Share your techniques for dropping water - Pre Contest

**EME** · 10-11-2005, 07:26 PM

Fellow Competitors,

Please share the techniques that each of you use to drop water before a show.

I don't want for this to be a debate as to the "BEST" method for dropping water, as I believe different techniques work better for different competitors.

What technique will work best for you can be influenced by many things including your individual genetics, whether or not you use certain anabolic compounds, whether you choose to use prescription or herbal diuretics, etc..

My goal for this thread is for us all to share and discuss the techniques we have used.. successfully, or unsuccessfully to reach that ripped contest condition.

Feel free to share your method, regardless of whether you use prescription compounds or not... my goal is for this thread is to provide valuable info to all prospective competitors, and to let them make the best choices as to what to use, based on thieir own personal situation and preference.

Here is my current technique:

I use a strategy that involves

1) Sodium Loading and Depleting
2) Carb Depleting and Loading
3) Herbal Diuretic

Based on a Sat. Show:

5 days out from a show ( Mon, Tues, Wed ) I begin a 3 day Carb deplete.
During the carb depletion period I keep my water intake very high.

2 days out from the show ( Thrs. ), I begin a Carb load and simultaneously drop all sodium from my dietary intake. I keep water high on this day.
I also begin taking 2 doses per day of an Herbal Diuretic. I used to use Taraxatone, but I switched to Expel for my latest competition and felt it worked much better.

During this period I will begin to see a very noticeable drop in subcutaneous water as the combination of depleting sodium and the Expel get rid of water under my skin, and as the carb load technique pulls water into my muscle cells.

1 day out from the show ( Fri. ) I continue with the sodium deplete and herbal diuretic, as well as the carb loading.
I will monitor my condition in the mirror hourly, and adjust the amount of my carb load at this point, depending on my condition.

The major change this day is that I will cut my water intake to about 32oz on Friday. Basically I consume 4oz water with each meal, and then just sip water in between meals as necessary.

Show Day ( Saturday ) is basically a carbon copy of Friday, except that I will drink about 8-12 oz of water immediately after Pre-Judging to keep from getting too flat.

This method has worked very well for me, and worked even better when I made the change from Taraxatone to Expel for my last show.

Below is a pic of the driest condition that I have achieved to date.

( I'm much bigger than this now, but I hope to achieve this same ( or even better) level of dryness for my upcoming show next June.

- EME

Please share the techniques that you guys use!

TKL · 01-16-2006, 05:43 AM

i want to try this one day recreationally. im sitting at a very low bodyfat right now, veins in legs/calves/arms/shoulders/chest even when im full of carbs and water.

just to test it out, what would I have to do?

**EME** · 01-16-2006, 01:34 PM

It's a six day process, so you would pick a target day to look your most ripped, and then back up 5 days and follow the plan as outlined above.

To get the full effect you must follow each part of the plan as outlined above.

If you have any specific questions about anything, just let me know.

- EME

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKL

i want to try this one day recreationally. im sitting at a very low bodyfat right now, veins in legs/calves/arms/shoulders/chest even when im full of carbs and water.

just to test it out, what would I have to do?

sulcop · 01-16-2006, 08:49 PM

I keep the water high through the whole process, up to 2 gals/day. On Saturday I set aside a 32 oz. bottle to get me until prejudge, than I drink normal until after the show. I NEVER sodium load or potassium load, I just cut back slightly on Friday. My diet is the same the last week, by that time I am more or less low carb, until Friday night. I have 1/2 a sweet potato before bed and when I wake up and every hour through to prejudge. I eat no protein till after the show. I will have 1/2 a snickers about an hour before I go out and I sip Gatoraid when I pump up. I do a min pimp up in the morning for around 15-20 min before I have my sweet potato. I have found this mini pump primes the carbs for delivery to the muscle, just like post workout meal. Ever see how much better you look when you pump up a second time at the night show? Same theory, I just do one pump up at 7am then carb up and pump up again. That is about it, I like it simple.

Sully

**EME** · 01-16-2006, 09:07 PM

I keep Kendra's fluid intake high throughout the whole process also.

Kendra gets too flat if we cut her water back, but I don't dry out enough unless I do.

Admittedly, I'm still perfecting this process on myself. I was dry and full for my last show, but cramping like a mother..... ugh.

So, I took in a bunch of fluid after prejudging and got rid of the cramping, but also smoothed out considerably for the evening show.

