I'm leaning towards entering the Old Dominion Open a NASF show in September. It is a live-judged show which would be new for me. Can anyone who has been in one suggest any changes that I might want to consider as far as the final two days timing of things goes? As opposed to a typical show with pre-judging in the morning on Saturday, for this show pre-judging will start around 4pm and then be combined with the night show - an all-in-one schedule. I know that either Aram or Sully must have been in such a contest with all of thier experience. Perhaps others have also. Looking for your insights. Thanks.

VA,

Just off the top of my head right now, I think what id do is delay the carb meal i have in the morning until about 1PM. Before this time Id eat what I normally would have eaten after that meal, i.e. beef, grapefruit and maybe 4 oz yams. After the carb meal at 1pm id probably have one more 4oz beef and grapefruit and then begin with the carbo force and salt and adding back in water as the 4PM time came around. Interested to see how others would handle it. What are your own thoughts on it?

VA...My very first show, last year, was an NABBA show. All was combined in the evening, it was pretty cool. The weight class walked out and did quarter turns, then walked off. Then we did our 90 sec routines. After that we all walked back on and they did the mandatories. This show started at 6:00PM, I had beef/grapefruit all day and some beef/sweet potato around 4:00. I used the MP goo for that show.

Once other difference is that once you warm up, you need to stay that way for a little longer since you are doing the judging and routine all at the same time.

Overall, it was a good experience for me.

Dwayne

VA,
Now I've never done a "live" show, but there have been times where I've guest posed, and they were usually slotted anywhere from 7-9P.M.
Since I prepared for these exhibitions as I would a regular show my hope is that you may apply what you see fit.
The first couple times I tried carbing up the day before and the day of, only to have this method backfire. Have you ever noticed how crisp and tight you look in the morning upon awakening, during the last week or so before a show? As the day wears on one tends to hold more fluids, and flatten out some. My goal was to maintain that "dry" look into the evening. The following is what seemed to do the trick:
1)Kept water intake very high the last week, cut back some on Friday but kept drinking until bed.
2)Cut water on Saturday morning.Began a mild potassium load every hour.(this is the only time I have benefited from potassium)
3)Continued with vit c and b6 throughout the day
4)carb loaded Thu until 3rd meal on Fri, then only steak and a very low glycemic carb source
5)Saturday, very little carbs, but every 2 hrs I'd take a tsp of glutamine and 2.5gr bcaa's (Glutamine Select would probably work great. Wasn't available then)
6) although Sully would probably disagree,( but who is he anyway? ) I always tend to end with fat and sodium closer to stage time, rather than carbs.
Just giving you a different perspective here, VA.
Very happy you're doin a show! Good luck!

ARAM

Thanks Aram. I'll send you a PM with some follow-up questions.