I eat whatever I want the day or two after the show, and then go right back to whatever I was eating pre-contest. I also hit the gym the Monday after the show. If your diet helped you grow into the show, your body isn't going to have as intense cravings as if you'd starved yourself. So it's easier to get back on track and either prep for another show or have a successful off-season and continue to grow.
The first year I competed, I ate whatever I wanted and stopped going to the gym for a couple weeks. I put 20 lbs on a 5'2" frame in 2 weeks ... and was absolutely miserable and VERY sick.
~ Mo
binged for a couple weeks once....30 pounds later
i got acquainted with pancreatitis, never again will i do that
beware
Pancreatitis for me too, oh and I only gained 25lbs after my first show. I was eating baking chocolate out of the bag in my car. Lol!
i ate my ass off for a day. then just had two cheat meals a day after that for about a month. then went back to the grind.
you guys and gals that say you go right back to eating clean 2 days or less after a show are either crazy, lying or ULTRA disciplined lol. i just relaxed and ate like any normal person (fast food if i wanted it, big lunches with co workers and big home cooked meals at the house for dinner) in between these "normal people" meals i would down some LBAs or proetin drinks to make sure i still got my protein in but i really wanted to eat some tasty stuff. i didn't eat donuts and total crap but DID have hamburgers and fries, pizza, maybe a buffet here and there....
point is don't go bonkers but DO reward yourself.
and how are you feeling now?
you nervous?
you sufferering alot now?
BEST OF LUCK BROTHER!!!! -JS