The 2nd Annual MuscleTech $50,000 Transformation Contest Presented By BodySpace.

[thepackleader]

Originally Posted by OldManSkinny

How much sweet potato? Yams are the BIG things, more orange than yellow. I buy them on sale, steam them all and freeze them in serving size baggies. And what's a serving size? Depends on your goals. Here are the stats:

Got a few to give them a try on your suggestion. They were on sale for .79lb at the store I went to. Thanks.

[thepackleader]

Originally Posted by Izmanv

Wow! I won!


And last, but not least (always save the best for last!) - thepackleader. You had the most amazing, all around transformation. You are an inspiration to so many people. You've worked so hard. You've lost so much weight. You've improved your health SO much within the short time frame of this contest that many who didn't get to experience this with you wouldn't believe it. Your drive, determination, and will power - even when odds seem stacked against you - kept you going! Not only that, but you were still here to help and encourage others! You, my friend, did the most amazing job. Congratulations on your transformation.

Yes, you definitely won!!! No one could have told me otherwise even if it turned out different, lol.

At the risk of sounding like a dipsh*t, what you said made me cry. I truly appreciate what you said. It made me feel great! I will cherish those words for a long time to come.

[IronCharles]

Originally Posted by Izmanv

Wow! I won!

Because you deserved to! Well done, Iz!

We expect pictures of you and Dexter!

[kenwoodjens1]

VERY VERY VERY WELL SAID

Also can grads to ALL winners cause you ALL ARE WINNERS

[Twosocks42]

Congratulations Iz! I thought he was the one who should come out on top of this.

Congrats to all the other winners- not just those who place, but everyone who went out and made changes in their life, stuck to them and got through this entire contents. Just finishing was an accomplishment in and of itself!

[madles]

Originally Posted by thepackleader

What is everyone's take on sweet potatoes as a carb source? And how much do you eat? Those things are HUGE. Do you eat a whole one or cut it in half?

Everyone pretty much in agreement that no carbs in the evening? Cardio truly is best AFTER the weight training session, right?

Hey Pack, sweet potato's or yams, basically the same are an awsome complex carb. Eat as much as you need to make your carb ratio. 4-6 oz potato is about 150 calories, 3 grams protein, 35 carbs and next to no fat. I through a little butter, sweet & low brown sugar and cinnamin on mine. It is awsome. Layne Norton says that carbs at night is old thinking. the most carbs should be taken in before and after your training, even if it is midnight. Cardio is best when it is done. Many different schools of thinking on this one. Some say early morning on an empty stomach and some say after your lifting. Both of the reasoning is about the same. You have no stored glycogen for energy, then therefore you are burning only fat.

Keep lifting

[madles]

You are truly a CHAMPION. Best of luck. Don't forget us that are still at the bottom.

[HardcorSancez]

Congratulations to all that won!!! To bad it was sooooo drawn out. Does anyone know of any other contest to enter right now???????

[graffalanamous]

Iz is a true champion for sure! Well said man.

[TRANSMIGRATION]

Originally Posted by OldManSkinny

Then why do cardio at all? My understanding was that 3 20-30 minute cardio sessions (HIIT) per week are enough to keep your metabolism high. I've even dropped those thinking that my weight workouts every day get my heart rate up enough for that. The only additional reason to do cardio would be to burn calories, but if you eat extra before and after the cardio session just to keep from burning muscle, then you've shot yourself in the foot.

So I can't burn calories during cardio when I eat before and after? lol. Think about what your saying. If I eat 2000 calories in a day it doesn't matter when I eat them as long as I do the same amount of cardio right? (I choose 6 small meals a day) Choosing when to eat the calories for when my body needs it most for repair is the smartest choice in my opinion.


My way
If I eat 2000 calories in a day. Eat before and after cardio and burn 500 calories during cardio then I have a total intake of 1500 calories for the day.

Your way
If I eat 2000 calories and don't eat before and after cardio and choose to eat 5 hours from the time I choose to do cardio I will have still created a 1500 daily calorie intake for that particular day if I burn 500 calories on cardio.


In closing
Sooooo. I choose to eat before and after because when it comes down to it 500 calories burned on the treadmill will always be 500 calories.. But the way I do it at least my body has the option to burn food calories instead of muscle.

