Metabolic Damage Among Figure and Bodybuilding Competitors

[Siouxcountry]

Metabolic Damage Among Figure and Bodybuilding Competitors

An unflattering but real issue reflective in dieting studies.............

By Scott Abel

I have been in the fitness and bodybuilding industry now going on my third decade. My coaching experience extends to all levels of competition, professional and amateur alike. With the explosion in Figure Competitions there has also been an explosion in what I have termed “metabolic damage” which I have seen ruin individuals as competitors, their physiques, and their lives as well. Most of this is due to bad contest preparation advice and what I have termed “absolute deprivation diets.” The dialogue on that can wait for another time and I have entertained it in blogs and previous articles. The topic of this article is more to the point in examining all of the potential devastating ramifications of Figure Girls working in absolute calories deprivation states, trying to “starve off fat” with crazy diet schemes and rigid diet rules that may lead to the winner’s podium of a contest, but with devastating long term consequences as well.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE (http://www.bodybuildingweekly.com/vip_writers/scott_abel_php/scott_abel_metabolic_damage_among_figure_and_bodyb uilding_compet.html)

[LizaFit]

Metabolic Damage Among Figure and Bodybuilding Competitors

An unflattering but real issue reflective in dieting studies.............

By Scott Abel

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE (http://www.bodybuildingweekly.com/vip_writers/scott_abel_php/scott_abel_metabolic_damage_among_figure_and_bodyb uilding_compet.html)

Sioux I'm so happy you posted this! It is a great article which reminds competitors that they need to be worried about long term consequences... I'm proud to be a Natural athlete and I'd rather place lower and be healthy then sell my soul! Too much in life to experience than just competing.

[Siouxcountry]

Sioux I'm so happy you posted this! It is a great article which reminds competitors that they need to be worried about long term consequences... I'm proud to be a Natural athlete and I'd rather place lower and be healthy then sell my soul! Too much in life to experience than just competing.

Liza do you happen to know how old the article is?

Whether natural, or not, it's important to be careful. :hug:

[Suzanne]

Metabolic damage comes form how you are dieted and cardioed has nothing to do with natural or not it has to do with "gurus" who over diet their cliets

[SBT]

Sioux I'm so happy you posted this! It is a great article which reminds competitors that they need to be worried about long term consequences... I'm proud to be a Natural athlete and I'd rather place lower and be healthy then sell my soul! Too much in life to experience than just competing.

I would agree with that one!! MUCH rather be safe then sorry!!

[LizaFit]

Liza do you happen to know how old the article is?

Whether natural, or not, it's important to be careful. :hug:

Metabolic damage comes form how you are dieted and cardioed has nothing to do with natural or not it has to do with "gurus" who over diet their cliets

Very good point... even natural competitors do have to watch their regimen... there are a lot of competitors that cardio to death and cut their calories so low that it is impossible to hold on to muscle and the pharmaceuticals come into play... it is just sad because there are a huge number of women who think this is the only way... and do whatever their Coach says... even if it's not in their best interest HEALTH wise. I hope this article opens up some eyes. This is surely not the only article addressing these issues... hopefully not the last either.

[Suzanne]

again metabolic damage which this is about has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals except t3 which wreaks havac on a females endocrine system

the lack of calories shuts down the thyroid

AAS do not damage the thyroid what so ever

most of the people i know whose metabolisms are f-ed up NEVER touched AAS but did diet with big name "nutritionists" who think 1300 cals is enough OFFSEASON with 45 min cardio 7 days a week and tell you will will grow muscle on these and this is WITHOUT pharmaceuticals

I eat 1000 more cals per day now than with previous "nutritionists" and am leaner, feel better, and i do less cardio

[SweetCapri]

Great topic.
I need to read this article. My curiosity is about those women who do like 3, 4, and sometimes 5 shows back to back to back. That cannot be healthy!

[Lisa]

Good post Sioux,
Scott Abel was my Coach last year and brought me all the way to the Overall in the Alaska State show and 2nd in the Emerald Cup. This man is a genius! He has many fantastic articles in his blog related to such topics. I was fortunate enough to go to Canada to attend one of his metabolic training workshops...amazing stuff!!...

