Stop screwing up your CONTEST PREP!

[Matt Porter]

Sorry matt, I meant like what does and if it should be subq or IM when testing the gh.

IM will yield higher blood serum levels at the 3 hr mark

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

Matt,

I noticed a big improvement in your side chest pose.
At 18, you had a gap between your bicep/elbow and 8 years later,
your muscle bellie looks Full and now it's one of your best shots.
I still have this weakness in my side chest pose after 6 years of hard training;
Can you help me to improve this?

Much appreciated,
Bodybuilder from holland

I have just trained and eaten like a Bodybuilder every single day and put in work. My chest unfortunately NATURALLY is good, but I partially tore both tendons!!!

So every time I build up strength, I push hard and strain it again!!! Then go back to lighter weights, machines etc... so now my chest is highly criticized from judges and audience from feedback I get.

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

Hey Mat, I remember asking questions in this thread 2 years ago and i i had no idea it was still going! Im 9 weeks out for a show (natural) and have been dieting since 30 weeks out. I am already around 6% bodyfat and im planning on really stepping up the shredding at 8 weeks out by adding in more cardio, dropping calories and starting thermogenics finally. I have been starting to realise that my body loses weight after my refeed days when carbs are higher so am considering doing like a 3-4 day calorie jump to reset my metabolism before starting my final stage of fat loss to get super shredded. Do u think this would be a good idea and if so how should i do it? macros are 35-40g fats 135-145g carbs and 275g protein on normal days with two refeeds a week at same macros but 300-350g carbs. I am also planning to be ready by 2-3 weeks out so i can reverse diet (add some carbs and fats severy few days) into the show as i have found from experience i fill out and actually lose fat when i do this after a long diet. Do you think that would be a good idea?

That would only be necessary if you were going from a show, in contest shape, yet have a 8-12 week gap...

Sounds like you are getting great results on twice a week high carb days... I would just keep rolling with that, add the thermos etc...

It wont hurt,,, but I am not sure its really needed.

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

Hi Matt, whats your toughts on the final week prior the show... without doing any carb depleting! i always came in dry doing carbdeplet but very flat.... i had try do it without any carb deplete but dont really dealee in perfect till now... do you have any advice?

Sure do not deplete or lower --- just stay on same carbs you are in shape with, given YOU ARE IN SHAPE!

Then just perhaps take a mild diuretic or manipulate water and sodium a touch the day before.

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

Hi Matt, just a quick question. Would you consider the diuretic HYZAAR which is made up of Losartan & hydrochlorothiazide to be almost the same as DYAZIDE?

And also, if you were to be using a potassium-sparing diuretic such as DYAZIDE, would it NOT be wise to carb load on potassium rich food such as sweet potatoes & potatotes???

I believe its an angiotensen 2 antagonist.....not so dure it replicates triamterene.... then you are left with non potassium sparing HCTZ...

Id stick with dyazide. I would avoid potatoes, dates, raisins, yams etc.... your ratios could get so skewed ,,,, you could risk severe cramping and heart problems from hyperkalemia

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

Matt if someone is forced to train first thing in the am at 430 how would you structure the first meal. Esp if time is a issue. Waking up at 4 to eat a meal before isn't really my ideal option. Would you do a shake then whole meal post or Intra shake? Im
Struggling with this. Thanks.

shove a meal down or liquid meal in middle of night while peeing.... say 1-2 am

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

This is very ambiguous/ speculative so I apologize. If one was to prep for a national level show in men's physique, do you think he could be competitive on 500mg test a week? As in- that's it. 500mg from point a 16 weeks out to point b show day, not coming off?

I'm not exactly sure of what's going on with mpd in terms of enhancement (especially if they can be 2-3% bf above the men's bb).

Of course if genetics are there,,,, if genetics are there, some prep natural.

Or something like primo solo...

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

Matt what is your thoughts on training for bodybuilding?

Should one stick to pretty much purely hypertrophy training in the 8-15 range? or Should you combine low, mod, and high reps within one workout like starting with heavy 3-5 bench, then 8-12 incline, then 15+ flies? or should you follow something like Daily Undulating Periodization like Dr. Zourdos recommends, changing from hypertrophy, to strength, to power on any given day tailoring it to your goals such as a 3:1:1 hyper:strengthower for a bodybuilder or 1:2:1 for a powerlifter? or something completely different?

I believe you need to train in the 8-15 rep range always --- and use as many free weight as you can,, yet switch exercises and variations up every 3-6 weeks too...

Its all about not adapting.... but injuries are real, and lifting too heavy and you will get unlucky inevitably...

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

Hi Matt. Thanks for the reply. What's the reasoning for advising to drink the water between meals and not with your actual meals? Do you not advice to drink any with your meals on show day?

On another hand, is it ok to add in some vitamin C and dandelion root the last week before the show (starting Monday before Tuesday/Wednesday load) and run it all the way into Friday night?