I think we are talking about dieting to get ripped and if I'm doing HIIT my motab will still be boosted no matter when I eat. The key is to create a calorie deficit. When I told him that stuff I didn't pull it out of my a$$. Tell me I'm wrong..

[Holly854]

Originally Posted by HardcorSancez

Congratulations to all that won!!! To bad it was sooooo drawn out. Does anyone know of any other contest to enter right now???????

Holy Cow Hardcor. Look at your transformed-ness. CONGRATS.

Are you competing?

[MasterMatrix8]

Congrats to all the winners!!!! You definitely deserve it. You know I've noticed that they tend to choose people who dropped a lot of fat to show off their muscles(some of which are pre-existing)...*hint hint* to next year's participants.

[pophead]

Originally Posted by TRANSMIGRATION

What look are you going for next year? Body builder, Fitness model or weight loss only? Good job by the way. Now if they would just annouce the Hydroxycut contest!!

Somewhere along the lines of fitness model... Possibly even future competing in Figure division. I want to be ripped, strong but still feminine.

[pophead]

Originally Posted by Holly854

Holy Cow Hardcor. Look at your transformed-ness. CONGRATS.

Are you competing?

Holy cow is right! Look at that ab muscle girl!!!

[pophead]

Originally Posted by History in Effect

how long has it been since you ran a fat burner? I would wait four weeks and then run another one.

Last time I was on a fat burner was April through May 7, 2009. (Last month of contest.)

My plans change so much depending on my mood... Yesterday I was feeling bad cause I don't fit my newer 'skinny clothes' but I have so much more muscle than i did before contest and am still in size 6 instead of 12. So I think I need to just chill out and keep eating clean while massing up for a while until I can really rip out from a cut.

[rubenramos2]

Originally Posted by TRANSMIGRATION

So I can't burn calories during cardio when I eat before and after? lol. Think about what your saying. If I eat 2000 calories in a day it doesn't matter when I eat them as long as I do the same amount of cardio right? (I choose 6 small meals a day) Choosing when to eat the calories for when my body needs it most for repair is the smartest choice in my opinion.


My way
If I eat 2000 calories in a day. Eat before and after cardio and burn 500 calories during cardio then I have a total intake of 1500 calories for the day.

Your way
If I eat 2000 calories and don't eat before and after cardio and choose to eat 5 hours from the time I choose to do cardio I will have still created a 1500 daily calorie intake for that particular day if I burn 500 calories on cardio.


In closing
Sooooo. I choose to eat before and after because when it comes down to it 500 calories burned on the treadmill will always be 500 calories.. But the way I do it at least my body has the option to burn food calories instead of muscle.

I think we are talking about dieting to get ripped and if I'm doing HIIT my motab will still be boosted no matter when I eat. The key is to create a calorie deficit. When I told him that stuff I didn't pull it out of my a$$. Tell me I'm wrong..

Am I wrong? I thought cardio was to tap into fat stores. If I eat before cardio, won't I be using that food for energy? I realize you can do too much cardio and start burning muscle. Which is the best way?

[graffalanamous]

Originally Posted by rubenramos2

Am I wrong? I thought cardio was to tap into fat stores. If I eat before cardio, won't I be using that food for energy? I realize you can do too much cardio and start burning muscle. Which is the best way?

My experience with cardio on an empty stomach:

In 2003 I weighed 260lbs and was pretty strong for me. 350+ clean and jerk, 525squat, etc., etc. Hurt my back seriously and was unable to lift (except for easy benches etc.) Decided i would get ripped. Well I ended up at 228lbs but was literally just an all around smaller version of my old self. I was doing all my morning cardio on an empty stomach. I lost alot of weight, but was still "fat" (no abs at all). This time for the contest I always ate before my morning cardio, just like trans said and what do you know? 229lbs and abs (a coule anyway). I'm definitely a big proponent of eating first thing in the morning. In 2003 I also didn't eat within a couple hours of bedtime. For the contest I ate 7oz of chicken or 12 egg whites everynight right as I went to bed. These are two of the biggest thing that I did differently and I definitely got different (better) results to say the least. The key is I finally found out what works for ME.
Old man skinny: If cardio on an empty stomach works for you stick with it, but I just lose indescriminant weight when I do it like that.

[TRANSMIGRATION]

Originally Posted by rubenramos2

Am I wrong? I thought cardio was to tap into fat stores. If I eat before cardio, won't I be using that food for energy? I realize you can do too much cardio and start burning muscle. Which is the best way?

