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View Full Version : 4 days out from first show!!! HELP!!



IM^
09-25-2003, 08:03 PM
I have just stumbled onto this board and I see that there are some really knowledgeable people here to talk to about contest prep. I know that 4 days out is not the greatest time to ask for advice but I would like to know if you guys could give me some last minute personalized advice on prepping for the comp. I have been reading all you have said about water depletion and sodium loading before the show, and I will also be using insulin for the carb up. I plan to start carbing up Saturday afternoon (I compete Sunday night). If you have some free time to spare, and are willing to give me some advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am prepping alone and this is my first contest so basically, I am just shooting around in the dark. I am 5'6 (on a good day, that is), I weigh 198.5lbs and I clocked in at around 8% bodyfat today. Will start aldactone 25mg am and pm today, as I definitely need to dry up fast. Will stop sodium loading tonight and will cut water from 8 liters (last 3 days) to 4 liters Saturday to sips on Sunday. Aldactone will be used every day (possibly upped to 50mg twice daily starting tomorrow), including the show day, then tapered off. If necessary, I can do IV Lasix 20mg Sunday at 10am for maximal dryness.

As I said, this is my first time for the show and I am completely self taught in this sport; no really knowledgeable people close enough to give me a hand.

In fact, I am still trying to figure out exactly how and when I should carb up. I have just finished depleting today (well I am pretty sure I am depleted; I have been eating salmon and beef fillet all week and training every other day with cardio every day). Was going to do 600g boiled rice Saturday and four 8oz turkey breasts spread over 24 hours but I see a lot of recommendations for sweet stuff like waffles and syrup and ice-cream together with 5-6IU insulin 4 times a day with 4 of the carb meals. So…what to choose?

Can anyone please help with clear advice? I am running into last minute panics and doing everything alone is stressing me out terribly. I am competing in my country's nationals and I know I can do really good if I dry out and carb up properly. I am pretty hard and I have very good vascularity but the carbing up and drying out mystery has me choking.

Thank for any and all help guys. Great board. I am glad to be around. Makes it a little less of a lonely voyage for me.

WWM/PUMPED
09-25-2003, 10:18 PM
I dont understand? you are going the nationals and this is your first show? didnt you have to qualify for the nationals?

have you ever tryed to carb load with slin or did you just read somewhere about it? if you have tryed it then by all means use it if not dont.

IV lasix? HELL NO! why risk everything you worked for useing lasix?

somebody once gave me great advice about contest prep. dont add what you know for 100% you dont need. :rolleyes:

midwtchamp
09-26-2003, 01:10 AM
the aldactone will help w/the water as for carbing up you should start that tomorrow start adding in small amts of low glycemic carbs (sweet taters, red pots, brown rice) and then after you weigh in is when you hit all the'junk" food....as for using lasik dont even think bout it bro...if you need to dry out more, you should use some diazide...good luck

IM^
09-26-2003, 02:19 AM
Not enough competitors to go round to require qualification for the Nationals, but the downside is that you run up against the top guys immediately. No slow breaking in; just get down and get rough kinda style. :p

In response to WWM/PUMPED's question, yes I have used insulin before but obviously never pre-contest. I just want the carbs to go into the muscle and fill me out for the show, which is why I am considering this. Obviously, if I can't get to the judging rounds full and dry, it's all a waste of time and effort.

I'll keep on the aldactone if Lasix is that bad; I didn't think one 20mg IV shot would do that much harm. As far as I know, IV Lasix is the easiest diuretic to gauge and use, because it goes in and out quick, dries you up, minimizes potassium loss and removes a lot of the guesswork associated with the use of tabs. If anyone who has used Lasix before would like to chip in, please do. Any and all info is a Godsend at this point.

I am now two days out: only Friday and Saturday left. The show is Sunday night . Took my last sodium loading day yesterday, now it's as little sodium as possible for the next two days. Not sure yet as to how I will carb up Sunday morning. Weigh in is on Saturday.

Thanks to midwtchamp and WWM/PUMPED for their comments; any more experienced guys here wanting to offer some help and advice, please, feel comfortable. ;)

Skip
09-26-2003, 02:33 AM
Well...... shit, bro. Here are a few pointers:

Don't use the slin. You don't have experience with it in a very depleted state so it is a bad idea. Also, your body will load just fine as you have been depleted for so long. Your own natural insulin will do very well at packing the carbs away and filling you out.

No on the lasix. Quite frankly, I don't want to explain it right now but you said yourself that it is only 20mg so if it won't do much harm, it won't do much good either. If you have done your homework, you won't need it. It has much more potential to hurt your condition than to help it. The aldactone should work very well by itself.

