Skip to main content

Cydney Gillon’s Contest Prep Tips for Natural Bodybuilders

Seven-time reigning Figure Olympia champion Cydney Gillon knows how to tune a physique to compete at the top of the sport. While most bodybuilders who compete on the Olympia stage are enhanced, contest prep can be similar for natural athletes.

On Jan 23, 2024, Gillon shared seven contest prep tips for natural bodybuilders on her YouTube channel based on her nearly two decades of experience in the sport. Learn them below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nllG6YP4YRk&ab_channel=CydneyGillon

[Related: Nick Walker Will Enter the 2024 New York Pro Bodybuilding Show]

Natural vs. Enhanced Bodybuilding Coaching

“If you bring it, you bring it, and that’s the person who will win,” said Gillon early in the video. Determination is critical for success in competitive bodybuilding for both natural and enhanced athletes. Gillon affirms that selecting the right coach to help achieve one’s physique goals is a top priority. For example, coaches who know how to build muscle naturally to the target body composition will benefit natural bodybuilders.

Per Gillon, one size doesn’t fit all. Patience is required for effective physique gains. Recognizing weaknesses and being objective about them can help maintain a healthy mentality for the years required to achieve bodybuilding success. Gillon’s running training lasted for four years to establish a base of conditioning and power to support her bodybuilding training before entering competitions.

Gillon acknowledged genetics’ role in bodybuilding as it pertains to muscular development — another nod toward why proper coaching and strategic programming are necessary to offset any genetic shortcomings an athlete might have.

Image via @vytamin_c on Instagram

[Related: Rubiel “Neckzilla” Mosquera Is Out of the 2024 Arnold Classic]

Supplementation, Sleep, & Stress 

Gillon said many factors play equally valuable roles in contest prep. In addition to training, proper supplements for recovery, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and balancing gut health are all critical for performing at 100 percent.

Creatine is Gillon’s number one supplement for recovery, followed closely by hydration and glutamine to support her running and cardio volume. Gillon consumes amino acids early in the off-season and tapers them off a few weeks before a show to refine her aesthetics. For physiological and mental stress, Gillion relies on herbal supplements like ashwagandha, Rhodiola Rosea, and adaptogens.

Gillon built the requisite muscle in the correct proportions for Figure competitions using amino acids and creatine in combination with correct coaching, recovery, and supplementation. 

Contest Prep Length

Some athletes achieve better results from a long-term prep of a year or longer; others see results six months or fewer. Depending on how one feels mentally during a diet or with ramped-up cardio, adding or shaving prep months between shows can impact metabolism and body composition.

Cutting & Bulking Tips

Gillon implored athletes to avoid crash diets when cutting before competition. She believes that crash diets create too challenging of an environment for the body to maintain the muscle roundedness that looks good on stage.

Image via @vytamin_c on Instagram

Additionally, excess cardio can flatten certain body parts, like the glutes. Therefore, she recommends keeping cardio brisk, not blistering, especially when cutting calories. The type of cardio can also impact the body. Steady-state cardio might not create enough energy expenditure, while HIIT might be too exhausting. Gillon urged not to exert the body into a catabolic state (when the body breaks down its muscle; opposite of anabolic).

Losing body fat at a prep’s end is the goal. Supplementation and the proper cardio/diet (read: calories in vs. out) are the most significant contributing factors. For Gillon, BCAAs and EAAs worked best during a cut.

Post-show, Gillon recommends reverse dieting — gradually increasing caloric intake to boost metabolism. Adjusting gradually can help correct hormone imbalances created by aggressive dieting and cutting.

Gillan’s closing IP was to be goal-focused rather than gratification-focused.

More Bodybuilding Content

  1. These Are the 10 Best Dumbbell Exercises for Bodybuilding
  2. How to (Properly) Combine Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Training
  3. The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Own Bodybuilding Workout Plan

Featured image: @vytamin_c on Instagram

The post Cydney Gillon’s Contest Prep Tips for Natural Bodybuilders appeared first on BarBend.



from BarBend https://ift.tt/YufXtjl
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

19 Halloween Costumes for Strength Athletes

Halloween is rapidly approaching, and you’re not sure what to wear. Sure, you can always call it a wash this season and promise yourself to order early next time. (Isn’t that what you said last year?) But as a strength athlete, you take pride in your lifts, and you’re eager to show that off with your costume — even if you’re late to the party and have to make like the Avengers and assemble it yourself. Here, we’ll break down what you need to toss together each strength-inspired costume, and even list out some character-inspired exercises so you can stay on brand in the gym. You’ll be surprised (or maybe not) by how many Halloween costumes for strength athletes you can swing with a few black T-shirts, pants, and leather jackets. Halloween Costumes for Strength Athletes Luisa Madrigal She-Ra Larry the Lobster Wreck-It Ralph Sailor Jupiter The Incredibles Powerpuff Girls Daisy Johnson Captain Marvel Batman Sarah Connor The Terminator Xena Tiny Tiger Lara Croft Rocky Bal...
Post a Comment
Read more

Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2023 For Weight Loss Muscle Gain and More

One of the most popular supplements on the market, people often turn to pre-workouts for help increasing energy, blood flow, endurance, power, and sometimes hydration. As such, you can find different combinations of beneficial ingredients (like caffeine, citrulline, and beta-alanine) in the form of powders, pre-made drinks, small liquid shots, and even chews and gum. But with the glut of information on pre-workouts from ill-advised TikTok trends (i.e., dry scooping ) to fit-fluencers peddling that good-good on all platforms, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds when choosing a pre-workout supplement. Which pre-workouts work, and which ones are just noise? We’ve spent years testing out the best (and the worst) pre-workouts, and we’ve got opinions. Here are the best pre-workout supplements for just about any fitness goal. The Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2023 Best Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs BULK Best Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain: Transparent Labs BULK Strongest Pre-Wor...
Post a Comment
Read more

6 Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Electrolytes

If all of your education about electrolytes has come from commercials on television or ads on social media, you’ve probably grown convinced of the fact that you’re probably not getting enough of them… whatever they are. It can be difficult to convince someone of their need for a nutrient if you can’t plainly articulate what that nutrient is, where it comes from, or what it accomplishes that’s of any tangible value. Well, in the case of electrolytes, you should definitely pay close attention, because a lack of these nutrients can seriously hamper your ability to reach your fitness goals. To shine some light on the topic, BarBend has teamed up with The Vitamin Shoppe — home to a range of hydration and electrolyte supplements from Liquid I.V., Kaged, and more — to detail six signs that you’re not getting enough electrolytes , along with easy ways to replenish these essential minerals. Editor’s Note: T he content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature , but it should not be...
Post a Comment
Read more