Hey Coach,
Welcome back, and as always, thanks for just being such a great resource for everyone on here.
I’ve got a bunch of questions, so let me apologize in advance -lol. I’m several weeks out of my first BBing show, and plan on following your “shredded in 6 days” article for my last week. It makes amazing sense, and this is probably the simplest way I have ever seen anyone lay out a guided plan to manipulate water and carbs to get the full, yet dry look on stage. I do have several concerns, and questions that I’m hoping you can clear up, or just clarify for me.
-Mon through Thursday are pretty self explanatory, <50g carbs, and 3 gallons of water. My question is in regards to overall cals ingested. I’ve been on a rotating approach, very similar to your carb cycling codex (intake based on what will be done in the gym that day). So far, I have been scheduling my ‘low’ intake days for when I rest from the weights, and do my interval work. They have involved <50g carbs, and my lowest overall cals throughout the week (usually no more than 2000 - 2100 cals). Should I keep my numbers this low all through the last week, or can I get away with a more moderate intake (2300?) because of the low carbs?
-On the Friday before the show (Sat), you say to cut water at 4pm, when you have the fourth carb meal for the day. The article then advises to have either 1, or 2 more carb meals to be consumed during the remaining portion of the day. My question is this: Will those two meals be all that I will be eating for the remainder of the day, or is it only two P+C meals but I can have a 3rd so long as it is P+F and contains no more than maintenance cals?
-Also on Friday, you recommend taking a hot bath in Epsom salts before bed. My concern is the Pro-Tan. I know some folks apply it, let it ‘dye’ the skin for a few hours, then wash it off and repeat. Others, however, will allow the coats of dye to build up from Thursday night through Sat morning, and achieve a nice dark ‘tan’. What are your thoughts on how necessary the salt bath is vs the darker tan?
-Saturday before the prejudging, you mention ingesting a sugar soda 45 mins prior. I was wondering if it is simply the sugar I would be after, or if the carbonation will have some extra positive effect. I typically get very gasy from carbonated beverages, and the last thing I imagine I would want on stage, is a bloated gassy stomach. (I read of guys taking rice cakes and jam, jelly beans, chocolate bars, even wine.)
-Also on Saturday, I am curious what your thoughts are as far as eating between the prejudging and actual evening show. My prejudging is scheduled for 11am, and the evening show for 5pm. I hear about a lot of competitors going out and downing a burger and fries, thinking that the contest is already decided. A lot of my friends, and folks from my gym are coming out to see me in my first show, and the last thing I want is to look like some fat bastard in the evening show. What would you suggest?
-Thoughts on Creatine also seem to be all over the spectrum. I know that creatine supposedly forces more water into the muscle, but just want to make sure it won’t interfere with the flushing effect we’re going after.
and Lastly…
-I picked up an herbal, OTC diuretic like you suggest, and it instructs to take twice a day. Your article says to use it Friday, however a few competitors say that I should be taking it every day for the last week so it will start to take effect. Will this approach be helpful, or work against the flushing of water by the body?
Thanks Thibs, I know I just threw a lot at you!
S