PEAK WEEK WATER & SODIUM | DOMS & MUSCLE GROWTH | OFF-SEASON CARDIO | EP#188

<p>This week the boys dive into some of the finer details of peak week, including how water and sodium should be managed as carbohydrates increase, why aggressively cutting either can actually make your look worse, and the small adjustments that matter on show day. They also break down whether DOMS and mind-muscle connection really matter for muscle growth, plus how much cardio you can realistically do in an off-season before it starts impacting recovery and your ability to grow.</p><p><br></p><p>We cover:<br>✅ MG&#39;s quad rupture and unexpected hospital visit<br>✅ Gold Coast recap and looking ahead to the Sydney State Show<br>✅ Do you actually need DOMS to grow?<br>✅ Mind-muscle connection vs whether the target muscle is actually working<br>✅ Why excessive soreness can be a sign you&#39;re doing too much or recovering poorly<br>✅ If an athlete misses the conditioning standard—is it the coach or athlete&#39;s responsibility?<br>✅ Why pre-prep phases can help coaches accurately predict stage weight and timelines<br>✅ How much cardio can you do in an improvement season before it impacts muscle growth?<br>✅ Why running and other endurance work can interfere with lower-body recovery<br>✅ Peak-week water, sodium and carbohydrate protocols<br>✅ Why aggressively cutting water and sodium can leave an athlete flatter and looking worse<br>✅ How fluid and sodium should change as carbohydrate intake increases<br>✅ Why hydration still matters on show day if you want a great pump<br>✅ Making small adjustments when divisions are delayed or athletes have long gaps between stage appearances<br>✅ A real-world peak-week example showing how carbs, water and sodium were adjusted across the week<br>✅ Why tracking thirst, hydration and even urine colour can help guide show-day decisions</p><p><br></p><p>🎧 A practical episode covering muscle growth, contest conditioning, off-season cardio and the finer details of getting peak week right.</p><p><br></p><p>Disclaimer</p><p>The information presented is for informational and entertainment purposesonly and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professionaladvice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult yourphysician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition,supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendationsor use of the information contained herein is at your discre