#8: Bodybuilding and School

Q: Guy,

It must have been a while since you received an e-mail from a Queen's student – perhaps before you graduated.

I just wanted to tell you that you are truly an inspiration. In year three of my concurrent Physical and Health Education degree and Life Science degree, I find it very difficult to achieve my goals in bodybuilding. I am currently 5'10", 196 lbs. and in relatively good shape. I can push/pull very respectable weights, yet I am still not fully satisfied. I was curious about how you managed bodybuilding while you were at Queen’s. The academic pressures and long hours make it difficult for me to maintain a sufficient diet. I always take the time for myself to get to the gym – five days per week with weekends off (it was too coincidental reading your profile on guybourgon.com and finding so many similarities), yet I manage to only maintain my bodyweight, not increase it (although increasing strength).

I look forward to the summers away from school to achieve and set new goals. I have successfully gained about 10 lbs. in the summer since first year, losing and then re-gaining during the school year.

I was hoping you would suggest some advice on training, nutrition tips, etc., for a fellow Gael. In the years to come, I will be very happy to have achieved a bodybuilding status such as yours.

Congratulations on all your hard work!

Thanks again,

...Kyle

A: Kyle,

Good to hear from a Queen’s student again! You are right, it has been a long time.

You should be very proud of yourself for getting to the gym as often as you do during the school year. I still have a vivid recollection of those same academic pressures and long hours that you are experiencing. In those days, I relied on my summer months to do my heavy training and bulk up, and only made it to the gym while in school when my academic schedule would permit (and frankly that was not very often).

You are presently experiencing the most mentally demanding and challenging time of your life. Your mind has to be sharp and attentive from your first class in the morning to the end of your evening assignments or cramming for midterms and finals. You cannot allow yourself to do the very heavy intense workouts (which are both so mentally and physically draining) and then risk falling asleep at your desk while studying. The current stress you are under makes mass gains during the school year very difficult even if you are eating right!

The reason that you are successful during your summer months is that you are able to relax and focus on your training. I would recommend that you stick with your heavy mass building regimen in the summer months, concentrating on the power movements and training guidelines that I have previously outlined in my article on "The Five Pound Rule."

So, where does that leave you with your training while at Queen’s? Obviously, your priority is and must remain your studies. What I would recommend to you while you complete your remaining years of school is to use this opportunity to become a student of the sport of bodybuilding. Mix up your exercises for each body part, both the ones you do and the order that you do them in. Get out of your comfort zone and try exercises that you might not normally do so as to figure out what works best for you. See how your body reacts to variations in rep counts, free weigths vs. cables vs. machines, super sets and giant sets. This information will serve you well if you ever decide to make the leap into the competitive arena.

Your diet need not suffer, either, while at school. Junk food (high sugar or high fat) will not supply your brain with what it needs to excel – simple sugars causing you to crash after the spike wears off, and fatty foods making you sluggish and sleepy. You will need your energy, so I would not recommend any form of carb depletion regimen during your school year, as your mind needs to be on your studies and not on your stomach. Use your weekends to make a trip to the grocery store and pick out food supplies that are easy to prepare quickly, and items that you can cook up in bulk and then eat all through the week. Fruit, salads and vegetables make for good snacks that fill you up, do not require preparation time, and are easily portable. Cooking up "value packs" of chicken breasts or other lean meats on Sunday will provide you with a ready supply for the rest of the week. Experiment with low-fat sauces, dressings and spices for variety. Oatmeal and whole-grain cereals make for quick, satisfying and sustaining snacks for early morning or evenings. Eggs are quick and easy anytime. I am proud to say that I never had Kraft Dinner once while at Queen’s, although some of my friends lived on the stuff!

Finally, the most important thing for you to do right now is take it easy on yourself. There will be years and years ahead of you when the stress of school will not be occupying the majority of your thoughts. These post-education years are the ones when you will see your best progress in the gym, just as I did. So, use this time wisely to prepare yourself for that time by trying new things, both in your training and your diet.

Thanks very much for your compliments and questions, and best of luck in your bodybuilding career!

...Guy Bourgon, Canadian Champion 2006

If you would like to ask Guy a question, please e-mail: askguy@seriousaboutmuscle.com.

SeriousAboutMuscle.com contributor Guy Bourgon is from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and is the winner of the Tall class in the Classic Bodybuilding division at the 2006 CBBF National World Qualifier. Guy also competed at the 2006 IFBB World Bodybuilding Championships held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, where he placed fifth in the Tall class of the Classic Bodybuilding division.