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February 2002 - Why
I Am Better This Year
 I
am presently less than 2 weeks out from the IFBB Pro
Ironman and have the opportunity to reflect upon how
successful this season's contest prep has been and
analyze WHY it was so successful and why I am so much
better this year. To use a clichéd phrase, a good
bodybuilder is like a fine wine. I am undoubtedly
getting better with age!! Below is a listing of the
key reasons for my success this season. I
share these with you as friends and fans who have
followed my career and have a genuine interest in
my success and I also share these reasons because
I want to impart some of my knowledge and experience
gained through the amazing process of getting ready
for bodybuilding contests - a process that epitomizes
hard work & sweet rewards.
 REST
& TIME - Without a doubt, this is first year of
my career, amateur, or pro, during which I have actually
been able to rest properly and have enough time to
do everything I need to. Thanks to my Weider
contract, I have been able to cut back on my crazy
schedule. During previous seasons, I was always in
shape on stage, but my condition was not achieved
without sacrifice. I NEVER had time to sleep more
than 5 hours per night. I scrambled to get everything
in each day into a 40+ hour workweek - cardio, training,
food preparation, etc. This year, I have had what
to me is an absolute luxury - SLEEP. I actually sleep
7-8 hours per day. What a revelation this is for me!
Of course I know empirically that one grows when one
sleeps. But, I have never experienced the proof of
this myself until now. And, even more important for
contest prep, I've learned first hand that sleep is
imperative for a properly functioning metabolism.
An over trained, under rested body can't drop body
fat as successfully. I used to do 2 hours of cardio
per day to get the remaining body fat off. But, this
year, I am retaining MUCH more muscle AND I have only
had to do minimal cardio. My body is well rested and
my metabolism, as result, responds perfectly to small
adjustments in diet. I have essentially been contest
ready since three weeks out, allowing me to fine tune
these last weeks and for the first time, not feel
like it's a race to the finish. It may be simple but
REST has made me much better this year.
 VITAMINS
- For years I discounted the importance of vitamins.
Frankly, I gave lip service to the value of taking
vitamins such as B-complex, Vitamin C, Multi-Vitamins,
Mineral supplements such as Calcium Magnesium. I couldn't
justify the cost of including high quality vitamin
supplements in my regimen. If I was faced with choosing
to budget protein vs. vitamin supplements, chicken
and steak inevitably won out over Vitamin C and Cal-Mag.
But, on the other hand, I failed to make the connection
with my physical condition. Without fail, come pre-contest
time, my immune system was always so weak from training
and dieting that I ALWAYS ended up with a respiratory
infection, the flu or a basic cold, conveniently 2-3
weeks before the show. One year, 2 weeks before the
Nationals, I was hospitalized with pneumonia!! No
wonder I've been accused of looking "out of it" and
less than enthused on stage. And, in addition to my
weakened immune system, I have always suffered from
cramping the last few weeks before a show, due to
the depletion of minerals to which a lean, slightly
dehydrated body is subject. But not this year!!!
It may seem quite simple,
but since I came under contract with Weider,
I have had a wide array of nutritional supplements
available to me. Rather than skimping or thinking
there is no need to supplement, I now religiously
"take my vitamins" and I am here to tell you I am
a TOTAL convert to the importance of basic nutritional
supplements!! I am not talking about sports supplements,
I am talking about good ole' fashion vitamins, in
this case, the Schiff line. I take Vitamins C, E,
B, Multis, Cal-Mag and my absolute favorite, glucosamine
sulfate for my aching joints. Never in my life have
I felt this healthy, repaired this well and been so
free of muscular cramping and nagging joint pain.
I am 2 weeks out from a contest, in the best shape
of my life and feel incredible!!!
 DIETARY
FAT - I have always followed a moderate carb,
high protein diet that includes plenty of naturally
occurring fats. But, this year I have been much more
diligent about getting my meals in and emphasizing
more fat in my diet. I have relied more on red meat,
whole eggs and even peanut butter in addition to the
basics of chicken, oatmeal and rice for my calories.
Again, I have always known the importance of keeping
calories high to affect hypertrophy; yet, I may well
have been a classic, "do as I say, not as I do" example
who often missed meals and under ate as result. This
year, however, I have not missed a meal and I have
dutifully included fats in my diet. To my amazement,
I am not only fuller, but have dropped bodyfat more
readily and with more ease than at any other time
in my competitive career.
 BALANCE
- You know, this may sound terribly trite. But, the
balance achieved in my life due to an unbelievable
relationship with my wife (yes, we are basking in
the glow of being newlyweds) has been a notable factor
in my success. While she's been with me through just
about every contest I have ever done, being married
is different. It has brought incredible calm and stability
to my life, which is reflected in my successful contest
prep this year. From life partner, to business partner
to training partner, I have been blessed with this
union. Yes, that's right, training partner.
It is totally possible for a male champion bodybuilder
to successfully train with a woman whose strength
is obviously significantly less. To find out how we
do this, be sure to read an exclusive upcoming article
in Muscle
& Fitness which we co-authored on how
couples can train together. The article will be in
the June 2002 issue and features a training style
we developed together called "2-to-2."
So, there you have it. There
is no mystery in getting ready for a bodybuilding
show. No magic elixir that transforms you into a lean,
full, round muscle-bellied champion. But, there are
some basic variables, which, when combined with hard
work and consistency, make a good athlete even better.
Thanks to all of the many
fans who have visited my site over the past weeks
to view the "Countdown"
as I prepared for the Ironman and the Arnold. Thanks
for the many emails encouraging me and thanks to all
who have supported me in countless ways...now, watch
for me on stage. To quote a flattering comment from
a fan on the Getbig.com
site, "This is the year that 'The Sleeper'
awakens"!
- Garrett
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