Just how granular can you get in your pursuit of greatness?
For Brett Wilkin, the answer lies somewhere at the bottom of his cereal bowl.
In a sport where every striation matters, bodybuilders must deal with the harsh reality that what they put on their plate or in their shaker cup can make all the difference between winning a gold medal and settling for second (or worse). While Wilkin hasn’t achieved Olympia glory like Chris Bumstead, it’s not due to a lack of attention to detail with his nutrition.
In a YouTube video published on Nov. 4, 2024, “The Butcher” and fourth-place Olympia finisher Martin Fitzwater joined forces with Bumstead for a grueling back workout and a transparent conversation about dieting that should cast a larger spotlight on a potentially dangerous aspect of bodybuilding.
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Dieting Is a Different Story in Men’s Open
As a six-time Classic Physique champion making the transition to Men’s Open, Bumstead is in the unfamiliar position of having to add size. After setting the standard for over half a decade, he faces the challenge of competing against bigger athletes in a division that has no weight restrictions.
Yet even though Bumstead enjoyed a rare high-carb day per coach Hany Rambod’s recommendation, he acknowledged he’ll have to change things up as he prepares to make his Men’s Open debut at the 2024 Prague Pro.
“Can’t have muffins every day,” Bumstead said. “We’re going to cut muffins starting tomorrow. Maybe I’ll be as big as Brett and Martin by then.”
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Currently tipping the scales at 251 pounds, “CBum” will try to add weight without his favorite baked good. However, unlike some of his number-crunching peers, he doesn’t plan to be meticulous about tracking his calories as he prepares for Prague.
“I’m just going to let my body do what it does while not trying to bulk,” Bumstead explained.
How Much Is Too Much?
It’s no secret that transitioning from cutting to bulking can be as challenging mentally as it is physically. Ditto for trying to move the needle in the other direction.
As much credit as competitors deserve for being willing to say no to far less tempting foods than muffins, implementing that level of discipline can be a bit of a double-edged sword. Considering he once followed a 6,000-calorie bulking diet, Wilkin’s story about preparing a single bowl of Fairlife milk and cereal shows the fine line between precision and obsession.
- “I look over and this kid’s just staring at me like, ‘Did you just weigh your milk?'” Wilkin recalled. “The thing is after he said that I was like, ‘You did not need to do that at all.'”
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Fitzwater, who ate 4,000 carbs in three days leading up to the Olympia, also weighed in on the topic of tracking your food intake.
- “I’ve gone through periods where I’m completely psychotic and weigh every gram no matter what time of the year it is, and then I’ve also been like ‘a chicken breast and a plate of rice is plenty of food.'”
The first half of Fitzwater’s statement is especially poignant in the context of eating disorders. Between restrictive diets, intense training schedules, and potential body image perception issues, this sport can be a slippery slope with serious consequences.
- According to a 2021 study in Toxicology Reports, both professional and non-professional bodybuilders are at risk of disordered eating. (1)
- This stems from a difference between perceived ideal body weight and actual body weight.
Ultimately, the pursuit of greatness comes with real costs. But is sacrificing your mental health for a medal a worthwhile trade?
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References
- Efthymiou, D., Kokokiris, L., Mesiari, C., & Vassilopoulou, E. (2021). Perceived ideal body weight exacerbates bulimia and dieting in Bodybuilding Athletes. Toxicology Reports, 8, 1777–1782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.10.007
Featured image: Chris Bumstead / YouTube