His website has lots of great reads too.

thanks,
Lisa

[Siouxcountry]

Good post Sioux,
Scott Abel was my Coach last year and brought me all the way to the Overall in the Alaska State show and 2nd in the Emerald Cup. This man is a genius! He has many fantastic articles in his blog related to such topics. I was fortunate enough to go to Canada to attend one of his metabolic training workshops...amazing stuff!!...

His website has lots of great reads too.

thanks,
Lisa

Site:

http://www.scottabel.com/

Blog:

http://scottabel.blogspot.com/

Lisa invite him on over. :waving:

[Lisa]

Thanks for posting his links Sioux...I will invite him...:)

[LizaFit]

again metabolic damage which this is about has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals except t3 which wreaks havac on a females endocrine system

the lack of calories shuts down the thyroid

AAS do not damage the thyroid what so ever

most of the people i know whose metabolisms are f-ed up NEVER touched AAS but did diet with big name "nutritionists" who think 1300 cals is enough OFFSEASON with 45 min cardio 7 days a week and tell you will will grow muscle on these and this is WITHOUT pharmaceuticals

I eat 1000 more cals per day now than with previous "nutritionists" and am leaner, feel better, and i do less cardio

Yes Suzanne the topic is about metabolic damage... I agree it is the hours and hours of cardio and extreme calorie deficits for long periods of time.... I did throw pharmaceauticals in there because it is also a huge concern.. however you are right.. that could be a whole different thread itself.... I would just love to see our sport become a healthier one all the way around.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[Suzanne]

Yes Suzanne the topic is about metabolic damage... I agree it is the hours and hours of cardio and extreme calorie deficits for long periods of time.... I did throw pharmaceauticals in there because it is also a huge concern.. however you are right.. that could be a whole different thread itself.... I would just love to see our sport become a healthier one all the way around.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

i just hate seeing drugs thrown in every where and don't want people to think that is the only way to become messes up. Due to how things go abot speaking out i learned not to say much anymore BUT there are several people jsut reading their journals you can see on the way to a damaged thyroid yet they think they are working with people who know what they are doing

Drugs is a whole different topic and most of the media info is BS. Frankly every person over the age of 40-45 athlete or not should be able to go to Dr and get a script for growth hormone. It is actually one thing that can repair tendons and help tendonitits, helps skin, hair, all kinds of things that happen as you age.

Jeremy is still working on repairing my metabolism from a previous "guru". It's been 2 years now.

[KP DIVA]

i just hate seeing drugs thrown in every where and don't want people to think that is the only way to become messes up. Due to how things go abot speaking out i learned not to say much anymore BUT there are several people jsut reading their journals you can see on the way to a damaged thyroid yet they think they are working with people who know what they are doing

Drugs is a whole different topic and most of the media info is BS. Frankly every person over the age of 40-45 athlete or not should be able to go to Dr and get a script for growth hormone. It is actually one thing that can repair tendons and help tendonitits, helps skin, hair, all kinds of things that happen as you age.
Jeremy is still working on repairing my metabolism from a previous "guru". It's been 2 years now.

Not sure if everyone needs it. However, I agree it can be very beneficial to some. The media has made it seem like it's only used in BB and has no other benefits......this is way off subject...but I have severe allergic reactions to the point of almost being hospitalized!!! 3 days of steroids did wonders!!!! I'm not advocating it's use one way or the other....but I think we just need to realize that tooo much of anything in excess can be detrimental to the human body.

[dvsness]

Good article, good discussion. Thanks for your input Suzanne.

[Badgergrl]

Not sure if everyone needs it. However, I agree it can be very beneficial to some. The media has made it seem like it's only used in BB and has no other benefits......this is way off subject...but I have severe allergic reactions to the point of almost being hospitalized!!! 3 days of steroids did wonders!!!! I'm not advocating it's use one way or the other....but I think we just need to realize that tooo much of anything in excess can be detrimental to the human body.

You must have been treated with corticosteroids...? Those are very different from anabolic steroids.

I think it's still too early for me to have a solid opinion on the use of GH (script or not). We have seen and heard about the many benefits, but I don't think there's enough research yet to fully understand the effects of it's use for anti-aging/ personal enhancement.
Nevertheless, I think it's all very interesting and something that should be further explored by the medical community. If GH actually delivers what many promise it does (without crazy sides), it could change a lot of things and help a lot of people.

