By Chris Oman, 1999 NPC Indiana State LH Champion
Bodybuilding World Vol V #4
I was lucky enough to win my very first bodybuilding contest, the Midwest Open, held in Merrillville, Indiana. Although I was very happy with my victory, it was definitely a struggle both mentally and physically. I started dieting for the show in respectable condition but by the time I stepped on stage I had lost more than 30 pounds, a lot of it lean muscle mass. I vowed that despite my fast metabolism and physically demanding job, I would find a way to hold on to more of my hard-earned muscle the next time that I competed.
After that contest, I ate fairly well for about three months. Then, I set my sights on the 1999 NPC Indiana State show. The first thing that I did differently this time was to contact Ed Cobb for help with my diet. Ed is a friend of mine who has both knowledge and experience in helping competitors "dial in" for their show.
Ed and I discussed my goal of holding on to more muscle through the dieting phase and then he devised a nutrition plan that emphasized specific Beverly International Supplements. Ed explained to me that using Beverly supplements would allow me to come in to the show ten pounds heavier, harder and leaner than before. He then gave me the details as to how Beverly supplements work during dieting (as well as in the off season) to maintain hard-earned muscle mass. Ed assured me that by following the Beverly International diet and supplement program I wouldn't have to struggle so hard to get into contest condition and I'd end up at least ten pounds heavier.
We started with a 3500-calorie program, consisting of six meals. Each morning, I would start my day with a Beverly Super Pak along with my first meal. I also took four Ultra 40 liver tablets and four Mass Amino tablets at each of my six meals. For convenience, I was able to substitute one or two of my meals with a Muscle Provider protein shake.
It wasn't long before I saw why Ed was so insistent on using Beverly International supplements. I was amazed at my energy levels. My previous contest preparation had left me "half dead". Now, and Ed said it was the Ultra 40's, I felt great with no dip in my energy whatever.
Each month, Ed met with me to discuss how I was feeling as well as my training progress. Soon Ed had me consuming 4200 calories just before beginning final preparations for the upcoming show. I had never been able to eat that many calories, even from clean foods and stay within ten percent bodyfat. But, with Ed's diet and the Beverly supplement program I continued to stay lean. Ed's plan was working perfectly.
With less than twelve weeks left before the Indiana State show, Ed thought it would be a good idea to enter the Indianapolis show as a warm-up. Some warm-up, the Indianapolis is one of best and most competitive shows I've seen in this area. Nevertheless, I began to mentally prepare myself for it.
Ed began replacing some of my carbohydrate calories with fat calories, and added three weekly thirty-minute cardio sessions. My motivation continued to grow as I saw daily changes in my physique. Ed had added GH Factor, Muscularity and Energy Reserve to help me preserve muscle as I continued to lose fat. However, I had one problem; a problem that I didn't even dream would ever occur. My weight was still over 200. Neither Ed nor I thought that I was ready to compete as a heavyweight yet, so Ed graciously decreased my calories. Now, I began losing body fat fast, yet my lean mass stayed the same. Once again, Ed was right.
The Indianapolis approached very quickly. The night before the show, I was very pleased with my condition. I was 4.9% body fat and eleven pounds heavier than the previous year. I was fuller, harder and leaner. I was ready to do battle, or so I thought…
The night before the show, my girlfriend was applying a tanning lotion. We had never used this particular product before and boy were we in for a surprise. It seemed as though the more we tried to blend it in, the more blotchy and streaked it became. When she was done, I looked like I had a skin disease-light in some areas and very dark in others. We were both very upset but I figured it was too late to do anything more. At the pre-judging, we tried to fix it but nothing seemed to work. Finally, I went on stage. The terrible tanning job and the great lighting were a bad combination. It seemed as if all of my cuts had instantly disappeared. The botched tanning job covered a lot of my hard-earned muscle. I left the stage knowing I had screwed up, feeling totally defeated. I had worked so hard to achieve top condition, only to find it covered by a botched tanning application.
When I came back for the evening show, all were amazed at the condition I was in. With my new tan and positive attitude, I was ready to go at it once again. But unfortunately, after calling out the top five for a second grueling round of mandatory poses, I was awarded third place. I was disappointed, but I realized that you can't punish the competitors who didn't make any mistakes during the pre-judging and award me with a place I did not deserve because of my mistake.
With just three weeks to go until the Indiana State, I was more fired up than ever to do what I should have done at the Indy. Ed increased my protein calories for the next two weeks - I was taking an added Muscle Provider drink at the end of each of my food meals, and I weighed in at the show three pounds heavier than at the Indy looking harder and even more cut. Ed and Roger weren't kidding when they said if you eat correctly after a show, you can increase your muscle while becoming leaner. When the night finally came, it all paid off. I won first place in the open light-heavyweight class - a full fourteen pounds heavier than I had competed the year before!
I want to say thanks to Ed and Roger at Beverly for all of their help and encouragement. They kept me positive through all of the discouraging times. Where else can you receive free nutrition advice, guidance, and have all of your questions answered by highly knowledgeable people for FREE? I will never be convinced to follow anyone else's advice from here on. I was fortunate to find excellent help early in my bodybuilding career. Beverly International put me on the right track from the start.
I also need to thank my girlfriend Carissa. She has been the backbone of my life through all of this. I want her to know how much her support really means to me. You don't realize how much you really need someone until you can sit back and finally start thinking about others instead of yourself. That is what happens in this sport. We become so consumed with ourselves and sometimes take for granted the people that help us. Thanks also to anyone else I may have forgotten. 1999 Light-heavyweight Indiana State class winner and firm believer in Beverly International - Chris Oman.
To contact Ed Cobb for help with your next contest, especially if you live in the western Indiana / Illinois area: call 219-921-1644 or e-mail him at edcobb@prodigy.net
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