Page 11 - NGA NATURALmag 2025 Spring/Summer

Spring - Summer 2025
BEFORE PREPPING
stages of prep If you are going through some stressful times in in in life it it might be be best to to consider a a a a a different timeline to to make the experience more positive than negative TIMELINES
Outside of the the above factors and on the the physiologi- cal side side it’s extremely important to to review prep time- lines lines Here are some professional guidelines on on this:
• How Long Has It Been Since You Competed Or Went Through A Cut?
How long was the cut? Were you you truly stage lean? It is is not realistic to to to constantly be be dieting so if you you you want to to to be be successful when cutting you you need to to to have a a a a a a a a significant amount of of time out out of of a a a a a a a deficit Post contest even when reversing properly it it would take about 6 months or or or or more to to bring hormones back up to to normal if i you you were stage lean From there you you should spend a a a a a a significant amount of time time in in a a a a a a surplus to build food up intelligently To see the the difference next time time time you you hit the the stage you you need time time to grow in in in this surplus Pro- fessional recommendations are are typically a a a a a a a a a minimum of 1 year in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a true surplus without dieting If you you you are are constantly cutting you you you will be driving your body into About The Author:
the ground and most likely come out looking worse each time you try to compete • How Long Do You You Need To To Cut To To Bring Your Best?
You typically want to to plan more time than not to to minimize stress Illness and life can happen delaying progress Professionals always recommend timelines based on on on on current body composition with some cush- ion ion ion to to spare Also no timeline timeline should be extreme Pro- fessionals will recommend longer timelines to to mini- mize lean tissue loss tanking the athlete athlete and more Most athletes should be preparing for months not weeks weeks Avoid the bro cookie cutter approach of every- one doing 8-12 weeks weeks because to to have that timeline you you already need to to be be be very lean If you you go the the extreme route the the consequences could be be great which would take an entirely different article to address If you you you consider the the the areas in fin in the the the checklist above you you you may find yourself enjoying the the the the experience much more along with with the the potential to achieve greater success Natural bodybuilding is a a a a a a a a a a a long-tailed sport with with no short cuts Plan and train intelligently to help you in in in in this extreme sport we love so much n Chad Adamovich is is owner of o IRONSCIENCE a a a a a a a bodybuilding-focused coaching business for prep and “off-season” development He is is also the Director of of Training and Development for over over 49+ clubs across the the the US developing other professionals in in in in the the the field He has spent over over half a a a a a a a a decade with his pursuit of education in in Exercise Science and and Sports Nutrition In addition he he holds the credentials as 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 hyper- trophy 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 Director for Athletic Republic and more To get additional free professional training advice follow on on on on Instagram @ironscience_pro web: www iron-science iron-science com com email: chad@iron-science com com NGA NATURALmag
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