i rarely take on any competitors anymore. 1) no one really listens to you 100% anymore these days 2) there is too much info on the net which leads to them knowing more than their coach does and 3) everyone asks when is there cheat meal? i used to make fun of my elders when i was younger when they would say 'when i was younger...' but really guys...when i was younger, i would do cardio hard first thing in the am on empty stomach, eat tuna, hard boiled eggs, boiled chicken, brocolli or green beans and rice and oats. i wasnt adding mrs dash or waldens to make my food taste better. i was lifting heavy ass weights in full sweats, i didnt need to wear a tank top so i can flex in the mirror in between each set and take bathroom selfies after the workout and say '8 weeks out looking on point!' and i sure as hell wasnt looking in the mirror and telling my coach 'i feel flat, i need to add more carbs this week' or im dropping wgt too fast, i need to add more cals so how about a cheat meal. fucking christ, what does that tell you? why were guys coming in with shredded glutes back when i was competing in the late 90s and early 2000s and now guys are coming in looking like a fucking water balloon and thinking they got robbed when they didnt win...or shit even place top 5 looking like a soggy wet bag. half my clients now EXPECT a cheat meal. wtf is that about? youre 'supposed' to? who said? i know your mirror didnt tell you that..i know my calipers didnt tell you that. just bc someone on a message board posts a pic and says they are ahead of shcedule and its time to have a cheat meal you think you are owed one too? i have been a regional and national judge for the past 12 years. the conditioning gets worse and worse every year. i flat out tell ppl now at the end of the show when they ask what they can improve on, i say try dieting 120xs harder next time. its not even about muscularity anymore, they cant even get in shape to show off the muscularity. let this sink in to all those who are competing now and are just starting out. you think you are suffering now through youre prep, YOU ARE NOT! stop posting pics from the gym bathroom or your home bathroom after a full workout, look at yourself right when you get up on an empty stomach. now get to work you fat fucks dont you have a show to try and win?