Page 40 - NGA NATURALmag 2024 SPRING/SUMMER Issue

Spring-Summer 2024
Contest Prep:
How Much Time is Needed to Get Shredded?
BY ERiC BROWN “FiTMAN” FiTMAN@FiTMANPERFORMANCE COM
@ FiTMANEB/ WWW FiTMANCLASSiCBODYBUiLDiNG COM
The first thing that that prospective natural bodybuilders and figure competitors should realize is that you must have already built your base physique before begin- ning a a a true contest prep You cannot begin a a a successful contest prep campaign without having a a a a real foundation to work with For example you are not ready for a a a a true contest prep if you are missing or lacking in in in full muscle group development in the the legs or the the back Another such example of this is is if you do not not have any muscle or shape to your physique and you you realize that you you must spend more
time in in the gym building your base physique before you consider stepping on on stage Step- ping on stage when you are nowhere near ready is is the recipe for a a a a total disaster Timelines
For veteran natural bodybuilders and figure com- petitors petitors who compete on on a a a a a a a regular basis 16-24 weeks of contest prep should give most competitors enough enough time to get lean enough for the stage When I I won the the overall in in Bodybuilding and Classic Physique at at at the the 2022 NGA Mr Natural Philadelphia I I spent 26 weeks prepping for that competition The 2022 NGA Mr Natural Philadelphia was my first natural bodybuilding competition since 2014 and after 8 years
40 NGA NATURALmag