CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE July/August SUMMER ISSUE | Page 90

They are exhausted from all
the cardio which can be
mentally and physically
draining; so all cardio
ceases as there is no
immediate show date
coming. After eating very
plain foods and following a
strict diet for a few months,
this person might have
been fantasizing about
certain foods, so now it is
time to give into these
cravings.
Since the person is no
longer cutting, they may be
coming off fat burners that
not only helped with
metabolism but also
helped suppress appetite.
When you mix processes
like these along with the
fact that the metabolism
has most likely slowed
down as a natural part of
the process, the individual
can run into some big
trouble. 
Anybody who has done
a show or a strict cut
can tell you that when
it is done, no amount
of food is ever satisfying
for a few weeks or even
months. It takes
extreme willpower to
eat only the amount of
food you need as
opposed to the
amount of food you
actually want.
SO WHAT IS THE BEST
THING TO DO IN ORDER
TO GET BACK ON TRACK
AND TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THIS PERIOD IN
ORDER TO GAIN MUSCLE
AT A FASTER RATE THAN
USUAL?
Everybody talks about how
great things are preparing for a
show, but not many people talk
about post show which is just as
important in order to stay
healthy and make very rapid
muscle gains. Post show you
might not be with a coach
anymore, people might not be
checking in with you as much
and you are faced with the
situation I just mentioned above
where you are inclined towards
missing the gym and over
indulging. Now, taking a few
days off from your diet is normal
after a show, even not training
for a few days after is beneficial
as the body may be asking you
for a break. But I am a big fan of
going back to nutritious eating
and exercise after no more than
4 to 5 days. In these 4 to 5 days I
recommend having a few meals
that you may have been craving;
not binging 24 hours a day.
There is a big difference. 
I do want to preface this by
mentioning that although many
of these situations and effects
are backed up by science, this is
mostly based on anecdotal
experience. This is what I have
seen hundreds of times with
competitors and with myself.
Although everybody reacts
differently, there are certain
things that the majority of
individuals will experience
when a show preparation
comes to an end.