.gif "IP Gear")
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2003
- Messages
- 5,165
Going to start this one off again saying EXPERIENCED posters only. I dont want to junk the thread up with anything except informative posts.
There is alot of threads on this board about water manipulation, but i have learned a lot of information over time (picking info from great competitors and prep guys along with my own personal experience) that i have not found in any of these articles. There is a lot to be discussed in this area, but here are a few things i have learned....
There is more than one path that leads to the desired point. There is not ONE method that stands out above all else. It all depends on what works for the individual, but again there is more than likley more than one way to peak that person. Different strokes for different folks.
Aldactone usage. There was always the statement that it can make you flat, but not much on why or any personal experience listed. I can personally attest here that aldactone will not flatten you out, but it can keep you from filling out. Aldactone lowers aldesterone levels in the body, which is responsible for sodium reabsorption = water retention/uptake. Now if you are not filled out, aldactone will not let you absorb sodium. Without sodium you wont uptake water. Without water you cannot uptake carbs. 1g of carbs needs 2.7g of water to be uptaken. With aldactone present, as iv experienced, you cannot fill out. If you take too many diuretics or lose too much water, you reannot reintroduct it with aldactone in your system. If you lose too much water and have aldactone in your system, you are going to STAY flat until it wears off. *** i have personally realized that when it wore off i blew up both times, the timeline matched perfectly and it was only the VERY obvious answer to my problem TWICE this year, and odds are in the past as well****
Ability to make adjustments. Iv learned that you cannot simply follow a plan written down on paper and expect it to work out just because your math and science is on point. Everyone is different, different circumstances or variables change outcome, and bodies change over time. A good bodybuilder who knows how to peak.... goes by the mirror and other methods they might have developed to guage your physical changes and progress for conditioning in order to access their current condition, and makes changes and reacts accordingly in order to properly peak.
Feel free to add any experiences or mistakes you have made along the way and your solution....or any other things you have learned or noticed though trial, error, and learning.
DISCUSSION Water loading methods (feel free to include all diuretic use in here as well)
Most people i have spoken to have told me that the method that SHOULD work best based on science (theory) is running your water high up until some time on Friday, then cut it. Doing this will lower aldesterone levels and allow your body to flush sodium=water and dry out, without allowing it time to react and rebound and hold water. This method has always caused me to flush too much water.
The method i hear used most often with great conditioned bodybuilders is the taper method. I keep being told by "guru's" not to do this, but it seems most of the bodybuilders i speak with have used this with great success. Now in theory, this would allow your body to adjust to the lack of water once you start tapering and adjust aldesterone levels and either balance it out or rebound and hold water. My only guess here is that when you rebound, you only allow yourself enough water (by tapering) to hold it intramuscularly and blowing the fuck up with superhydrated muscle cells, expanding the muscle tightly against the skin and giving the peaked result.
I have more on this, but i want to post up the thread and see some responses first before i add more and comment on posts. I would also like to hear what everyone likes to do after the cut. Do you stop completely? Do you take tiny tiny sips? Do you allow yourself a certain amount of water per meal?
There is alot of threads on this board about water manipulation, but i have learned a lot of information over time (picking info from great competitors and prep guys along with my own personal experience) that i have not found in any of these articles. There is a lot to be discussed in this area, but here are a few things i have learned....
There is more than one path that leads to the desired point. There is not ONE method that stands out above all else. It all depends on what works for the individual, but again there is more than likley more than one way to peak that person. Different strokes for different folks.
Aldactone usage. There was always the statement that it can make you flat, but not much on why or any personal experience listed. I can personally attest here that aldactone will not flatten you out, but it can keep you from filling out. Aldactone lowers aldesterone levels in the body, which is responsible for sodium reabsorption = water retention/uptake. Now if you are not filled out, aldactone will not let you absorb sodium. Without sodium you wont uptake water. Without water you cannot uptake carbs. 1g of carbs needs 2.7g of water to be uptaken. With aldactone present, as iv experienced, you cannot fill out. If you take too many diuretics or lose too much water, you reannot reintroduct it with aldactone in your system. If you lose too much water and have aldactone in your system, you are going to STAY flat until it wears off. *** i have personally realized that when it wore off i blew up both times, the timeline matched perfectly and it was only the VERY obvious answer to my problem TWICE this year, and odds are in the past as well****
Ability to make adjustments. Iv learned that you cannot simply follow a plan written down on paper and expect it to work out just because your math and science is on point. Everyone is different, different circumstances or variables change outcome, and bodies change over time. A good bodybuilder who knows how to peak.... goes by the mirror and other methods they might have developed to guage your physical changes and progress for conditioning in order to access their current condition, and makes changes and reacts accordingly in order to properly peak.
Feel free to add any experiences or mistakes you have made along the way and your solution....or any other things you have learned or noticed though trial, error, and learning.
DISCUSSION Water loading methods (feel free to include all diuretic use in here as well)
Most people i have spoken to have told me that the method that SHOULD work best based on science (theory) is running your water high up until some time on Friday, then cut it. Doing this will lower aldesterone levels and allow your body to flush sodium=water and dry out, without allowing it time to react and rebound and hold water. This method has always caused me to flush too much water.
The method i hear used most often with great conditioned bodybuilders is the taper method. I keep being told by "guru's" not to do this, but it seems most of the bodybuilders i speak with have used this with great success. Now in theory, this would allow your body to adjust to the lack of water once you start tapering and adjust aldesterone levels and either balance it out or rebound and hold water. My only guess here is that when you rebound, you only allow yourself enough water (by tapering) to hold it intramuscularly and blowing the fuck up with superhydrated muscle cells, expanding the muscle tightly against the skin and giving the peaked result.
I have more on this, but i want to post up the thread and see some responses first before i add more and comment on posts. I would also like to hear what everyone likes to do after the cut. Do you stop completely? Do you take tiny tiny sips? Do you allow yourself a certain amount of water per meal?
Last edited:
