Unpopular truth: Not everybody can diet on high calories

In fact, it's very uncommon that a bikini or a figure girl can get shredded eating 2000+ calories a day. Most of us will have to get down to 1100-1200 kcals, do a LOT of cardio and get very uncomfortable to achieve true, undeniable stage condition.

I notice a trend on social media, where coaches and athletes try to sell you the dream: get shredded whilst eating tonnes of food and doing zero cardio. Don't get me wrong, there are people who can get stage lean on 2000+ kcals but for the majority of us this is simply not the case.

I prepped more than 20 times myself, I have been part of the most successful team in the country. I prep show winners, I speak to high level athletes and I follow Olympians who share their journey on social media. I am yet to find a person, who is absolutely on top of their game (meaning they win shows or at least, they stand out in the line up for the right reason) claiming that they didn't have to dig deep and push to "dark places" to get very, very lean. Go watch Chris Bumstead (2 x Mr Classic Physique O) or Missy Truscott (Ms Fitness O) on Youtube, weeks before the O they eat 50g carbs and do an hour cardio a day.

This is not an eating competition. Nobody cares how many calories you end up on and how much cardio you are doing at the back end of your prep. High level bodybuilding requires high level efforts. If you want to be the best (the best version of yourself), you need to dig deep. Your results will depend on the amount of effort you are willing to put in and the sacrifices you are willing to make. If you are concerned about calories, feeling hungry and tired, if you can't view food as a source of fuel during prep, high level bodybuilding is probably not the right sport for you. And don't get me wrong... It's fine not being willing to suffer. But understand that competitive bodybuilding will require you to be miles away from your comfort zone.

My training day diet 16 weeks out:

Pre Workout

60g oats or COR

150mls egg whites

75g berries

2 x GDA

10g dark choc/nuts

Post wo

75g COR or cereal

100g chicken

veggies

2 x GDA

Post post

50g oats or COR

60g blueberries

6 egg whites

10g dark choc/nut b

2 x GDA

Meal 1

100g chicken/Tuna/5% Beef Mince

40g lighter cheese

veggies

OR

100g salmon

veggies

Meal 2

180ml egg whites

30g ham

30g light cheese

veggies

Meal 3

230g yoghurt

15g whey

80g berries

10g dark choc or nut butter