Page 14 - NGA NATURALmag 2023 FALL / WINTER Issue

Fall-Winter 2023
Two Massive Mistakes To Avoid For Contest Prep
BY CHAD ADAMOVICH CSCS WWW IRON-SCIENCE COM CHAD@IRON-SCIENCE COM There are are important factors to to to consider be- fore you begin contest prep regardless if you are an experienced competitor or or a a a rookie As an an educated and experienced coach in the the field I understand that contest is the the most exciting time of the entire process The problem is if you are are not prepared and plan well it can turn into a a poor performance or or or or even worse it it can lead you to to quit the the sport altogether Below are the two biggest mistakes I’ve seen made by experienced competitors and rookies when it comes to contest prep There are sev- eral other considerations beyond what is men- tioned below but if you don’t consider at least these you most likely will have a a a negative out- come or experience TIMELINE SINCE LAST CONTEST SEASON
One of the the biggest mistakes I see being made in in in the the the industry is is how much time some competitors take for the the “off season” or or or development phases If you want a a a a a a a a a a a a a fast track to never having a a a a a a a a a a a a a better pack- age age on on the stage or or burn out completely constantly compete compete I’ve seen awesome competitors compete compete too frequently and and disappear because of burn out Additionally you need time to to grow and and this takes more than just a a a a a a a a a a a couple months As a a a a a a a a a a a natural com- petitor it it takes a a a a a a a a a a a a a long time to to recover from a a a a a a a a a a a a a contest season In fact if you were truly stage lean according
Chad Adamovich
Photo Taken During Contest Prep
to to published data it takes about 4-7 months for hormones and metabolic rate to to to normalize This is is is also if you are practicing a a a a a a a a a a a solid post show plan to to build calories back up intelligently If you you are looking to to to stay in in the sport a a a a a a a a long time and become a a a a a a a a a a a better natural competitor you you need to to to take time off from contest Intelligent coaches and athletes will recommend at at at the very minimum a a a a a a a a a a solid year o of develop- ment between seasons and this is is is in in addition to what is is is needed outside of your recovery post show In fact the 14 NGA NATURALmag