On Eating before and after cardio

Now a smart nutritionist will tell you that your body can store glycogen for 12 to 16 hours before it absolutely must be replenished by a meal. If it isn't, your body will turn to MUSCLE (ee gads!) to break down for glucose (quick energy). This isn't negotiable. With trace levels of glycogen in your system, your body CAN'T burn fat. It has to use muscle. When you burn up muscle, you're basically inviting your body to store more fat, not to mention look and feel weaker and flabbier. Sucks, doesn't it?


You'll be able to burn more calories in a session if you train after a solid meal, and you'll support muscle mass, which burns calories all day long just by sitting on your body.

Not eating before bed

If you eat after 8 lets say, your body see?s the food in there. Regardless of what it is, it will burn it and turn it into fat. Likewise, if you do not eat after 8, the body has nothing to burn and will instead burn some of your body fat.


Source: http://blog.mensfitness.com/2008/09/...on-an-emp.html

[rubenramos2]

Originally Posted by TRANSMIGRATION

On Eating before and after cardio

Now a smart nutritionist will tell you that your body can store glycogen for 12 to 16 hours before it absolutely must be replenished by a meal. If it isn't, your body will turn to MUSCLE (ee gads!) to break down for glucose (quick energy). This isn't negotiable. With trace levels of glycogen in your system, your body CAN'T burn fat. It has to use muscle. When you burn up muscle, you're basically inviting your body to store more fat, not to mention look and feel weaker and flabbier. Sucks, doesn't it?


You'll be able to burn more calories in a session if you train after a solid meal, and you'll support muscle mass, which burns calories all day long just by sitting on your body.

Not eating before bed

If you eat after 8 lets say, your body see?s the food in there. Regardless of what it is, it will burn it and turn it into fat. Likewise, if you do not eat after 8, the body has nothing to burn and will instead burn some of your body fat.


Source: http://blog.mensfitness.com/2008/09/...on-an-emp.html

Let me ask a simple question. What is the purpose of cardio?

[AniMaLizTik]

fasted cardio = more weight loss, but a majority of that weight will come from broken down muscle tissue while doing cardio.

Eating before and after ANY KIND of physical activity is OPTIMAL for lean body mass retention or gain.

Overall calorie expenditure -vs- calorie intake with high protein, moderate carbs and fat macronutrient ratio is optimal for stored fat to be used as an energy source AND remain energetic and HEALTHY.

[AniMaLizTik]

Originally Posted by rubenramos2

Let me ask a simple question. What is the purpose of cardio?

cardio is a tool to put you into more of a total caloric deficit.

I use cardio in conjuction with manipulated meal timing to boost my metabolism, also.

[AniMaLizTik]

Originally Posted by TRANSMIGRATION

On Eating before and after cardio

Now a smart nutritionist will tell you that your body can store glycogen for 12 to 16 hours before it absolutely must be replenished by a meal. If it isn't, your body will turn to MUSCLE (ee gads!) to break down for glucose (quick energy). This isn't negotiable. With trace levels of glycogen in your system, your body CAN'T burn fat. It has to use muscle. When you burn up muscle, you're basically inviting your body to store more fat, not to mention look and feel weaker and flabbier. Sucks, doesn't it?


You'll be able to burn more calories in a session if you train after a solid meal, and you'll support muscle mass, which burns calories all day long just by sitting on your body.

Not eating before bed

If you eat after 8 lets say, your body see?s the food in there. Regardless of what it is, it will burn it and turn it into fat. Likewise, if you do not eat after 8, the body has nothing to burn and will instead burn some of your body fat.


Source: http://blog.mensfitness.com/2008/09/...on-an-emp.html

this whole post made me LOL!

to each his own i guess...

[rubenramos2]

Originally Posted by AniMaLizTik

cardio is a tool to put you into more of a total caloric deficit.

I use cardio in conjuction with manipulated meal timing to boost my metabolism, also.

I'll go with a metabolism booster. If all I was trying to do was create a calorie deficit, I could just eat less, right? So when is the best time for you?

[thepackleader]

Originally Posted by AniMaLizTik

fasted cardio = more weight loss, but a majority of that weight will come from broken down muscle tissue while doing cardio.

Eating before and after ANY KIND of physical activity is OPTIMAL for lean body mass retention or gain.

