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Before natural bodybuilding shows, competitors undergo a contest prep, cutting calories to get as lean<\/a> as possible. But, of course, every competitor\u2019s <\/span>training<\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span>diet<\/span><\/a><\/span>, and contest prep look different. International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)<\/span><\/a> athlete <\/span>Danny Ghiglieri<\/b> shared what it looks like to go from day one of contest prep to the day of a show 16 weeks out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Danny Ghiglieri recently received his Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) pro card after performing well in his natural bodybuilding debut show. At Ghiglieri\u2019s INBA PNBA debut, he received second place in Amateur Novice Physique and second place in Amateur Open Physique. On Instagram, he compared a side-by-side photo of how he looked on day one of contest prep and show day 16 weeks later. Ghiglieri stated:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy 16 week transformation in Natural Bodybuilding; Day 1 of prep \u2014> Show Day. To boot, check out my 1 day transformation in not-so-natural tanning lol\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n See Danny Ghiglieri\u2019s full 16-week contest prep photos on Instagram below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Contest prepping is imperative for natural bodybuilders who want to outshine their competitor\u2019s on show day. It\u2019s a short cycle before a show when athletes will diet hard and cut weight to be as lean as possible for the competition their preparing for. Some bodybuilders will start their contest prep sooner or later than others. For example, Danny Ghiglieri started his prep 16 weeks out, while others may wait until 12 weeks before a show.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And many athletes will follow a similar approach to cutting weight. They\u2019ll get into a caloric deficit and follow a strict diet while prepping for shows. Although, each contender\u2019s nutrition varies. For example, <\/span>Kayla Rowling<\/span><\/a><\/span> was eating five egg whites, five asparagus spears, and a handful of mushrooms for breakfast to prepare for the <\/span>Worlds Championships<\/span><\/span><\/a> in Florence, Italy, on June 25, 2022.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One thing a few natural bodybuilders have described during contest prep is the intensity and potential health consequences that follow. For instance, <\/span>Amanda Martin<\/span><\/a><\/span> said it leads to irritability, fatigue, and hormonal imbalances. And <\/span>Ben Howard<\/span><\/a><\/span> detailed his sleep disturbance after following a strict diet to prep his physique for the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) lightweight division.<\/span><\/p>\n Natural bodybuilding has many different federations, but the INBA PNBA is the largest federation and the only one to abide by the strictest drug testing standards\u2013the <\/span>World Anti Doping-Agency (WADA)<\/span><\/a><\/span>. Having WADA metrics ensures athletes\u2019 safety\u2013for those who obey the guidelines\u2013and makes competition just for bodybuilders. Those who don\u2019t are stripped of their title and prize money. Plus, they\u2019re ridiculed in the <\/span>Hall of Shame<\/span><\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n Many natural bodybuilders in the INBA PNBA joined because of the fair and strict drug testing guidelines.\u00a0<\/span>For example, PNBA Hall of Famer <\/span>Chad Martin<\/span><\/a><\/span> began competing in bodybuilding in 1999, but he quickly caught onto the fact that guys were starting to dope, giving them an unfair advantage. That\u2019s when he did some research and found the INBA PNBA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Follow us on <\/span>Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a> for more natural bodybuilding transformations! <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Contest Prep<\/b><\/h3>\n
Natural Bodybuilding\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n