I am currently preparing for a fitness photo shoot that is just under four weeks away. You could say this shoot is taking the place of a bodybuilding show as my one main event with a purely aesthetic goal. In the last four years or so, I always set goals for specific bodybuilding shows to compete in at a frequency of 1-2 shows per year.
In the last year since my last body building show, I progressively lost 10 lbs from the 5 that were gained just after. I truly did not try to lose weight, my body simply healed from the excessive cardio and dieting and metabolism became the best it had ever been. I finally accomplished what I always knew, since I started competing, I should do after a show, which was, incorporate more variety of food, more food overall, keep the cardio at a moderate, healthy frequency and let my metabolism heal and recharge to operate as it should. Well, it worked!
Just after my show, I tapered my cardio down over a few months from over two hours a day to about one. My carbs and fats increased. To this day, I have still not increased my cardio and only slightly reduced fat and carbs (I'm talking maybe 10 grams of each less) and that with being 10 pounds lighter.
By simply changing up my workouts (lifting schedule, rep range, exercises, rest times) and changing some food sources (not quantity) I have made noticeable changes in the last 1-2 months.
At first, I thought of this photo shoot as I always have for a bodybuilding competiton---I need to do whatever it took to get as dialed as my body can get, even if it meant near starving and doing two hours of cardio. Almost as quickly as I thought this, I thought to myself,
"I don't want to ruin all of the progress of my metabolism and conditioning by becoming extreme."
Furthermore, I do not want to get trapped into this unhealthy practice again, like I have done over and over again.
I know many people in bodybuilding who do not believe in the role of genetics on accomplishing such a symmetrically lean and muscular physique. Many believe all you need is the "right" diet and the "right" training and the "right" supplements (legal and not) and you can achieve all you dream with your physique goals.
Let me tell you, this is WRONG!!!
The best diet, training and supplement plan will only take you as far as your genetics will allow. Period.
Personally, I have always been successful at gaining muscle mass. Some areas more efficient than others, but overall I can gain muscle pretty easily if I try. Consequently, my body has always had a hard time maintaining low body fat. Even as a young kid, I was always chubbier than the rest, and that with being highly active and eating very healthy since pre-teen years. I have a curvy, Hispanic and Italian frame and hold fat mostly in my hips, butt and thighs. Building muscle has helped tremendously, and the more solid mass I have built over the years, the more conditioned I have become.
Still, while I have been training for bodybuilding for the last 7-8 years, there are still certain areas that, even with extreme dieting and training, have just never been "dialed in" for shows. As one might guess, fat on my hips and butt and overall body has been a little higher than some if not many.
I will admit, that what I feel I really need is simply TIME. I have faith that someday after some years I will maintain lean little glutes year round without extreme effort, but that time is not now!
My point is that my body is more prone to carrying more body fat than others in the sport, and will always need a fair amount of cardio just to maintain a healthy body weight.
Now, how this all relates to the present...
I have come to an agreement with myself that I will stick to a healthy exercise and nutrition program until this photo shoot. I have chosen certain numbers I will not exceed (cardio) or fall under (calories and carbs), and however I turn out is how I will turn out.
The goal of this photo shoot is to get promotional images for my new website that is under construction. Aside from having great images, I need to stick to my mission statement which is all about being balanced, healthy and fit for the long term --finding your "happy place" among body image, fitness, nutrition, emotional health, family and friends.
Most of all, I need to stay focused on what is to come AFTER the photo shoot, and that is a training and nutrition program that is not too far from what I have been doing. I have made great improvements in my metabolism and body this year and I would hate to ruin that.
I do not plan to compete in a bodybuilding show again unless my conditioning is at such a level that I am maintaining 5-7 lbs or so from stage shape year round. Who knows if that will ever be. I have proven to myself that I DO have the discipline, perseverance, physical and mental toughness necessary to compete and do not need to push my body into something it is not wanting to do anymore.
Until then, I will be keeping my head focused on the long term of my body's health and shape maintenance...as well as this photo shoot! :)
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