[KP DIVA]

You must have been treated with corticosteroids...? Those are very different from anabolic steroids.

I think it's still too early for me to have a solid opinion on the use of GH (script or not). We have seen and heard about the many benefits, but I don't think there's enough research yet to fully understand the effects of it's use for anti-aging/ personal enhancement.
Nevertheless, I think it's all very interesting and something that should be further explored by the medical community. If GH actually delivers what many promise it does (without crazy sides), it could change a lot of things and help a lot of people.

oh, I'm sure wasn't anabolics!

[MicheleW]

What an awesome article and can totally relate to the Yo-Yo... I couldn't believe this part:

"For instance after my first contest in 1983, where I lost 50 lbs in 10 weeks, I regained 45 lbs in 4 days, and I continued voracious eating behaviours for some time afterward."

:shocked:

[fitness_runner]

I'm going through this right now. I've dieted most of my life & tried just about every diet out there. I successfully dropped almost 100 pounds on my own. Last June, I started with a popular coach to take me to the stage. Well, I suceeded & got there with their help. I was left in limbo & made a coaching change 3 weeks before my next show. That was a hardcore BB style of prep. I got more food but was severely depleted (with the aid of a diuretic) on show day #2.

Fast forward to about 4 weeks ago, I'm depressed, no energy, tired all the time, body aching & I'm gaining steadily each week. I wasnt eating crap & was sticking to my plan that would transition me to maintenance. I just kept gaining & gaining. So I naturally cut back cals, drop carbs on certain days, up the cardio at times.

Well, as of today I've been working with Mandy Polk on a metabolic repair program. I took a forced two weeks out of the gym & began eating at maintenance. Not did I not gain during that time, I maintained for two weeks eating more(with 2 scheduled cheats per week) & not doing any training/cardio.

This week, food increases & I started doing a mobility/functional training & foam rolling.

It's been a rollercoaster of emotions as my hormones are gradually returning to the normal levels but I not take it back.

I want to make it clear that I'm not blaming contest dieting for the issues I'm having but it certainly was the icing on the cake. I dieted hard for 6 months, was put on a couple different diets when they stopped working, never got any cheats/refeeds & it was all topped off with double cardio 7 days a week for 5 months.

I just wanted to share my experience with this & think it happens more often than not.

I definitely want to compete again but will not diet stupid ever again! I'd still be a mess if it werent for Mandy asking me if I was "okay."

So that's my story & the reason I've not been in my journal lately.

[KP DIVA]

I'm going through this right now. I've dieted most of my life & tried just about every diet out there. I successfully dropped almost 100 pounds on my own. Last June, I started with a popular coach to take me to the stage. Well, I suceeded & got there with their help. I was left in limbo & made a coaching change 3 weeks before my next show. That was a hardcore BB style of prep. I got more food but was severely depleted (with the aid of a diuretic) on show day #2.

Fast forward to about 4 weeks ago, I'm depressed, no energy, tired all the time, body aching & I'm gaining steadily each week. I wasnt eating crap & was sticking to my plan that would transition me to maintenance. I just kept gaining & gaining. So I naturally cut back cals, drop carbs on certain days, up the cardio at times.

Well, as of today I've been working with Mandy Polk on a metabolic repair program. I took a forced two weeks out of the gym & began eating at maintenance. Not did I not gain during that time, I maintained for two weeks eating more(with 2 scheduled cheats per week) & not doing any training/cardio.

This week, food increases & I started doing a mobility/functional training & foam rolling.

It's been a rollercoaster of emotions as my hormones are gradually returning to the normal levels but I not take it back.

I want to make it clear that I'm not blaming contest dieting for the issues I'm having but it certainly was the icing on the cake. I dieted hard for 6 months, was put on a couple different diets when they stopped working, never got any cheats/refeeds & it was all topped off with double cardio 7 days a week for 5 months.

I just wanted to share my experience with this & think it happens more often than not.

I definitely want to compete again but will not diet stupid ever again! I'd still be a mess if it werent for Mandy asking me if I was "okay."

So that's my story & the reason I've not been in my journal lately.


Hi Heather, Thanks 4 sharing!!! I agree it happens a lot.