Overall calorie expenditure -vs- calorie intake with high protein, moderate carbs and fat macronutrient ratio is optimal for stored fat to be used as an energy source AND remain energetic and HEALTHY.

I have to tell you that I am in agreement with not doing fasted cardio. I refuse to do it. I didn't do it even once during the contest. And I haven't done it since contest end. I want to keep as much of the muscle I have. I know there are other opinions on the matter. You obviously didn't do fasted cardio either. So while I may not be proof in the pudding your physique surely is I do know though that some did the fasted cardio and they look quite good too. Wish there was something to prove one or the other as fact!

Originally Posted by AniMaLizTik

cardio is a tool to put you into more of a total caloric deficit.

I use cardio in conjuction with manipulated meal timing to boost my metabolism, also.

I agree with this as well. For more caloric deficit. Though I liked to mostly do the HIIT. More about boosting metabolism than as much deficit. Since with 20-25 minutes of HIIT I could get about 300-400 cals burnt. While the few times I would do the LISS I would burn about 600-800 in 40-45 minutes.

[AniMaLizTik]

Originally Posted by rubenramos2

I'll go with a metabolism booster. If all I was trying to do was create a calorie deficit, I could just eat less, right? So when is the best time for you?

yes. back in the 80's many bodybuilder did ZERO cardio. they just adjusted their diets. you could go either way. less food or more cardio.

as far as boosting my metabolism, i take in about 40g of carbs, do some HIIT (usually about 10-12 intervals)

then eat about a 30g/20g/5g (carbs/protein/fat) meal immediatley after.

if i do this, even though i keep all my food intake the same as previous days, I'm hungry as all hell between all my meals that day and maybe the day after too, which tells me my metabolism is a blazing inferno

If you aren't hungry, that is very very bad

[AniMaLizTik]

Originally Posted by thepackleader

I do know though that some did the fasted cardio and they look quite good too. Wish there was something to prove one or the other as fact!.

Just imagine how much BETTER they would look with all that muscle that they burned off

Originally Posted by thepackleader

I agree with this as well. For more caloric deficit. Though I liked to mostly do the HIIT. More about boosting metabolism than as much deficit. Since with 20-25 minutes of HIIT I could get about 300-400 cals burnt. While the few times I would do the LISS I would burn about 600-800 in 40-45 minutes.

100% agree

[TRANSMIGRATION]

Originally Posted by AniMaLizTik

yes. back in the 80's many bodybuilder did ZERO cardio. they just adjusted their diets. you could go either way. less food or more cardio.

as far as boosting my metabolism, i take in about 40g of carbs, do some HIIT (usually about 10-12 intervals)

then eat about a 30g/20g/5g (carbs/protein/fat) meal immediatley after.

if i do this, even though i keep all my food intake the same as previous days, I'm hungry as all hell between all my meals that day and maybe the day after too, which tells me my metabolism is a blazing inferno

If you aren't hungry, that is very very bad

Seems like your reading my mind, lol. I do 50g of carbs before any workout. Usually a PowerBar which has both carbs and protien, its an easy choice if your on the go. Then after my workout a protien shake or chicken with some veggies.

[TRANSMIGRATION]

Originally Posted by rubenramos2

I'll go with a metabolism booster. If all I was trying to do was create a calorie deficit, I could just eat less, right? So when is the best time for you?

I like to eat so I choose to eat and do cardio. I guess I could eat less and do no cardio but I like the cardio for the benifits of the heart muscle or overall health.

[AniMaLizTik]

Originally Posted by TRANSMIGRATION

Seems like your reading my mind, lol. I do 50g of carbs before any workout. Usually a PowerBar which has both carbs and protien, its an easy choice if your on the go. Then after my workout a protien shake or chicken with some veggies.

yep.

The most important meal you will ever eat is TODAY'S preworkout meal.

[AniMaLizTik]

Originally Posted by TRANSMIGRATION

I like to eat so I choose to eat and do cardio. I guess I could eat less and do no cardio but I like the cardio for the benifits of the heart muscle or overall health.

I actually enjoy doing HIIT, jaming to great music, blood is pumping, edorphines flowing...I have a great time. Plus when you are done, you feel like a million bucks.

not true with LISS, lol, i feel like DEATH after 45-60 minutes of mind numbing LISS.