The most underrated phase in bodybuilding.

As the saying goes: “Poor preparation equals poor performance.”

Not only does this statement hold true for comp prep, however it also pertains to the “pre-prep” phase.

Are mini-cuts the new “sexy” way to diet?

While they may sound enticing at face value, there are a variety of factors you need to consider before attempting to embark on a mini-cut.

Are you actually hungry, or do you just have an appetite?

Experiencing hunger can be rather unpleasant, and it’s understandable that as humans we want to satisfy our need to eat and feel satiated ASAP when these feelings arise. However, having knowledge and self-awareness is powerful in this scenario, because it’s not uncommon to confuse hunger with rather just having a heightened appetite.

Is your progress real, or is it artificial?
 
There’s a hard truth when it comes to making significant progress to your physique and strength: you’re going to need to prioritise long-term monotony at the sacrifice of constantly “mixing it up”.

Experiencing hunger (or a lack of) can be rather unpleasant. However, knowledge is power, and understanding WHY you are feeling a certain degree of hunger can help you respond in a more rational, logical manner.

Don’t rely on these calculators for perfect math.
 
It’s reasonable to say that most people are curious about how many daily calories they require to either:
▪️Maintain their weight
▪️Lose weight
▪️Gain weight
 
Given this, and since “calorie calculator” is such a quick google search away, it’s understandable that someone would be intrigued to know their calorie requirements.

Living a “bodybuilding lifestyle” and a “balanced lifestyle” are not synonymous.

Is one superior? No.

Are they different? Yes.

The definition of balance implies that someone has achieved a state of equilibrium; in a lifestyle scenario, this would imply that various health-influencing habits and routines are 50/50.

When searching for something convenient to eat it’s important to not just consider “calories for energy” but ALSO nutrition for health!

In today’s food environment it’s simple to grab-n’-go with a meal or snack that’s energy dense. However, conveniently purchasing nutritious items that also provide sufficient energy requires a little more strategy…

Hunger is to dieting what exhaustion is to exercise - inevitable, but rewarding.

If you’re a competitor who is currently in the midst of a comp prep, we strongly encourage you to accept that chronically dieting for a show will inevitably come with uncomfortable consequences.

Contrary to popular belief, the sport of bodybuilding entails more than just “comp prep” and an “off-season”.

Are you puzzled why you’ve been seeing red for your calories, when you’re still in the green for macros?

Let us help you put an end to this MyFitnessPal mystery!

Spoiler alert: we ALL have a processed diet.
 
Everything we eat essentially goes through a process before it reaches our mouth - hence, we all eat “processed” foods by definition whether we like it or not.

The truth about BCAA’s: They’re unlikely to hinder your training, however they won’t enhance it either. The good news? There are alternative protein supplements available on the market that CAN enhance your training performance and subsequent physique results.

If your goal incorporates weight loss, then this infographic illustrates a few important points to bear in mind when trying to “go on a diet” and how to actually do it successfully!

For decades now artificial sweeteners have been abundant in our food environment, and with this has come decades of randomised control trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis which have researched their effects on human health outcomes. So the question is… are they safe?

The process of getting stage lean and “conditioned” for a bodybuilding show is multi factorial. For simplicity, we’ve broken down this process into five main components. Swipe through the above to read our best advice on how to nail the conditioning criteria for your next bodybuilding season!

Some claims in the fitness industry have merit… and some, well… don’t. Swipe through the above to bust five common bodybuilding myths, and understand that while they sound good in theory, they don’t hold up in practice.

Don’t ditch your goals in December! Today is the first of the month, meaning that there’s still 31 days left in the year of 2022. Despite this being >8% of an entire year’s worth of potential progress, some people are convinced that December should be a “write-off” simply due to an increased number of social events (namely Christmas and New Years Eve).

Despite the name, this is not a time you want to be taking “off”. Swipe through to read our five top-tips for how to maximise your results and maintain momentum during the off-season!

As a result of swinging the pendulum, the human body responds naturally via hunger and appetite hormones when it feels as though it’s entering “uncomfortable” territory. On one end this could entail an individual pushing their bodyweight upward 15% of their stage weight during a building phase, which would result in a suppression of appetite hormones and hunger cues. On the flip side, someone approaching near 5% of their stage weight during a dieting phase is likely to experience an up-regulation of appetite hormones and internal hunger signals.