6x Mr. Olympia, Dorian Yates, has over 40 years of experience in the bodybuilding industry. The English IFFB pro is one of the greatest to grace the bodybuilding stage. During his competition days, he earned the nickname ‘Shadow’ because of his private nature. There was a mysterious air about him that made fans and peers more inquisitive about him.

Yates was known for his scientific approach to training, which was very new. While the fitness coach was elusive during his golden days, he has opened up a lot about his ingenious methods now. The retired bodybuilder often shares a long and detailed explanation of his training methods on social media. Recently Yates took to Instagram and narrated a weird incident of his preparation days.

Dorian Yates shares his contest preparation process

Yates recounted the sacrifices he had to make to prepare for competitions. He posted 5 pictures showcasing his spectacular muscle definition and strength. He informed his followers that his preparation approach was not very different from his offseason routine. To train for competitions, he would only reduce his caloric intake and supplement it with cardio to get that chiseled look.

He mentions “At my heaviest, going from 6,500 calories in the off-season down to 3,500 – 4,000 calories was quite the deficit, and although 4000 calories may seem quite a lot to some people… I was starving!” Yates further added, “For my first contest, I dieted down to 2,500, but as I got bigger over the years, I was able to burn more.” 

The bulk and cut phase is integral to the bodybuilding competition. Bodybuilders increase their caloric intake to gain muscles during their bulk phase. While cutting, they drastically reduce their calories, to lose fat while maintaining muscle mass. This cyclical approach helps them achieve a chiseled look with defined muscles. When cutting calories, they also lose a lot of water weight as they reduce their intake of salt and carbs.

Yates reveals the challenges that he faced while dieting

Reducing calories is no easy task. Ask people who have been on their weight loss journey! It requires self-control and an eye toward the prize. Yates also suffered from strange side effects when he would go on this ultra-low-calorie diet. He mentioned an incident where he dreamt of food.

Read More: Bodybuilding Legend Dorian Yates Reveals ‘Blood and Guts’ Workout to Help Popular Fitness Trainer Stand at Par With the Legendary Mass Monster

The ‘Shadow’ added, “I remember waking up in the middle of the night because I had a dream that was so real… I dreamt that I had eaten a big plate of sausages! Of course, this wasn’t possible as I didn’t have them in the house, but the mind plays tricks. I guess my body was crying out for extra calories and fats. It’s a relief to know that the great Dorian Yates also craved food like any other average human being. 

However, the fitness coach added that despite the cravings, he was in complete control of his process. He measured every morsel of food that he went into his mouth. He could be so successful because he never lost sight of the bigger picture.“The end goal was always in my mind,” said the six consecutive-time title winner. Now that one knows what it is like to eat like a champion, respect for this legend has increased ten folds. Would you try the cut and bulk phase? Tell us in the comments.

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