Written by DR. GEORGE TOULIATOS, MD
24 June 2020

 dr t last week before show

 

 

 

 

Dr. Testosterone
By George Touliatos, MD

 

LAST WEEK BEFORE THE SHOW

 

Assume the competition is held on Sunday. The previous Saturday the last leg workout should take place, in order for the quads and hams to be free of any water retention and edema.

 

Training brings blood and this will lead to excess fluid retention. The last torso workout should be performed on Wednesday, for the same reason; while abs have to be worked out until the last training.

One week prior to the contest, the oily injections have to be withdrawal (drostanolone, trenbolone, methenolone, testosterone propionate) and just keep up with the water-based (stanozolol depot, trenbolone base, testosterone suspension).

The very last week before the show, we maintain the aromatized free orals (stanozolol, oxandrolone, fluoxymesterone, mesterolone) and of course the aromatase inhibitors (anastrozol, letrozol, exemestane).

Some athletes, who are already ripped and dry, tend to use oxymetholone.

The reasons are:

1) When estrogens are too low, oxymetholone does not convert to estrogen (as a DHT derivative).

2) Oxymetholone can bring extra stamina and endurance because it boosts erythrocytosis and O2 transport to muscles.

In addition, oxymetholone is a powerful anabolic, androgenic and anti-catabolic medication that plays a significant role during the low-carb diet.

During the last week of glycogen depletion, CNS stimulants are kept and withdrawal with last workout.

After the brutal last week of the low-carb ketogenic diet, the yummy time of glycogen loading follows.

This is perhaps the most crucial moment of the whole preparation.

Proper carbohydrate and glycogen loading can be the key to success.

It would be wise to lower to the half the aromatase inhibitors.

My belief is that too much of them will eventually hinder glycogen loading.

Aromatase inhibitors crush estrogens, meaning technically poor glycogen formation and practically zero water retention.

Water consumption during glycogen depletion phase has to be at least five liters.

Too much of water apparently blocks ADH from kidneys (anti-diuretic hormone, or vasopressin).

The so-called “water intoxication” often occurs during that time. In their effort to eliminate the byproducts of a ketonic diet, they lead to hyper hydration, which leads to hyponatremia that results in the hemodilution. In clinical chemistry this is translated to a lower hematocrite (not hemoglobin) and lower serum urea as well.

With this mechanism, the body eliminates the excess subcutaneous fluid retention.

However, this process can lead to cerebral edema, with symptoms of headache, hypotension, nausea, dizziness and occasionally even fainting.

The glycogen depletion phase has to be <100gr of starch (preferably potato and rice).

It is noteworthy that baked potato has a higher glycemic index than boiled.

Protein source comes mainly from white meat (turkey, chicken, rooster, rabbit) and fish. In case the physique looks kind of flat and ultra-ripped, lean red meat (beef-buffalo, ostrich, horse, deer) can be an alternative option. new book image

Egg whites (albumin) and whey protein powder (lactalbumin) are excluded, due to their high sodium content.

Animal protein intake must be >3g/kg of body weight.

Glycogen depletion phase is accompanied by water low in sodium.

Table salt is gradually discontinued and not abruptly.

Otherwise, aldosterone is stimulated, leading to sodium and water retention, as a compensatory mechanism. Nature is smarter than people think and the system always brings a homeostatic balance.

The more glycogen muscle lack of, the better will be filled up from glycogen. Insulin sensitivity is sky-high and insulin rebound will ensure the glycogen synthase enzyme will do its job fair enough.

Carb-loading phase usually depends upon the body type (BMI).

Generally 24/72 hours are enough for muscles (and liver) to get full.

During loading phase, protein consumption is of secondary priority.

Therefore, two grams of protein per bodyweight are enough for positive nitrogen balance. Muscles have received huge amounts and besides workouts no longer take place.

What is important is that fiber is strictly prohibited.

Fiber can bring serious GIT bloating and gas, therefore, sweet potato and brown rice are excluded and regular potatoes with white rice are best choices.

Pasta and bread are not an option, because of their gluten presence.

This plant-based protein can hold water and smooth the physique, sort of looking high in estrogens.

Oats also excluded for the same reason and their fiber content as well.

The first 24 hours of carb-loading are the most critical.

As loading phase proceeds, glycogen stores are gradually filled up and insulin sensitivity hits a plateau.

Sodium and water intake are necessary the very first day of loading phase, in order the filling of muscles to be successful.

Between meals, posing is obligatory, so that carbohydrates can enter the muscles and form glycogen. Since insulin sensitivity is sky-high, its spike from pancreas may lead to lethargic state.

Vanadium (vanadyl sulfate) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) assist in this process as they act as they mimic insulin’s action.

Fast-acting insulin is the ideal solution, but it carries the risk of water retention in the subcutaneous and the cause of lipogenesis.

Therefore, its use has to be accordingly to conditioning of the particular athlete.

As known, carbohydrates have the ability to bind water and the formation of muscle glycogen.

One molecule of carb requires four molecules of starch, in order glycogen to be synthesized.

There sweet spot-borderline between muscle fullness and water retention under the skin has to be found.

This task depends highly under the experienced coach of each athlete. Onion-skin look equals to negligible film of fluid kept under epidermis.

The last day before the show, water intake has to be minimized.

Usually athletes tend to restrict water during the last 12 hours before prejudging.

During this time period, we can drink sips of cold water and suck ice cubes.

A tricky method would be to measure the amount of fluid we diurate and drink half of it afterwards.

