Contest diet support thread

[sheri.koepsel]

OMG!!! i totally craved/cheated on diet w/ peanut and soy butter...agghhh if i could give it up, i would be 20lbs smaller!! hahaha

[alainaravens]

I just started my prep and new training for the Arnold . It is already hard getting started once you get off track so I will for sure be on this page . Thanks

[The Prodigy]

No cheating! It makes contest dieting harder!

[LiaVT]

13 weeks out tomorrow from my first show of the year April 28th.

Do any of you ladies include weekly cheat meals through prep? I'm considering skipping mine this weekend since I'm 3 weeks in to my prep and am up a pound from where I started. Trying to give it time.... just getting frustrated already.

I am working with a coach, he is worried about me losing muscle size in my upper body and keeps telling me I am still so far out. at the higher level weight is not everything (which I know), but it has to start going down at some point slowly, I'm not noticing any changes in pictures either.

I just needed to vent some...I'd love to hear other competitors opinions

[The Prodigy]

I get a weekly cheat meal until I stop losing weight. If your coach says you are not ready maybe pick a show further out. It is still early in the season.

[Suzanne]

13 weeks out tomorrow from my first show of the year April 28th.

Do any of you ladies include weekly cheat meals through prep? I'm considering skipping mine this weekend since I'm 3 weeks in to my prep and am up a pound from where I started. Trying to give it time.... just getting frustrated already.

I am working with a coach, he is worried about me losing muscle size in my upper body and keeps telling me I am still so far out. at the higher level weight is not everything (which I know), but it has to start going down at some point slowly, I'm not noticing any changes in pictures either.

I just needed to vent some...I'd love to hear other competitors opinions

If you are with a trainer do what they say 100% dont' skip cheat meal or decide that trainer is not for you and go with someone you will follow 100%

Refeeds and cheats have a very important purpose of keeping your metabolism running and the hormones involved at theri proper levels. When you are plateaued that if often the time the refeed/cheat is most needed.

3 weeks is not much time to notice changes especially this far out the leaner you are the more noticible changes will be

[kgramlich]

My training partner and I often say that things become "clearer" the closer we get to competition. I think that as the focus becomes more intense, things around us seem less important, and we don't have time for things unrelated to completing our goal. That probably has a lot to do with it!

[Boingo]

Training for my first ever show. Have lifted for several years and finally decided I want to try this competing stuff!!! But the diet has been the hardest..... I find on my days with zero carbs I crash early in the day and have a hard time staying focused and not getting completely irritated at everyone around me. I know this is normal, but i'm normally a very easy going and happy go lucky kind of person. Not used to this type of behavior out of me. Any tips for you ladies that have gone through this a ton of times? Thanks so much for the input. I really appreciate it!

[ashlibbie]

11 weeks out from my second figure competition. I was prepping for a competition on March 31st but didnt feel ready so Im shooting for NPC Atlantic States on June 2nd.

[flick161]

11 days out and I'm in so much pain I have the worst shin splints and can hardly walk. Don't know what to do, I can't get through my cardio. Very discouraged

Keep icing your shins, use Cryogel on them; and intermit with hot baths.
OR, do what I did in the same position and use the handbike for your last few days cardio.

[flick161]

13 weeks out tomorrow from my first show of the year April 28th.

Do any of you ladies include weekly cheat meals through prep? I'm considering skipping mine this weekend since I'm 3 weeks in to my prep and am up a pound from where I started. Trying to give it time.... just getting frustrated already.

I am working with a coach, he is worried about me losing muscle size in my upper body and keeps telling me I am still so far out. at the higher level weight is not everything (which I know), but it has to start going down at some point slowly, I'm not noticing any changes in pictures either.

I just needed to vent some...I'd love to hear other competitors opinions

I'm 12 weeks out and only put in cheat meals if I plateau 2 weeks in a row (after changes have been made to CV/diet)

How much do you think you have to lose still?

[srs1285]

New here 15 days out from my first bikini comp and have a carb-up day today. Ate cottage cheese and fruit for meal 1, trained back like a beast, hit 50 mins of cardio, then devoured ezekiel cinn raisin french toast like I've never seen food before. MmmmMMM! Hopefully just coasting through this next week then peak week! Diet is tough but bearable for sure. Thank god for roasted green beans...

[The Prodigy]

New here 15 days out from my first bikini comp and have a carb-up day today. Ate cottage cheese and fruit for meal 1, trained back like a beast, hit 50 mins of cardio, then devoured ezekiel cinn raisin french toast like I've never seen food before. MmmmMMM! Hopefully just coasting through this next week then peak week! Diet is tough but bearable for sure. Thank god for roasted green beans...

How do you cook your green beans? Roasted?

[srs1285]

Defrost them (I buy frozen), pat dry, spray w/ pam, sprinkle w/ salt, pepper, garlic powder. Use a dark pan with (or without I guess) foil for the best results. Roast at 450 for about 5-7 mins then toss around, roast for another 5 when they start to get crispy-ish. Tastes like french fries, especially w/ low carb ketchup I could eat an entire bag at once cooked like this!

[Sunnyday]

Great tip with the roasted green beans! They are the only veg I get during prep.