Q&A - Creating a Caloric Deficit

Q:
I just viewed the DVD "I Want to Look Like That Guy" and it was awesome!!! I do have one question.... I noticed that on the diet schedule that was on the DVD, Stuart's calories went way down there at the end....

Question is did he stay on the same 5 day Max-OT training and cardio during that time? I ask because I have been warned that if I take my caloreis to low and continue to work out at a high level than it will basically backfire and be counterproductive.

A:
Thanks for the great feedback! Glad you enjoyed the film.

Not only did Stuart stay on the 5 day Max-OT schedule throughout, he actually increased cardio frequency as the show got closer and as calories got more restricted. To reach single digit body fat levels it is imperative to create such a caloric deficit.

The process of gradual caloric reductions and increased cardio frequency needs to take place over a period of several months to be most effective at losing fat while continuing to build and maintain muscle. If there is a dramatic caloric drop and a dramatic increase in cardio frequency all at once, indeed that can be counterproductive to building and maintaining muscle.

Other keys to the process that Stuart followed were smart nutrient ratios/nutrient timing, continuing to train heavy with Max-OT principles and always keeping cardio sessions short (16-20 minutes) and intense. All of these are important principles for achieving maximum fat burning while continuing to build and maintain hard earned muscle throughout the process.


Believe. Achieve.


http://www.jeffwillet.com/
http://www.iwanttolooklikethatguy.com/

Drug Free Competitor Tip of the Day

Don't try to rely on some last minute technique like carb loading to make you look great onstage. If you are not already in great shape by the day of the contest there are no last minute tricks you can do to make you shredded.

Your performance is determined by your actions in the months and months leading up to the contest and how intelligent and consistent you are with your daily execution.

First time competitors shouldn't worry about the scale and shouldn't worry about any fancy "tricks" like they may read from the pros in the magazines. Instead, the focus should be on getting as lean as possible while still building and maintaining your hard earned muscle. This is accomplished by continual execution of a smart plan for many months leading up to your contest.

I touch on these points and other FAQ about contest preparation in my new DVD "Posing to Win."

Believe. Achieve.

www.jeffwillet.com
www.iwanttolooklikethatguy.com

Sundance and other Saturday thoughts.

Co-producer/film maker and star of "I Want to Look Like That Guy" just entered our film into the highly acclaimed Sundance Film Festival. I am not sure how long the screening process takes. It would be incredibly exciting if we made it in. I know they get thousands of entries each year and it would be an elite honor to be accepted. Keep your fingers crossed!

Another thought that came to mind is it was 9 years ago almost to the day when I officially started my job at AST Sports Science HQ in Golden, CO. Hard to believe it is possible that it could have been 9 years ago already.
(Photo: In my office at AST Sports Science)

For those of you who don't know the story, here's the condensed version. I moved form Michigan to Colorado in August of the year 2000 to work as a Technical Specialist for AST Sports Science. I lived in Colorado and worked directly for AST for about 4 years before returning back to Michigan to open my Powerhouse Gym.

The four years I spent in Colorado were some of the best and most challenging years of my life. It was also one of the single greatest educational experiences as well, not only from a bodybuilding/fitness standpoint but also on a personal level. That was the first time living completely on my own far away from any family or friends. I really didn't know anyone when I moved to Colorado. I had only met Paul Delia (CEO AST Sports Science) a couple times and I had met my future co-workers on a weeks visit to Colorado about 6 months prior to moving. It was a giant leap for me but a leap I had to take as I recognized it was an opportunity of a life time and a chance to help make my dreams of becoming an IFBB Pro and one of the worlds greatest drug free bodybuilders a reality.

Paul was incredible during those years as a mentor, boss and friend. I am forever thankful of the opportunity he gave me. Truth is barely a day goes by where I don't think about something he had told me regarding business, bodybuilding or life in general.

Believe. Achieve.

http://www.jeffwillet.com/
http://www.iwanttolooklikethatguy.com/

Which Max-OT routine is best?