[Rainy]

Wow Heather, thanks for sharing your story with us. At times I felt like I was reading about myself there ;) I have dieted for a decade, always trying to stay lean and not get fat again and terrified of gaining any weight.

Before my first contest in Nov '07 I did double cardio for 4 weeks, and ate around 1000 cals for 12 weeks. No wonder I came in stringy and skinny.

After the contest I wanted to bulk up. I was reluctant for the first months and did sh**loads of cardio and was still contest dieting.
According to advice in order to bulk up properly I decreased cardio from 6 days x 60 mins a week down to 3 x 30 mins a week, and upped the cals and carbs, nothing dramatic though, but still ate clean.
In a matter of weeks I blew up like a balloon and stopped fitting into any of my old clothes. Jeans... forget it!!
I gained 10 lbs in one month and am having a really hard time shaving it off now that I'm cutting again.

[Bronwyn]

Great article. Bad is that I know almost 90% of symptoms described there, however I am trying not to be the servant of the diets ... :pout::(

I already started WITH metabolic problems and I started with this sport to change my body from fat to athletic one.... And I did really several very BAD diets when I was a teenager. I had no coach :shrug:. Before my first competition my caloric intake was below 500 Kcal/day :nuts::nuts: and cardio off course 6 times a week.... :nuts::nuts: I was STUPID kid :banghead:
When I was 19 I had my first very serious injury and I could not train for some time. I felt into the trap of eating disorders.... Overeating and missusing medicines (laxatives, diuretics :nuts: how I said I was STUPID STUPID STUPID) .... It took me 5 years to get back on the RIGHT track. But again in 2006 and 2007 I was under the thumb of the coach like is written in this article. In 2007 I stopped my metabolism before biggest international competition in my life. I changed the coach - and I had twice bigger food intake than before:bowdown:. Mainly in meat but in off days I was on more than 1500 Kcal from carbs. The KEY was to eat CLEANER - not less.....

Unfortunately still I have to be under the "right" amounts of food because the illness. That is also why the specialist did not advised me to continue in this sport because I will have to be on lower intake the whole year.

This article is great to open the eyes of young girls comming in this sport as newbies:respect:. I can not take back the time.... I wish to read this BEFORE I tried my first diet :banghead:

[xena]

Great article and good reading.

Maybe that is why I have become withdrawn??? :confused:

[Mightymouse]

i just hate seeing drugs thrown in every where and don't want people to think that is the only way to become messes up. Due to how things go abot speaking out i learned not to say much anymore BUT there are several people jsut reading their journals you can see on the way to a damaged thyroid yet they think they are working with people who know what they are doing

Drugs is a whole different topic and most of the media info is BS. Frankly every person over the age of 40-45 athlete or not should be able to go to Dr and get a script for growth hormone. It is actually one thing that can repair tendons and help tendonitits, helps skin, hair, all kinds of things that happen as you age.

Jeremy is still working on repairing my metabolism from a previous "guru". It's been 2 years now.

Well said Suzanne, that is what I worry about with the competitors things taken that effect their thyroids. Not something that should be messed with I don't think.

[Shelly]

Sioux I'm so happy you posted this! It is a great article which reminds competitors that they need to be worried about long term consequences... I'm proud to be a Natural athlete and I'd rather place lower and be healthy then sell my soul! Too much in life to experience than just competing.

agreed-


staying healthy should be first and foremost of utter importance to all of us ladies.

[Doug Smith]

Very interesting article and matches the experiences friends of mine who compete have related.

For those interested since the articles he cited were published a lot has been learned about how fat cells induce hunger through the release of leptin and other hormones that signal the brain's appetite centers. The alteration in fat cell signaling lasts months after an extended starvation period and may partially explain the extended alterations in appetite after the dieting period. . The signaling changes also lead to insulin resistance which among other things leads to increased fat storage.

[3D Fit]

Wow, it was a great article and glad I read it. This is my first year competing and I am NOT on a crazy diet like listed in the articles or posted. I do enjoy this sport and I was wondering how these women came into these competitions sooo tiny! I'm 5'8 and I compete usually at 140lbs (when others come in at 120-132). Which I thought was pretty heavy compared to the other 5'8-ers out there. I just didn't get it....but now I do. I wouldn't sacrafice my health to get that tiny. I've questioned many times why my diet was so different from others I knew. I ate more calories and I had cheat meals during contest prep when others didn't. Thank you for posting this!

