I believed lengthy and onerous about this installment—whether or not to mix the ultimate two weeks into one “peak week” article, or separate them into two particular person weeks: two weeks out and peak week. Clearly, I opted for the previous. And right here’s why: At two weeks out nearly nothing is occurring. You’re mainly simply holding your breath.
Aside from some guys beginning their diuretic schedule and possibly carb-depleting towards the top of the week, you’re principally attempting to carry it collectively whilst you grind—coaching, cardio, meal prep, posing follow, tanning mattress, maintaining together with your social media. It’s as robotic an existence recognized to man. To not point out probably the most attempting. Should you’re going to lose your thoughts, that is the place you’re going to lose it.
Additionally, lately, the “final week” may really be the final 10, 12,15 days. The time period “peak week” is nebulous. What I’m providing you with right here is the proverbial “dwelling stretch.”
Respect The place It’s Due
First, let’s pay deference to the women and men who make it this far. No matter division or present, for those who began a contest prep and ran it by way of all 12- to 16-plus weeks and really stepped on stage, what you’ve achieved is inexplicably extraordinary. Over three many years I’ve prepped athletes from each stroll of life—clerical staff, docs, legal professionals, truck drivers, captains of trade—and with out exception, each single one has stated prepping for a bodybuilding contest was the one most troublesome factor they’ve ever achieved. Now think about that on the Olympia stage. The order of magnitude is meaningless to anybody however a fellow Olympian.
So once I say one thing as seemingly trite as “for those who’re going to lose your thoughts, that is the place it’ll occur,” it’s stated with reverence. From a bodily, social, religious, and emotional perspective, what occurs throughout this dwelling stretch shouldn’t occur to any human—not to mention somebody willingly doing it to themselves.
The Bodily Grind
This half’s the simplest to elucidate. Should you aren’t prepared now, you’re not going to be. You’re not constructing any extra muscle throughout this part. Your physique construction isn’t going to vary. You’ve mainly obtained what you’re bringing to the stage—plus or minus just a little water, glycogen, and possibly a hint of fats. That’s why this era is all about manipulation.
Some guys go for radical carb depletion. Some solely barely. Some cycle. Some don’t deplete in any respect. Again within the Haney/Gaspari period, nearly nobody used diuretics. Today some guys begin as much as a month out. By two weeks, loads of rivals are on some type of diuretic. Some wait till the final couple days. However in 2025, there’s probability that everyone’s utilizing one thing.
Past that, the playing cards are held near the vest. Olympia-level pre-contest pharmacology can embrace plasma expanders, anti-cortisol medication, insulin, clenbuterol, painkillers, website oils, and different substances to mitigate muscle loss and maintain metabolic fee excessive. It’s a Pandora’s field I’m not opening all the best way with specifics. At this stage the medication, dosages, and functions are complicated, harmful, and—for those who’re not below somebody who actually is aware of what they’re doing—lethal. Multiple athlete has died attempting to “nail” their peak.
The Psychological Spiral
That is the true killer. Psychological, religious, and emotional stress will damage a champion physique sooner than grazing on the Chinese language buffet. Self-doubt, second-guessing, distorted self-image, reacting to adverse feedback on-line, irritability, foul moods, constipation, diarrhea, the overall displeasure of each breath—that is the norm. You simply need it to be over.
And then you definitely begin considering: Again within the day they didn’t do any of this shit and a few say the physiques seemed higher! Wind that thought loop tight sufficient and also you’ve obtained a recipe for a crash. Most guys maintain on. Some don’t. Some come shut. On the finish of the day, the strongest thoughts wins.
All the things Else
Throughout these closing days the schedule ramps up. Some guys are touring from abroad with a pharmacy of their suitcases, risking customs within the US the place what’s in these vials is a federal felony. Sponsor appearances, photograph shoots, interviews—some lower them off, others can’t afford to. A couple of even maintain down day jobs. In the meantime there’s nonetheless raining, cardio, meal prep, posing follow, tanning classes, massages, chiropractor visits, pores and skin therapies, social media obligations. Fixed movement turns into a type of distraction from the starvation, the stress, and the ready.
The coaching itself normally shifts: nonetheless intense however lighter, concentrated, cautious—prepare it, don’t break it. One freak damage this shut to indicate day can erase a complete 12 months. The food plan is tighter than ever, starvation at its peak, the urge to cheat insufferable. And sure, some guys do break. I’ve heard tales of trench coats and ball caps, for a Taco Bell run at 1 a.m. Starvation units the temper. “Resting bitch face” turns into the default look.
The Dwelling Stretch
That is the house stretch—the fruits of months of onerous work, struggling and sacrifice —not simply the manipulation of sodium and water, however the navigation of your personal thoughts. The champions you see onstage aren’t simply physiques. They’re survivors of a crucible that exams every thing: physique, thoughts, and spirit. And for those who’re nonetheless standing, nonetheless shredded, nonetheless smiling on sport day, you’ve already gained one thing most individuals won’t ever perceive.