This will ensure less water will be presented in the system.

Regular massage can be helpful, by increasing blood and lymphatic flow.

This muscle relaxation can improve separation, the ability of muscles to show up.

Legs during bedtime should be kept at 30 degrees inclined position; the reason is that this posture prevents swelling and edema coming from gravity.

Quite many athletes have one or more tattoos on various parts of their body.

Even though I have enough tattoos (which I got along the way), I do believe that the fewer and more non-visible the tattoos are, the better.

Even from aesthetic point of view, but also from separation perspective.

The morning of the show, three hours at least before prejudging, we should have a breakfast rich in calories.

Breakfast should contain a high-sodium food, such as a burger, as long as we don’t drink water at all.

Fat also plays a role, of satiety feeling, while it also provides sustained energy source, during the hard time between comparisons.

Warming up at the backstage area has to be done in appropriate way. We don’t need muscles to become blocky and sweaty; the less a body sweats, the drier it actually is.

Just before hitting on stage, a spoon of honey and red wine can help with vascularity.

Honey and simple carbs bring high osmolality and cause veins to swell, while alcohol ensures vasodilation. Supplements that can also assist on that are arginine, citrulline, yohimbine, niacin and glycerin.

Viagra overdose leads to extensive vasodilation, resulting in hot flushes, headaches and hypotension. Clenbuterol and ephedrine are strictly prohibited, because the can lead to dehydration and spasms, but also to peripheral vasoconstriction.

The use of diuretics depends upon each individual; usually advanced athletes use spironolactone (Aldactone), which is a potassium-sparing diuretic.

Potassium is the main intracellular electrolyte, so muscles are still able to look full (volumized).

However, spironolactone’s abuse can lead to life-threatening hyperkalemia and myocardial arrhythmia (ventricular fibrillation).

The use of salbutamol inhaler can actually improve VO2max and breathing process. Stress leads to the production of cortisol (and aldosterone) that can actually ruin the physique.

In case body looks extremely dry just few minutes before hitting the stage, a bit of salt can make physique look even better; as long as water intake is out of the question.

As known, sodium is the main extracellular element and fills up the intracellular space, leading to swelling and increased osmolality. This will eventually make muscles to look more pumped and jacked.

Posing in the sport of bodybuilding is about isometric contractions, in which the length of the muscle remains unchanged.

Before we hit a pose, we take a deep breath and exhale gradually throughout the pose that lasts around five seconds.

Posing requires excellent physical condition especially during the demanding comparison rounds.

In a bodybuilding event it is not your body that is being evaluated, but your physique as you represent it to the judges.

Emphasizing your strong body parts, while hiding your weaknesses is the best way.

The sport of bodybuilding is basically an illusion and peak has to be achieved in proper timing: Not the day before, or the following day of the show.

The art of posing requires hours of preparation and evaluation by an experienced observer.

Moreover, it represents one of the four parameters assessed.

The way you feel about yourself reflects on stage and to the judges.

Symmetry and balance are among the key criteria for winning a competition. Mainly it is a matter of pure genetics, but always can get improved through proper training.

By the term hardness in bodybuilding, we mean the granite look, depending on a variety of factors.

Firstly, it has to do with the low fat percentage. As known, subcutaneous tissue holds estrogens and estrogens equal to fluid retention.

But it’s also a matter of water retention under the skin, even though body fat percentage is close to 5 percent; these facts will make body to appear smooth and puffy.

Secondly, training with heavy free weights and lesser rep ranges can make the physique look more dense, thick and solid.

Thirdly, the amount of androgens (and aromatase inhibitors presented, able to oxidize and minimize fat tissue (testosterone, drostenolone, fluoxymesterone, mesterolone and anastrozol, letrozole, exemestane).

The signs of an ultra-ripped body (<6%) include:

Erector spinae muscle group (lower back), with the reveal of Christmas tree.

Also the crispy look of external obliques and serratus anterior muscles (gills).

Hamstrings separation is always a hard one to achieve (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus).

Without any doubt the gluteus maximus striations is the toughest among all.

It is the result of training, dieting, drug use and genetics as well.

The mandatory poses involve the front look, the side and the rear.

In this way there is a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the overall appearance.

The front poses involve relaxed posing, that practically shows the “V-taper” and reverse triangular shape (tiny midsection, shoulder width).

 

The front double biceps and also the front lats spread. The abdominal-legs pose reveals quadriceps separation, along with rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles.

Finally, the most muscular pose (or the crab pose), where trapezoids, arms and deltoids are revealed in all their glory.

On side poses we have the side chest pose and the side triceps pose.

At rear poses respectively, we have the rear lat spread and rear double biceps. Keep in mind that an athlete can show a different look from the front to the rear, depending majorly on water and fat retention (buttocks, lower back and hams).

George Touliatos, MD is an author, lecturer, champion competitive bodybuilder and expert in medical prevention regarding PED use in sports. Dr. Touliatos specializes in medical biopathology and is the medical associate of Orthobiotiki.gr and Medihall.gr, Age Management and Preventive Clinics in Athens, Greece. Heis the author of four Greek books on bodybuilding, has extensively developed articles for www.anabolic.org and is the medical associate for the book Anabolics, 11th Edition (2017). Dr. Touliatos has been a columnist for the Greek editions of MuscleMag and Muscular Development magazines, and has participated in several seminars across Greece and Cyprus, making numerous TV and radio appearances, doing interviews in print and online. His personal website is https://gtoul.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

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