Chops Journey to the Stage

[Bad.bull]

I agree that what work for me may not for you, it took me a bit to adjust the carbs where I would lose, but it does work and gives me the BEST chance to keep muscle while losing weight. Where do you go from 2 hours of cardio a day when you stall? Do you go to 3? 4? Do you reduce calories? What I am trying to say is that let the diet work first with a smidge of cardio and then when you stall you increase from there or decrease the calories.

Everyone contest prep or not has days that they don't feel like working out. It is just part of the game. Yea you did push yourself way too hard, did you go catabolic? I bet you did,

When I stalled. I took a day and just ate. No restrictions. I read in articles on here and in books that when your metablism stalls. Take a day or two and just eat. Dont worry about diet. I stayed at my two hours of cardio. After a day I went back into the carb cycle. Does that make sense.

I would love to build and lose at the same time. What were trying to do was get my bf down to absolute min. before this week.

[2nd_chance]

Me thinks that cardio is the evil that lurks within this thread.... not low carbz!

[Bad.bull]

Me thinks that cardio is the evil that lurks within this thread.... not low carbz!

Im sure you have many people that agree with you. I dont like doing two hours of cardio, the last month of this phase, walking something like (240 mi.) But! this is what I was instructed to do. I dont tweak anything, that is not my job. I just do it!

[Capt_Lou]

You can look at my progress pix and measurments and tell me if you thought I lost muscle and not fat while doing the 2 hours of cardio a day. It's all about finding what works the best for your body type.

You did not get down to contest form.

When I stalled. I took a day and just ate. No restrictions. I read in articles on here and in books that when your metablism stalls. Take a day or two and just eat. Dont worry about diet. I stayed at my two hours of cardio. After a day I went back into the carb cycle. Does that make sense.

I would love to build and lose at the same time. What were trying to do was get my bf down to absolute min. before this week.

How about going to maintenance levels and upping the carbs? If you just eat for a day aren't you just taking in a huge surplus of food that could actually make you gain fat?

[Bad.bull]

Tom I will respond to your letter but I have to get some work done.

[aftrshok]

You did not get down to contest form.

So by not being in contest form that just throws all of this out the window???

Hell I knew that I would never get down to that when I started this 5 months ago. There was now way I could get down to that, in that short amount of time with all the fat I had to lose. I did the best I could and it wasn't about getting into contest form anyway.

[tonsti]

chicks dig me

[Capt_Lou]

So by not being in contest form that just throws all of this out the window???

Hell I knew that I would never get down to that when I started this 5 months ago. There was now way I could get down to that, in that short amount of time with all the fat I had to lose. I did the best I could and it wasn't about getting into contest form.

I never said that or diminished your goals or progress. I have never been down there myself, but i do know that it is a totally different ballgame to get down to 3-4 percent then it is to drop to 10. The higher up you start the easier it is to lose.

I know people that compete that can go as high as 400g a day of carbs, and one girl that does figure can only get to 80g a day, but she is tiny.

[aftrshok]

I never said that or diminished your goals or progress. I have never been down there myself, but i do know that it is a totally different ballgame to get down to 3-4 percent then it is to drop to 10. The higher up you start the easier it is to lose.

I know people that compete that can go as high as 400g a day of carbs, and one girl that does figure can only get to 80g a day, but she is tiny.

I'm sure it is a different ballgame to get to 3-4 % and maybe within a year I'll be able to tell you how easy or hard it was to get there.

[fitnessman]

No pig fest in July.

Mandatory Overtime

[Capt_Lou]

No pig fest in July.

Mandatory Overtime

HUH?????

No Camp Fitty??????

[fitnessman]

HUH?????

No Camp Fitty??????

All Vacations have been canceled.

I will try to set something up for late August.

[dmangiarelli]

All Vacations have been canceled.

I will try to set something up for late August.

Man, this thread sucks today! Next you'll be telling me that sunrise has been postponed until next week! Aye carumba!

[kimm4]

You can look at my progress pix and measurments and tell me if you thought I lost muscle and not fat while doing the 2 hours of cardio a day. It's all about finding what works the best for your body type.

Nailing conditioning comes down to this...taking in the right amount of calories and giving yourself enough time to diet.

You can't out train, out cardio or out supp the wrong diet period.

If you're eating in a deficit for a long period of time and doing s*** loads of cadio...then yes there will be net loss of muscle.

People who compete need to understand that we want to preserve muscle first and lose body fat 2nd...and most have this backwards.

I still don't get the 2-3 gallons of water? I know some of the bigger guys will get up to 2...but 3 gallons what's the reasoning behind it?

[aftrshok]

Nailing conditioning comes down to this...taking in the right amount of calories and giving yourself enough time to diet.

You can't out train, out cardio or out supp the wrong diet period.

I agree with you 100% and my diet was never wrong during the last 5 months. It was wrong the 5 months prior (I was eating everything under the sun and didn't care).

If you're eating in a deficit for a long period of time and doing s*** loads of cadio...then yes there will be net loss of muscle.

People who compete need to understand that we want to preserve muscle first and lose body fat 2nd...and most have this backwards.

Not if it's slow walking on the treadmill....I don't think I lost any muscle during my 2 hours a day of slow cardio.

