Question for the competitors

[Charissa]

Just a quick question. I'm still new to competing only two shows now and I'm just wondering how much your weight fluctuates after the show not including the post show bloat from all the goodies :D. I've heard 5-10 pounds is generally the range.

[Neely]

You mean off season weight vs show weight?

Usually I fluctuate about 15 pounds.

[Charissa]

yep, how quickly do you put it back on? a month, two months...? Is that when you bulk too or just going back to off season maintenance

[Neely]

yep, how quickly do you put it back on? a month, two months...? Is that when you bulk too or just going back to off season maintenance

Usually it takes me about 3 months to go up 15 pounds. Some of it's just from eating some crap food. Some of it's from bulking.

[Audrey]

I am usually about 7-10lbs above my contest weight off-season, and that is me actively trying to put on weight/bulking to make some more changes to my physique. It normally takes me 3 months to add this weight.

How much weight you gain back post-show depends on several factors, the most important one being how you plan your off-season diet and how many calories above maintenance (or even whether you eat above maintenance) off-season. An initial weight gain of a few lbs is usually expected immediately post-show from glycogen storage, water (especially if you used diuretics), and whether or not you binged a lot post-show.

Try to slowly bring your calories up to maintenance, spend some time at maintenance and then slowly bring them up to a small surplus of-season if your goal is to bulk.

[Charissa]

wow only 7-8 pounds bulking? My body puts on fat easily. that would be great if I only put that much on for my bulk "crossing fingers":laugh:

[Anca]

I put on 4 lbs (compared to actual stage weight) in the next 4-5 days after the show.
2 months later I was up 3 more (I had kept my clean diet, slowly lowered cardio and upped carbs). So 7 lbs total 11 weeks post-show.
23 weeks later (34 total from show) I am up another 13 lbs (after an active over-maintenance clean bulk with controlled cheats).
Grand total: 20 lbs in 8 months.
I gain fat easily too though- I know I would have gained way more (and faster) if I hadn't kept to a fairly clean diet.

[Charissa]

that sounds good, I'm up 5 pounds a week post show. I should be starting maintenance with Erik this week. I'm not worried about it or anything it's just like a shock to the body. It feels thick hehe :p

[Jen]

I gained about 5lbs of water retention after each show. bulking different story.