Sodium concensus?

Krishna · 08-10-2008, 09:53 PM

Does everyone agree on the sodium depletion theory? I talked to a natty pro who was upping his sodium before a contest and the guy was shredded. Scientifically, isn't sodium supposed to shuttle water into the muscles? I know potassium is what holds it right?

Mrpumped · 08-10-2008, 10:08 PM

I use high sodium all through out my contest prep until 3 days before the day of the show. Cutting out my water the day before along with the diuretic causes me to drop water and tighten up.

bigleemurali · 08-11-2008, 02:29 PM

sodium actually holds water and can cause trouble

i prepare for contest with low sodium all the way

but i make some adjustments in the final week

i salt all meals from 7 days out
and i drop out carbs as much as possible (about 50g carbs for the whole day)

this actually makes your muscle feel that it gets tons of salt and makes adjustments to excrete it and as a result you get harder - high sodium and low carbs

and about two days out - i stop the sodium to near zero as much humanly possible and slowly load low GI carbs and also drop water to half

then on the day before the contest i just sip water after meals (about 500 ml for the whole day) -

actually the mind takes time to know that the sodium intake has reduced.. And hence it drastically still tries to excrete sodium from the system and hence a lot of water too..

As a result you will get harder and harder

the carb loading on the final day will take care of little water under the skin as the carbs need water to fill glycogen in muscle and hence pulls that water in.(this is why we depelte so much and then load carbs towards the end)

on the day of the show have a little sodium along with high fat and carb meal with little protein.. The fat brings out muscularity (dont know the science behind that - bt it worked for me) and the little sodium will help you fill out

have a high gi carb such has honey or a chocolate before stepping onto the stage.. You will surely need it for the grueling posing routine

HULK1550 · 08-11-2008, 04:02 PM

Oh man, thats a tough one.

there are several ways to do it, and the only way to know which is best for you is to try them.

Mrpumped · 08-11-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HULK1550

Oh man, thats a tough one.

there are several ways to do it, and the only way to know which is best for you is to try them.

Exactly. You'll get a bunch of diferent answers from all of us.

Krishna · 08-12-2008, 03:40 PM

Well like biglee said, high sodium and low carbs makes your muscles get hard. The guy I talked to had high sodium up until showtime. I noticed that when I did high sodium and low carbs, I was harder too. I know you're supposed to be even harder and fuller with the reversal of sodium and carbs 2 to 3 days out, but I haven't been able to dial that in. I think maybe some sodium the day of might help once the water is out. I'll try that and see how it works.

08-10-2008, 09:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Krishna Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 425 Rep Power: 12442	Sodium concensus? Does everyone agree on the sodium depletion theory? I talked to a natty pro who was upping his sodium before a contest and the guy was shredded. Scientifically, isn't sodium supposed to shuttle water into the muscles? I know potassium is what holds it right?

08-10-2008, 10:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mrpumped Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston Posts: 1,619 Rep Power: 24704	I use high sodium all through out my contest prep until 3 days before the day of the show. Cutting out my water the day before along with the diuretic causes me to drop water and tighten up. __________________ Discipline is key!

08-11-2008, 02:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigleemurali BigLee Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chennai,India Posts: 156 Rep Power: 3685	sodium actually holds water and can cause trouble i prepare for contest with low sodium all the way but i make some adjustments in the final week i salt all meals from 7 days out and i drop out carbs as much as possible (about 50g carbs for the whole day) this actually makes your muscle feel that it gets tons of salt and makes adjustments to excrete it and as a result you get harder - high sodium and low carbs and about two days out - i stop the sodium to near zero as much humanly possible and slowly load low GI carbs and also drop water to half then on the day before the contest i just sip water after meals (about 500 ml for the whole day) - actually the mind takes time to know that the sodium intake has reduced.. And hence it drastically still tries to excrete sodium from the system and hence a lot of water too.. As a result you will get harder and harder the carb loading on the final day will take care of little water under the skin as the carbs need water to fill glycogen in muscle and hence pulls that water in.(this is why we depelte so much and then load carbs towards the end) on the day of the show have a little sodium along with high fat and carb meal with little protein.. The fat brings out muscularity (dont know the science behind that - bt it worked for me) and the little sodium will help you fill out have a high gi carb such has honey or a chocolate before stepping onto the stage.. You will surely need it for the grueling posing routine __________________ Cheers, Biglee The greater danger for most of the people is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it... http://biglee-murali.blogspot.com http://workouttube.blogspot.com

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08-11-2008, 04:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
HULK1550 Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 3,378 Rep Power: 58276	Oh man, thats a tough one. there are several ways to do it, and the only way to know which is best for you is to try them.

08-12-2008, 03:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Krishna Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 425 Rep Power: 12442	Well like biglee said, high sodium and low carbs makes your muscles get hard. The guy I talked to had high sodium up until showtime. I noticed that when I did high sodium and low carbs, I was harder too. I know you're supposed to be even harder and fuller with the reversal of sodium and carbs 2 to 3 days out, but I haven't been able to dial that in. I think maybe some sodium the day of might help once the water is out. I'll try that and see how it works.