Many people have a tendency to hit aerobics hard in the days before a contest. They’ll be doing up to 4 hours a day in an effort to cut fat and make up for any extra weight. The trouble is, they’re BURNING BOTH FAT AND MUSCLE. The fat may go, but a good deal of muscle mass goes with it. 25–30 minutes of aerobics should give you enough work to burn some fat without ompromising muscle mass. Do your 30 minutes every other day up to 2 months before the contest. Then begin to do 25–30 every day. Stop aerobics a week out from the contest.
It may also be advantageous to stop training legs 2 weeks before a contest. The legs begin to retain water, and lines are brought out to the point the legs are ripped by contest time. You hould cut all training of any type completely 3 days before the contest to minimize catabolic and maximize anabolic conditions.