Another Look at Bodybuilding Peaking Techniques by Jerry Brainum 7/24

 

Long-time subscribers of Applied Metabolics know that I've written about bodybuilding peaking techniques a few times. This has involved various bodybuilding competitions ranging from elite professional bodybuilding competitors to the newer categories, such as Men's physique and Classic bodybuilding. I've also covered techniques commonly used by female competitors in their varied divisions. The information presented in these articles was based on new studies that examined the precise methods used by successful bodybuilding competitors to reach peak condition. Rather than just regurgitating what was presented in those studies, I also added my own opinions based on my over 60 years of personal bodybuilding experience, as well as through the knowledge I acquired in working with and interviewing countless elite bodybuilders over the past 40 years, including some of the most celebrated bodybuilders in the world. While successful bodybuilding has a significant genetic component, especially concerning things such as muscle shape and bone structure that cannot be altered by training or diet, there are nonetheless specific techniques that have proven to be highly effective by the proverbial test of time. This means that many bodybuilders have used these techniques and achieved their best personal condition, regardless of their genetic propensities. Not everyone can be Mr.Olympia, but everyone can get into fantastic, unprecedented personal condition if they know what to do.

The studies that have examined peaking practices of competitive bodybuilders have usually involved either so-called "natural" bodybuilders or those who eschew any anabolic drug usage and those who do use a broad spectrum of various anabolic drugs such as anabolic steroids, growth hormone, insulin, and others. Generally, it takes more study and knowledge to compete without the use of anabolic or other drugs because the drugs provide undeniable advantages that cannot be attained naturally. So, a natural bodybuilder has to be far more cautious about his or her diet and training techniques. This doesn't mean that taking steroids or other drugs will allow a person to train haphazardly or be sloppy about dieting since not even the most potent drugs will overcome that. The main advantage of anabolic drugs is that they vastly improve training recovery and allow you to train more intensely and even more frequently without slipping into catabolic overtraining. The drugs, not only steroids but others such as growth hormone, thyroid drugs, clenbuterol, and others, also favor lower body fat levels, producing a more defined muscular appearance that is not possible through using natural measures. That's why a drug-using competitor will always look more muscular than a natural bodybuilder.

Still, unless you have the genetic attributes that make for an elite bodybuilder, no amount of anabolic drug use will take you to the top in a bodybuilding competition. Such attributes include a small and narrow waistline, broad shoulders, and exceptional symmetry and proportion. The latter attributes refer to a body that is not lacking in any particular muscle group. Due . . .