I am looking to compete in a show in May, just to try something new and something I may actually do well at (while still rocking a speedo)! My question is, if anyone has experience, would tri training for June-late summer tris be a good way to start the cut phase in march? I feel like the calendars line up pretty well and they are synergistic activities since I could use swim and biking mostly at low intensities to ramp up base build while leaning out, then after the show just stop lifting and end up pretty decent looking. Any true multi-sport athletes here :)?
And yes, I know the cosmetic bulk will do no good for tris, this isnt meant to be a should i lift to bike faster thread
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haha I am ok with that… you can go get your trophy on the podium at the awards ceremony, me and my muscles will be keeping your girlfriend company. kidding, nice find on the album pic… any serious help from anyone (non haters)?
That’s some serious nipple action going on there…
Spotticus,
I was a bodybuilder, I got into triathon because as I have aged my body can’t take the weights I was lifting. I kept breaking.
As a Bodybuilder I lifted very heavy, low reps (3-5) and 6-7 sets. With 3-5 minutes rest beween sets. (Close to DC training.)
Now as an endurance athlete I lift light weights many reps (15-20) and 2-3 sets. All sets have only 1 minute rest.
I don’t see how I could have won or even placed, or even felt like I deserved to be on stage when haven’t put in the HEAVY work.
JMHO
VB
In younger days when “being jacked” was still cool i lifted constantly. When I realized that training for an actual sport was so much more fullfilling, and that the asthetic benefits in turn where actually much better, I stopped lifting for apperance. lean and muscular is much more appealing than fake tanned and bulky…the B&T look is cheesy…but to each his own. I will however say that actual tri-training will in fact get you super lean and “rippped” in combonation with your normal routine.
Ditto.
I lifted a fair amount , between 87-2000. Eventually I pretty much just got bored of looking in the mirror.
Granted I was not a body builder by any means , but I did spend a quality 8-12 hours in the gym weekly. Unfortunately , I did insufficient cardio so only ever had the bigger bloated look , minus the cut.
Nowadays , I have lost the majority of what is unnecessary to go 140.6 and am physically and aesthetically in by far the best shape ogf my life. I have gone from 80-82kg’s bulky and 12-15% body fat to 70-72kg’s and about 7-10% body fat.
My wife says the comparison is black and white. The present condition wins by a mile.
For what it’s worth , I have probably lifted less than 10 hours per year since 2002. Not saying this is optimal , just what it is.
…
To answer the OP , yes correct tri training will lean you out and get you chisseled , but I would virtually guarantee you will lose some mass.
Terry
A good friend of mine is a former Mr. Universe and has finished IMLP. Initially he really struggled to drop some weight because he was REALLY big, but now that he is down to normal human size his strength to weight ratio is off the charts. He is an absolute animal on the bike.
Thanks Sid… the way I look at it, I need a goal to get me through the winter, and if I can use this to keep me active and lean, even with a few pounds of extra weight im better off (I dont intend to get huuuuuge), looks like people have had success using a bodybuilding cut as a way to kickstart tri training and vice versa
Thats sounds fun! I would one day like to do a competition when I get over this IM kick, Or I may do them both like you one year…
He got off of the juice…
I could use swim and biking mostly at low intensities to ramp up base build while leaning out,
You probably should mix up the intensities. Do some slow and easy days for extended periods of time, as well as some shorter sessions at higher intensities. You can also do very high intensity interval work.
It’s somewhat of a myth that you will burn more calories at low intensities. It is true that a greater percentage of you calories will come from fat at low intensities, but your overall metabolic expenditure will be lower, and you will burn less total calories per hour of training.
Higher intensities will also rev up your metabolism so that it will remain somewhat elevated even after you complete your workout.
Having said that, you shouldn’t do too many high intensity workouts or you may not have enough left to hit the weights adequately.
I would not stop lifting after your show. It will help retain your muscle but Im sure you already knew that. If you want to not burn out just don’t lift to failure anymore and that should free up your CNS for other activities.
Dude…cosmetic bulk rules!!!
All the anti lifting crowd have “cosmetic bulk envy”…even Dr. Tommy who won Ironman Florida lifts right into race season and I am sure that his wife ZZ is happy that he is not a pencil neck tri geek, but a real man who has not shrivelled away to aerobic nothingness 
I would not stop lifting after your show. It will help retain your muscle but Im sure you already knew that. If you want to not burn out just don’t lift to failure anymore and that should free up your CNS for other activities.
well yeah dial it down, probably change to a 2 day split to just maintain some muscle through the season, lose some of the bulk. I may be slow but ill look jacked while being slow
I got back into triathlons when my wife did a Danskin. Now, while training for Lake Stevens 2009 I’m still training for TCA
New York 2011. So maybe not the best weight proportions I’ll be the best looking athlete out there.