How do enhanced bodybuilders prepping handle the scale on a cut?

[Crixus000G]

I have followed both natural bodybuilding and also non tested shows. I was curious how most coaches handle enhanced bodybuilders when it comes to dieting for a show? Natural bodybuilders follow usually the scale dropping on a consistent basis, but I have seen enhanced bodybuilders who end up a few lbs less than their bulk, but cut dry and and incredible conditioning. Was curious how they handle adjustments in calories and cardio...I am assuming it would be by the mirror or measurements?

 

[Grey Spartan]

 

[SSJ2Pooh]

Really it's not so different than not being on PEDs, you can just leverage knowing you're going to keep more mass by the time the show comes from the anabolic effects from the compounds you take. Having a coach who can pin point comp changes helps knowing if you need to reduce or increase cardio and/or calories.

 

[jtmarlin]

I have followed both natural bodybuilding and also non tested shows. I was curious how most coaches handle enhanced bodybuilders when it comes to dieting for a show? Natural bodybuilders follow usually the scale dropping on a consistent basis, but I have seen enhanced bodybuilders who end up a few lbs less than their bulk, but cut dry and and incredible conditioning. Was curious how they handle adjustments in calories and cardio...I am assuming it would be by the mirror or measurements?

I have never completed before but I'm competing in Men's Physique soon. My coach is well known and has won multiple top contests but not the Olympia. I hired him at 11 weeks out at 180 pounds at 13 percent BF and he still has me BULKING first 3 weeks. I'm getting bigger and leaner. That was on 200mg of test (always on this) and 15mg of var.

I have gained 5 pounds. I shit you not when we talked I said I think I'm coming in at 160-165. He said "I will get you onstage in 11 weeks at the same weight you are now at 180."

It's 8.5 weeks out and we are still playing the bigger and leaner at the same time game. I just doubled the test added 200 primo and a few GH units. I think he's going to be correct that I will weigh as much onstage or more than where I started prep which is batshit insane to me.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

I have followed both natural bodybuilding and also non tested shows. I was curious how most coaches handle enhanced bodybuilders when it comes to dieting for a show? Natural bodybuilders follow usually the scale dropping on a consistent basis, but I have seen enhanced bodybuilders who end up a few lbs less than their bulk, but cut dry and and incredible conditioning. Was curious how they handle adjustments in calories and cardio...I am assuming it would be by the mirror or measurements?

The scale is a tool.

A good coach uses the scale, the mirror, and athlete feedback to make decisions. We almost never use measurements, however, as, like the scale, they are subject to the combination of fat and muscle balance.

The scale is almost never the primary metric unless there is a need to make a certain weight and it will be a challenge.

 

[Crixus000G]

I have never completed before but I'm competing in Men's Physique soon. My coach is well known and has won multiple top contests but not the Olympia. I hired him at 11 weeks out at 180 pounds at 13 percent BF and he still has me BULKING first 3 weeks. I'm getting bigger and leaner. That was on 200mg of test (always on this) and 15mg of var.

I have gained 5 pounds. I shit you not when we talked I said I think I'm coming in at 160-165. He said "I will get you onstage in 11 weeks at the same weight you are now at 180."

It's 8.5 weeks out and we are still playing the bigger and leaner at the same time game. I just doubled the test added 200 primo and a few GH units. I think he's going to be correct that I will weigh as much onstage or more than where I started prep which is batshit insane to me.

curious...are you eating more on the bulk or just maintenance and adding in more test primo and I am assuming 2ius of GH?

 

[jtmarlin]

curious...are you eating more on the bulk or just maintenance and adding in more test primo and I am assuming 2ius of GH?

The first 2 weeks I was eating 2800 kcal and this week I'm 3000 or so. I haven't calculated the diet this week as one of the benefits of a coach is I don't have to think I just do. I'd say I'm above maintenance bc I started gaining weight even just on my usual test with 15mg of var. Once I went to 3000+ and added GH 3iu, have gained another 4 pounds this week. I've only been on the higher dose for 3 days so it has to be the food and perhaps the GH? I actually think I will add muscle in a deficit when we get there but I'm really not sure when we will start going lower in calories.

Also I'm eating way more protein and very little fat compared to what my assumptions were going in.

 

[Jesintn]

Its the gh that caused the weight jump. Do you count calories everyday, and when gh was added in, were calories consistent?

Once I went to 3000+ and added GH 3iu, have gained another 4 pounds this week. I've only been on the higher dose for 3 days so it has to be the food and perhaps the GH?

Also I'm eating way more protein and very little fat compared to what my assumptions were going in.

Good. How many grams fat did you take in yesterday and, or today ?

 

[jtmarlin]

Its the gh that caused the weight jump. Do you count calories everyday, and when gh was added in, were calories consistent?


Good. How many grams fat did you take in yesterday and, or today ?

I don't really count anything. I just eat what is on the sheet but when I broke it down first couple weeks it was 2800 on average. When GH went in the carbs went up a bit but not crazy... 20 extra g cream of rice, 40 extra gram cooked rice a couple meals, a touch more oats etc. My fat is the same every day at 50-60g. Most of it is trace outside of a nut butter. Many guys wouldn't even count come of these grams the way they do dieting today.