Milos Sarcev IFBB Professional Bodybuilder

Hey Milos, there is a underground theory that seems to be gaining a lot of fan fare, ” S H I T loading”. Have you heard of this and if so what is your view? Basically the idea is similar to carb loading, you have to be absolutey shreeded to use it, and it involves a 24 hour binge of crap food, burgers, fries, cakes, donuutcs, ice cream, etc?

I would just like to remind you that we are what we eat, and that kind of eating or loading is something I would pass. Now, do not believe everything you hear. Many guys would claim that they had so much crap day before the show to possibly impress or confuse other competitors. Yes, they might have junk meal or two, but I guarantee you they would not eat half the stuff that they claim. And if someone insist that they have such a fabulous metabolism that they can get away with a murder and eat whatever they want all day long, tell them that I would like to challenge them. I will even pay for the food. How, with a clear mind could anyone load themselves with sodium, sugars, tons of fat, dairy products, fiber, wheat products, gluten etc just day before the show? Of course, if someone is shredded and definitely ready for the show few extra calories would be acceptable but nuts loading is greatly exaggerated. Well, I might be wrong as I just realized whoever claims such a thing is full of shit, so I guess they are not lying.

Would there be any benefit to drinking distilled water instead of regular? I was thinking with as much as I drink per day (1-1.5 gallons) there could be a lot of contaminates floating around. I use a Brita filter but I don’t think I get near the purity of distilled. I’ve heard that distilled water provides a kind of “leaching” effect for pulling rejected minerals and other toxins from your system.

When you become an engine! I agree with Lee Haney who always claimed that distilled water is “dead water”! Sodium free spring water is my choice and recommendation.

What do you think about taking 5 days to a week off from training? Is it good to do this once a year to let your joint’s recovery from the constant heavy training? I’m interested in a rest from training, but I plan on still eating correctly and dieting.

Certainly! If you feel you need – take even more TIME OFF! However, sometimes taking the time off can backfire. For example, after I took time off after 1999 season, I couldn’t never get motivated to go back to the gym. I was averaging over 500 workouts per year, every year. Many people told me that I need a break but I didn’t listen. Then, after 10 consecutive years of competing and 68 IFBB pro shows I forced myself NOT to step my foot in the gym for at least a month. Well, I liked it (time away from the gym) so much that one month became two, three, four, six months OFF!!! After that I start getting injuries (as you can calculate – I had over 5000 workouts in ten years and didn’t have a single injury – training twice a day and almost every day). So, all I can tell you – listen to your body. If it’s telling you that you need a break – take it – but be careful – you might like it too much!

A few years ago, I started to feel some discomfort in my lower back when I was doing day to day activities and I was diagnosed with Lordosis. I was sent to physiotherapy which I had undergone ultrasound treatment, but since it showed no improvement, they gave me some exercises. This also didn’t improve things, as a matter of fact, these exercises were making my lordosis worse! I only recently starterd to work out setting my main goal to be weight loss and muscle development. I currently weigh about 15 stone about 23% body fat so obviously, I’m not the slimmest person in the world. Anyways to get to my question, I was in the gym with my new cardio/resistance plan which was written by a personal trainer. I followed the plan the best I could before I saw another instructor and told him about my lordosis. He then reviewed my workout plan and informed me to eliminate a lot of the exercises. He informed me that my lordisis was caused by long and weak muscles on my hamstring and short and tight muscles on my thighs and a weak TVA. This instructor advised me NOT to do any leg workouts because it would tighten the short and tight muscles on my thighs. I was also advised to stay away from machines like the bike and was told that I had to strenthen my abdominal muscles with out using my legs.

My questions are:

• Would I be able to exercise my legs eventually?
• What exercises are there to strenghten my abdominal muscles with out using my legs?
• Should I stay away from the former trainer?

Well, Lordosis is a condition diagnosed for people who have abnormally increased foreward curvature of the lumbar spine (while lordoscoliosis is abnormal backward and lateral curvature of the spine). While there are always better exercises for any particular individual – you will have to find which exercises bother you and which ones are improving your condition. I always believe that exercise would only help and never make your condition worse. Structure a sound training plan that focuses on the areas of your priorities (lower back, abs, hamstrings, quads, upper back,etc). Follow a program and monitor your results. If every patient listened to every doctor – there would be very few people (patients) ever training! After all if you don’t train – you don’t risk the injury, so from liability standpoint – many times it is just easier to say – well, you should not be training – it can make your condition worse. Always listen to what your body is telling you.

Milos Sarcev is currently an International Nutrition, Strength, and Conditioning Consultant, and Gym Owner. He is also a Fitness Model, IFBB Professional Bodybuilder and certified fitness trainer, certified in Hormone Replacement Therapy, Nutrition and Anti-Aging Principals. Milos also contributes to Weider Publications and is an editorial contributor Member of Flex Advisory Board. Milos has appeared in numerous television programs and commercials, as well as on many book and magazine covers around the world. Milos also has assisted many other professional bodybuilders and fitness competitors to achieve their top level of competition including Monica Brant – Miss Fitness Olympia Champion!