Nutri-Sport & Full Potential Training tip: disc split squats
March 9, 2010 by Ryan Irwin · Leave a Comment
When training, it is important that you not only just do the exercise, but do it in proper form and emphasize the muscles that you want to target. In other words, don’t just lift weights, but “feel” the bodyparts working.
In this video, David demonstrates a great variation in the Nutri-Sport studio to the split squat on the smith machine that helps emphasize the quads and requires more balance and stability, all of which is great for athletes or just those looking for a way to shake up their workout.
Throw this exercise into your leg routine at your next workout to shake things up. For more information on our personal training in the Full Potential Training studio, click here.
Nutri-Sport & Full Potential Training
9992 Swanson Blvd
Clive, IA 50325
www.nutrisportfpt.com
515-331-2141
Nutri-Sport supplement tip -nutrition during training
January 13, 2010 by Ryan Irwin · Leave a Comment
In order to make the body adapt and change, one needs to do three primary things: stimulus (exercise/training), nutrition and recovery. If one of those three components is lacking, progress either won’t be made or will be slowed. While constantly changing one’s training is essential for continued growth and performance is important, rest and nutrition should always be a mainstay and fairly consistent.
One aspect of nutrition that many individuals overlook is during their training. It is critical to fuel the body throughout the day, especially what we call the four most important meals of the day (before/after training, breakfast and before bed). However, by ingesting specific key nutrients during your workouts, you can accelerate your recovery and progress big time!
A recent study published in the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition once again proves this. While pre and post workout nutrition is critical, one’s digestive system still needs to break down the foods before it can absorb the nutrients. Even a shake (which we recommend due to it’s quick absorption) takes time, so one should allow at least 30 min before workouts to allow for this process. During training, you don’t want to have solid food in your stomach as it could not only make you sick, but also makes your body pull blood and energy from your muscles while you want them to perform.
We recommend sipping on a mixture of simple carbohydrates and Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) during training. This minimizes digestion, which gets the nutrients into your bloodstream and delivered to your muscles quickly, to begin the recovery process. Performance will be enhanced as well (especially if one is not taking full advantage of pre workout meals). As the research in this study shows, supplementing with this combo improves performance greatly over just drinking water. For recommend 2 Tbsp of dextrose (20 grams of carbs) and 2-4 scoops of Scivation Xtend, depending on your weight and intensity of the workout. Of course a sound post workout shake with the proper ratio of protein and carbs should be taken within 30 minutes to optimize growth and recovery.
Ryan Irwin, BS, CPT,
Certified Sports Nutrition Specialist
Nutri-Sport & Full Potential Training
9992 Swanson Blvd
Clive, IA 50325
515-331-2141
www.nutrisportfpt.com
Top 5 precontest myths and training update
November 13, 2009 by Ryan Irwin · Leave a Comment
It’s been 3 weeks since the NANBF Natural USA contest and my pro card victory and I’m still replaying the moment through my head! As my goal is to do my first pro show (IFPA Mr. Universe) in June, I am in growth mode, but going slowly to ensure I stay leaner and don’t have to overly diet for this competition. Came in today only a 1/2 pound over my stage weight and was at 5.8% bodyfat, so far so good! The picture below is from this morning.

