Contest Diet

[Daisy_Girl]

For those who have experience with contest diets (figure, fitness, BB), I have a couple questions.

How far out do you typically start REALLY dieting?

Who stays on a contest diet almost year round (JJ - I am thinking you almost do?)?

Do you have cheat days? Cheat meals? How often?

If you have a cheat day, do you still try to maintain the protein intake high, but maybe eat crappier carbs (sweets, bread, etc)?

I know I have more questions, but I can't think of them right now.

I would love any and all thoughts on pre-contest diets - experiences, advice, etc. Thanks for any and all input!

 

[MS]

"How far out do you typically start REALLY dieting?" 12 weeks, but it really depends on how much you have to lose. For at least your first time dieting you should add some extra weeks as insurance.

"Who stays on a contest diet almost year round" Not me, not for any amount of money or fame

"Do you have cheat days? Cheat meals? How often?" Mostly cheat meals staring with 1 per week and increasing then as I get leaner. Occasional cheat days or weekends if I can't stand it anymore!

"If you have a cheat day, do you still try to maintain the protein intake high, but maybe
eat crappier carbs (sweets, bread, etc)?" Protein and fat pretty low. Mainly I eat carbs, but that's only for one meal at a time. Doesn't matter if they are 'crappy' carbs or not, the point is to eat lots of them. Just try to make any 'crappy' carbs low fat as well.

 

[JJFigure]

"How far out do you typically start REALLY dieting?"
I'm trying to come in my leanest for the NABBA Worlds, so I have a 15 week diet cycle this time. It's broken up between two contests - I'm doing the state championships in May (11 weeks) as a warmup, then the Worlds in June (4 more weeks). Hopefully, once I figure out what it takes to get as lean as I want, I can drop down to 10-12 weeks.

"Who stays on a contest diet almost year round (JJ - I am thinking you almost do?)?"
Unfortunately, the downside to being part of the NABBA US team is I've felt somewhat obligated to do both spring and fall events - that has meant not enough time off. I will probably do the fall events this year, then I won't do another comp until next fall. I really want to snowboard next winter.

"Do you have cheat days? Cheat meals? How often?"
I carb load for 24-36 hours (400 grams of carb); other than that, I haven't factored in cheat days. I assume I'll make the Sunday after my May comp a cheat day, but that's also assuming I won't be facing a loss of an additional 4-5 lbs. for June. It all depends on how I look for the May show.

"If you have a cheat day, do you still try to maintain the protein intake high, but maybe eat crappier carbs (sweets, bread, etc)?"
When I carb load, I don't eat protein. This allows me to focus on getting 400 grams of carbs in 24-36 hours. I pick up my protein content as soon as I'm done carb loading. I'm avoiding high gi carbs as much as possible for this diet cycle, although I am allowing 1-2 glasses of red wine during my carb load, as long as I stay within my allocated kcals for the day. I felt I needed something to look forward to. And wine is safer for me than sugary carbs - give me sugary carbs and I'm guaranteed to eat everything in sight and blow my kcals for the day. It's easier just avoiding them for the whole diet cycle.

 

[MS]

"focus on getting 400 grams of carbs in 24-36 hours"

I eat 400g of carbs in one meal!
I also find alcohol keeps my sweet cravings from getting outta control. Not to mention moderate alcohol intake increases insulin sensitivity.........

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Thanks ladies - I appreciate your input. I have to go on a major strict pre-contest type diet for the next 12 weeks or so, and if it goes really well, might extend it a couple weeks to compete in a Figure contest. If I have to suffer, then I might as well compete too!

 

[BrickGirl]

For those who have experience with contest diets (figure, fitness, BB), I have a couple questions.

How far out do you typically start REALLY dieting?

Depends, My first contest I did 16 weeks because I had no idea how my body would react to everything, I was ready way early, but it worked out great. Now I can start about 6-8 weeks out because I know my body a lot better.

Who stays on a contest diet almost year round (JJ - I am thinking you almost do?)

I go off the night of my last show, if my next show isn't for at least 3 months.

Do you have cheat days? Cheat meals? How often?

For me, I couldn't imagine taking a cheat day, would complety blow me mentally, when I start a contest diet, I am on it, not even a tic tac is gonna stop me

If you have a cheat day, do you still try to maintain the protein intake high, but maybe eat crappier carbs (sweets, bread, etc)?

Refer to above

 

[JJFigure]

"I eat 400g of carbs in one meal!"

LOL! Yes, I err on the conservative side; maybe someday I'll actually feel like I know what I'm doing and let loose a little more.

 

[LITTLE PETER]

MS- when you say moderate alchohol intake are you saying youll go out with friends and drink that night and just try to drink slowly etc etc, or do you mean you will have some sort of drink before bed on a daily basis? please be crystal clear on this?