TT Eric diet log 2014

[TT Eric]

Thanks Jerry! It means a lot to me!

Eric

[steve_d]

I don't cut sodium. I typically stop on friday morning, and by noon I decide its not a good idea, lol. However, I reduce it in the end from perhaps 6g a day, to 3g. water same, so its a big shift for me. Some people go to zero, and others dont cut at all. It depends what you can handle. Personally those tricks only backfire unless you know your body well.

[Praetorian]

I was wondering how long do you start to cut the sodium before the day you compete ?

Eric

Typically sodium is moderately high through your entire prep as it should be...when on a low carb diet the bodies glycogen stores are lowered hence water retention is also lowered and you will flush more water on a daily basis. This flushing action leads to electrolyte losses and cramping can be an issue for some if adequate sodium is not present. Increase sodum as well as water intake while dieting and your body will maintain normal electrolyte levels on its own. 24 hours out from a contest ie Friday morning just eliminate any excess sodium. You dont have to go zero sodium and I would not recommend it as that tends to leave people very flat with the inability to carb load properly (sodium is necessary) and blood pressure drops too much leading to a loss in pump and vascularity. All you need to to is not add sodium to your foods as previously you were doing. Foods containing sodium ie eggs etc are fine to eat. If the person is enhanced I would see how they look Friday morning and make a decision through the day when to cut water and if a diuretic is necessary. If natural, water retention will be minimal and water is usually cut later such as 8pm and no pharm diuretic is used.

The next day ie saturday - contest day some sodium is added back in to the diet. Dont panic just yet...you will be very dry come Saturday morning so adding sodium will not cause water retention unless you are drinking a lot of water which you wont be. The added sodium will pumo up blood pressure and combined with your intake of carbs will lead to full, vascular muscles.

Water and sodium is the easy part and pretty standard...the more difficult part is the carbs...timing, types, amounts etc.

P

[TT Eric]

Nice! Thanks guys! Yes I'm keeping sodium moderately high year round (real salt).

I must say things change, at the end of the 80s, I dunno if it was the case for all the bodybuilders of this time, but the word in my circle was to avoid sodium (and spices) for the whole duration of the diet (3-4 months). The food was so drab I can tell you. Then in the early 90's word came out that we didn't need to cut down the sodium so early, the last week prior to the competition was enough.

And about water, again the word was to cut ALL water 3 days prior to the competition. On the 4th day, the day of the competition, you were so dehydrated that you had the impression your blood was so thick it was like mud and each heartbeat was harder.

Things changed for the best :s.

Eric

[Praetorian]

Never cut sodium or water more than 12-24 hours out...that is a disaster waiting to happen.

P

[TT Eric]

Week #19: (Yesterday) I was at 178.4lbs so a loss of 3.2lbs. I dunno if those 100g of carbs peri-workout passed right through or I used all of them properly but it doesn't seems I've retained them or much water since I've lost that weight. Yesterday I had a chicken + rice plate (viet restaurant) for cheat meal, nothing else, I wanted to bump the carb while staying low fat. I'm thinking of adding something like 50g carbs in the PWO meal (?), that would make 50g pre, 50g intra and 50g post and see if I retain some glycogen/water and be less flat. Only 5 day left though.

Eric

[TT Eric]

Never cut sodium or water more than 12-24 hours out...that is a disaster waiting to happen.

P

Yes thanks. This was 25 years ago, I'm glad knowledge evolved since then, can't say we had it the easy way back then.

Eric

[TT Eric]

Hey guys, what do you do as warm-up before doing HIIT (sprinting) ?

Stretching or not ? Is doing a few runs before, increasing speed between each run until warm is enough ?

Was sprinting uphill and at the 1st run I got a cramp like pain in the leg, still there an hour later, kinda like if someone is pushing deep into my hamstring with his thumb.

Eric

[Praetorian]

Start with short half speed sprints....no more then 2-3 seconds..gradually work up to top speed...takes time. I would also not use too steep of a hill as it doesnt take much to tear a hamstring.

P

[TT Eric]

Thanks Ted! Not sure if my hill is too steep, I'll try to take a picture. Hamstring still hurting.

After a week with some carbs peri workouts, still no fat in the diet, I'm baffled that I barely feel a pump in the gym, less then usual, particularly the arm still to be numb to training, they are so freaking small actually it's scary, back in 2012. I'd thought the glycogen would give a better pump and some volume... Also the strength went down further, particularly on the presses, dropped the bench from 275 to 225lbs, and DBs from 120 to 100lbs.

Eric