Ryan Irwin 3 weeks post contest, 5.8% bodyfat
In my quest to compete at the NASA Nationals in January at Oklahoma, my strength levels have been steadily increasing. This week was the last week in my first 3 week cycle and I’m very pleased with the progress. We have been doing varying range of motions to continue to shock the body and attack the weak points. Below is a video of some deadlifts off 6″ blocks, which is right where my sticking point is. Squats are going great, as is bench too.
I have compiled a list of myths in regards to precontest prep that I thought I would share. When I work with my clients, it never fails that the locker room talk brings these up and others swear by them. Keep in mind, this is regarding those who are not using steroids or prohormones, but apply to most everyone.
Top 5 myths for precontest prep
5. Lift light for more definition: Wrong-lifting heavy weights stimulates muscle growth/retention, cardio & diet cuts the bodyfat. Wanna keep the muscle, keep the weights.
4. Stop taking creatine as it causes water retention: Creatine causes retention of fluid inside the muscle fibers, not underneith the skin. That keeps them hard and full, which is a good thing.
3. Do cardio on an empty stomach: Fasted state cardio has been shown in research studies to not increase the amount of fat utilized, but does lend itself to lose muscle tissue, not a good thing!
2. Don’t eat any carbs: This is a HUGE variable topic that really differs among individuals, but carbs are muscle sparing and you want to keep them as high as individually possible, gradually dropping them as needed.
1. Dehydrate/drastic carb deplete/carb load: This is a method that is supposed to draw water and carbs into the muscle fibers, make them hard and full. However, the timing is very difficult to hit dead-on and you do something extreme and you get an extreme reaction, often not what you want. A conservative approach is much more predictable. Muscle is 75-80% water, so when one dehydrates, what happens? Muscles flatten out and aren’t as full and hard. Most of the time when you hear someone is “holding water”, actually it is bodyfat and they didn’t diet long or hard enough.
These are just a handful of tidbits thought I would share! If you’re interested in competing in the Natural Iowa contest in May or just getting in the best shape of your life, come in and let’s chat so we can help provide direction. You bust your butt, so might as well make sure you’re doing it the most effective way possible.
Also, our next 9-week Bodysculpting course starts up in 2 weeks, if you’re interested, check it out!
Ryan Irwin
IFPA Natural Pro Bodybuilder
Nutri-Sport & Full Potential Training
9992 Swanson Blvd, Clive, IA 50325 515-331-2141, ryan@nutrisportfpt.com
Nutri-Sport Monthly Newsletter & Monday Madness reminder
October 30, 2009 by Ryan Irwin · 2 Comments
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Nutri-Sport | 9992 Swanson Blvd | Clive | IA | 50325
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Contest prep -2 weeks out
October 8, 2009 by Ryan Irwin · Leave a Comment
Wow, time has flown by! Hard to believe I’ve been dieting since July!! This has been a very smooth contest prep for the NANBF Natural USA in Chicago on Oct 24th. I believe the variety of food choices has really helped a lot on this. Everything is right on track, looking to come in stong!
Speaking of strong, I am simply amazed at how my strength has held. I attribute this to focusing on progression of weights and cycling my training to allow for recovery. I continue to get stronger with my leg exercises as well as the bench press and deadlift. My shoulder and lower back feel awesome and looking to start my training for NASA powerlifting Nationals at 100% right out of the gates.
For supplementation, the 100% liquid egg whites have be awesome to keep me satisfied and is very convenient. In either a shake or cooked as an omelet, they have been great. I am also going to add some night time herbs in before bed as sleeping has been increasingly difficult.
Have been working more on posing and putting together my routine. Looking forward to having fun with it as this will be the first time my kids will see me onstage!

Ryan Irwin front double bicep, 2.5 weeks out

Ryan Irwin 2.5 weeks out rear double bicep
Supplement stack:
Ecogreen multi vitamin capsules
Quad protein (timed release protein)
Bio Heat (fat burner)
Nitro Burn PM (night time fat burner/cortisol blocker)
Creatine (Bio Cell)
L-Carnitine/Alpha Lipic Acid (pre/post workout)
Xtend (during workout and in between meals)
Omega 3/6/9
CLA
Multi Whey & Karbolyn (post workout protein/carb shake)
Beta Alanine
Casein protein (before bed and added to whey to help get in between meals)
Psyllium husk
100% liquid egg whites
Nutri-Sport & Full Potential Training
9992 Swanson Blvd
Clive, IA 50325
www.nutrisportFPT.com
Contest prep -4 weeks out
September 25, 2009 by Ryan Irwin · Leave a Comment
Officially one month to go before the NANBF Natural USA bodybuilding championships in Chicago, IL. Things are really going well, definition, strength, size and even energy levels doing great.
This week for supplements I added in Nitro Burn PM, which is a night time fat loss agent that also helps you reduce cortisol levels and get a good nights sleep. Also, for the workouts, almost always splitting up my lifting and low intensity cardio sessions to get a metabolism boost two times a day.
Hit PRs again this week on some lifts, did sumo deadlifts on Monday and worked up to 455 for a single, which felt surprisingly good.
Tomorrow, headed to Council Bluffs for the Bluffs Classic and IFPA Masters Pro Cup. Great competition, looking forward to watching it!

Ryan Irwin 1 month out

Ryan Irwin, beginning of precontest diet
Ecogreen multi vitamin
Quad protein (timed release protein)
Bio Heat (fat burner)
Nitro Burn PM (night time fat burner/cortisol blocker)
Creatine (Bio Cell)
L-Carnitine/Alpha Lipic Acid (pre/post workout)
Xtend (during workout and in between meals)
Omega 3/6/9
CLA
Multi Whey & Karbolyn (post workout protein/carb shake)
Beta Alanine
Casein protein (before bed and added to whey to help get in between meals)
Psyllium husk
Contest prep -5 weeks out
September 18, 2009 by Ryan Irwin · 1 Comment
Things are really starting to get dialed in! Five weeks out from the NANBF Natural USA, feeling great, checked my bodyfat and just above 6%. I am two weeks ahead of where I was last time I competed in regards to leanness, which is right where I want to be. Strength is still increasing too! Things are coming together nicely.
In regards to supplements, this week I upped by Bio Heat dosage to the full amount so now I’ll run that through the end of the show. Have started to add some more psyllium husk to my casein before bed to slow digestion. I’m going to try to hold off one more week before I start the Burn PM to really crank things up.
Went down to Kansas City last weekend and judged the NANBF Golds Classic and IFPA Pro International bodybuilding and figure contest. Talk about motivating!!! Those pros are awesome and it is amazing what drug-free bodybuilders can achieve!
Scheduled a photo shoot for tonight, so threw on a coat of Pro-Tan this morning (thanks honey!) Here are a few pics with some color on my skin.

