Ask Jennifer Lynn Cowan (aka The Beast)

[Johnny Big Nutz]

Jennifer you look great.  I never knew you trained at the Lifetime in Schaumburg.  I train there too, but late at night.  I know what you mean about people not training legs there, its a joke. Heard Ted won his class too, well congrats.

[Blockhead]

 Ted looked amazing...wide as a barndoor, great quads...his girlfriend Christine looked awesome for her first ever show.

 What's the gameplan for the JRNATS, BEAST? What are you tweaking? Inquiring minds want to know. Holla!

[The BEAST]

Ted looked amazing...wide as a barndoor, great quads...his girlfriend Christine looked awesome for her first ever show.

 What's the gameplan for the JRNATS, BEAST? What are you tweaking? Inquiring minds want to know. Holla!

Yes, Ted did great and Christina has a great base-she just needs to put on a little size in her upper body and dieting for the next show should be easier since she went through it once already.

As far as the changes I am making, well I have been contemplating it quite a bit and making a few changes.  Part of my issue with Jr's is we are on stage Friday night and Saturday so getting everything perfected is hard...the thing I am having the most problems with is what I am planning on doing with my water intake.  I just don't want to bloat up on Saturday.

I am planning on incorporating more creatine into my diet on Wed-Sat, probably 5-7 G's a day to help fill out my muscles.  Other then that I will switch some of my chicken for steak and see how things go.  I'm pretty excited and think that the changes should help out.  Give me any comments...

[Natural_O]

Jennifer, how did you feel the carb depleting and loading worked out for you? Did you feel that it made a big change from how you looked before the depleting and loading phase?

[Blockhead]

 Any new pics from less than 2 weeks out from JRNATS? How do you look/feel?

 Give us a status check on you. Holla!

[The BEAST]

Jennifer, how did you feel the carb depleting and loading worked out for you? Did you feel that it made a big change from how you looked before the depleting and loading phase?

You know I never feel like I quite fill out.  I'm not sure if it is from dropping the water, but even when I am trying to pump up I just don't feel "full."  I get nervous about adding more carbs into the mix because I do start to feel bloated (my stomach sticks out a little) from all the carbs.  I've use sweet potatoes and oatmeal for loading but didn't see a huge difference in the way I looked/felt.  I can tell when I am depleted, I do look a little flat though not as extensively as many bodybuilders I see.  I'm guessing this is because I am not as lean so you can't tell as well but maybe that is why I never feel really full.  Or I may have this delusional picture of what I think I should look and feel like so I always feel smaller then what I had imagined...

Do you have any suggestions?  The above scenario is the main reason why I am planning on implementing more creatine into the last days-I really need  my muscles to be full.  I don't like the suggestion of more carbs as I never feel the immediate effect of adding them in that some people feel.

[Bast175]

My stomach doesn't get bloated unless I eat A LOT of food and drink a lot of water.  You should consider trying simple carbs.

[The BEAST]

Any new pics from less than 2 weeks out from JRNATS? How do you look/feel?

 Give us a status check on you. Holla!

No new pics but I have been getting a lot of comments at the gym which I find strange.  I've had quite a few people tell me I look leaner then they have ever seen me.  My weight is still pretty steady but I am trying to hit the cardio a little more.  Also I was pretty depleted yesterday so that may have affected peoples perceptions.  

I feel ok though I am starting to get nervous and thinking about Jr's a lot.  I've become obsessed with looking at girls who have recently gotten their Pro-Cards and comparing my pics with theirs...also I am stressing a little about my posing.  It is weird because I was so confident before but my nerves are starting to play a role in the way I feel from day to day.

[Lostboy]

Hey there,

As far your posing goes, in my opinion, your posing was the best in the Illinois State Show.  As a matter of fact, you pose differently that most, and I think it accents your physique better, and makes you stand out. 

Just the opinion of a fan, but I think it makes you better than everyone else.   

Lostboy

[Natural_O]

You know I never feel like I quite fill out.  I'm not sure if it is from dropping the water, but even when I am trying to pump up I just don't feel "full."  I get nervous about adding more carbs into the mix because I do start to feel bloated (my stomach sticks out a little) from all the carbs.  I've use sweet potatoes and oatmeal for loading but didn't see a huge difference in the way I looked/felt.  I can tell when I am depleted, I do look a little flat though not as extensively as many bodybuilders I see.  I'm guessing this is because I am not as lean so you can't tell as well but maybe that is why I never feel really full.  Or I may have this delusional picture of what I think I should look and feel like so I always feel smaller then what I had imagined...

Do you have any suggestions?  The above scenario is the main reason why I am planning on implementing more creatine into the last days-I really need  my muscles to be full.  I don't like the suggestion of more carbs as I never feel the immediate effect of adding them in that some people feel.

