Hi,
Now that the Fitness Atlantic 2017 is over I watching on social media what people are posting
for post show meals, workouts and the next big goals.
I have to say it was a great group of contestants this year.
The contestants in the Fitness Atlantic
are always great but this time seemed special and
people are recognizing something different.
I can't tell you how many people have commented to me that "the people in the show were
just so happy to be there." People are telling me how it felt different and really
good.
It's been really super positive reviews all around.
There is only so much of an event you have control over with things like venue, stage, lighting,
music, and production. All of the above have to really click and sometimes no
matter how many
pre-production meetings you have there is still a lot going on during an event.
One thing you cannot control is people's emotions when they are in a contest.
One of the hardest things to do is diet and train for at least
12 weeks and then walk on stage
to be scored and judged against other people.
Even when the scoring is perfect and there is no question it is still such a hard thing to deal with
as a person and an ego. When so much emphasis is on winning, making the top 10 or the top
5,
or walking away as a new Pro it can be very discouraging when that doesn't happen. Yet people
handled themselves with excellent attitudes and great energy regardless.
Okay let's talk about FOOD.
If you
entered a show before you know usually you are thinking about and searching out all
of the BAD foods you are going to eat after the event. I have to admit I haven't seen as many
photos of junk food, donuts, and people going crazy...
Personally I know for myself when I had entered shows
and gone overboard on my prep afterwards
was not pretty. When I prepped smarter and for a longer time period afterwards I didn't really binge
out.
Post show meals could get nuts but it's finding a nice balance as soon as possible to get back
on track.
The longer and more balanced meal prep into an event will keep you from losing it after.
So just a head's up April 14th 2018 is on the calendar for Mohegan Sun.
Mark it down and after the holidays plan to go into clean eating mode.
Now that you are on notice what about WORKOUTS?
If you are thinking about a bulking phase with heavy workouts of squats and deadlifts
please
don't allow yourself to get put on too much fat.
If you plan on entering a show again fat is fat and muscle is muscle.
Fat doesn't turn into muscle.
I was told a long long time ago that gaining ten pounds of muscle in a year is maybe the
most you can do and even so not over and over.
Yet people go and put on over 20-30 pounds after an event.
Give or take five
pounds for just water weight.
Now you could disagree with bulking and gaining as much weight as possible. I'm just saying
from experience I haven't seen many people who train naturally gain over 30 pounds and drop
the weight into the next show look like they gained 10 pounds of pure
muscle.
The people I have seen come in better and better eat cleaner year round and stay close to
contest weight.
Now if you gain 70 pounds and lose it and go from Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit and write a book about it
like Drew Manning and come out with a television show on A&E that's another story.
And ending with stories Katie Bolden was in the Transformation Division and shared her
story with BET and they posted a really nice write up on the website.
Talk
Soon,
Brian