3.5 weeks into cruise before a potential prep and things are going to plan.
Normally on a cruise I’d also reduce calories and tidy up at this point but as I may be going into a prep calories have been kept at 6000 to maintain fullness and tissue.
As a result of this all lifts within training are holding weight and hitting rep ranges too, so nothing dropping off in training as of yet.
Recovery is taking abit of hit, muscle soreness much more noticeable but still managing to recover fully before the required muscle is ready to be trained again.
During this period I thought it would be a good time to have a mini break away.
So me and my girlfriend travelled to Paris and spent 3 nights in the city. For these 3 nights and 4 days I decided to go completely flexible with diet and purposely didn’t train, something I haven’t done in about 8 years! Overall the outcome of doing this was a positive one for me, my mind was completely reset and was raring to get back to the weights, my joints even after just four days of no load were massively recovered and my body felt completely in a rested state. If you can get past the mental aspect of having time off I’d defo recommend once In a while.
Overall 4 days in Paris and a rest from bodybuilding was a success, I reset my body, mind and enjoyed myself in the process. Although I was offplan calories were probably less and protein intake down so only thing I would recommend would be to take some protein powder with you, for me the weight restriction on the case gave me the choice of a tub of whey or my girlfriend heels, I chose wisely!
Steps were through the roof, I didn’t track but must of been easy in the high 20ks
And trust me getting that many steps in a pair of doc martens comes with consequences! My heels were rawer than the snails I had for breakfast!
So a great time away to reset with a loss of 4lb in body weight but now regained being back on normal meals.
Now continuing to cruise until January to the start of 2023s prep :)
END OF PUSH SUMMARY
End of push with a few set backs and goal weight was not added but overall happy with body composition.
Had a few niggles with It Band which hindered leg training skightly but worked around it. Started in my right leg then when that was fixed my right started to glare up, TYPICAL!
Weight still at 268lb but body composition way better and water weight pulled off from post show rebound, so overall there has been improvements.
Going into a cruise/health phase now to get my bloods back in range to possibly start prep in January for an early Regional then onto a pro qualifier.
I have plans on working with a coach to oversee my prep as I have clients in comps around the same time that need my complete effort.
Food will be kept at around 6000cals during cruise, this way if I prep food will be at a way more optimal starting point.
Overall since time on stage a good amount of muscle has certainly been added (mostly from rebound) which imo I got just right to be able to gain a good level of muscle but stay in pretty good shape.
So 2023 the transition from heavies to supers will be likely 😁
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19 comments
Cruise/long weekend away to Paris:
3.5 weeks into cruise before a potential prep and things are going to plan.
Normally on a cruise I’d also reduce calories and tidy up at this point but as I may be going into a prep calories have been kept at 6000 to maintain fullness and tissue.
As a result of this all lifts within training are holding weight and hitting rep ranges too, so nothing dropping off in training as of yet.
Recovery is taking abit of hit, muscle soreness much more noticeable but still managing to recover fully before the required muscle is ready to be trained again.
During this period I thought it would be a good time to have a mini break away.
So me and my girlfriend travelled to Paris and spent 3 nights in the city. For these 3 nights and 4 days I decided to go completely flexible with diet and purposely didn’t train, something I haven’t done in about 8 years! Overall the outcome of doing this was a positive one for me, my mind was completely reset and was raring to get back to the weights, my joints even after just four days of no load were massively recovered and my body felt completely in a rested state. If you can get past the mental aspect of having time off I’d defo recommend once In a while.
Overall 4 days in Paris and a rest from bodybuilding was a success, I reset my body, mind and enjoyed myself in the process. Although I was offplan calories were probably less and protein intake down so only thing I would recommend would be to take some protein powder with you, for me the weight restriction on the case gave me the choice of a tub of whey or my girlfriend heels, I chose wisely!
Steps were through the roof, I didn’t track but must of been easy in the high 20ks
And trust me getting that many steps in a pair of doc martens comes with consequences! My heels were rawer than the snails I had for breakfast!
So a great time away to reset with a loss of 4lb in body weight but now regained being back on normal meals.
Now continuing to cruise until January to the start of 2023s prep :)
END OF PUSH SUMMARY
End of push with a few set backs and goal weight was not added but overall happy with body composition.
Had a few niggles with It Band which hindered leg training skightly but worked around it. Started in my right leg then when that was fixed my right started to glare up, TYPICAL!
Weight still at 268lb but body composition way better and water weight pulled off from post show rebound, so overall there has been improvements.
Going into a cruise/health phase now to get my bloods back in range to possibly start prep in January for an early Regional then onto a pro qualifier.
I have plans on working with a coach to oversee my prep as I have clients in comps around the same time that need my complete effort.
Food will be kept at around 6000cals during cruise, this way if I prep food will be at a way more optimal starting point.
Overall since time on stage a good amount of muscle has certainly been added (mostly from rebound) which imo I got just right to be able to gain a good level of muscle but stay in pretty good shape.
So 2023 the transition from heavies to supers will be likely 😁