Preparation for Competition

[smitcurt]

The contest this weekend in Raleigh will be my first. Do any of the veterans have any suggestions or helpful hints on what to do or not to do the few days prior to competition. I have lifted light this week and think today will be my last day of that. What about cardio - should I stop that as well or continue a normal routine. I normally walk/jog on the treadmill 30 to 45 minutes a day.

[3speed]

There are a lot of variables that have to be considered to answer your question. How old are you? Are you above or below your target bodyweight? I understand that you are looking for advice, but everybody is different and you will only learn what works for you thru trial and error. The only advice I can give at this point is have fun, enjoy the experience, and make sure your opener is something you can triple on a bad day. No one likes to bomb out.

[dopar66]

Hey, SmitCurt. Gotta agree with 3speed, lots of variables! I tell you what I do: Monday of meet week, I do a warm up of bench and squat, not above 35-40% of my opener. I keep it to about 3 sets of each, just a few reps. I just can't MAKE myself not touch a weight for a week! :') Then after that I just do really REALLY light cardio.

A couple of variables that may differe between you and me is that I'm blessed to be able to stay within 4 or 5 pounds bodyweight year-round. Also, light cardio doesn't generally make me breathe heavy, sweat a lot, anything like that. I'm usually ready to weigh in two weeks in advance, everything else is just gravy.

I could list several guys who have told me they do nothing meet week, then just dehydrate down to weight class from say, Tuesday to Friday. (One says he can lose 14 lbs that way...) I don't like dehydration, so I maintain a pretty strict diet year round. Except for Mt Dew..

For your first meet, concentrate on two things: making weight and making your opening lift for each lift. I've found opening up around 90% usually gets me in the meet. Maybe you could use a modified form of this and say "I'll use a weight I could get for 3 (or 4 or 5) reps ANY day for my opener." Just make sure you get it.

I'll be in Raleigh with a good friend and experienced competitor named Jack. If you want us to be there for lift offs or anything, look for a short guy with a bald spot and a yosemite sam mustache, hanging with an even shorter dude with dark hair.

God Bless.
Doug P.

[isbell]

No cardio and dont workout heavy 5-6 days prior to the meet.
*since this is your first meet I will tell you to bring something to eat at the meet.
It can be a long day and it will sap a little of your strength.
I actually bring a cooler with fruit,food and drinks.

[jimray]

Here's my post on the MM forum this morning. It refers to the New England Record Breakers super RAW meet at UMass on May 6th:

(And now, we've come to the part of our show we call, "advice from a nobody".)

For the guys that normally compete in shirts, but goin' raw at NERBs, I have some advice: REST! Rest, rest, and more rest. Do not fear getting weaker with 7-10 days rest. If you can overcome that fear, come the morning of the meet, you'll wake up and say, "it's HEAVY day!" You'll be so geeked, it's not funny.

Also, your final warmup should be much less than your easy opener. You have nothing to prove in the warmup room.

(That's our show for today. Tune in next time when we compare Oreos and Nutter Butters head to head!)

Man! I wish I could be there for NERBs! I'd rather win a trip to that than the Super Bowl!

[drew]

hello people i have a question what do u do on the week before the competion do u lift light, kinda heavy, or not lift at all?

[fatcat]

NERB's sounds like one of the biggest contests in the land. I'd rather go there than this years superbowl but maybe not next years. Because the Dolphins will be in that one. he he