The thought of posing down in front of countless critical spectators and judges in trunks that leave little to the imagination may initially seem intimidating to most. But exploring your motivation to get up onstage could be the best decision you'll ever make. Perhaps you would be driven to compete because you love the attention, you're a hungry competitor, you want a goal to work toward, or you think you're talented enough to carve out a name for yourself and make a lucrative career out of it. In any case, showing off every inch of your stellar physique onstage can be the most genuine feeling of accomplishment you'll ever feel as a result of your undying enthusiasm and effort. It's an experience you're likely never to forget.

Just as with any sport, competing in bodybuilding certainly requires dedication, but it also requires precision unlike anything else. Every detail affects how you'll do when you finally do battle with the other warriors, from your pre-contest diet and training to your final pump-up just prior to taking the stage. Bodybuilding awards much more than your physical presentation. It is also a sport largely won by your mental game and experience. Preparing yourself with the proper knowledge is the best way to ensure your moment of glory is nothing short of that. There are a number of areas to address before you take the stage, but mastering key components such as the following can largely determine your success.

Dieting to get Diced

You should hone your diet between 12 to 16 weeks out from your competition (20 if you can't see your abs). When the clock starts ticking, follow a strict diet packed with protein, complex carbohydrates, and good fats – all the things your body needs to get you onstage in ripped condition. Two weeks out from the show, you should generally be in the exact shape that you want to go onstage with. You should also familiarize yourself with the following basic critical factors to help yourself get into ultra-shredded condition:

 

Water Intake: Increase daily water intake to eight liters starting two weeks out from the show date. Don't drink distilled water at any time. Two days out from the show, decrease your intake to six liters. The day before the show, all your water must be taken in before 6:00 p.m. After that, you should not drink water, except for 500 milliliters to keep your mouth wet, so conserve it well. Always drink normal bottled mineral water for water intake. Sodium: Many people make the mistake of decreasing or going to a zero sodium intake, but this will make you as flat as a pancake and as stringy as a 10-year-old boy living on scraps. Keep all sodium-rich foods such as canned tuna in your diet up until three days out from the contest, then cut those, but do not attempt to zero out sodium intake. Carbohydrate Loading: Carb depleting and loading is a very hit-and-miss process, so you will have to learn your own reactions. Generally, as you get close to the show, it's better to keep your carb intake the same as it is leading up to it, then slightly increase the amount the last three days before based on what you see in the mirror. For example, add 50 grams more than normal on Wednesday morning (assuming the show is Saturday), see how you look that evening and Thursday morning. If you are nice and full, keep your intake the same for that day and the next. You may need to "top up" the morning of the show, but monitor yourself so you don't spill over. Try a “dry run” the week before the contest. Fats: Fat intake will depend on the type of diet you are following. If you are maintaining a diet that's already higher in fat, you will want to reduce your fat intake slightly the final week before the competition and then add extra fats the night before and the morning of the show in the form of nuts, all-natural peanut butter, and steak.

 

Training for the Spotlight

Generally, you should continue the same style of weight training you do all year (assuming your physique responds to it), and incorporate cardio and a good diet. That's where most of the changes will come from. Many first-time competitors make the mistake of starting to train lighter before a contest, assuming that it will help them get leaner. Doing so is actually counterproductive. Decreasing intensity and opting for volume is a surefire way to sacrifice muscle. Weighing in too light won't score many points. Size does matter!

Supplementation to Maximize Gains

Diet and training can only take your physique so far, no matter how intense or dedicated you are. When you really want to surpass plateaus, skyrocket beyond average gains, and leave your competitors in the dust, you need an edge from the world's most effective supplements, those scientifically engineered by Team MuscleTech™. Team MuscleTech athletes continue to place in the top echelon of pro competitions because their supplements work. Jay Cutler swears by Team MuscleTech supplements:

“Team MuscleTech has given me the opportunity to be the best in the world. I am at my biggest and leanest at almost 300 pounds, so LEUKIC stacked with Nitro-Tech and Hydroxycut Hardcore is definitely working.” Jay Cutler, Team MuscleTech Superstar and IFBB Pro

 

Just like Jay, top pros such as Darrem Charles, Branch Warren, David Henry, and Gustavo Badell rely on the advanced musclebuilding, fat-burning, energy-boosting, and performance-enhancing qualities of America's leading supplements, including Cell-Tech™, Nitro-Tech^®, Hydroxycut^® Hardcore, GAKIC^®, LEUKIC™, CREAKIC™, Anator-p70™, and many more. Unlike most supplements on the market, those developed by Team MuscleTech have come to fruition through extensive scientific research and testing. Led by the distinguished Dr. Marvin Heuer (FAAFP, Chief Scientific Officer, Team MuscleTech), Team MuscleTech researchers work closely with top universities, human performance scientists, food scientists, and culinary experts around the world. Using only the highest quality ingredients, they ensure MuscleTech supplements always deliver the unbeatable results with the best nutritional and taste profile. Choosing Team MuscleTech supplementation over other products can make all the difference with your achievements, as proven by the thousands of bodybuilders across America already doing so.

Tanning for Top Marks

A healthy glow looks better than pasty white any time you're baring skin, but it's never more crucial than under the spotlights at a bodybuilding competition for more than aesthetic reasons. Bright stage lights tend to wash out the skin, which makes it difficult to see definition and vascularity. Generally, competitors need to add a shade or two of color to their natural tones; the degree of added color needed depends on each person's pigmentation. Tanning beds or spray tans offer a good color base, and this is followed by a couple coats of a tanner such as Pro Tan^®, which is usually applied the night before and the morning of the competition. Oil (a popular choice among bodybuilders is PAM^® cooking spray) should be used sparingly just before you get onstage. You'll want to apply just enough oil to get a flattering sheen that shows off your detail, but doesn't look wet and glossy. Be sure to take care of hair removal prior to tanning. Popular methods for achieving a smooth surface that will aptly show off your muscle and definition are cream hair removers and shaving. Some guys opt for waxing, but it can be painful and irritate the skin.

Posing Perfection

Looking good is one thing, but properly presenting your physique is another. Knowing how to execute the mandatory poses is crucial. Familiarizing yourself with poses (such as front double biceps, front lat spread, abdominal and thigh, side triceps, side chest, back double biceps, rear lat spread, and most muscular) is not enough. Be able to hit each one impressively on command with fluid transitions between them. Also practice your “relaxed” stance. Although you won't be flexing when you're not being called out, you will have to maintain your position, and this is something new competitors often overlook and forget onstage, making them look sloppy and unprofessional.

Stage Presence that Dominates

Darrem Charles says his secret weapon is his stage presence:

“I have worked very hard on mastering the art of properly presenting my physique onstage. This is something a lot of guys struggle with.” Darrem Charles, Team MuscleTech Superstar and IFBB Pro

 

Onstage, a great physique certainly gets you noticed, but what really makes you stand out is stage presence. Being confident and charismatic can help you command the stage, and that can make the difference between sweet victory and bitter defeat. Engaging the judges and the audience with your enthusiastic attitude, smile, and energy can boost your popularity and in turn land you photo opportunities, magazine coverage, and sponsorships.

Source:  www.MuscleTech.com