Ryan Irwin 5 weeks out

Ryan Irwin 5 weeks out

Ryan Irwin 5 weeks out
Ecogreen multi vitamin
Quad protein (timed release protein)
Bio Heat (fat burner)
Creatine (Bio Cell)
L-Carnitine/Alpha Lipic Acid (pre/post workout)
Xtend (during workout and in between meals)
Omega 3/6/9
CLA
Multi Whey & Karbolyn (post workout protien/carb shake)
Beta Alanine
Casein protein (before bed and added to whey to help get in between meals)
Psyllium husk
Pre contest prep-7 weeks out
September 7, 2009 by Ryan Irwin · Leave a Comment
This week has been a very
good one for my prep! Recovering well from the powerlifting meet and then getting into a car accident less than a week later (got hit in side, not my fault thankfully!) Dr. Tyler Molstre from True Life Chiropractic has been doing a great job in getting my hips and low back put back in place as they were significantly out of whack.
Getting leaner, upped my dose of the Bio Heat Hardcore one more cap (now 2 and 2). I am still getting stronger and hit a PR on both my hack and V-squats. Gotta love getting leaner and stronger at the same time!!! Got a set of chains at the studio and having fun using those! Am excited to incorporate them big time as I prepare for my next goal after the NANBF Natural USA which is the NASA Nationals in Oklahoma -bodybuilding nationals then powerlifting nationals, why not??
Progress is going great, things are really starting to come in! Super excited for what lies ahead!

Ryan Irwin 7.5 weeks out

Ryan Irwin 7.5 weeks out

Ryan Irwin, starting diet 16.5 weeks out
Current supplement stack:
Ecogreen multi vitamin
Quad protein
Bio Heat (fat burner)
Creatine (Bio Cell)
L-Carnitine/Alpha Lipic Acid (pre/post workout)
Xtend (during workout and in between meals)
Omega 3/6/9
CLA
Multi Whey & Karbolyn (post workout protien/carb shake)
Beta Alanine
Precontest prep update -8 weeks out
August 27, 2009 by Ryan Irwin · Leave a Comment
This week things are full speed ahead. Hit the Iowa State Fair bench press/deadlift meet last Saturday and was pleased with my performance. Dropped down to 148lb class (reminded me of my wrestling days) and hit 295 on the raw bench press and 510 on the raw deadlift (see video below). Both won my class, but more importantly, hit the numbers I was going for. Now full speed ahead for contest prep! I am still planning on lifting heavy. One of the biggest mistakes people make when dieting is lifting light and going for more reps, this will cause muscle tissue loss and is wrong!! You still need to lift heavy to give your body every reason to hang on to the muscle while in a calorie deficit. Your nutrition and cardio is what really gets you lean.
My lower back is stiff from the meet and while most take a week of easy training afterwards, I can’t afford that luxury. I did bump up my dosage of my fat loss agent (Bio Heat) to 2 caps in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. Switching up to more casein in the evening (which is lower in sodium and carbs than cottage cheese).
This week I’m feeling good about my progress pictures. Things are starting to come together but gotta utilize every day over these next 8 weeks!

Ryan Irwin 8.5 weeks out precontest prep overhead abdominal pose

Ryan Irwin 8.5 weeks out precontest prep front double bicep shot
Current Supplement stack:
Ecogreen multi vitamin
Quad protein
Bio Heat (fat burner)
Creatine
L-Carnitine/Alpha Lipic Acid (pre/post workout)
Xtend (during workout and in between meals)
Omega 3/6/9
CLA
Multi Whey & Karbolyn (post workout protien/carb shake)
Precontest prep -9 weeks out
August 20, 2009 by Ryan Irwin · 1 Comment
This weekend is the Iowa State Fair bench press/deadlift competition. I am cutting down to the 148 lb class so got to drop some water weight for that. Hoping to double my bodyweight in the bench press and deadlift over 500lb pounds. The training this week has been modified, but still making progress to the ultimate goal of being stage ready in 9 weeks.
For those interested in attending, the meet will be at the Budweiser, ABC5 stage which is SW of the Varied Industries building on Saturday. Lifting starts at 9:30 and it should run most of the day.
This week I added in a fat loss agent to my supplement stack which was Bio Heat, which is a great all around thermogenic. I’m starting off at a minimal dose, which is 1 cap 2 times per day. I will continue to work that up as things draw closer.
In the meantime, next week I’ll update on my next mini-goal which is the Richard Dellaca Pump & Run which is on September 5th. Bench press your bodyweight as many times as possible then run a 5k, my kind of race!

Ryan Irwin 9.5 weeks out back double biceps

Ryan Irwin 16.5 start of precontest prep, back double bicep












