Diet Introduction

Diet Introduction   >   Precontest Diets   >   Dieting Down

Bodybuilders possesses a remarkable talent: They understand exactly how their body works and just what their body will do in response to dieting and working out. There are many diets and theories applied in preparation for a bodybuilding competition. It's nearly impossible to maintain a ripped, cut body for 12 months out of the year, which is why most bodybuilders use an off-season/on-season cycle-dieting approach. Those who try to maintain a "perfect" body year-round usually find themselves a victim of burn-out. A lot of bodybuilders focus on gaining mass and bulk during the off-season, then shredding down and cutting-up with strict dieting and workouts about 12 weeks before the competition. Then, about 1-2 weeks before the competition, the REAL shredding begins. This is called Dieting Down.

Most bodybuilders gearing up for a competition use a form of the "Low-Carb" diet tweaked to maximize results for their body. Some bodybuilders find that an Eating Plan that best uses the body's hormones for gains in strength is high in fat...but not just any fat! EFA's or Essential Fatty Acids actually help your body burn fat more efficiently and protect you from certain diseases.

First of all, a little background on food and water in general is necessary. Every part of your body is composed of cells. All of these cells use food for energy. When you get right down to the basics of food you have protein (amino acids), carbohdyrates (simple sugars), and fats (triglycerides). Since matter is neither created or destroyed (only converted from one form to another), all the food and water which enters your body is used up by your cells as energy for maintaining the body. The excess is expelled or stored. Enough calories must be consumed to meet your Basal Metabolic Rate, the minimum food needed to maintain your organs and body if you just stayed in bed all day, just to survive. When you start doing any exercise or activity your cells need additional energy to perform the work. The cells in your body typically use glycogen or sugar for quick energy. This comes from eating carbohydrates. If their is not enough carbohydrates in the bloodstream, your body resorts to burning fat for energy...this is what you want when you're cutting up, which is why many bodybuilders use the Low-Carb diet. If there is more carbs floating around in your bloodstream than you need for energy then your liver converts and stores it as fat. The other key to the puzzle is protein. Protein is a great muscle-builder that your cells love.

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