Fitness Exposé

Bodybuilding Secrets Exposed

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Training
    • Diet & Fat Loss
    • Supplements
    • Experiment
    • News
    • Resources
    • Reviews
    • Contest Prep
  • Podcast
    • Fitness Freedom
  • Coming!
You are here: Home / Blog

The Role of Sleep in Your Growth

October 17, 2012 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 1 Comment

If you want to gain size then you have to get enough rest. Sleep allows for maximal recovery and growth. While sleeping your body shuts down and that allows other metabolic processes to take over and work more effectively. When you are continually smashing your body with weight workouts, sleep becomes essential.

If you are having trouble sleeping, it is possible that the intensity of your training is interfering with the production of Melatonin in yor body. You can always supplement with Melatonin from a bottle. Using Melatonin is especially helpful if you experience jet lag from travelling a lot. It is quite an effective supplement.

Aim for 8 hours of sleep every night. That seems to be optimal for most people. You should feel energized and refreshed upon waking. Get out of bed when you wake up. Don't attempt to squeeze in 5 or 10 more minutes as that will likely just make you even more tired.

Sleep is something I personally need to work at. I generally get 6 hours a night and I feel refreshed enough, but there are days where I need a nap. I don't resist that and try to fit the nap in. I always set an alarm when I take a nap so as not to sleep too much. I pay careful attention to the energy levels in my body because they tell me if I am getting enough sleep or not.

Sleep is a misunderstood tool for growing bigger muscles. Don't neglect the usefulness of getting enough sleep. You will notice that you are stronger and your muscles start to grow when you get more sleep each night. We all have issues at times with sleeping, but take the necessary measures to get enough sleep the majority of the time and you will reap the rewards in the long run.

Related Posts:

  • The Role of Time Under Tension
  • The Mind Muscle Connection
  • Training Strategies to Increase Growth Hormone Levels
  • Anabolic vs Catabolic
  • Y3T Training System: Looking Back

Filed Under: Featured, Training

Excalibur Contest Prep Journal – 7 Weeks Out

October 13, 2012 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

Excalibur 2012

It is now 7 weeks until December 1, 2012. I have 7 weeks before I am scheduled to step on stage at the Excalibur contest. I was reflecting today on some of the changes that have happened for me.

After my last contest on Memorial Day 2012, I looked over my physique and made the following observations:

  1. My chest was way too small, almost non-existent.
  2. My shoulders needed to be more rounded and larger.
  3. My back needed to be thicker and the erectors needed work.
  4. My biceps were too small.
  5. My triceps needed to be bigger.
  6. My legs were great.
  7. My abdominal conditioning needed improvement

I then set out to fix these problems. As of right now, 7 weeks out, I have seen major improvement in every area of my body. My biceps are still lagging and I am experimenting with ways to fix that. I am working harder and harder every single day. I am focused on my diet and training plans. 

Come November 1 my main source of protein will be Swai. This white fish is very low in fat and I will be using it to help me lean out and grow muscle. I am confident that it will work for me.

You see, setting goals to improve body parts is what got me focused. Those goals gave me a reason to wake up each day. The goals gave me something to look forward to with my bodybuilding efforts. This is one learning an aspiring bodybuilder can take away from my own experience. Make sure you set goals that can be achieved, but are difficult. I already have a new goal for my next cycle. I am going to work even harder on my chest and arms, even going so far as doing specialization workouts just for those body parts.

 People are taking notice of the changes I've been making and that makes me feel good. I am stronger than I've ever been in my life. I am also in better shape right now, as I write this, than I was the last time I was on stage. Translated–I have already made improvements over my previous contest physique and that is exciting to me.

For anyone wishing to compete, take the time to set goals and then stick to them. Enjoy the progress you make. Nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it. During preparation you are competing against yourself and nobody else. Remember that!

Related Posts:

  • Excalibur Contest Prep Journal – 6 Weeks Out
  • How I Made it to the Contest Stage
  • The Pump and Blast Arm Training Method for Bigger Arms
  • Y3T Training System: Looking Back
  • Excalibur Contest Prep Journal – 8 Weeks Out

Filed Under: Contest Preparation, Experiment of One, Featured

Sheru Classic 2012

October 8, 2012 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 1 Comment

Phil Heath wins Sheru 2012The Sheru Classic was held in India this past weekend. Once again, Phil Heath came out on top. The Top 5 for the Men's Bodybuilding Division were as follows:

  1. Phil Heath
  2. Kai Greene
  3. Toney Freeman
  4. Roelly Winklaar
  5. Michael Keffalanos

Phil Heath was just too good for the competition once gain. 

The competition was fierce as these pros stepped on stage just after the Olympia showdown in Las Vegas a week ago. Once again, Kai Greene pushed Phil Heath to the limit, but Phil came away with his second title in 2 weeks. 

The Sheru Classic is held in New Dehli every year. It follows the Mr. Olympia contest in Las Vegas so it usually gets a lot of the very same competitors. This makes sense since they only have to hold their conditioning for an additional week. It seems that the winner of the Mr. Olympia contest manages to win this one each year. 

The IFBB is trying to spread the sport internationally with contests like this. Bodybuilding is generally not an accepted sport in the United States because of the use of steroids and the like. I could discuss the use of steroids and what that really means, but that's for another day. I think people need to realize that these guys may use things to enhance their body, but they still have to do the work, the eating and the training, to get the body you see on stage. They are amazing.

I get upset when people say they don't get interested in bodybuilding because “I don't want to look like that.” Well, I watch NFL football, but I don't want to look like a defensive lineman! It is about appreciating the athlete's performance. These guys bust their asses and they deserve recognition for it.

