I am, with the help of Beverly, preparing for my first show. I am three weeks out and I am experiencing alot of stomach cramps and a bloated feeling. Until now no problems other than energy levels. My diet is low carb low fat with two carb meals weekly. Any tips? Thanks KY diva

What kind of prtein are you eating? I had a similar prob when preparing for my first show. I had only been using chicken. and was advised to use fish and very lean beef to as substituions. I tried this and it helped.

Before my first contest I became extremely bloated and had stomach pains that would wake me in the middle of the night. After much trial and error, I realized that I was getting a whole lot of iron (especially from ultra 40's) and not enough fiber. I began supplementing with 2 tablespoons of sugar free metamucil and the problem went away.
During competition the next year I started pre-contest prep with the added fiber and had no problems.

SEAN

try fish and use steak to but not a wholelot because of natural creatine occurance in steak but I did find that a grapefruit and steak diet 2 weeks at a maximum before the show really sheds alot of water, you don't need potassium loading with that phase but it can be some what painful meaning cramps because your floating at the very low to no sodium range and that can cause cramps but if that does happen eat a pinch of sal when it happens abd the day of the show eat somthing like pankcakes for breakfast because those kind of cramps can keep you from competing. just some knoweldge passed down to me by a faithful contest prep beverly bodybuilder

by the way what show are you preparing for I am also a native virginian , is it natural or regular