oldsuperman’s BodyBlog

Diet is a funny thing. So many things go into it besides just eating! It affects not only your body, yet your mind and soul! I have to eat a lot of food at about 230 lbs and about 8%BF with 210 LBM to keep and grow muscle. I’m also 55 yrs old and food has changed in flavor. It takes more spices and herbs to taste palatable. I actually have to force food down at times.

I don’t really believe in the “BULKING” concept that many of the bbers and trainers teach these days. I don’t believe it is necessary to “PIG OUT” and get up to 14% or more BF to put on muscle. Sean, my conditioning coach proved that to me last year! And it worked beautifully this year keeping my BF about 8 to 10% ALL YEAR LONG.

You see these “BULKING” guys put on so much fat during training season, then as early as 21 wks out from their comp, start to diet hard and start “CUTTING” if you will, and OF COURSE the body is going to rebel! It wants to keep all those fat cells fed and swole! So then the guys lose valuable muscle during their “CUT CYCLE” starting about 20 wks out!!! WHAT A WASTE!!

While these “BULKING” guys are “CUTTING” at 21 weeks, I’m still training hard putting on muscle, getting better. I believe it is a much more livable way to train and DANG! I LOOK GOOD TOO! It really helps when you look in the mirror and don’t see a fat belly and man boobs from “bulking up”! It just a better way to live.

Last year my family and friends all noticed how calm and together I was getting ready for my comps, compared to the previous years before. And I was getting ready to compete in the biggest show of my life as well!

Well, bottom line is, when you’re already close to your ideal prep, it only takes about 6 to 8 wks of tweaking to get ready. I’m not saying it isn’t tough! HECK YEA it’s tough. Yet, easier and more sane then the “heavy bulk” and “cut” way.

The concept my coach says, is once you get to a steady BF and LBM ratio, you can live a 90 - 10% clean eating life style for bbing. What that means is, you eat 90% clean and if your at a birthday party you still eat clean for most of it, yet you have a moderate piece of cake and ice cream. If you out with the guys Monday night, you eat clean, yet have 2 pieces of pizza. You have your cheat meals on your birthday, fathers day, Easter etc. I had a cheat meal on Dads day last year just weeks before Nationals, YET I WAS LEAN! So it had no affect on my.

It’s all about having a plan and sticking to it. Once get there to your ideal, and you maintain it for a few years, you learn what works and what doesn’t. We are not all the same, yet it never ceases to amaze me how the fat peeps are always the exception. I know all about it, as I was a fatty too with all the excuses! So …. don’t BS me!

__________________