Why I don`t count calories? Well, it was never like this. But everything changed once I`ve got back to “basic”…
When I started with competitive bodybuilding back in 2008, I was obsessed with counting calories, what I eat, how much, how many grams of protein, fats, carbohydrates, fibre, everything. I kept track of all of this! It last me until 2009. Then I stopped competing for one year and was analyzing how I could compete again but with having “normal” life and not spending all my free time writing down the calories and my macros. I went on competing again in 2011 and 2012 with different strategy. No counting calories. Only thing I was counting was my carbohydrates but that was only when I was preparing for the show (24 weeks out). I realized that there is no need to count calories (unless you competing at high level and need to track it down). I had my best competitive year in 2011 and 2012, winning major shows. I took break from stage again in 2013 and 2014 having my best training years ever. I enjoyed life so much like never before. Training in the gym 3 times a week and 3 times outside (sunshine, rain, snow) made me feel like kid again. My training was very short but intense. I loved it. I ate only clean natural food with my occasional cheat “oatcake” or “oat pancake” on the weekend. I was eating lots of natural food like fruit, vegetable, oats, nuts, seeds, sometimes meat, fish, eggs, peanut and almond butter. I never counted any calories. And still, in those two years I made my best gains of my life. I was lean and strong as hell. I came back to stage in 2015 to win my PRO CARD. I love bodybuilding but I realized that there is so much more then this in our life. So why count calories? You can be stress free enjoying life, looking great, be strong, and be inspiration for others with simply basic things. Eat clean natural food and train hard. And you will look great. I guarantee you that.
Martin Petro, WNBF PRO Natural Bodybuilding Champion