Sacrifice for the perfect body

Bodybuilding is all about discipline and sacrifice.

The results of this will be on display this afternoon at Sun Coast Casino for the 2006 Muscle Science IFBB KwaZulu-Natal Bodybuilding, Fitness & Bikini Championships.

The Independent on Saturday sat down with Muscle Science founder Mario van Biljoen, who has been a competitive bodybuilder for nine years, to find out more about the training schedule and diet bodybuilders follow.

"I will have a black coffee, and could you please bring me some sweeteners," Van Biljoen told the waitress as sugar and milk are banned for bodybuilders.

Van Biljoen explained that bodybuilding worked in seasons, with their "off season" ending around 16 weeks before the next competition.

Diets and training programmes worked accordingly.

"During off season you are trying to build muscle, and then during the build-up to competitions you look to maintain that muscle."

In terms of working out, this meant pushing heavy weights at low repetitions during the off-season and the opposite during the 16-week run-up to competitions.

Van Biljoen's routine consists of pushing weights in the morning, and cardiovascular training in the evenings.

In terms of diet, the general idea for bodybuilders was more carbohydrates in the off season and more protein with fewer carbohydrates during the build-up period.

The show today starts at 4pm, tickets are R50 for adults and R10 for children under 10 and will be on sale at Suncoast Casino from 9am.

Next Saturday, Sun Coast Casino hosts the South African Bodybuilding, Fitness and Body Fitness Championships.