It is a wk post contest and I feel like a fat cow! I'm up almost 10 lbs! I did have a few cheat meals (3) and have had bigger portions of clean foods all wk but I didn't think I was doing that bad. Is some of this water and will it go away? I am so depressed and disgusted with myself.

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. Is some of this water and will it go away? I am so depressed and disgusted with myself.

Laura, your not alone in feeling 'bloated' when your body starts to go back to non-contest mode. In fact, I think most people end up feeling 'fat' when we are done. We get used to the super lean look.

We can't look contest ready all year round, its not healthy. We need a small amount fat on our bones to keep our immune system regulating at a normal level.

Did you load potassium? Sometimes your body will hold extra water after a show, especially if you did not pyramid your dosage correctly.

I had my show 3 weeks ago, and I gained 10lbs in the 1st 4 days (7lbs of water) after the show. I'm now back to 160 (17lbs gained)and at a BF% around 8 or 9%. The first two weeks after the show, if i ate a cheat meal, my body would almost instantly feel bloated and my joints would hurt. This might be what you feel, its b/c your body isn't used to digesting this much fat,sugar, etc.

I think alot of what your feeling is this post contest bloat, and it will go away soon as long as you eat pretty clean.

Post what you are eating at this time.

Drink plenty of fluids, too.

Sounds like water bloat! Nobody gains 10 pure lbs of actual soft tissue-mass in one week unless you are eating 4000-6000 calories a day.

According to you, you are eating pretty well and only had 3 cheats.... you should pat yourself on your back cuz that is nothing!

It is bloat. Add green tea 3-4 servings a day to your current diet to help flush out some of that subcutaneus bloat. Remember, after your contest your body is SUPER anabolic and will soak up everything you put into it like a sponge. I wouldn't worry to much, how is your bodyfat precentage? Shouldn't have gone up that drastically in 1 weeks time...

I'm eating very clean besides my 3 cheat meals. I added carbs from oatmeal, sweet potatos, & brown rice but 1/2c servings only. I also have been eating a string cheese everyday. I'm craving cheese for some reason? I'm drinking a gallon of H2O too. I guess I've just got the post contest bloat (and blues). Thanks everyone for your replies!

Go back on your pre contest diet for about 5 days and drink tons of water. This will help you get rid of the "post contest binge" weight. Then, add clean calories back in slowly. You can't just go from 1200-1500 cals to 2000-2200 cals over night...even if they are clean cals. Add a couple hundred in a week until you stablize. And - try to stick to one cheat meal a week (if you aren't doing any more shows).