Your eyes gaze over at the clock. Only minutes left... Faint growls begin to remind you of the hard reality in which you now exist. These last eight weeks are going to be hard. Seconds pass, and the growls turn into cries of your ever-growing pain. Pounding out the last few agonizing reps, your muscles grasp at any ounce of fuel that may be left to finish off the set. The dumbells drop to the floor. Leaning your head against the cold cement wall, the thought "run while you still can!" leaks from your subconscious and begins to engulf your entire body. But like a true iron soldier, you forge ahead, making your way toward the treadmill to administer the final dose of today's ruthless slaughter.

You are of the select few who choose to venture on this pilgrimage – testing your willpower and self-discipline – aspiring to reach the conditioned glory that ranks among bodybuilding's most prestige. Only a few scant weeks in, and you finally understand the concept of absolute exhaustion – and beyond.

In the early stages of dieting you have “excess” fat stores that the body willingly gives up to provide a source of energy. However, as weeks pass, less and less fat becomes available, and all of a sudden you end up slammed with spiraling energy, hazy focus and the terrible threat of muscle loss. Here in the treacherous valleys of your lowest days, there's no easing up if you want to make it to the stage in pristine condition. So here are some tools to help push your fat burning and training as hard as humanly possible while fighting off the pitfalls that come with getting completely shredded.

Science Weighs In

Round 1 - A.M. Cardio Starts Strong

Although there are many theories surrounding the claim, basic physiological processes and a significant amount of research support the idea that cardio is best done in the morning on an empty stomach. When cardio is performed in the morning, your metabolism remains elevated for a period of time following the workout. Although you would undoubtedly burn calories during an evening session, you fail to take advantage of what is known as the "afterburn" effect because your metabolic rate drops dramatically as soon as you go to sleep.

What's more, following an overnight fast, your body's stores of glycogen are somewhat depleted, especially if you are on a reduced carbohydrate diet and you have cut back on carbs late in the day. Doing cardio in this state causes your body to mobilize fat more readily.

In contrast, if you were to have a meal immediately before a workout, you have to burn that off first before tapping into stored bodyfat. This is due to the fact that eating causes a release of insulin. Unfortunately, insulin interferes with the mobilization of stored fat. However, after periods of sleep, less insulin is present, which is another reason why more bodyfat is burned when cardio is performed in the morning.

A study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise showed that a kilogram of fat is burned more rapidly when exercise is performed in a fasted state in the morning than when it's performed at a later point in the day. Researchers measured respiratory gas exchange, caloric expenditure and carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism. They determined that the amount of fat burned when aerobic exercise was performed later in the day or during the fed state was only 67-percent of the total energy expenditure achieved when the same exercise was performed during the fasted state in the morning.(1) The results are substantially higher than the 50-percent expenditure achieved when the same exercise was performed at a later point in the day or following a meal. A similar study from The Journal of Applied Physiology examined the effects of aerobic exercise on lipid oxidation in fed versus fasted states. Researchers concluded that endurance training at low relative exercise intensities enhances lipid oxidation in men after a 12-hour overnight fast.(2)

Round 2 - Diet Tips the Scales

A lot of newbies in the contest game fail to realize the importance of a sound diet when it comes to preparing for the stage. Although you want to start cutting back on foods, you'll also want keep energy and focus high both in and out of the gym. To do this, you want to maximize your macronutrient muscular energy stores for the amount of calories you're taking in – this is where it gets tricky. Too many bodybuilders make the fatal mistake of following a low carbohydrate, high protein regime for the full period of contest preparation time. Not only will this cause your energy levels to come to a crashing halt and leave you less than focused, but will put you at serious risk of losing hard-earned muscle. By rotating your carbohydrates, you'll avoid such lows while you carve out a massively shredded physique for the stage.

Round 3 - The World's Most Powerful Hardcore Fat Burner Delivers a Knockout Punch

When it comes to getting in top-notch condition for the stage, you want a fat burner you can trust to get you shredded without burning away all of your hard-earned muscle. That's why so many top pros trust Hydroxycut^® Hardcore Pro Series. In one scientific study, subjects using the key thermogenic compound in Hydroxycut Hardcore Pro Series rapidly increased plasma norepinephrine concentration,your body’s primary fat-breakdown hormone, by up to an average of 92%!. And not only does Hydroxycut Hardcore Pro Series provide superior fat-burning power, it gives you that extra

A Unanimous Decision

From gut-wrenching, early morning training sessions to intense dieting, this is what a bodybuilder is prescribed to reach the awe-inspiring, shredded muscle mass that graces competitive stages. It's no easy fight, but the rewards are well worth it in the end. With these three effective methods to help you through your getting-shredded battle, you're guaranteed to be hitting the stage in top condition.

References:

1. Wilcox, et al. (1985). Med Sci Sports Exerc. 17(2).
2. Bergman, B.C. & Brooks, G.A. (1999). J Appl Physiol. 86(2): 479-87.