Contest Prep Questions asked and Answered: Narkissos

[Narkissos]

Nark -

Got another ? for ya... I have a feeling I'm going to be in here quite a bit as I think of things.

That's cool by me

What supplements should I take just to help my body metabolize fat... I'm taking Stacker 3's right now, I like em, have liked em in the past. Should I look into R-ALA or some other things too?

Thanks bro

Let's see.

Metabolizing fat with primary preference where? Lower body?

You mentioned stacker 3. I haven't used it...probably never will (Nothing's beaten the ECA to date in my opinion).

Upon checking out the ingredient list I'd say, stack Yohimbine HCL with this product.

I'm seeing basically caffeine; caffeine and more caffeine.

I'm honestly not impressed with the formula at all.

Anyway... back to your question.

I'd add an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist like Yohimbe...as it'd stimulate fat utilization from the problem areas: glutes & love handles.

This is especially pertinent for those prepping for contests as the 'gold standard' of conditioning today is striated glutes.

Additionally, for those who have high natural aromatase activity (as characterised by very full but 'watery' builds) I'd add a SERM or AI at a low dose... 6-oxo would do.

Thyroid output stimulating supplements would also be a great addition... great cheap addition.

Seaweed/kelp is something Vince Gironda used to suggest all the time back in the day.

It's been dismissed as a joke novelty supplement... but may have had merit.

I know that when i started to compete that it was suggested to me...I added it, and it worked.

Recently i came across a study which correlated increased TSH output (among other metabolic increases) with seaweed supplementation.

The study: "Seaweed and soy: companion foods in Asian cuisine and their effects on thyroid function in American women."(1)

Anything that has potential action on thyroid output (specifically with increasing/improving said output) is of specific relevance to the dieter.

And an insulin-sensitizing agent: metformin; avandia; or R-ALA, would complete the fat-attack

I'm tentative to suggest the incorporation of R-ALA as i have no practical experience with it.

Did i miss anything?

-CNS


References:

1. Teas J, Braverman LE, Kurzer MS, Pino S, Hurley TG, Hebert JR. Seaweed and soy: companion foods in Asian cuisine and their effects on thyroid function in American women. J Med Food. 2007 Mar;10(1):90-100

[Fjock]

That's cool by me


I'd add an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist like Yohimbe...as it'd stimulate fat utilization from the problem areas: glutes & love handles.

This is especially pertinent for those prepping for contests as the 'gold standard' of conditioning today is striated glutes.

Hey Nark, im getting ready for an NPC national qualifier so being shredded to the glutes has never been more important than now for me. I am currently following a pre contest plan very similar to Mike XXL's sticky minus the ECA stack. So are you basically saying that Yohimbe is pretty much a must have in order to achieve this goal? If so I'd just like a little more info on how much and when to start using it. So instead of telling you what my current plan is, just look at Mike's old one and its almost indentical minus the ECA. So my clen/t3 will be 7 days/ week.

Also, if you think ECA is another MUST use for these types of shows.. please give me your opinoin because its not to late for me to throw that into my precontest as well. Thanks for any help you can offer. And Mike XXL, if ur around id like your .02 as well =)

[Narkissos]

Hey Nark,

Hey buddy

im getting ready for an NPC national qualifier so being shredded to the glutes has never been more important than now for me.

Understood.

How many comps. have you done prior to this one?

How long are your preps on average...and what kind of shape do you usually show up in? (post pics where possible).

I ask because if shredded glutes have eluded in the past, it may simply be because you need to extend the duration of your prep.

I am currently following a pre contest plan very similar to Mike XXL's sticky minus the ECA stack.

Which part of the prep are you using as your guide?

12 weeks outs?
8 weeks out?

Please outline your prep in reponse

So are you basically saying that Yohimbe is pretty much a must have in order to achieve this goal?

Nothing's a 'must have'.

I've gotten in shape with zero supplements period.

People before me have.. others after me will.

But... supplements definitely do help.

And..yohimbe (Yohimbine rather) is one such supplement.

If so I'd just like a little more info on how much and when to start using it. So instead of telling you what my current plan is, just look at Mike's old one and its almost indentical minus the ECA. So my clen/t3 will be 7 days/ week.

I'd start using the Yohimbine right now.

