Peak Week Carbohydrate Manipulation Practices in Physique Athletes: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background Physique athletes are ranked by a panel of judges against the judging criteria of the corresponding division. To enhance on-stage presentation and performance, competitors in certain categories (i.e. bodybuilding and classic physique) achieve extreme muscle size and definition aided by implementing acute “peaking protocols” in the days before competition. Such practices can involve manipulating nutrition and training variables to increase intramuscular glycogen and water while minimising the thickness of the subcutaneous layer. Carbohydrate manipulation is a prevalent strategy utilised to plausibly induce muscle glycogen supercompensation and subsequently increase muscle size. The relationship between carbohydrate intake and muscle glycogen saturation was first examined in endurance event performance and similar strategies have been adopted by physique athletes despite the distinct physiological dissimilarities and aims between the sports. Objectives The aim of this narrative review is to (1) critically examine and appraise the existing scientific literature relating to carbohydrate manipulation practices in physique athletes prior to competition; (2) identify research gaps and provide direction for future studies; and (3) provide broad practical applications based on the findings and physiological reasoning for coaches and competitors. Findings The findings of this review indicate that carbohydrate manipulation practices are prevalent amongst physique athletes despite a paucity of experimental evidence demonstrating the efficacy of such strategies on physique performance. Competitors have also been observed to manipulate water and electrolytes in conjunction with carbohydrate predicated on speculative physiological mechanisms which may be detrimental for performance. Conclusions Further experimental evidence which closely replicates the nutritional and training practices of physique athletes during peak week is required to make conclusions on the efficacy of carbohydrate manipulation strategies. Quasi-experimental designs may be a feasible alternative to randomised controlled trials to examine such strategies due to the difficulty in recruiting the population of interest. Finally, we recommend that coaches and competitors manipulate as few variables as possible, and experiment with different magnitudes of carbohydrate loads in advance of competition if implementing a peaking strategy.

A carbohydrate consumption review on the peak week for bodybuilding athlete during a drug-free and non-drug-free preparation

“…In the Science Direct database, no article directly highlighted Peak Week, the words displayed in the articlestitles found in the search were different from the subject of Peak Week for bodybuilding athletes. In PubMed, 2 articles evaluated the topic directly for bodybuilding athletes [1,3] and in Sports MDPI, 2 articles also evaluated the topic directly for bodybuilding athletes [4,5]. These met the inclusion criteria described in the methodology of this study and were analyzed by the author.…”

“…Bodybuilding is a competitive endeavor where a combination of muscle size, symmetry, "conditioning" (low body fat levels), and stage presentation are judged. To enhance on-stage presentation and performance, competitors achieve extreme muscle size and definition aided by implementing acute peaking protocols on the last week before presentation, called peak week strategies [1].Such practices can involve manipulating nutrition and training variables to increase intramuscular glycogen and water while minimizing the thickness of the subcutaneous layer. Carbohydrate manipulation is a prevalent strategy utilized to plausibly induce muscle glycogen supercompensation and subsequently increase muscle size.…”

An examination of the associations between nutritional peaking strategies in physique sport and competitor characteristics

“…Physique sport involves the subjective judging of competitors on variables such as muscle size, symmetry, and body fat levels that are presented through posing [ 1 , 2 ]. Competition preparation refers to the pre-contest period, where prolonged energy restriction and training manipulations are implemented by competitors to best fulfil the judging criteria of their division [ 1 , 2 ]. To this end, physique athletes acutely manipulate their nutrition and training in the week prior to competition, which is colloquially known as peak week (PW) [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…Competition preparation refers to the pre-contest period, where prolonged energy restriction and training manipulations are implemented by competitors to best fulfil the judging criteria of their division [ 1 , 2 ]. To this end, physique athletes acutely manipulate their nutrition and training in the week prior to competition, which is colloquially known as peak week (PW) [ 1 , 2 ]. During PW, some athletes attempt to acutely enhance muscle size and definition by increasing intramuscular glycogen and its associated water while minimizing subcutaneous layer thickness by manipulating carbohydrate (CHO) intake, electrolytes, and water [ 3 ].…”

“…During PW, some athletes attempt to acutely enhance muscle size and definition by increasing intramuscular glycogen and its associated water while minimizing subcutaneous layer thickness by manipulating carbohydrate (CHO) intake, electrolytes, and water [ 3 ]. These practices are rationalized by the high concentration of sodium and potassium in extracellular and intracellular compartments, respectively, and the actions of the sodium-potassium pump in regulating cell volume [ 1 , 4 ]. Thus, it has been proposed by physique athletes and authors that loading potassium while reducing sodium alters the cellular concentrations of these ions, which when combined with increased muscle glycogen causes water to be drawn into muscle via an osmotic gradient [ 1 , 2 ].…”