| When competing, bodybuilders always ensure that | | | | consisting of fat loading, carb loading, sodium loading |
| they have increased vascularity on the day of the | | | | and depletion to increase muscle density and increase |
| contest. Bodybuilding vascularity is a condition whereby | | | | bodybuilding vascularity. This is known as "Peaking". Fat |
| their veins on the muscles look more prominent and | | | | loading involves increasing fat oxidation to provide |
| visible. However, female bodybuilders are not particular | | | | energy instead of using carbohydrates, thereby |
| about this, as aesthetic body symmetry is more | | | | conserving carbohydrate and enhancing performance. |
| important. Furthermore, female with high vascularity | | | | High carbohydrate supplement drinks are used for |
| looks quite awkward. | | | | carb loading. Carb loading increases carbohydrate |
| There are a few tricks of the trade to ensure that | | | | intake to prevent the onset of muscle fatigue during |
| they has vascularity on the day of the competition. | | | | the competition. The sodium loading/depleting method |
| One way is to lift weights to pump blood to the | | | | will initially induce the body to retain water, and then |
| muscles, just before a competition. Muscle pumping will | | | | during the low sodium intake days (just before the |
| slightly increase muscle size and significantly enhance | | | | contest), water will be flushed out of your system |
| muscle vascularity. By practicing posing and flexing, | | | | resulting in a skintight look. |
| they can also increase the vascularity. Alternatively, | | | | This condition improves a bodybuilder's chance of |
| some uses posing oil such as Pro Tan Hot Stuff, a | | | | winning in a competition as it enhances the overall |
| menthol-based oil to enhance vascularity while on | | | | impression of a bodybuilder's physique. Without a |
| stage. | | | | doubt, it helps to score points in contests and it |
| About 4 to 6 weeks before a competition, | | | | certainly pays to see that a certain level of vascularity |
| bodybuilders will start on a special dieting program | | | | is achieved on the competition day. |