Know When You're Ready to Enter Your First Bodybuilding Contest

Question and Answer with Harvey Reich, Natural Masters Illinois Bodybuilding Champion.

Question: I am preparing to enter a contest. I trained very hard and I cut my weight from 245 lbs. to 185 lbs. I have a very large torso and short limbs which made my arms and legs look big and well developed when I was heavier. Since I have lost this weight most if not all of recently gained my muscle mass is gone, particularly in my arms which has made me very depressed. What should I do?
Todd C. Buffalo, NY

Answer: Hello Todd. If you had that much weight to lose then there was never much underlying muscle in the first place, which tells me that you were not developed enough to enter a contest. If you lost this weight in a short amount of time (which it sounds like you did) it is no wonder that you have lost muscle mass.

Your body uses the muscles as nourishment to feed itself when drastic weight cutting occurs, which is what seems to have happened to you. The proper way to get "ripped" for a contest (once you DO have enough muscle mass) is to adjust your carbohydrate and fat intake so you gradually lose the weight, optimally 1 – 2 lbs. a week. Leave enough time before a contest to begin your diet, usually around 16 – 20 weeks out so you can reach your target contest weight in this manner. You’ll be very pleased with the results.

Working Through Imbalances in Your Physique

I've received many questions about physique symmetry and balance over the years similar to the one below. My response has basically been the same. Do not compensate for an imbalance with one-sided exercises as you are leaving yourself susceptible to injury. Perform each exercise using the strictest of form and the imbalance will work itself out over time.

Question and Answers with Harvey Reich - Illinois Bodybuilding Champion:

Question: I’ve been working out for six months now and my left arm still seems to be bigger and stronger than the right. What is the most efficient way to correct this?
Fredo F. Mt. Vernon, IL

Answer: Hi Steve. I’d be willing to bet that you are left handed. Whatever inclination we are is naturally used more and would be more developed and stronger. If you keep working out on a consistent basis with good solid, balanced form this will eventually work itself out with your right arm catching up resulting in a more balanced eye pleasing physique.

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Balance is the Key to an Eye Pleasing Physique

You've probably noticed this too but I've walked into the gym way too many times over the years only to see some of my buddies the "regular gym rats" who perform only a select few exercises and call it a day. They only exercise the "showy" muscles with disregard for the rest of the body. A fine example of this are the "cantaloupe smugglers". You know those guys, the ones who only work their pecs and biceps and look like they are carrying four large melons under their shirt. They probably think that they look strong or muscular. But with little muscular development elsewhere they in fact look horribly disproportionate and even silly. If you look closer at these guys they probably have spindly under-developed legs and look ludicrous in a shorts or a bathing suit. Another good example are guys who work everything but their abs. They may have a great back, chest, arms, legs etc. but if your stomach is not sporting some semblance of a six-pack you're not going to look in shape.

The whole idea here is proportion. I've been to many bodybuilding contests and the overall winner more often than not is not the biggest, strongest person in the contest with flashing oversized body parts. It's the guy or gal who is proportionally or evenly developed and has the fewest weaknesses. This type of physique will catch your eye at the pool or beach as being much more impressive than the cantaloupe smuggler type. Remember a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and this especially holds true for the human body.

It may not be fun to blast your legs with squats or do endless calf raises and sit-ups. But if you do work out the entire body in proportion there is no doubt in the end you'll be more than pleased with the results.

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