This prep I've become hooked on twice-a-day cardio. Upon waking, I hop out of the sack, stumble out into the garage of pain, and throw on the set of running shorts that need washing. I step on the scale, then throw some BCAA's and a scoop of whey down the hatch. I'm treadmill before I can think twice about it. I flip on an episode of Justified or The Walking Dead and the HIIT cardio begins. After a half hour, I'm drenched and stinkin' to high heaven. It's a glorious ritual that MUST be followed by the first shower of the day.
Nearing a bodybuilding competition, it's customary to stop the deodorant ritual. The spray tan can react to any residue and cause a reaction, turning the armpits green. Not a pretty "Incredible Hulk" green, but a mossy, moldy green. It's a less desirable look when hitting a front double bicep pose.
The funky odor gets a little obnoxious two weeks prior to the competition. The next smelly flare up of the day comes 15 minutes into the afternoon workout. When weight training is complete, I'm ripe for a second cardio sesh. And I mean it when I say ripe. I pick the furthest stepmill from any women. I try to settle into the Outdoor Channel or something marginally entertaining during this grueling sprint. Then I begin to run the gauntlet. Running up the stepmill is obnoxious enough, but the waft of skunky air I'm throwing off is too much for any woman to have to handle. I feel bad when a woman unknowingly steps on a machine next to me and wonders if something died.
I smell like a dead moose, but I 'm alive!
I sometimes think of the great Matthew Mcconaughey who said he believes "A man should smell like a man." He doesn't wear deodorant either. He's not bodybuilding, he goes all natural because he doesn't "like to smell like someone or something else." And to that I say, "Alright, alright, alright!"
I savor this temporary funkiness. It reminds me of my effort. I also look forward to the weeks ahead when I can enjoy the finer things in life again, like deodorant.
I believe he showered up for his solid Oscar speech. Like his hygiene or not, he seems like a pretty good dude!