[FitnFirm]

I hope none of ya all ever burn out your thyroid with T3. I have to live on that daily since my thyroid is dead and it is no cake walk. For me it was caused by an auto immune disorder and there is nothing I can do about it but when I cut it is about 10 X harder for me than a person with a healthy thyroid. I just got switched to Armour and am hoping that helps me, I was on T4 and T3 for 16 years seperate and Im told Armour is much better so Im glad I have a open minded doctor to let me see if it will help.

[WillBrink]

has nothing to do with natural or not

Not true. The "not natural" part of the equation can play a major part there also, ergo, the over use of thyroid drugs in particular, as well as others, causing metabolic damage and wicked rebounds, etc,. It's combo of various factors, and the use/misuse of some drugs/compounds can be the culprit.

[Suzanne]

Not true. The "not natural" part of the equation can play a major part there also, ergo, the over use of thyroid drugs in particular, as well as others, causing metabolic damage and wicked rebounds, etc,. It's combo of various factors, and the use/misuse of some drugs/compounds can be the culprit.

what i was addressing is many people think they aren't at risk if they are natural not true most metabolic damage is from diet and t3 (which i did mention above)

but i know many many many people who are messed up from diet alone who are natural

and i know plenty who use supplements correctly and diet correctly whose metabolisms aren't messed up

females should never use t3 endocrine system will get f-ed up

i was just saying that diet and cardio alone can and does mess up metabolisms

[Brandi-]

I am a walking example of this issue. I was on less than 50 grams of carbs and two hours of cardio a day for nearly 5 months along with my weight sessions. Not only did I not get lean enough. I was tired and grouchy and lost my periods. After I stopped the cardio I have had insane amounts of fat gain on what would be a normal amount of calories, wild blood sugar swings, elevated liver enzymes and gall bladder issues. I have endured every test under the sun to ensure I didn't do any permanant damage to my body. When I didn't get lean enough the answers I got from the trainer I worked with was to increase my cardio and eventually he offered I should go on clenbuteral. Thankfully I was smart enough to draw he line there but I have to wonder how many brain cells I killed off on this plan.

If what you are doing isn't working don't do more of it!!!!

[WillBrink]

i was just saying that diet and cardio alone can and does mess up metabolisms

Of course and agreed, but that's very different from "has nothing to do with natural or not." That's my only point. No, you don't need drugs to FUBAR your metabolism. ;)

[Pro Jamie Senuk]

Scott's article is for sure a great read....I trained with him last year and he is a huge advocate of keeping things healthy and not going to extremes. I had carbs in my diet right till the end, what a novelty!!!

Having been in this sport for almost 10 years, I've all too often seen girls do ANYTHING just to get up on stage...but at what cost. Bottom line is, research your trainer and keep the communication open. Use your head, stay grounded and remember that at the end of the day, the trophy will not make you a better person. Your health will always be there, but the stage won't.

Jamie

[Alli]

Metabolic Damage Among Figure and Bodybuilding Competitors

An unflattering but real issue reflective in dieting studies.............

By Scott Abel

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE (http://www.bodybuildingweekly.com/vip_writers/scott_abel_php/scott_abel_metabolic_damage_among_figure_and_bodyb uilding_compet.html)

REALLY great post Sioux- really interesting to read and really important for everyone to remember....

[Alli]

Of course and agreed, but that's very different from "has nothing to do with natural or not." That's my only point. No, you don't need drugs to FUBAR your metabolism. ;)

AGREED.

[Doug Smith]

Hi All

Just for clarification while you may be able to mess up your metabolism with T3 you actually will not permanently mess up your thyroid - just suppress its natural production.

If you taper off of it eventually your thyroid will return to normal levels of release unless there is an underlying condition. The mistake made is when competitors go off of it after a contest completely - their blood levels crash (it may take well over a month for normal production to be restored) and they go back on it permanently because they cannot deal with the psychological and physiological effects.

Best

Doug

[urstrulyhb]

all im going to say on this subject is just bc someone is famous or has a pro card, does not make them a reliable prep coach. in my offseason i did hire " a pro" and it was a bad mistake. first of all if you are giving me a diet 1. dont re write what your trainer tells you 2. diet and nutrition comes in the form of a college degree/ or some form of advanced training and 3. you have to tell me what to expect from the diet. ive seen some people turn pro and the next day they think they are qualified to charge $$$$ for a 1/2 ass diet.

