This is another area where the high fat diet has an advantage over the competition. On the
high carb diet, and in a negative calorie intake situation where your body requires more calories
for maintenance than you’re putting in, you’ll use up the carbs you’re eating for energy very
quickly. After that, the primary source for energy will be protein. On the high carb diet, many
bodybuilders find themselves losing tremendous amounts of muscle a short time before a
competition because of the body raiding protein for energy.
If you’re on a high carb diet with limited calories, there’s a good chance you’ll come into the
competition a hanger. Not so with the Anabolic Diet, where there’s fat available to burn instead
of protein. One competitor found himself forced down to 1,000 calories a day before a
competition recently but, on the high fat diet, emerged in the best shape of his career. He
attributed his success to the high fat diet and its protein-saving properties.
You’ve also got less chance of falling apart after a competition on the high fat diet. Often
you’ll look nearly as good weeks after a show as you looked at the show. You won’t experience
the big ups and downs the high carb diet brings, and will be less likely to adopt drastic measures
as a competition approaches.
AEROBICS
Many people have a tendency to hit aerobics hard in the days before a contest. They’ll be
doing up to 4 hours a day in an effort to cut fat and make up for any extra weight. The trouble
is, they’re BURNING BOTH FAT AND MUSCLE. The fat may go, but a good deal of muscle
mass goes with it.
25–30 minutes of aerobics should give you enough work to burn some fat without
compromising muscle mass. Do your 30 minutes every other day up to 2 months before the
contest. Then begin to do 25–30 every day. Stop aerobics a week out from the contest.
It may also be advantageous to stop training legs 2 weeks before a contest. The legs begin to
retain water, and lines are brought out to the point the legs are ripped by contest time. You
should cut all training of any type completely 3 days before the contest to minimize catabolic
and maximize anabolic conditions.
THE CONTEST
Again, we urge you not to try anything out of the ordinary just before a contest. Begin to
drink distilled water and reduce sodium 24 hours before prejudging to get rid of intercellular
water. Push the potassium for intracellular water and calcium to avoid cramping. Watch your
food intake during the day.
Even though your body can change in a few hours, there are things you can do to offset any
changes. Natural diuretics can rid the body of excess water. Sitting in a jacuzzi for 15–20 minutes
can also increase vascularity and pull water out of the body if you’re retaining it.
THE ANABOLIC DIET AS A CONTROL DIET
Though the Anabolic Diet should be considered more a lifestyle than a “diet” and be followed
SPECIAL MODIFICATIONS 71