I am 7 weeks away from my first figure competition. I am extremely tired and struggling through every workout. Any suggestions?

Assuming that your diet is on point and that you are getting adequate sleep, rest, and time to destress, I would think about taking a few days off from training (light cardio is still fine). You MAY be overtrainined and it is possible that pushing your body at this point will only lead to further overtraining, less muscle, illness, and/or injury. This is my guess if you are "extremely tired" and "struggling" to complete your workouts. I'm also assuming that this has been going on for a while and not just a couple days/workouts. If you are on track with your conditioning, then a couple days will NOT set you back at seven weeks out.

As an example, I'm about 5 weeks out from the Northern Kentucky. I just took a scheduled 4 days off from lifting and two days off from cardio. I am now refreshed and ready to continue with the final month plus of my contest prep. Now granted I have been dieting for months, training like a madman, and am ahead of where I normally am this far out from a show in terms of conditioning.

So people may disagree, but I think scheduled rest/time away from the gym are VERY important for growth and continued progress. Especially, when one is on a precontest diet and training program where he/she is lifting 3-5 times a week and doing cardio 4-6 times a week all on a restrictive diet.

Also, keep in mind that once you get down to the final weeks in will be very difficult. Your normal workouts will be challanging and you will be tired. Getting ready for a contest is tough; that may be why a lot of people who start to get ready never make it to the stage.

My guess diet is inadequate. Im 5 weeks out and feel great and am leaner than ever before.

This far out you should not be struggling that much. I bet you are doing very low carbs, right?

Post your diet and your stats..

I forgot to mention that I started at 15 weeks out so I am 8 weeks in to the diet. And yes, it is now low carb. I was not getting good sleep - my body would NOT rest. I was able to get some good sleep this weekend and what a difference this made. Thank you all for your help!

While I love the 50-20-30, that's the feeling you'll be getting.

4 weeks out, I changed my diet by adding 1 small sweet potato (roughly 6 oz) and 4 oz of salmon every other day after dieting for 20 weeks. I don't follow the 50-20-30 rule all the way.

Are you doing your own diet or is a trainer helping?

Doing the diet on my own - when i was super tired I added a 1/4 of a yam to two of my meals but that did not seem to help. I think it was just not getting sleep and doing so much that was killing me.

Waht about 7-Keto's. Are you using them pre-workout as of now? 7-Keto's should definitely give you that energy that you are looking for to get through your workouts, they are awesome!!!

I use green tea before my workouts. I will check into 7-keto. Thanks!

Sleep:

3 ZMA 4 Muscle Synergy before bed, empty stomach.

If you have these, try it.