I still don't get the 2-3 gallons of water? I know some of the bigger guys will get up to 2...but 3 gallons what's the reasoning behind it?

I'll let someone else take this one.

[Bad.bull]

I still don't get the 2-3 gallons of water? I know some of the bigger guys will get up to 2...but 3 gallons what's the reasoning behind it?

Here is the reasoning. As I stated before I asked for this week. What does a bodybuilder do to his/her body to get it ready the week before a competition. What is depletion? I know I'm no where close to being ready for a competition. But I wanted to know. I was told to purchase Hydrasize by Muslcetech. On the directions, it says to drink 2-3 gals. of water for the first three days, then decrease it on days 4 and 5. That is what Im doing. Its that simple.

[kimm4]

If a competitor nails his/her diet they should be show ready early...usually a couple weeks out. Peak week should be easy and there should be very little changes needed. Little manipulation with sodium and carbs, water stays the same all week. You don't want to ever cut out water, because your body will automatically retain water to prevent dehydration.
When I see people making drastic changes and getting all fancy, it's usually an indicator that you: 1. are working with a trainer that doesn't have a lot of experience in prepping clients for shows, 2. are doing it on your own and still learning, 3. you're not ready and you're scrambling trying to make things happen.

I've been in the game a long time and sure, I've made my share of mistakes. It's a learning process indeed...

[Bad.bull]

If a competitor nails his/her diet they should be show ready early...usually a couple weeks out. Peak week should be easy and there should be very little changes needed. Little manipulation with sodium and carbs, water stays the same all week. You don't want to ever cut out water, because your body will automatically retain water to prevent dehydration.
When I see people making drastic changes and getting all fancy, it's usually an indicator that you: 1. are working with a trainer that doesn't have a lot of experience in prepping clients for shows, 2. are doing it on your own and still learning, 3. you're not ready and you're scrambling trying to make things happen.

I've been in the game a long time and sure, I've made my share of mistakes. It's a learning process indeed...

Yes, its a learning process....and Im learning, with help from my trainer and people here.

[aftrshok]

So when are we gonna eat some doughnuts?????

[tonsti]

me so hoenee!

[aftrshok]

I'm passing out jars of Natty PB....get'em while their fresh!!!!

[2nd_chance]

I'm passing out jars of Natty PB....get'em while their fresh!!!!

I'll take 6 plz

[aftrshok]

I'll take 6 plz

6 it is.....on the way!!!

[Mountain_Goat]

*sticks head in* *Looks around* Wow! Too serious for me in here, srs!

no ****! dayum!!!

[Bad.bull]

Cardio:1 hr. done...No more workouts for a week...ahhhhh
three sessions of cardio left

So when are we gonna eat some doughnuts?????

me so hoenee!

Tony, you are cracking me up!!!

I'm passing out jars of Natty PB....get'em while their fresh!!!!

I'll take 6 plz

Thats it?????

6 it is.....on the way!!!

I know you have had at least 12 by now!!

no ****! dayum!!!

Just pass me a brew...oh wait...two more days, put it in the fridge...

[Bad.bull]

Cardio: 1 hr. done...

two more cardio sessions to go.

I think after tomorrow I will post some pictures. Then close this thread down. There are some serious personal issues Im dealing right now. And I really need to figure out what to do.

I'll be around and posting in other thread, maybe just have a logg here of what I do...I dont know. Things are just way to out of control right now.

[aftrshok]

Cardio: 1 hr. done...

two more cardio sessions to go.

Things are just way to out of control right now.

Almost done with the cardio....can't believe it!!!

Yes they are!!!

[Bad.bull]

First off, I want to thank my trainer. I have accomplished so much. I started around 192lbs and 17% bodyfat, and reached 175lbs and 10.2% BF. My trainer, taught me that you dont have to take all kinds of sups. to achieve great feats in the lifestyle. I baulked at the fact, that I wasn't gonna be taking any sups, but WHEY Protien. That is all I was allowed to take and all that I took.

My trainers diet for me was a carb cycling diet and has proved to be the right diet and workout routine produced great results. The one bad morning I had on the treadmill. Where I felt I was gonna hurl, and felt light headed. I talked to my trainer immediately following this, to find out what I should do. And it was taken care of. Nothing like that has happened again. It was resolved.

My last week, before my mock competition tomorrow, started with drinking 2-3 gal. of water, as directed on the box. Not everybody prepares this way. Some do, my trainer told me to do this. I listened. I have recieved nothing bad from this and like Buck said. Since Im not below 5% bf. I probably wont see anything. Still, this is what I asked to do. We worked good together. My trainer was there, when I had questions.

Thank you for helping me, reach this goal. I can take my shirt off this summer!!

Now....

Because of events that have gone on around me, I must leave my trainer. Even though we accomplished goals. I value my friends in here, their advice and friendship and will never put myself between them.

[blsmith]

Hey Dave,

You did a fantastic job on your prep. Congratulations.

[aftrshok]

Dave,

You have done a great job and I am very proud of you and what you have accomplished. I thought I would never see the day where you weren't taking supps other than whey!!!

I'm sorry everything happened the way it did and that you no longer have your trainer. It really sucks but it is what it is.

I'll always follow your progress and look forward to seeing what you do in the future.