It's always a process to find out Exactly the best way to prepare.

- EME

Quote:

Originally Posted by sulcop

I keep the water high through the whole process, up to 2 gals/day. On Saturday I set aside a 32 oz. bottle to get me until prejudge, than I drink normal until after the show. I NEVER sodium load or potassium load, I just cut back slightly on Friday. My diet is the same the last week, by that time I am more or less low carb, until Friday night. I have 1/2 a sweet potato before bed and when I wake up and every hour through to prejudge. I eat no protein till after the show. I will have 1/2 a snickers about an hour before I go out and I sip Gatoraid when I pump up. I do a min pimp up in the morning for around 15-20 min before I have my sweet potato. I have found this mini pump primes the carbs for delivery to the muscle, just like post workout meal. Ever see how much better you look when you pump up a second time at the night show? Same theory, I just do one pump up at 7am then carb up and pump up again. That is about it, I like it simple.

Sully

sulcop · 01-17-2006, 01:37 PM

Have you ever done the Gatoraid thing? Same would happen to me, but about 10 years ago I would take pedialight and now Gatoraid and no bloat, no cramps and I can keep my fluids slightly lower so no spillover.

Sully

**b-boy** · 01-17-2006, 06:33 PM

i don't want to really get to specific here since I pay a prep guy good money for my info, but i agree on keeping water high all the way through to about friday evening, will help you stay fuller, i prepped a guy at the kentucky state this past november and he was by far the leanest guy on stage, dry as a cotton ball..LOL kept his water high until about 6pm which i cut his water out, only sips saturday morning, i never potassium load, although i do sodium load, it helps the body excrete more water when you cut the sodium... carb loading is a personal thing and i won't touch that subject here... too many factors to consider and is very person specific!

leanmass · 12-13-2006, 04:48 PM

This is some interesting post, please participate more cause i want to learn more about this!

BB2K · 03-21-2007, 01:16 PM

BUMP this thread. I have 10 days until my contest is over, a transformation contest. I want to come in cut and ripped. I am holding a little water so i ordered Taroxatone (spelling but its a diuretic you get on most sup sites) I carb load every 18th meal and calories are down to 1700 non carb and 22000 carb load. Help me get this water off! lol

The Brotherhood · 03-22-2007, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB2K

BUMP this thread. I have 10 days until my contest is over, a transformation contest. I want to come in cut and ripped. I am holding a little water so i ordered Taroxatone (spelling but its a diuretic you get on most sup sites) I carb load every 18th meal and calories are down to 1700 non carb and 22000 carb load. Help me get this water off! lol

22k carb load? :O

Dr. Joe's articles on final week prep on bb.com are great for final week prep from an anecdotal and scientific standpoint.

Chuck should take care of you, he does this stuff all the time

BB2K · 03-22-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Brotherhood

22k carb load? :O

Dr. Joe's articles on final week prep on bb.com are great for final week prep from an anecdotal and scientific standpoint.

Chuck should take care of you, he does this stuff all the time

Yes i do carb load and it is awesome, working VERY well for me. I like the info that is on this site alot better than bb.com, more down to earth boys here. lol And Chuck does take care of all that for me, but i am furthering my education in this field for the future.
Chuck is the Shiz and has helped me transform my body way past what i thought was possible!

**DJSTARER** · 10-05-2007, 03:52 AM

A little different goal... but does anyone have any thoughts for strength athletes? I am sitting at 184-185 in the morning, and although i have another 2 months to get to 181, i was wondering how one might drop water weight without effecting strength. Weigh-ins are 1 hour prior to the opening squat, so i dont have a ton of time to get my water/glucose back. Is my best bet drinking a TON of water and cutting sodium?

note: i'm dieting, and probably won't have to worry about this as much if i drop the BF, but honestly, with my genetics, I don't think i'll be able to drop much more BF without seriously effecting my lifting. I'm sitting around 8-9%.

DJohnson · 10-05-2007, 05:59 AM

Yeah, I think you'd just lower both potassium and sodium and increase water intake. Keep carb intake normal. Maybe take some caffeine in the morning or some mild diuretic like that.

Weigh yourself in the morning and make sure eating doesn't put you overweight.

