles in the contest prep section, every single one of them has carbs. Not one has an all-anything diet, much less all-chicken.

When I first got the diet I thought it was ridiculous too, but I thought the first diet he gave me worked, and I guess I trusted him. I have never done this before so I have no idea what to expect, but I didn't work this hard for so long to starve myself in the end and screw everything up! I guess I knew I was in trouble when my lifting trainer asked if I got my diet and when I told her what it was the look on her face told me something was up. Thank you!

[kimm4]

He's doing the straight chicken to try to lean you out a little more before show day. If you're not lean enough at this point the diet is not going to help. You still need carbs and fats all the way till showday. My bigger concern is cutting out the water on Friday. This is one of the biggest mistakes competitors make! You need to keep water in all week and even on show day.

I would search some articles here and try to find something else. Almost there so hold it down tight. Congrats on your first comp and have a great time

[jmkos]

Originally Posted by kimm4

He's doing the straight chicken to try to lean you out a little more before show day. If you're not lean enough at this point the diet is not going to help. You still need carbs and fats all the way till showday. My bigger concern is cutting out the water on Friday. This is one of the biggest mistakes competitors make! You need to keep water in all week and even on show day.

I would search some articles here and try to find something else. Almost there so hold it down tight. Congrats on your first comp and have a great time

Thank you for responding, I thought he might be trying to lean me out a little more, but he hasnt seen me in 3 weeks and just emailed the diet without asking my stats. I went down a lot in the past 3 weeks. At this point, I probably won't lose a significant amount of body fat to make a difference. Thanks again!

[megs]

I am curretnly doing about the same thing as you to try and get as dry as possible I guess. the next competition is a big one for me so I decided to try dieting with new people for this show. Currently I am eating 1100 cals of protein and 500 cals from veggies, but I get a lot of them. However two weeks out from the show I do 28 oz chicken a day with 300 cals from veggies. I also find it hard to train and fit in two sessions of 30 mins. I am going to try it for this show, but see how it goes. I just make sure to keep taking my vitamins and omega 3's for that little bit of extra energy. Let me know how you do. I will let you know how I feel as well.

[kimm4]

These types of plans are way to drastic, but people continue to use them because they don't know any better.

Rule of thumb you should never feel like death during contest prep...even at the end. You will have low energy for sure...but it comes and goes. If you can't lift your head up and carry on normal conversation...something is drastically wrong with your diet and you need to adjust your healty fats and carbs.

Wishing you both the best come showtime

[IronCamp]

I don't have any advice, as i've never competed.

Just wanted to say what an amazing transformation you've made. good luck w/the show.

[jmkos]

Originally Posted by IronCamp

I don't have any advice, as i've never competed.

Just wanted to say what an amazing transformation you've made. good luck w/the show.

Thank you for your compliment!

[jmkos]

Originally Posted by kimm4

These types of plans are way to drastic, but people continue to use them because they don't know any better.

Rule of thumb you should never feel like death during contest prep...even at the end. You will have low energy for sure...but it comes and goes. If you can't lift your head up and carry on normal conversation...something is drastically wrong with your diet and you need to adjust your healty fats and carbs.

Wishing you both the best come showtime

Thank you so much for your input! I think you look amazing, and since you have been through contest prep before, it is reassuring that I don't have to feel so numb to do this! I knew I would be tired, but this is just unreal I am going to follow a different plan for the week. If you have any suggestions or can point me in a direction to find a good peak week diet, I would appreciate it!

[MsFit]

You're listening to too many people. On top of that, they are negative. Regardless if you'll be ready or not, a trainer should always be coaching you to be your best on stage. That's as bad as a doctor telling you that you are going to die any day now because you have an illness. You'd be surprised at how "suggestions" can make or break you. Good luck, and remember, too many cooks in the kitchen can ruin a good meal.

[kimm4]

Jmkos - You only have 8 more days till showtime. You should get in contact with your trainer and let them know your concerns and how you're feeling physically at this point. (Trainers need to know these things...so keep them informed)

I don't always agree with trainers and their methods. But out of respect, I would never step on anyone's toes

[gym_girly]

Originally Posted by IronCamp

I don't have any advice, as i've never competed.

Just wanted to say what an amazing transformation you've made. good luck w/the show.

I totally agree!

I also sent you a PM. Good Luck!

[pirouette]

I like that you set a goal like that to motivate you. Very brave, bravo. Best of luck with your show.
and don't listen to anyone who tries to tell you you'll never be ready....

[jmkos]

Originally Posted by pirouette

I like that you set a goal like that to motivate you. Very brave, bravo. Best of luck with your show.
and don't listen to anyone who tries to tell you you'll never be ready....

October 12, 2005, while I was laying in a hospital bed in labor with my third baby I was reading an Oxygen mag and I finally told my husband that I wanted to compete and it had been a secret goal for sometime. Two weeks after delivery I picked this show date and have been working for it ever since. I was starting to get discouraged after hearing what that guy had to say, and a lot of my friends just didn't understand at first. But after everyone sending me words of encouragement on the site, and looking at my before pics, I can't believe I am finally one week out!! No matter what I feel like I already won because I am finally happy with myself! Thank you everyone for all of your help and compliments!

Jess

[Sgonzalez76]

Hey Jess!!! congratulation you did a great job from Jan 2008 wow....I don't know about compete but whatever happen you should be proud of your self. I'm thinking in compete but I'm not really sure if it is for me.....

Keep working hard and healthy.

[trainwithrae]

ditch him and contact me if you want someone to help you for the last two weeks with a healthier way.
Either way good luck and stick to your guns