[Suzanne]

all im going to say on this subject is just bc someone is famous or has a pro card, does not make them a reliable prep coach. in my offseason i did hire " a pro" and it was a bad mistake. first of all if you are giving me a diet 1. dont re write what your trainer tells you 2. diet and nutrition comes in the form of a college degree/ or some form of advanced training and 3. you have to tell me what to expect from the diet. ive seen some people turn pro and the next day they think they are qualified to charge $$$$ for a 1/2 ass diet.

very true for the most part

i don't believe formal certification is necessary as long as study and reading and research is done

[wilson6]

What amazes me is that there are groups of competitors that train with the gurus that employ these methods, and see their peers get slaughtered metabolically and psychologically, yet follow in their footsteps down the same path.

W6

[Suzanne]

What amazes me is that there are groups of competitors that train with the gurus that employ these methods, and see their peers get slaughtered metabolically and psychologically, yet follow in their footsteps down the same path.

W6

x2!!!!!! :bowdown::bowdown:

and clients sing praises of these trainers while posting how they are having to work harder this prep, the fat isn't coming off, blow up in the off season on very little food :banghead::banghead: but theri trainer is the best guru out there :headache:

[DJudy]

Yes Suzanne the topic is about metabolic damage... I agree it is the hours and hours of cardio and extreme calorie deficits for long periods of time.... I did throw pharmaceauticals in there because it is also a huge concern.. however you are right.. that could be a whole different thread itself.... I would just love to see our sport become a healthier one all the way around.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Well said! competing is temporary our bodies are forever. I like to treat mine the best I can.

[wilson6]

Dougsmith is correct on both the thyroid, although it takes time and there are a few that have long term issues bc of thyroid abuse, and the brain chemistry, leptin being a part of what is altered with extremes in energy deficits (diet, cardio and macronutrients). I posted a while back, perhaps Sioux knows where it is at, about how the brain rewires itself at higher levels from chronic energy and nutrient deprivation and how it is sometimes impossible to turn that switch back off because it occurs at high levels of consciousness, beyond our control. In essence, we are no longer in control of our mood, desires, thoughts, food selections, hunger, etc. because of this alteration.

W6

[genesismoss]

I don't know much about the drugs referenced in this entire posting so I apologize in advance about sounding ignorant here. I am too sensitive to take ephedrine, only know about GH what friends have told me and am in the dark about steroids (is that term even used anymore? Seems so old school LOL. I keep seeing postings about "AAS" and really don't understand what that is. I assume the same thing?)...BUT I did have a friend that use to be a bodybuilder and she was always natural. HOWEVER, her trainer had her on an interesting regime so she never screwed up her metabolism - which was 16 weeks to diet down / 16 weeks to diet back up. So instead of starving herself for contest prep, and then eating the house down after it was over...she went slowly in both directions.

Has anyone here ever tried that? Graduating back up AFTER the contest?

[wilson6]

The best I ever did coming off a show was back in 2007. I did a show in June, and I was determined not to blow back up afterwards. I did have to crazy diet and cardio for this show, so I'm sure my metabolism was off. Anyhow, after the show i did my normal celebratory meal, had my big huge breakfast the next morning and pretty much ate whatever I wanted all day Sunday. Roger and I went to a real nice dinner Sunday night, apps, entress, dessert, all of it. But then Monday morning I was up and on the tread for bout 30 minutes, and has my egg whites and oatmeal for breakfast. I basically took that week to go back on my week one diet. Chicken, sweet potatoes, MRP's, maybe even a protein bar, or bagel and peanut butter here and there, but just a clean and balanced diet. I was so determined not to blow back up! I didn't measure or anything, I just ate my clean food. I may have had a cookie, or a beer through that week, but not the whole box of cookies!!! Or the whole case of beer! I felt great that week, I did some nice and easy good healthy cardio, I trained, but not hard, and by Friday, I had maintained my show weight!!!! I was so Excited!!! So, we went to a nice dinner the next night, I had some "pleasure foods" on Sunday, and Monday, I was right back with my clean and sensible diet again. I spent the whole summer of 2007 doing that. We ate out every weekend, and I'm sure during the week I wasn't 100% on, but I really think that first week back of getting back on it paid off, brought my metabolism back (after a couple weeks) And when I decided to do a show that fall, it was great!! I didn't have to over diet or cardio or nothing!

