In bodybuilding circles – particularly among elite athletes – it’s fairly well agreed upon that nutrition is by far the most important factor in making gains. At the top level, all of the guys train as hard as they can, and they all use about the same weight. There is a ceiling to what the human body can lift, and for most bodybuilders, benching over 400, deadlifting over 500 or squatting over 600 only leads to an increased risk of injury. The muscles can grow to their maximum potential, but the tendons and joints of the body have a fixed maximum capacity. Bodybuilders at that level can increase the number of repetitions they use with heavy weights, as well as complete more overall sets. However, there is a ceiling to weight being used, and most guys hit it by their 10th or 15th serious training year.

Drug use is also remarkably similar among elite athletes. Everyone runs testosterone as part of their stack, and they’ll select from Anavar, Winstrol, Nandrolone, and a few other compounds. Some guys may experiment with other exotic compounds, but the basics are pretty much the same. At the highest national and professional levels, growth hormone is a mainstay in most bodybuilder’s regiments. Dosage will range from 2 to 8 to 20 or more IUs daily. A 300-pound athlete who has been running steroids for over a decade and who possesses the constitution (ability to withstand large doses) or a horse is going to use serious doses. However, most of the guys at the top are at about the same level of dosage, particularly those who have maintained long careers. Of course, some guys will go overboard and end up burning out after a year or two, but most are reasonable with their usage. Insulin and IGF-1 is also widely used at this level.

We all know that the pros love their protein. Most of the guys are affiliated with a company in one way or another, and it’s very rare that you see a pro in the gym that doesn’t have a shaker cup of protein sitting around. The smallest guys at the top consume about 350 grams per day. The biggest guys flirt with 550 to 600 grams per day. Everyone else falls in between. When you see 160-pound monsters at your local gym consuming 500 grams of protein per day, they are very much on par with the top pros weighing double what they way, even though it’s entirely unnecessary, as their bodies simply do not have the same demands.

Genetics also play a role, but among the guys at the top, everyone has a world-class frame. Muscle insertions are near-perfect, joints are small, and gains come easily. Every pro bodybuilder possesses incredible genetics.

Now that we’ve eliminated training, steroid use, protein intake, and genetics as the key factors in bodybuilding success, only one factor remains, and it is the one that matters most. Carbohydrate intake is the most prevalent factor in which athletes make it to the top. The levels of pasta, rice, bagels, broccoli, rice cakes, and other sources is almost universally viewed as the main difference in which guys grow and which do not. Peaking for a show also involves detailed carbohydrate timing. Spend some time analyzing your own carbohydrate intake and determine what you can change to improve your overall gains, just as the pros do!

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