**DJSTARER** · 10-07-2007, 04:11 AM

yeah. thanks 4 the advice

**b-boy** · 10-07-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJSTARER

A little different goal... but does anyone have any thoughts for strength athletes? I am sitting at 184-185 in the morning, and although i have another 2 months to get to 181, i was wondering how one might drop water weight without effecting strength. Weigh-ins are 1 hour prior to the opening squat, so i dont have a ton of time to get my water/glucose back. Is my best bet drinking a TON of water and cutting sodium?

note: i'm dieting, and probably won't have to worry about this as much if i drop the BF, but honestly, with my genetics, I don't think i'll be able to drop much more BF without seriously effecting my lifting. I'm sitting around 8-9%.

dj if it was me i would have prefered to get a lil too light about a week and a half before and then eat my way up to the meet, that way i think you would be at your strongest. trying to drop water at the last minute could be negative to your strength bro.

**DJSTARER** · 10-17-2007, 06:45 PM

i agree. Thanks.

i've been running a CKD for the last few weeks, and will continue. Hopefully I'll get 1-2 lbs underweight (light you suggested) so I can actually eat leading up to lifting.

10-11-2005, 07:26 PM	#1
EME Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,651 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 55	Share your techniques for dropping water - Pre Contest Fellow Competitors, Please share the techniques that each of you use to drop water before a show. I don't want for this to be a debate as to the "BEST" method for dropping water, as I believe different techniques work better for different competitors. What technique will work best for you can be influenced by many things including your individual genetics, whether or not you use certain anabolic compounds, whether you choose to use prescription or herbal diuretics, etc.. My goal for this thread is for us all to share and discuss the techniques we have used.. successfully, or unsuccessfully to reach that ripped contest condition. Feel free to share your method, regardless of whether you use prescription compounds or not... my goal is for this thread is to provide valuable info to all prospective competitors, and to let them make the best choices as to what to use, based on thieir own personal situation and preference. Here is my current technique: I use a strategy that involves 1) Sodium Loading and Depleting 2) Carb Depleting and Loading 3) Herbal Diuretic Based on a Sat. Show: 5 days out from a show ( Mon, Tues, Wed ) I begin a 3 day Carb deplete. During the carb depletion period I keep my water intake very high. 2 days out from the show ( Thrs. ), I begin a Carb load and simultaneously drop all sodium from my dietary intake. I keep water high on this day. I also begin taking 2 doses per day of an Herbal Diuretic. I used to use Taraxatone, but I switched to Expel for my latest competition and felt it worked much better. During this period I will begin to see a very noticeable drop in subcutaneous water as the combination of depleting sodium and the Expel get rid of water under my skin, and as the carb load technique pulls water into my muscle cells. 1 day out from the show ( Fri. ) I continue with the sodium deplete and herbal diuretic, as well as the carb loading. I will monitor my condition in the mirror hourly, and adjust the amount of my carb load at this point, depending on my condition. The major change this day is that I will cut my water intake to about 32oz on Friday. Basically I consume 4oz water with each meal, and then just sip water in between meals as necessary. Show Day ( Saturday ) is basically a carbon copy of Friday, except that I will drink about 8-12 oz of water immediately after Pre-Judging to keep from getting too flat. This method has worked very well for me, and worked even better when I made the change from Taraxatone to Expel for my last show. Below is a pic of the driest condition that I have achieved to date. ( I'm much bigger than this now, but I hope to achieve this same ( or even better) level of dryness for my upcoming show next June. - EME Please share the techniques that you guys use! __________________ PhysiqueFXonline - Online Nutrition and Training with Michael and Kendra Elias: www.PhysiqueFXonline.com www.MichaelandKendra.com My wife, and IFBB Fitness Pro Kendra Elias' personal site: www.KendraElias.com Proud member of Team ALR: www.ALRIndustries.com

01-16-2006, 08:49 PM	#4
sulcop Pro Stature Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 155 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 4	I keep the water high through the whole process, up to 2 gals/day. On Saturday I set aside a 32 oz. bottle to get me until prejudge, than I drink normal until after the show. I NEVER sodium load or potassium load, I just cut back slightly on Friday. My diet is the same the last week, by that time I am more or less low carb, until Friday night. I have 1/2 a sweet potato before bed and when I wake up and every hour through to prejudge. I eat no protein till after the show. I will have 1/2 a snickers about an hour before I go out and I sip Gatoraid when I pump up. I do a min pimp up in the morning for around 15-20 min before I have my sweet potato. I have found this mini pump primes the carbs for delivery to the muscle, just like post workout meal. Ever see how much better you look when you pump up a second time at the night show? Same theory, I just do one pump up at 7am then carb up and pump up again. That is about it, I like it simple. Sully __________________ www.SOAbodybuilding.com