Related Posts:

  • Mr. Olympia 2012 Preview
  • Mr. Olympia Analysis, Part 5
  • Mr. Olympia Analysis, Part 4
  • Mr. Olympia Analysis, Part 3
  • Mr. Olympia 2014 Analysis, Part 2

Filed Under: Featured, News

Excalibur Contest Prep Journal – 8 Weeks Out

October 6, 2012 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 1 Comment

Excalibur 2012

I am now 8 weeks away from the Excalibur on December 1, 2012. I am still pushing towards my goal. While I do not have an update picture, I am getting leaner and things are looking better and better on the training front. I will stay the course and keep doing what I have been doing because it is working.

Training

I am still using my instincts to train each week. I am focused on hitting my arms 3 times each week because that is my weakest body part right now. This type of training, using my instincts, is working well. I don't hit a typical split where I do a certain body part on Monday, another on Tuesday, etc. Instead, I hit what seems ready at the time. I trained my back on Wednesday last week, but it feels strong and ready to go, so I will hit it again on Monday.  This is how I've made such good progress–hitting what is ready to be trained when it is ready to be trained. 

Nutrition

We have switched me to basically no carbs. I am actually carb-cycling, but in a different way. My coach, Ken Turchek, wants me taking in my carbs right before training. Thus, I have a cycle that goes like this:

  • Day 1: 150 grams of carbs
  • Day 2: 50 grams of carbs
  • Day 3: 50 grams of carbs
  • Day 4: No carbs at all

Now let's avoid confusion here and I will explain that “carbs” are referring to the starchy variety (rice, etc.) and not veggies. 

I am required to take in the carbs right before I train with weights each day. It is helping me to get extra lean.

Cardio

I am doing cardio 2 times a day for 40 minutes now (we increased it by 10 minutes). This is less than what I did during my last prep cycle yet I am leaner than ever before at the 8 week mark. 

Motivation

I am motivated right now because I want to see my six pack and the definition of my newly developed muscles. I am excited to look better and to feel better. 

Lifestyle

Bodybuilding has become a lifestyle for me. I am no longer just dabbling in it. I live it daily. I love to train in the gym and I love to feel stronger. I am looking better and feeling better. This is why when I hear the word “diet” I cringe because permanent changes only happen when you change your lifestyle. This is a choice for me–to live a healthy lifestyle–and I am sticking to it.

Related Posts:

  • Excalibur Contest Prep Journal – 7 Weeks Out
  • Bad Bodybuilding Information
  • Saturday Sharing: My Opinion on HIT Training
  • The NPC Nationals Update
  • How to Track Your Goal Progress

Filed Under: Contest Preparation, Experiment of One, Featured

Excalibur Contest Prep Journal – 9 Weeks Out

October 2, 2012 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 2 Comments

I am now 9 weeks out from the Excalibur show on December 1, 2012. I am aiming to be in the most amazing shape of my life. I've already made some incredible changes and now I am focusing on getting super lean. My diet and training are aimed at that goal right now. At the same time, I am keeping protein high to aid in the building of muscle because I am still lagging in several areas of my body. This is a marathon, not a sprint and that is something I have to keep reminding myself of.

After taking new progress pictures this weekend it appears that most of my body is growing. I need to give extra attention to my arms because they are still lagging, but the rest of me is growing nicely so I am going to focus on continuing that growth over the next 9 weeks. My goal is to have a six pack 4 weeks before the show, so in the next 5 weeks. Let's see if that happens.

I am feeling amazingly good right now. I feel like my progress has been awesome. I look better now than I did 2 weeks out from my very first show. A lot of that has to do with the extra cardio I've been doing right from the start of preparation. I am really pushing hard and getting the job done. The experience I gained from the past 2 shows has taught me a few things:

  • You can never do cardio too early in your preparation. I know that cardio is what gets you shredded (along with diet) so doing it early and often has been the key this time.
  • Training instinctively will help build up lagging body parts. Instead of following a set split where there is only a certain number of times a body part can be trained, train with your instincts. If your arms are lagging, train them more often. Find a way to fit in extra arm workouts even if it means training twice in one day.
  • Try different things to see what works for your body. My arms are not responding well right now so we are changing things up. We are going to try a workout where we hit them with lighter weight and higher repetitions and then another where we hit them with heavier weight and lower repetitions. We will see what works and then leverage that going forward.
  • Push yourself. We all have days where we wake up and don't want to train. Do not give in. Push yourself and make yourself train. You will not be sorry. This type of discipline is what champions are made of.

These are the things I've learned and anyone attempting their first bodybuilding show can learn from these as well.

Some progress pictures:

At the start of my preparation 5 weeks ago.
My back as of Saturday, September 27, 2012. The pose isn't as good as the original and it isn't as close up, but there is major progress.

Related Posts:

  • Contest Preparation Journal – 5 Weeks Out
  • Excalibur Contest Prep Journal – 6 Weeks Out
  • Excalibur Contest Prep Journal – 7 Weeks Out
  • My Focus Journal Entry #10
  • The Mass Gain Mission

Filed Under: Contest Preparation, Featured

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • …
  • 287
  • Next Page »

News

Toronto Pro Supershow 2016

June 12, 2016 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

IFBB Arnold Africa 2016

June 9, 2016 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

IFBB California Pro 2016

June 5, 2016 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

Coming Soon!

Featured Video

Regaining Focus!

Find out what I am doing to regain my focus.

We Recommend

Increase the internal rotation of your shoulder with the Rotater

New eBook!

Copyright © 2025 by Fitness Expose