Page 13 - NGA NATURALmag 2023 SPRING / SUMMER Issue

Spring-Summer 2023
use to do and sadly some still prescribe this practice without any solid education The dehydration theory comes from zero scientific evidence and is is just an an an idea with no solid claims to establish it it it The thought behind this is is is that it it it it will help you you look more “peeled” or or or “dry” or or or any other term you you may use to describe it it However the the the problem is is that that this can actually have an an an adverse effect in in in achieving the the look that that some are striving for once you learn about human physiology In addition dehydrating during peak week is very unhealthy and and can lead to to severe side effects and and even to death Let me explain further why this practice makes no sense The goal of “peak week” is is to prepare an athlete for the the the stage looking their best Typically you will load carbohydrates and sodium at at at different levels given the the the the personal needs for each athlete This is is done to to fill the the muscle muscle glycogen stores which will make muscles look larger and and push against the skin Sodium also helps with glucose transport blood pressure and and vascularity Water is very very important because for every 1g of of car- bohydrate stored as glycogen it pulls 3-4g of of water in in in the the the the the muscle muscle (making the the the the the muscle muscle larger) Water is inside the the the the the cells cells in in in in in in blood and in in in in in in the the the the the space between the the the the the cells cells The idea behind dehydrating is to lower water levels outside the muscle but you you you can’t selectively remove water water from from one area area If you you you you dehydrate you you you you lose water water from from ALL areas of the body This will will make you you you actu- ally look smaller and and flatter Your vascularity will will also go down and and make it it it it it harder to get a a a a a a a a a a a a a a “pump” before you you hit the the stage In addition not only is is it it it it potentially damaging the the look you you you you are going for for but is is is extremely risky for for your your health By not providing your your body with enough water you you you are at at severe risk risk of passing out having kidney problems seizures and much more including death By reading this I am hoping you walk away with a a a a a a a better understanding of of bodybuilding science This will help you clarify some of of the misinformation that is is is is so so widely spread in in in in this sport and abundant In addi- tion it will keep your bodybuilding process done in in in in a a a a much more intelligent and safe manner n n n n n n n n and he he got leaner over time which created the illusion that his skin was thinning MYTH: TRaINING YOUR TIE-IN’s
Youmayhaveheardintheindustrytheterm“tie-in” First let’s debunk this this word word There is is is is no such thing as a a a a a a a “tie-in” When you hear this this word word what is is is is is actually being referred to is is is the the place where two muscles connect or or intersect at at a a a a a a a a a certain point in in in in in in the the body For example “glute ham tie-in” is is a a a a a a a a a a a a very popular term that you may have have heard However the the fact is is is the the word“tie- in” doesn’t exist in in in in in human anatomy Your muscles have have what is is is referred to to to as an an an an origin origin and insertion point The origin origin is is is is typically where the the the the muscle attaches to to the the the the bone and is is is the the the the least mobile The insertion point is is is the the the the more flexible end end end that usually connects to to tendons tendons with the the tendons tendons connecting to to the the bone As you can see muscle groups are separated and do do not not “tie-in” together so training your “tie-ins” is not not possible Now that part is is clear let’s bring more clarity in in in in in in in how the the term “tie-in’s” is is used in in in in in in in in in in in in training training You may hear in in in in in in in in in in in in the the industry people talk about training training tie-ins in in in in in in in in in in order to to to improve a a a a a a a a a particular area Well I’m sorry to to to tell you but it’s impossible to to to do this Your body insertion and origin points are genetically determined there is is is is no changing this That is is is why you see so many differ- ent ent shapes to the the same muscle groups in in different athletes A perfect example are the the the the glutes Everyone has them them and trains them them but all will look different depending on on on where these points are attached on on on the the body The only thing you can do here here is make that muscle itself bigger by proper training Glutes may also be be improved through better conditioning in in in in in order to to make that that point more visible or or or distinct in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a contest You will never be able to to to to “isolate” that that area for training training to to to improve it it it so so “tie-in’s” as it it it pertains to to to training training is an impossibility MYTH: YOU NEED TO DEHYDRaTE IN PEaK WEEK
In practice we see athletes look phenomenal by drinking plenty of water prior to to a a a a a a a a a a contest contest and on on on contest contest day It may baffle some to to hear this but the the well-informed coaches do not dehydrate their athletes This myth is is once again popular because it’s what they
About the Author: Chad Adamovich is Owner of o IRONSCIENCE a a a a a a bodybuilding focused coaching business for prep and “off-season” development He He is also the the the the Director of of Training and Development for over over 30 clubs across the the the the US developing other professionals in in in in the the the the field He He has spent over over half a a a a a a a a a a decade with his pursuit of education in Exercise Science and and Sports Nutrition In addition he he holds the credentials as a a a a a a a a a a Certified Strength and and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) Chad has an an an an unparalleled passion for for the research science and and application behind sports performance nutrition and and hypertrophy He has devoted the the majority of his life to helping athletes at at at the the youth collegiate and pro level in in numerous sports His experience is is is vast included being a a a a a a a a a a Director for Athletic Republic and more To get additional free professional training advice follow on on on on Instagram @ironscience_ pro or visit www iron-science iron-science com com Contact Email: chad@iron-science com com NGA NATURALmag
13