Post-competition recovery in natural physique athletes: body composition, metabolic adaptation, and refeeding responses - PubMed
2 hours ago
- #Post-competition recovery
- #Refeeding strategies
- #Metabolic adaptation
- Body weight decreased significantly during contest preparation, primarily due to fat mass (FM) loss, with modest fat-free mass (FFM) loss.
- Both FM and FFM rebounded within the first 6 weeks post-competition; by 12 weeks, FFM exceeded baseline while FM remained slightly lower.
- Resting metabolic rate (RMR) per FFM showed a small uncertain reduction pre-competition, then increased post-competition, with larger energy intake rises linked to faster RMR recovery.
- Thyroid hormones (FT3, FT4) decreased during preparation, returning to reference ranges by 12 weeks post-competition.
- Strength was maintained, while mood and sleep worsened during preparation and improved by 12 weeks; eating-disorder symptoms were highest pre-competition and declined afterwards.
- Post-competition recovery should be active and structured, with individualized refeeding based on athlete goals and psychological readiness, guided by multi-system monitoring.