Men’s Open bodybuilder Regan Grimes finished second place at the 2023 Flex Weekend Pro on Sept. 10, 2023, in Milan, Italy, behind Nathan De Asha of the United Kingdom, who claimed the top prize. To prepare for that contest, Grimes filmed an entire day of eating in a video published on his YouTube channel on the day of the competition.
Grimes revealed how he carbohydrate-loaded before his pro show. Although it didn’t pan out in gold in Italy, Grimes’ consistency did convert a pro show win and a 2023 Olympia invite at the 2023 Europa Pro one week later in Alicante, Spain. Check out the breakdown of Grimes’ full day of eating below:
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Grimes Pump’s Workout & Nutrition
Grimes’ final training session before the Flex Weekend Pro trained almost every body part, with an emphasis on his shoulders and biceps. He calls it a “pump workout” as his intent is to shuttle any many nutrients as possible into his muscles to maximize his gains.
Grimes believes he can achieve a fuller look, though he and his support crew were satisfied with the package he brought to the contest stage in Italy. Here are the meals Grimes consumed before stepping on stage:
Meal One
- Cream of rice
- Banana
- Cinnamon
This meal contained 125 grams of carbohydrates and functioned as a post-workout. Grimes increases his carbs near show time, simultaneously feeding his muscles while dropping his water intake — an essential move to look lean on stage.
Meal Two
- Ground beef
- Salmon
- Rice — 400 grams
Grimes increased his rice portion from 300 to 400 grams and added salt for flavor. Salmon and ground beef are high-quality protein sources, and rice is a complex carb typically easy on one’s digestion.
Meal Three
- Half avocado
- Rice — 400 grams
- Shrimp
- Ground beef
Grimes stayed the course on his carb portioning and used avocado as a healthy fat source. This was a swap from the typical eight or nine macadamia nuts. Avocados are an excellent magnesium source, complementing the vitamin C and digestive supplement he takes for meals three and four.
Meal Four
- Beef
- Whitefish
- Rice — 400 grams
- Peanut butter
Grimes swamps the avocado for peanut butter as his fat source for his fourth meal, which he finds pairs well with beef and rice. He weighed in to compete at 267.8 pounds.
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Grimes’ competition diet is comprised of high-quality protein, rice, and a variety of fats. Compared to some bodybuilders who cut back on carbohydrates before a show to look more aesthetic, thanks to water depletion, Grimes increased his carb intake for a fuller look. Grimes is qualified to return to the Olympia on Nov. 2-5, 2023, in Orlando, FL, where he will aim to improve upon his previous 15th-place finishes in the Men’s Open division from 2020 and 2021.
Featured image: @regangrimes on Instagram