I feel food absorbs better solo.... I believe fluid between meals keep stomach bloat down....

Dandelion , uva ursi etc... that is all fine 4 days out at NORMAL DOSES!!! Not mega dosed!

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

If i have a very little marginal to weigh-in the last day before weigh-ins friday evening, how would you do Matt?

Then drink as normal that day, eat normal (carbs or no carbs depending on your protocol) and then dry out over night,,,, pretty stress free

-Matt

[deanstm]

Hi Matt,

Regarding water day of show, at my last show I was a little flat due to fluid but was very happy with dryness.

I pushed water up to 9 litres on Friday and cut at 10pm Friday with last meal for 1 pm pre judging Saturday.

Took half dyazide at 4pm (6hr before cut off) and 10 pm (cut off) Friday and another half at 4 am Saturday.
Total lost was 9 lb overnight and was very happy with dryness.

Had a meal at 6.30 am of 50g carbs sodium free rice cakes, 100g turkey and 40g almond butter.
Then at 9.30 am I reintroduced sodium after cutting it 24hrs before with a meal of 150g beef 50g carb from rice with 2 eggs added salt and ketchup and just had snack at 11.30 am of some rice cakes and cashew butter.

Only fluid I had then was I sipped 330 ml coconut water when I began pumping up roughly 45 min before stage time but I feel it wasn't enough as pump wasn't as strong getting ready.

I have a couple of questiona if that's okay..

1. When and how much water is okay/safe to consume as a guideline once you are dry?
I'm assuming you should wait a while to take in fluid especially around/after the meal of reintroducing sodium?

2. Best way to assess if more fluid is needed?

3. Would something like 15g cyclic dextrin (glycofuse) and one scoop hemavol in 300 ml water have benefit if it was sipped 30 mins before pumping up?

Thanks for your help as always !

Picture of my legs 8.30 am Saturday before reintroducing sodium 20141004_090327.jpg

[Pitbull9]

^How do you know how many grams of Almond butter you used? How do you weigh Almond Butter?

[Pitbull9]

I believe you need to train in the 8-15 rep range always --- and use as many free weight as you can,, yet switch exercises and variations up every 3-6 weeks too...

Its all about not adapting.... but injuries are real, and lifting too heavy and you will get unlucky inevitably...

-Matt

Really? because i have had nice results with mixing up that rep range and sometimes going SUPER high reps with moderate to heavy weights. What do you think?

[Matt Porter]

Hi Matt,

Regarding water day of show, at my last show I was a little flat due to fluid but was very happy with dryness.

I pushed water up to 9 litres on Friday and cut at 10pm Friday with last meal for 1 pm pre judging Saturday.

Took half dyazide at 4pm (6hr before cut off) and 10 pm (cut off) Friday and another half at 4 am Saturday.
Total lost was 9 lb overnight and was very happy with dryness.

Had a meal at 6.30 am of 50g carbs sodium free rice cakes, 100g turkey and 40g almond butter.
Then at 9.30 am I reintroduced sodium after cutting it 24hrs before with a meal of 150g beef 50g carb from rice with 2 eggs added salt and ketchup and just had snack at 11.30 am of some rice cakes and cashew butter.

Only fluid I had then was I sipped 330 ml coconut water when I began pumping up roughly 45 min before stage time but I feel it wasn't enough as pump wasn't as strong getting ready.

I have a couple of questiona if that's okay..

1. When and how much water is okay/safe to consume as a guideline once you are dry?
I'm assuming you should wait a while to take in fluid especially around/after the meal of reintroducing sodium?

2. Best way to assess if more fluid is needed?

3. Would something like 15g cyclic dextrin (glycofuse) and one scoop hemavol in 300 ml water have benefit if it was sipped 30 mins before pumping up?

Thanks for your help as always !

Picture of my legs 8.30 am Saturday before reintroducing sodium [ATTACH=CONFIG]321744[/ATTACH]

1.) Do not cut sodium down completely -- just a common sense lighter amount the day before. Drink 8-12 oz water between meals and monitor your body weight so you know what weight you look best around, and eat/drink to maintain it.
Then you can have a HIGHER sodium influx prior to PJing and that will help cramps and vascularity etc...

2.) more fluid needed if your muscle contractions suck, and your delts sink in, and you further lose weight by the hour....

3.) I never try any pump products etc before stage time... too tricky for stomach issues... keep it safe... munch on some light carbs and sodium

-Matt

[Matt Porter]

Really? because i have had nice results with mixing up that rep range and sometimes going SUPER high reps with moderate to heavy weights. What do you think?

Sure --- 30-50 reps... just not all the time or very your only scheme... I am saying if you had to stick to one rep range for a prolong period time for optimal Bodybuilding results -- 8-15 is my "perma fix"

-Matt