CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE November/December ISSUE | Page 97

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Once again this should be from quality foods not
sugar laden treats. This population is a minority but it
still is something you will see. Yes it is true that the
majority of athletes deal with the other side of this coin
and put on weight way too fast but its importance
cannot be overlooked. Yes you should stay lean post
contest but not peeled. By allowing yourself to gain
weight back slowly and responsibly you will allow
your body and thyroid a break from the beating you
have put it through during your prep. It will also help
you recover better from your workouts due to the
increased caloric content. Plus it will allow you to start
increasing some lean tissue and build upon the
foundation you displayed onstage. Putting weight on
post show is not an issue, but the type and quality
should be your main concern.
KEEP A POSITIVE
MINDSET
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Now you may think this is a weird tip for the
competitive athlete but it's not. You see, when you
have been dieting and training hard for the last four
months, looking forward to stepping on stage your
mind can go a little haywire. Think about it for a
second. Hours and hours of cardio, eating bland
meals, and training your ass off day in and day out,
only to step in front a judging panel that may take less
than five minutes. Yes you may be relieved when it's
all over because you are dreaming about eating and
celebrating, but within a day or so reality will kick in.
For many, you will feel slightly depressed or even lost.
This is common with all athletes competing at a high
level so it's no different with physique competitors.
During this time it's imperative to keep a positive
mindset. I have seen some athletes in their post
contest week looking like they just attended a funeral.
This wasn't just people that didn't place, but athletes
who took an overall win. When you put so much time
and effort into something that is over in a blink of an
eye, it can play with you mentally making you feel
unfulfilled.