I sure wish that you would have found the board about 5 days earlier and I could help you much more by getting a few other things on track for you.

I wish you well and let us know how it goes.

Skip

IM^
09-26-2003, 03:17 AM
Ah, well OK then if you say so Skip. I thought insulin and Lasix would be my secret weapons this time around. :baby:

Believe me, I wish I had found this place earlier too. Would have saved me a lot of heartache.

So what do I do starting today? Shall I start adding in the carbs or wait till Saturday to do it? And should I shitload after the weigh in? If yes, what would be the best way to do it?

I have included a pic of me taken about a week ago. I am a lot more watery now (I have been sodium loading like there was no tomorrow for the last few days and my lower legs have swollen like balloons I noticed today - got no ankles left and it's a definitely uncomfortable sensation of heaviness) and I think I am flatter (not much in the way of carbs for the last few days either). Another really weird thing: I have upped aldactone to 50mg this morning, drinking between 7-8 liters of water a day and I am not pissing much, if at all...

What do you guys think?

SAEBodybuilder
09-26-2003, 08:59 AM
I don't have any experience with perscription diuretics, so I can't comment there. The rest of the guys here have lots of good info, take their advice.

My Advice : GET COLOR NOW. You are by far too light. even for more than a week out you should have been darker, especially for a national show. Everyone else there will make you look extremely light and you'll get washed out under the lights. Go and buy 4 bottles of pro-tan now!!

Good luck and hope you drop the water. I'm surprised you're holding so much a this point to be honest, so I hope it drops for you.

dolex
09-26-2003, 09:35 AM
tan up :) , looking solid dude

IM^
09-26-2003, 01:51 PM
Yeah, I know, I am as white as Caesar's ghost. I never have time to tan. I was just going to apply Dream Tan on contest, hoping that was enough. Can't seem to find Pro Tan anywhere around here. Or would any other base tan do?

Meanwhile, while I have been waiting here (panicking) for the past 24 hours for some solid advice from some of the bros here in the know, (PLEASE guys, going mad here, I need some advice), I have come up with a basic plan for what I am going to do next. Let me know what you think please:

Friday (today)
300g lean beef fillet
300g chicken breast with 30g mushroom (steamed) x 3 (for rest of day)
(might substitute last chicken of the day for 300g lean beef fillet, can I? i have been eating steamed chicken for weeks and it's making me homicidal)
30-50g crunchy peanut butter after each chicken (tried it once already at time of writing, seemed to elevate my mood considerably for a couple of hours, only has 400mg of sodium per 100g)
8L distilled water
50mg Aldactone am and pm

Saturday
300g lean beef fillet
300g chicken breast with 30g mushroom (steamed)
Weigh in (I have 24 hours to weigh in from time of writing and I currently clock in at 198.41lb, I need to be a max of 196.21lb to make it into the light heavies)
300g chicken breast with 30g mushroom (steamed) (after weigh in) (just because I have no idea what else I can eat)
Shitload at around 7pm - cheezy crust pizza from Pizza Hut, egg omelettes, chocolate cake, chocolate muffins, etc, etc etc (looks like the Promised Land from here) - anything goes here short of feeling sick and barfing it up or getting bad diarrhoea
3L distilled water, dropping water to sips after 5 and monitoring for dryness, in which case, 6-8oz water
will not drink while shitloading
75mg Aldactone am and pm

Sunday - CONTEST DAY
Breakfast 8am - White bread, butter, honey, 6 egg omelette (yolks and whites) with ham chunks and mushrooms, waffles, whipped cream, 250g lean beef
6-8oz water + 75mg Aldactone
Every 2 hours until night show - waffles or rice cakes with honey or syrup or panna (the white foamy cream shit you spray from the can onto ice cream or whatever)
Pre show shitload - 2 Big Macs with cheese (no fries), chocolate cake
75mg Aldactone
Sips of water till night show
Gatorade 30 mins before being called onstage (approx around 8pm)


OK that's about as much as I can manage to think of right now. I am currently extremely lethargic and exhausted. Please feel free to dissect my plan and suggest any improvements. I know there has got to be plenty of things I can tweak.

Thanks all.

footballcat
09-26-2003, 05:05 PM
hey best of luck sunday, time to hit the tanning bed, and time to shave man

IM^
09-26-2003, 07:45 PM
Tanning bed this late? Don't think so. Shave? With a shears. Me still in the dark as to what I need to do in these crucial 48 hours? Pitch black. Seems no one has the time for giving a bro a much needed hand...

