Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Contest Prep Update - 3.5 Weeks Out From Excalibur & Plan to Prep for Another 9.5 Weeks Out

It's official!  Yesterday I registered for the 2013 NPC Excalibur.  All I have to do now is lock down my posing routine and plan my tanning situation. I may end up shelling out the cash for the convenience that JanTana provides at the competitions.  I noticed faint striations in the glutes yesterday under good lighting so I feel confident that I can be prepared for this show.  As a natural bodybuilder, I know what I will be up against in an NPC non-tested show.  It is what it is and I know that some competitors may have an ace up their sleeve over me--and that's okay.  This is the lifestyle and direction that I believe in and I will bring the best natural physique that I can mold for this competition.  I thought, "if I can't beat 'em on size, I'll beat 'em on conditioning!"  I adjusted the ## weeks out numbers to not consider peak week as a week.  I want to be ready by or before peak week.

So, to keep the momentum rolling, as I project that I will truly be at 5% BF or less with another 2 lb. drop in weight.  This is an estimation and not by all means the end all be all.  What I see in the mirror triumphs the number on the scale.  To keep myself from over-dieting, over-training, and appear stringy on stage, I have implemented this plan:

-Never stop training heavy; abstain from low weights & high reps
-Add another 10 minutes for a total of 30 minutes of cardio this week
-Keep calories and carbs where it is now and attempt to allow energy output to further lean out
-Added Yohimbine HCL into the mix pre-cardio--10 to 12.5mg dose taken 15-20 minutes pre-cardio

However I perform on contest day of the Excalibur, I have a carb load day that day so I will celebrate a little but not go overboard as I know I have another show, my target show, 6 weeks later.  Whatever my condition ends up being on the Excalibur stage, I plan to take it to another level at the Ironman Naturally.  I am feeling surprisingly healthy mentally and physically.  I am at about 6-7% BF at the moment, and normally, this is where things get fuzzy.

When your body experiences super low body fat percentages, strange things begin to happen.  Fatigue sets in.  Hunger, too, if you are on a fixed diet, which is incredibly painful when coupled with fatigue.  Mind gets foggy, energy levels are low, zero motivation to do anything but mustering through a less-than-mediocre work out, and your tolerance for people and pretty much anything a touch annoying can be blown up exponentially and drive you absolutely crazy.  I experienced all these things last year when I was inexperienced with cutting for a show.  I did reach 5-6% BF but I did it in the worst way.  I am incredibly happy to have sought the truth about dieting, and that it doesn't have to be rocket science.  It's actually quite simple really....  But I am heading into the darkest days of prep--under 6% BF.  Today I may feel amazing, tomorrow, I might feel like crap.  Who knows!  But one thing I must keep in mind is that life is grand--I love this lifestyle, I love my supporting peoples, I love it!  Whenever things get down, I must stop, just smell the roses and enjoy the moment.


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