Water issue between comps..

[Alter-Ego]

My other half has recently completed a comp in the last couple of weeks.

She'd been running var @ 20mg and nolva @ 20mg (with 60mcg clen/ 50mcg t3 as fat burners).

Unknown to me, we had run out of nolva a day or two post comp and we had 5 or so days without it til the new pack arrived. She had a water rebound as a result (she only had as small post show set of meals, no binge).

She's now back on it and has been on for 2-3 days. Water retreating but she isn't as hard as she has been. Water is mainly lower stomach and back. Next comp is toward the end of April, about 5-6 weeks, and one in early May.

I assume we can get her back to her original level of hardness within the next couple of weeks with the replacement nolva?

She's normally hard and dry with veins across forearms, shoulders and ab's. Arms are still dry and veiny, shoulders too, ab's are soft and no veins.

Diet is pro/fat during day, 50g CHO around training, and 50g CHO post training meal and repeat, total of 1500 or so cals a day.

I ask for us as we have to book tickets/hotel and clearly she won't want to compete if its unlikely she's as hard as she can be?

Thanks in advance.

[sassy69]

How many competitions has she done in the past? Is this the first? Some water rebound is pretty common, read: expected after a show. You simply can't maintain competition day extremes. I wouldn't be surprised if the nolva is also contributing but if you have 5-6 weeks until the next show, that's plenty of time to let her body rebalance itself. Water retention is typically the body's first response when it is hit w/ extremes that it can't maintain, sudden changes, etc. These are immediate-term effects so you have plenty of time for the body to establish homeostasis. Don't go running around looking for water pills and stuff to deal w/ the immediate term water retention as it will just increase the body's resistance to forced change that it is not ready to accommodate.

Also when you are doing multiple shows that are not immediately back to back, but also not far enough apart to do a full contest prep between you still need to pay attention to tweaking diet, training, cardio, recover to allow the body to continue the extended period of extreme contest prep. It won't be as simple as "take drugs, expect the same results". I'm guessing she will be fine.

But be aware that continued competitions overall take their toll - so again adjust all of these things as you go to allow interim recovery as well. Continued use of water manipulators often become less effective the longer they are used. It can be a fine line between doing the next show to refine and doing the next show and burning out. Your body will let you know when it is "done" and it is asking for some recovery time.

Additionally I'd also say don't add additional stress worrying about immediate term water retention (as said above - don't try to use more drugs to force a result that is not important to contest day right now). That additional stress can be as powerful as the rebound from the show if you let it.

[Alter-Ego]

She's done 3-4 comps, this is the first this year.

Her last comps were about 5-6 months ago. She has two end of April/early May and then none til much later in the year (about 5-6 months later).

Defo not a noob at this, but simply want to be able to re-assure her we can tighten her back up as we've never run short and altho we were aware of nolva water rebound, it surprised how quick it bounced on (even tho weight is not significant, only 3kg or so).

Its knocked her confidence and although I was sure it would come back off when nolva was resumed, her doubt made me doubt myself!

Diet is being maintained, no extra drugs being added in (well maybe ECA towards the comp for tiredness if needed) but nothing harsh.

[sassy69]

Sounds like you are on it so no worries Best of luck w/ the prep!