Jennifer, my advice to natural competitors is not even to mess with the carb depleting and loading. I tried a few times and never felt like the final result was worth all the effort. I was either too flat or I carbed up too much and ended up holding water. I asked Chris Aceto about this when I was competing in the natural contests and he said the same thing, he never advises natural bodybuilders to carb up. If you're looking good on Monday, you shouldn't do anything to mess with that condition during the week. Just keep everything the same except for the sodium and the water. As for pumping up, you might want to try some simple carbs before you go in to pump up. I used to take a teaspoon or two of jelly to get the veins to stand out. The real trick is to show up ripped and full which is really a matter of dieting long enough and smart enough and then just making the last minute manipulations with the water depletion and cutting the sodium.

By the way, I heard you on WLS radio the other day. Congrats for getting so much air time! You handled yourself really well and represented the sport in a respectful fashion.

[unbatrainer]

thank u

[Blockhead]

 In other words...if it aint broke...dont try to fix it, right?

 Even the most unnatural of trainers(Jumbo Palumbo) advises something similar to what Mr. Aceto says...if it isnt broke dont fix it bottom line. You have the potential to make yourself look 5% better or 5% worse. The risk just isnt worth the reward.

 I'll critique the video 'REAL Muscle' on the other forum. I watched it twice...I already lent it to a buddy of mine who is doing Kevin Nobles show in November...I'll post my 2cents...

[unbatrainer]

if u all ready look good then y mess with it

[Blockhead]

 Thanks! Thanks 'unbatrainer'...thanks for the information. Thanks alot. Great post.

[unbatrainer]

you are welcome anytime

[The BEAST]

did I completely miss something?  unbatrainer isnt' making sense...

Actually Natural_O I have been seriously thinking about what you said and if you don't mind I would like to talk to you personally about it.  As I mentioned earlier I have never felt "on" at a show and I don't know if it is a nerves thing or a reality and am more then willing to change my routine. 

Thanks again for all you help, at least you get me thinking on how to better what I am doing.  Oh and I am not sure if you are just being nice to me about the WLS thing because I have no idea how I sounded.  It was only supposed to be a 12 minute segment but let me stay on almost an hour so I was really happy about that.  Not sure if the public liked it but I had fun:)  I'm happy you had the chance to listen, I regret not telling more people about it but had I, I probably would have been much more nervous!

[Natural_O]

Blockhead, what forum are you going to review my DVD on? Let me know, I'm anxious to think what you thought of it.

Jennifer, feel free to email me at John@naturalolympia.com anytime and we can discuss the whole carb-loading thing.

[Blockhead]

 Hey John...

 I'll do it on PRIDE...

 My buddy likes it as well...I'll get to work on it. What gym was that? That wasnt an XSPORT. I usually know my gyms...that one eluded me.

[The BEAST]

Hey John...

 I'll do it on PRIDE...

 My buddy likes it as well...I'll get to work on it. What gym was that? That wasnt an XSPORT. I usually know my gyms...that one eluded me.

You should also start a thread here on the natural board...and let me watch it (though I suppose I should buy it

[Natural_O]

Hey John...

 I'll do it on PRIDE...

 My buddy likes it as well...I'll get to work on it. What gym was that? That wasnt an XSPORT. I usually know my gyms...that one eluded me.

It was Diamond Gym in Orland Park, used to be Golds Gym. They were very nice about letting us come in and film whenever we wanted. They also let us come in for the photos for my book the year before. I figured X Sport would have to go thru too many levels of corporate so I didn't even ask them.

[Blockhead]

 Oh yea yea...over on Harlem in Tinley Park. There's a Bally's right next to it...I drove past it a 'plethora' of times but never stopped in.

 Good...looks like a real G-Y-M. I met a girl who works there named 'Angela' once...I think she is/was a manager there.

 I'm suprised you didnt go w/ USA. I'm still waiting to go check out 'Energy Fitness'. I think it's in...Matteson?

 I'll check it out one of these days...nice leg pressing, brother...what was that...11 plates a side? 12?

[Blockhead]

 I'm an idiot...you just said 'ORLAND PARK'.

 Same thing...'tomados...tomatoes..."

[Natural_O]

Yes, Angela is the manager. It's a good gym, still hardcore unlike so many of them nowadays. My friend Joe Silzer trains there. How did you like the squats? That was my favorite part of the dvd!

[The BEAST]

5 days

GB-so are you going to pony up and get your butt out to Chitown for the show???  I know for a fact that Block has an extra bed in his room.......

[Blockhead]

 Yea...GB. You hear that...not to mention the fact I watched 'Brokeback Mountain' over the weekend...so I'm feeling a little frisky...know what I'm sayin?

 We're BIG...we can always COMBINE the two beds together...let me know!