As Ryan Irwin explains in the video below, fats can help with reducing hunger, keeps blood sugar stable, improve brain function and inflammation.  When we do nutrition coaching/meal planning, ensuring the right fats are included at the right times.  This is especially important for precontest diets and athletic performance.

Add fats into your meals (except for post workout recovery shakes for fast absorption) and make sure you get the essential fatty acids (like omega 3) in your day.

For these and other great carbohydrate and other supplement options, come visit either Nutri-Sport location to help get you by in a pinch next time!

For information on personal training or coaching, email: ryan@nutrisportFPT.com

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Nutri-Sport and Full Potential Training
9992 Swanson Blvd
Clive, IA 50325
www.nutrisportfpt.com
515.331.2141

Nutri-Sport Altoona
1003 8th St SW, STE K in Altoona (next to Hairy’s Day Spa)
Altoona, IA 50009
515.266.2225

Keys to this:

• Lifting heavy and hard (5-1 reps on compound exercises)
• Keeping carbs as high as possible
• NO FASTED STATE CARDIO
• Diet longer (18 weeks)
• Staying lean and focused in the off season

You can see my training log here but I am staying strong so I can be ready for the upcoming powerlifting season.  A key component for me to hit PRs this next season is to not get weaker now.  As of this AM I was 154.5 empty and I stepped onstage at 145 last year in July.

At 5 weeks out I added D-Aspartic Acid (a natural test booster) and HMB (recovery enhancer) as I grind through the last month of training.  At 4 weeks out I added Nitro Burn PM to further enhance fat loss, plus help with a deeper sleep for recovery.

There will be some very tough competition in the lightweight class, but I plan on going up and just looking my best!  Hope to have progress picks next week (been slacking on the pics cause too busy with everything else!) 

For information on contest prep coaching, email Ryan at: ryan@nutrisportfpt.com

Nutri-Sport and Full Potential Training
9992 Swanson Blvd
Clive, IA 50325
www.nutrisportfpt.com
515.331.2141

Nutri-Sport East
4400 East University, Suite B (in the Lakeside Fitness building)
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
515.266.2225
(soon to be at 1003 8th St SW, STE K in Altoona)

Prep has been going great, if all comes in like I expect, I will be 5lbs heavier than my last contest, just as conditioned if not more so.  Additionally, strength has continued to be there as my powerlifting goals are right there next to my bodybuilding goals.  I am invited back to the 2012 Arnold Sports Festival in March of ’12 so I don’t want to lose a bunch of strength and start my powerlifting cycle weak.  We have been running 5/3/1 as you can see in my training log here.

Currently I am doing both sprint HIIT cardio and SS cardio.  I am still lifting heavy to retain muscle and relying on diet and cardio for bodyfat loss.

My supplement stack is as follows:  Creatine, beta alanine, L-Carnitine, Xtend (during), Casein, Scivation Whey, MCT oil, Bio Heat, Great Tea, CLA, ZMA, Arginine/Orthinine, antioxidants, multi, 7 keto, liquid egg whites, Novem/GPLC.  Fish oil, D-Aspartic Acid/Estracourt.

I started my off season about 170lbs and am currently about 158.  Last time I stepped on stage around 143/145 so hopefully I’m going to be about 150.  Below are my 18 week starting pick and my 8 week out pic.

Continuing to refeed higher carb days 2x per week for muscle retention and to keep metabolism ramped up.  Will add in Burn PM soon as well as HMB to help stay as anabolic as possible.

Thank you to everyone for their support!

Ryan

18 weeks out side chest

8 weeks out side chest

For information on customized meal planning/training or contest prep coaching, email: ryan@nutrisportfpt.com

Nutri-Sport and Full Potential Training
9992 Swanson Blvd
Clive, IA 50325
www.nutrisportfpt.com
515.331.2141

Nutri-Sport East
4400 East University, Suite B (in the Lakeside Fitness building)
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
515.266.2225

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

www.nutrisportfpt.com

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

This week I have switched to using 100% liquid egg whites for a couple meals instead of protein, just to eliminate the residual 4-6 grams that are in the timed release whey.  I have also had more casein to keep me satisfied with it’s slow digestion.

Nailing the workouts, cardio too and looking forward to the contest, then turning right around and switching gears to hit NASA powerlifting nationals in January!  Planning my training cycle now, it’s gonna be intense!!!

Ryan Irwin 3.5 weeks out from NANBF Natural USA

Ryan Irwin 3.5 weeks out

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

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

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

Hips and lower back feeling great.  Did good mornings on leg day for the first time and looking forward to pushing it more and more.  Hit a PR on hack squats for the second week in a row!  It’s almost scary how well everything is going (stronger and leaner!!)

Added another Bio Heat cap but other than that, holding steady with my supplementation.  Have been using the psyllium husk as needed and casein to extend out the digestion period of meals if I need more time in between. Have been exclusively taking the 100% casein before bed too.  Mix that with puffed brown rice and raw almonds, yum!!

Off topic, had one of my new customers come in and show me some products they purchased at another store.  Not only did they pay around $150 for something they could have gotten for less than $75 here, while they were in really cool glass containers, the formula wasn’t even broken out and wasn’t a sufficient dose.  For example, to get an effective dose of CLA in one of the products, you had to take their largest recommended dose, but that doesn’t even consider that the propietary blend had other stuff in it too…  Guess that’s what the big dollar marketing campaigns makes up for, quality.

This weekend I’ll be judging the NANBF Golds Classic and IFPA International pro show in Kansas City.  Looking forward to seeing some of the top drug-free bodybuilders and figure competitors in the world!

Till next week, keep training like a machine!! -Ryan

Ryan Irwin, rear double bicep 6.5 weeks out

Ryan Irwin rear lat spread, 6.5 weeks out

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

Casein protein (before bed and added to whey to help get in between meals)

Psyllium husk

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)