I agree, I need to definitely get leaner if I want to be competitive. I don’t want to just do the novice or “first timers’“ category. I know I’m setting my sites very high, but I’m sure other competitors are as well. However, I’m running into some major issues. I just got over being sick about 10 days ago. 101-102 fever for 3 days. I stopped training and went to maintenance calories. I sweated through the bedsheets and woke up 9 pounds lighter!!! I felt better after 3 days and gained the weight back and started training again. A little light headed and weak at first, but after a few days I was hitting close to my rep/weight numbers again. Now last night I got a fever AGAIN! I have a doctor appointment tomorrow because I also have a strange lump on my neck and groin area that have been there for about a month as well. Could be lymph nodes, but need to get it checked. Maybe I’m pushing too hard. I’ll update some photos tomorrow. I look flat!! I can see why this is not be sustainable. I hope its just because I’m dieting and my sleep sucks and not something more serious.
Why does your sleep suck?
It does sound like your lymph nodes are responding to your infection, hence their swollen state.
I had scarlet fever when I was 16 and my lymph nodes were crazy swollen and tender. Ruined my sleep for weeks. I was so tired and just wanted to sleep so bad but the pain made it very difficult. I’m sure a lot of this will improve once he’s on antibiotics for a few days
IMO, it is critical to eliminate a serious medical condition as soon as possible.
Pushing too hard seems the very least likely cause.
Thank you guys for all your advice. I feel like I got too fat, making my cut much harder than it needed to be. I went to the doctor who thinks it’s a swollen lymph node showing more than normal because of lower bodyfat levels. Suggested bloodwork and an ultrasound. Got a full bloodwork panel that day which came back all normal except for high C-Reactive Protein which she said is normal for someone fighting a infection/virus. Going to get blood work again and ultra sound this month just to be sure. The lump is pretty much gone now though, but here’s a pic of it at it’s biggest. It only shows a lot when I flex my neck.
Didn’t work out this time. I think I didn’t diet properly, got sick and didn’t give myself enough time. It was my first go around so I’ll make it to stage this coming summer. This is as lean as I could get before a week out of the show and I was still a little sick.