01-17-2006, 01:37 PM	#6
sulcop Pro Stature Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 155 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 4	Have you ever done the Gatoraid thing? Same would happen to me, but about 10 years ago I would take pedialight and now Gatoraid and no bloat, no cramps and I can keep my fluids slightly lower so no spillover. Sully __________________ www.SOAbodybuilding.com

03-21-2007, 01:16 PM	#9
BB2K IMPC Contestant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 713 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 31	BUMP this thread. I have 10 days until my contest is over, a transformation contest. I want to come in cut and ripped. I am holding a little water so i ordered Taroxatone (spelling but its a diuretic you get on most sup sites) I carb load every 18th meal and calories are down to 1700 non carb and 22000 carb load. Help me get this water off! lol __________________ MOD/REP @ IBE www.epistane.com Need that killer diet? Ask Chuck Rudolf! chuckierd@aol.com

10-05-2007, 03:52 AM	#12
DJSTARER Writing Staff Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 3,912 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 109	Re: Share your techniques for dropping water - Pre Contest A little different goal... but does anyone have any thoughts for strength athletes? I am sitting at 184-185 in the morning, and although i have another 2 months to get to 181, i was wondering how one might drop water weight without effecting strength. Weigh-ins are 1 hour prior to the opening squat, so i dont have a ton of time to get my water/glucose back. Is my best bet drinking a TON of water and cutting sodium? note: i'm dieting, and probably won't have to worry about this as much if i drop the BF, but honestly, with my genetics, I don't think i'll be able to drop much more BF without seriously effecting my lifting. I'm sitting around 8-9%. __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: Total 1400 in competition

01-16-2006, 05:43 AM	#2
TKL IMPC Contestant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: edmonton, AB Posts: 114 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 4	i want to try this one day recreationally. im sitting at a very low bodyfat right now, veins in legs/calves/arms/shoulders/chest even when im full of carbs and water. just to test it out, what would I have to do?

01-17-2006, 06:33 PM	#7
b-boy Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 538 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 35	i don't want to really get to specific here since I pay a prep guy good money for my info, but i agree on keeping water high all the way through to about friday evening, will help you stay fuller, i prepped a guy at the kentucky state this past november and he was by far the leanest guy on stage, dry as a cotton ball..LOL kept his water high until about 6pm which i cut his water out, only sips saturday morning, i never potassium load, although i do sodium load, it helps the body excrete more water when you cut the sodium... carb loading is a personal thing and i won't touch that subject here... too many factors to consider and is very person specific!

12-13-2006, 04:48 PM	#8
leanmass IMPC Contestant Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Lisbon PORTUGAL Posts: 133 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 8	This is some interesting post, please participate more cause i want to learn more about this!

10-05-2007, 05:59 AM	#13
DJohnson IMPC Contestant Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 956 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 41	Re: Share your techniques for dropping water - Pre Contest Yeah, I think you'd just lower both potassium and sodium and increase water intake. Keep carb intake normal. Maybe take some caffeine in the morning or some mild diuretic like that. Weigh yourself in the morning and make sure eating doesn't put you overweight. __________________ Age: 21 Height: 5'10.5" Mar, 2001: 135lbs @ ~14% Nov, 2004: 245lbs @ ~40% Feb, 2006: 188lbs @ 20.1% - Hydrostatic Tested Dec, 2006: 168lbs @ 5.5% - 7 Point Caliper Tested BULKING FOR A LONG TIME NOW Long Term Goal: Over 200lbs @ 8%

10-07-2007, 04:11 AM	#14
DJSTARER Writing Staff Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 3,912 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 109	Re: Share your techniques for dropping water - Pre Contest yeah. thanks 4 the advice __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: Total 1400 in competition

10-17-2007, 06:45 PM	#16
DJSTARER Writing Staff Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 3,912 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 109	Re: Share your techniques for dropping water - Pre Contest i agree. Thanks. i've been running a CKD for the last few weeks, and will continue. Hopefully I'll get 1-2 lbs underweight (light you suggested) so I can actually eat leading up to lifting. __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: Total 1400 in competition