I needed to type all that out to remind myself to be doing all that again in a month..... I have kicked myself over and over for not sticking to that last year, but, that's history....all I can do is do it right this summer!

And it was great not to be holding a bunch of water and feeling all gross and not wanting to go to the gym, or the pool. I mean, I ate, don't get me wrong, I flat pigged out a couple times. But 80% of the time or more, I was clean. Not low calorie by any means. And I didn't do alot of cardio either... like 30 minutes a day. nice and heart healthy!!!!



By Amy K from an earlier post on the same subject.

W6

[genesismoss]

By Amy K from an earlier post on the same subject.

W6

It would help if I read every posting :nuts:. Thank you Wilson!

I am only doing my first contest and am 7 weeks into my diet with 9 more to go. I can't imagine not staying on it for the most part after the contest is over with simply because I have gotten so use to it. I barely remember what I use to eat BEFORE other than increased fruit servings and brown rice pasta.

Is there a rebound from the fat burners though? Does this also damage metabolism? Does your system get so accustomed to having pills everyday that you can't stop afterward without ballooning regardless of how clean your diet remains?

[Suzanne]

I don't know much about the drugs referenced in this entire posting so I apologize in advance about sounding ignorant here. I am too sensitive to take ephedrine, only know about GH what friends have told me and am in the dark about steroids (is that term even used anymore? Seems so old school LOL. I keep seeing postings about "AAS" and really don't understand what that is. I assume the same thing?)...BUT I did have a friend that use to be a bodybuilder and she was always natural. HOWEVER, her trainer had her on an interesting regime so she never screwed up her metabolism - which was 16 weeks to diet down / 16 weeks to diet back up. So instead of starving herself for contest prep, and then eating the house down after it was over...she went slowly in both directions.

Has anyone here ever tried that? Graduating back up AFTER the contest?

I can't imagine easing back up over 16 weeks that length of time isn't necessary.

[Crystol88]

Hi folks,

New to the forums here, and I was going to post some links to Scott's articles and blogs on metabolic damage. So glad to see y'all are way ahead of me! :)

I've been coached by Scott Abel since Dec. 2007. The thing is, I've never experienced any metabolic damage working with Scott. My energy and emotional health have not suffered at all through three contest preps. I've not done any more than 45 minutes steady-state cardio 2 times per week through any of these preps, nor have I ever eaten less than three meals with starchy carbs (oatmeal, yams, rice cakes) while dieting. I have a job that requires a lot of mental focus and two children, so being so carb depleted that I cannot function is simply not an option.

This year (2009), Scott had three girls at the National level in two different countries. Two were even in the same class against each other. All three finished top five. Two of them won Nationals, and one of them won her pro card and competed the same year in her first pro show. That is a winning percentage, but more importantly these wins resulted from training and diet protocol WITHOUT crazy cardio hours and no-carb crap. I also won my last show (at the provincial/state level in Alberta, Canada. Working on getting Nationals ready now...).

You CAN compete, you CAN achieve your ultimate physique without suffering and without doing harm to yourself.

Stay informed, and refuse to put your health in the hands of an inexperienced trainer.

[jewelisa]

wow thats alot to take n gonna have to reread that again ! thanks

[DANISH DYNAMITE]

Great article. Thanks for sharing! Def agree.

[Stacy Wright]

EXCELLENT ARTICLE

[Pro Jamie Senuk]

Yes, Scott is excellent and I do agree what he has to contribute are very important information....

That being said, I do have to say that after 2007 when I trained with Scott, I had SEVERE metabolic damage. Now, weather or not I had pre-existing conditions that contributed to that I will never know.....but I do know that after my 2007 season, I was the unhealthiest I have ever been and STILL to this day, continue to deal with it.


Bottom line is, continually gaining and losing weight is just not healthy. Plain and simple.

[vancouverchick]

I agree Jamie ---- our sport is tough on our bodies, even when done the right way!!!!

I too have my share of struggles that I am coping with..... and they are not FUN!