Anyone??

rugbythug
09-26-2003, 08:02 PM
People have posted multiple times, so don't feel like they aren't responding-also do a search on carb load there have been many posted.

IM^
09-26-2003, 08:11 PM
Plenty posts, yes and all were appreciated. Directly relevant info, however, was not forthcoming as you can see for yourself. I've obviously already looked up carb loading and any other relevant subject here, which was how I formulated my program. I just need someone (preferably with experience and there are some great guys in here) to address my issue directly, just to see if I am on the right track. Put yourself in my position and you'll see things the same way I do. Peace man.

SeanC1123
09-26-2003, 09:16 PM
First of all, you need to take a razor to all your chest, arm, pit, and leg hair.

Worst comes to worst, go to a tanning bed that does spray tans and maybe try that on as a base coat and then do your dream tan. I do'nt know how it will work out but hey anything will be better than what you have already.

Other than that I don't know I'm not really qualified to answer a lot of your questions as I am entering my first competition tomorrow haha.

Take care and good luck, plan a little ahead next time.

Sean

Harvey Balboner
09-26-2003, 10:31 PM
bump the brotha needs some help.

footballcat
09-26-2003, 11:35 PM
ttt

IM^
09-27-2003, 03:01 AM
SeanC1123
I'll shave man, promise. :p All the very best in your comp man. We seem to be in the same boat. Do you plan to shitload as well?

Harvey Balboner
Thanks for taking some time to answer man, it was appreciated. I also like your recipes in the Healthy Recipes section. I'll definitely be using some after the comp.

I was hoping some of the pro peeps here would analyze my prog (like Praetorian, Skip, etc) but I guess I am all alone in this. Only 32 hours left. I am just scared that my shitloading will overspill me, but I won't drink anything at all when I do shitload. Just sip.

For anyone interested, my edema is subsiding at last, thank God. I thought I was going to win the Mr. No Ankles Contest hands down.

As a drowning man clutches at straws, I do point out that IF someone would bother to answer, I still have over 15 hours left to my first shitloading tonight...

God Bless.

midwtchamp
09-27-2003, 02:55 PM
Cant answer bout shit loading bro....havent done it yet. I am doing it next year....drop your sodium bro...it is going to make you hold water like an elephant so in other words get rid of the PB and the pizzas and stuff like that you are shitloading with. As for the comp day as long as you stay dry, your meals looks good for that day. After weigh in eat a big steak, some salad,baked pot or sweet tater NO WATER just sip....

weight77`
09-27-2003, 03:33 PM
as far as you holding water it all depends on your type...I dont hold water for shit so it is just different from person to person....anyway......I would not shit load if you are not sure how to....whats done is done....you will not make many changes to your physique in the last couple of days....unless you are shredded to the bode....not to be a flame but your bf is a bit high but it is your first show....

you might not want to over do it on the carbs...I dont need many carbs at all and I know alot others that do either....but like I said it varies from person to person....

Skip
09-28-2003, 02:30 AM
IM, I have been slammed the past few days with my last 2 clients of the comp season doing shows earlier today. Otherwise, I would have chimed in.

be careful not to be too hard on others, though, when it was you that waited until the last minute. no flame - I just need you to know that I have to put my clients first in a situation like this.

Now, had you come out sooner...... *shrug*

skip
add - good luck with your show and let us know how it goes

dpsquat
09-29-2003, 06:39 AM
by the pic yo look to be 4-6 weeks out! good luck!

footballcat
09-29-2003, 12:25 PM
so what happend?

IM^
09-29-2003, 03:46 PM
Won the novice class, second in my weight class (the guy that beat me won the show), 5th overall. Not bad but I'm still very hungry for more. Thanks to all of you guys who took time out here. Skip, I understand clients come first and yes, that's the way it should be. No offence taken, and I applaud your dedication to others. Now, what do I need to do to talk to you one one in so we can start preparation for next year? I've learnt a LOT from this show, the judges told me I have the potential to win the Nationals within the next 2-3 years hands down. I need someone who can give me good guidance so I can work on my weak areas and get results. Just tell me how I can contact you privately so we can talk about the possibility of this happening.

Thanks again everyone and God Bless.

Skip
10-01-2003, 01:05 AM
You have a PM, bro.

Skip

IM^
10-01-2003, 10:10 AM
You do too!! :p

BLEED GREEN
10-01-2003, 10:20 AM
Great job IM^

Post some contest pics when you get a chance...