I often get asked which Max-OT routine is the best, meaning is there a best way to arrange exercises/body parts. Truth is there is no one Max-OT arrangement that is better than another. The way the workout is arranged is not as important as whether or not all the Max-OT principles are being followed such as set/rep volume, exercise selection and workout frequency.

You'll find many examples of Max-OT arrangements on the AST Sports Science web site as well as multiple examples in my Training Journal and you will have success with any of those because the core Max-OT principles are present in all of them.

The one thing I would suggest if you are making your own arrangement is not placing two major body parts together on the same day such as Chest and Back. I also prefer keeping legs to a day by themselves. Reason being, it is very hard to maintain the level of intensity needed for maximum results throughout your workout if you have two major body parts following one another on the same day.

Believe. Achieve.

http://www.jeffwillet.com/
http://www.iwanttolooklikethatguy.com/

"I Want to Look Like That Guy" Gets National Press

Our documentary "I Want to Look Like That Guy" got its first national press in the October 2009 issue of IronMan Magazine.

Check out Lonnie Teper's News and Views section (pg. 212) to see the announcement.

Hopefully this is just the first to come!

Believe. Achieve.

http://www.jeffwillet.com/
http://www.iwanttolooklikethatguy.com/

Stop the long duration cardio madness!

While I was channel surfing last night I caught a show on E! - "True Hollywood Story - Female Bodybuilders." Like a car wreck, I had to peak on my way by.

Part of the story was following an amateur figure (maybe it was fitness, I can't remember which for sure) competitor who was trying to win her pro card at a national NPC event. What jumped out at me was when she was talking about her training regimen she said she did 3, 45 minute cardio sessions a day! Poor girl had fallen prey to the pundits of long duration cardio like so many guys and girls do when they are preparing for contests.

Long duration cardio, particularly when you are on a reduced calorie diet, is a great way to waste away hard earned muscle. Women have to be even more careful as their propensity to build and maintain muscle is challenged by their gender right out of the gate.

Truth is she would have achieved far greater results with a fraction of the time. This doesn't mean she would have had to work any less hard it just means she would have worked smarter with a more result producing plan. Hard work is great but if channeled in the wrong direction can actually impede progress. I know first hand because I used to do long duration cardio too and never achieved the kind of conditioning I did once I implemented Max-OT style cardio.

Stuart MacDonald's (Pictured above) amazing transformation documented in "I Want to Look Like That Guy" was achieved in part by his consistent short duration, high intensity cardio. There was no long duration cardio for Stu and he was able to go from over 30% body fat to less than 6% bodyf at in a 6 month period. I guarntee that if Stuart would have done hours and hours of cardio he would not have achieved the same dramatic results. He may have lost a similar amount of total weight but his body composition would not have been as great because he would have been sacrificing muscle along the way.

Remember - Short duration, high intensity cardio is the way to go for competitors and anyone looking to really improve body composition. It will have a greater elevation effect on your metabolism and less of any negative effects on the muscle building process.

Believe. Achieve.

http://www.jeffwillet.com/
http://www.iwanttolooklikethatguy.com/

"Lost" Footage!

One of my favorite features in my latest DVD release "Posing to Win" is the bonus "lost" footage we included.

When going through tapes we stumbled across footage that I didn't think we had. It is a segment of me practicing mandatory poses just 2 weeks before the 2003 NPC USA. It was filmed by my friend and fellow IFBB Pro Derik Farnsworth in San Diego, CA. In fact, we left it uncut so you can actually hear Derik calling out the poses and counting to make sure I held them long enough. I remember we filmed it right after a Max-OT cardio session. I am excited that we are able to share this rare footage because I thought it was gone forever.

Another little fun fact is the photos featured on the front and back cover of this DVD were taken during that same trip to California on Venice Beach.

Some other neat stuff apart from the general posing instructions you'll see on "Posing to Win" is the Q&A session where I address some FAQ's about posing/presentation and overall preparation.

By the way, the offer is still available for the next few copies sold to get an autographed front cover!

Believe. Achieve.

http://www.jeffwillet.com/
http://www.iwanttolooklikethatguy.com/