Competing in a figure competition is both fun and rewarding, but also requires hours of hard workouts, and being dedicated to a restrictive eating plan.

After you have worked hard in the gym all year you are finally ready to begin your pre-contest figure competition diet. Allow yourself at least 12 weeks to get ready and shed your body fat. If it is your first contest or you have a little extra body fat to shed, start out 16 weeks from the date of your figure competition.

You will have five days a week of low carbohydrates and two days a week of high carbohydrates. Rotating the carbohydrate amount, also called cycling, will keep your body from adapting and becoming stagnant. We want your metabolism to always be high to lose your excess body fat.

The two days of high carbohydrates can be your choosing, but do keep at least 2-3 days between them. For example, you can do Monday and Thursday. Or if you like to go out on the weekend, you can do Saturday and Wednesday.

Here is an example meal plan for a pre-contest figure competition diet.

Sample Pre-Contest Figure Competition Diet Plan (Low Carbohydrate Day)

Meal 1: 8 egg whites, ¾ cup of oatmeal

Meal 2: Low carbohydrate protein shake with 30g of protein, 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil

Meal 3: 3.5 ounces of fish, ¾ cup brown rice, green vegetables

Meal 4: Low carbohydrate protein shake with 30g of protein, 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil

Meal 5: 3.5 ounces of fish, 4-5 ounce broiled or baked sweet potato, green vegetables

Meal 6: 3.5 ounces of non-fatty fish, green vegetables

Sample Pre-Contest Figure Competition Diet Plan (High Carbohydrate Day)

Meal 1: 8 egg whites, ¾ cup of oatmeal

Meal 2: Low carbohydrate protein shake with 30g of protein, 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil, ½ cup of oatmeal

Meal 3: 3.5 ounces of fish, ¾ cup brown rice, green vegetables

Meal 4: Low carbohydrate protein shake with 30g of protein, 1 tablespoon of flaxseed, oil ½ cup of oatmeal

Meal 5: 3.5 ounces of fish, 4-5 ounce broiled or baked sweet potato, green vegetables

Meal 6: 3.5 ounces of non-fatty fish, green vegetables

As you can see, the pre-contest figure competition diet plans are almost identical with the exception of adding an extra serving of oatmeal twice a day on the high carbohydrate diet plan.

Check out more at CompetitionDiet.org