Layne's contest prep practices

[imccarthy]

I've spent a lot of time in the contest prep logs and have noticed that most of Layne's clients diet for many, many months. Most of his clients are set up on diets last more than 20 weeks. Tommy was dieted down for 7 months, Paul for 6 and Sean for 21 weeks.

Is it just me or is 5+ months a hell of a lot of time to diet down? Many of the guys on here go from above 10% to contest ready in less than 16 weeks and don't seem to lose too much muscle.

Am I missing something? Is Layne simply setting the bar higher? Hoping to bring his clients in early?

[yzrider400f]

dieting longer is going to promote preservation of lean mass because you don't have to be in such a deep caloric deficit, plain and simple.

layne wants only the best for his clients, he's not out to make a quick buck

[SoWise]

trust me 9 weeks feels like 20... but i keep pushing.. a mistake i made from last year, making too many drastic cuts too soon and pushed up the intensity cause a lot of lean muscle mass at the sacrifice of wanting to be ripped in 6 weeks.. im on 8 week right now, goin to roughly 12... just to see how that works.. and if its still too much lean mass loss, then re-adjust and go longer.. but man i miss having high carb days everyday

[imccarthy]

Thanks for the responses. I figured Layne knows what he is doing with such extended contest preps and the results speak for themselves. I just find it interesting most of his clients diet for 20+ weeks while other experienced contest prep experts such as Tom Venuto make use of 12-16 weeks dieting stints.

[TigerStealth]

I'm a Layne client and I am doing a 24 week diet for my first ever show. The advantage is that the first 12 weeks werent bad at all, although now it is getting quite a bit tougher (im 6 weeks out). All in all i am very pleased with Layne's strategies so far and I am glad I decided to do a longer diet.

[str8flexed]

it really depends upon the individual. some people can make it in 16 weeks, but usually that's pushing it. If you want to be shredded and filled out correctly you need to plan on longer. If you diet damn hard for 12 weeks, even if you are as lean as required bodyfat wise, you've been depleted hard for 12 weeks and you think you can fill out properly in a couple days? no way.

[semper27]

From my experience a longer diet is paramount especially if this is your first show prep. I prepped for 22 weeks last year and still think that it wasn't quite long enough. I learned quite a bit about my body and how it responds to different things in the gym and kitchen, worked my butt off in the off-season keeping my bodyfat in check and began my 08' show prep at 17 weeks out this year. I'm just under 4 weeks out and have averaged anywhere from .4 - .9 lbs of weightloss per week and have not lossed any LBM. 20 weeks isn't as long as it seems. Get your mindset right, set a goal and get after it. It's very well worth it in the end. I believe Layne prepped for his Pro Card for 30 plus weeks.

[SoWise]

it really depends upon the individual. some people can make it in 16 weeks, but usually that's pushing it. If you want to be shredded and filled out correctly you need to plan on longer. If you diet damn hard for 12 weeks, even if you are as lean as required bodyfat wise, you've been depleted hard for 12 weeks and you think you can fill out properly in a couple days? no way.

I feel it will take 20+ weeks for me, but honestly since im not doing any kind of shows im not wanting to push it farther yet.. i never done more than 6 weeks, since i been leaner, but i learned that even being lean 6 weeks can cause more damage than anything good. heck after 12 weeks if i feel like i can keep pushing it i still will.. that way i know how long it will take next year if/when i do want to compete, but I definitely agree with you on length and filling out

[FitIron]

I've spent a lot of time in the contest prep logs and have noticed that most of Layne's clients diet for many, many months. Most of his clients are set up on diets last more than 20 weeks. Tommy was dieted down for 7 months, Paul for 6 and Sean for 21 weeks.

Is it just me or is 5+ months a hell of a lot of time to diet down? Many of the guys on here go from above 10% to contest ready in less than 16 weeks and don't seem to lose too much muscle.

Am I missing something? Is Layne simply setting the bar higher? Hoping to bring his clients in early?

Hey bro, take a look at Semper27....This guy is the SHIZZLE....listen to him....Take a look at his thread and you can see the progress he is talking about, and why it is so important to take the appropriate amount of time. I made the noob mistake of thinking I could do it in 12 weeks and it cost me.....

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...331561&page=28

From my experience a longer diet is paramount especially if this is your first show prep. I prepped for 22 weeks last year and still think that it wasn't quite long enough. I learned quite a bit about my body and how it responds to different things in the gym and kitchen, worked my butt off in the off-season keeping my bodyfat in check and began my 08' show prep at 17 weeks out this year. I'm just under 4 weeks out and have averaged anywhere from .4 - .9 lbs of weightloss per week and have not lossed any LBM. 20 weeks isn't as long as it seems. Get your mindset right, set a goal and get after it. It's very well worth it in the end. I believe Layne prepped for his Pro Card for 30 plus weeks.