If you can get pure yohimbine HCL.. go with 8-16 mg daily.. split in 2 servings.

Dose it pre-workout on training days[1] (Split doses according to tolerance)

If you can only get Yohimbe.. go with a standardized extract...and shoot for the same mg amount.

e.g. 1% standardized herb = 800-1600 mg administered daily to provide 8-16 mg yohimbine.

Also, if you think ECA is another MUST use for these types of shows.. please give me your opinoin because its not to late for me to throw that into my precontest as well. Thanks for any help you can offer. And Mike XXL, if ur around id like your .02 as well =)

It isn't a 'must'... I just prefer the ECA to any other thermogenics.

..even clen.

I don't get cramps... the energy is clean.. not jitters, no shaking.

Anyway.. back to your prep.

Keep everything as is.. no need to add an ECA to the mix.

I would add Yohimbine in though.. to target the alpha-2s.

And avandia if you're a high-carb/moderate-carb dieter.

-CNS


References:

1. Mark F. McCarty. Pre-exercise administration of yohimbine may enhance the efficacy of exercise training as a fat loss strategy by boosting lipolysis.
Medical Hypotheses. Volume 58, Issue 6, June 2002, Pages 491-495

[Fjock]

Hey buddy



Understood.

How many comps. have you done prior to this one?

How long are your preps on average...and what kind of shape do you usually show up in? (post pics where possible).

I ask because if shredded glutes have eluded in the past, it may simply be because you need to extend the duration of your prep.




Which part of the prep are you using as your guide?

12 weeks outs?
8 weeks out?

Please outline your prep in reponse



Nothing's a 'must have'.

I've gotten in shape with zero supplements period.

People before me have.. others after me will.

But... supplements definitely do help.

And..yohimbe (Yohimbine rather) is one such supplement.

Ive done 4 NPC contest in the past so this will be my 5th and first time actually shooting to win a National Qualifier. I will be prepping this time longer than ever before. 13.5 weeks in total. In the past ive continually gotten stuck with having to choose shows that I didnt have full time to prep for. Usually ended up only being 8 or 9 weeks. So i think you may have hit the nail on the head for me already.. im hoping that the fact that im dieting a good 5 more weeks than im used to will sure help with bringing out the glutes. If not i atleast want shredded hams which will be a big improvement for me. Im currently 10 weeks out now and am cutting down very nicely, its hard for me to tell if I will end up ahead of schedule or not because of the length, but I think I will be doing myself more good than bad. Im 5'11 and 245 right now.



I will also be cutting my calories at 8 weeks out and switching to all chicken breast, tuna, egg whites, and isopure for protein. Grits, sweet potatos, white potatos (PWO) for carbs. fats will be coming from olive oil and peanut butter during fat loads. Not worried about my diet though because it seems to do pretty damn well even when im very limited on time. It was written up for me by a 2006 top 5 Nationals HW competitor. I attached a picture of me after only 8 weeks of diet. A good 5 extra weeks should definately help me complete the job this time and bring in my leg definition. Ill try and post a picture tonight of how i currently look at 10 weeks. And thanks for the Yohimbe info btw! very helpful and i think im gonna go for it. Im going to PM you with my age.

[Fjock]

Removed pics...

[Narkissos]

Got your PM bro

today at 10 weeks out. Tell me whatcha think as far as mass gains.

Your shape is similar to mine.

You're carrying a lot of mass however.



Props!

As to condition however, I think you're behind for 10 weeks out.

Step it up and you should do well!

Awesome build!

-CNS

[Fjock]

Got your PM bro



Your shape is similar to mine.

You're carrying a lot of mass however.



Props!

As to condition however, I think you're behind for 10 weeks out.

Step it up and you should do well!

Awesome build!

-CNS

Thanks for the support bro. Its funny because I was thinking i was a little ahead until I took these pictures and looked at them myself on the computer haha. Now I can see I have my work cut out for me these next 10 weeks. Hopefully the clen/t3/yohimbe combo will do its share. Plus im bumping up my cardio up about 5 minutes every week or so. These are the first pics ive taken of myself since Ive started to diet so I guess I should do it more often to really critique myself. Thanks again for the help bro. You gonna be competing anytime in 2008 yourself?