FREE RESOURCE: Grab your Show Day Packing List to make sure you're prepared for check-ins, peak week, backstage, and competition day. 👇https://sendfox.com/lp/3zq8y6 In this episode, Chelsea sits down with bodybuilding and lifestyle coach Sean Van Horssen to discuss one of the most misunderstood topics in physique sports: peak week.If you're a Bikini, Wellness, Figure, Fit Model, Men's Physique, or Classic Physique competitor, you've probably heard stories about carb loading, water manipulation, sodium protocols, depletion workouts, and diuretics. The reality? Peak week is far less about "magic tricks" and far more about arriving lean, recovered, and predictable.Key Takeaways❤️🔥Peak week is not where you get lean. You must already be stage lean.❤️🔥For women, the last areas to lean out are often the glutes and lower body.❤️🔥Water retention can be influenced by stress, fatigue, GI issues, menstrual cycle phase, hormone levels, inconsistent water intake, and electrolyte balance.❤️🔥Fatigue management is often water retention management.❤️🔥Stable variables create predictable outcomes. Water, sodium, meal timing, sleep, check-in timing, and digestion should remain as consistent as possible.❤️🔥Condiments, artificial sweeteners, and other dietary variables may be removed to improve predictability, not because they are inherently problematic.❤️🔥Carb loading is highly individual and requires understanding whether an athlete is full, flat, or spilling over.❤️🔥Peak week adjustments are often made through carbohydrate intake, food volume, training output, cardio, and NEAT rather than drastic interventions.❤️🔥Cardio, posing volume, and overall training stress are frequently tapered to allow recovery and improved presentation.❤️🔥Deloading can be a valuable tool leading into a show, with training intensity and proximity to failure managed carefully.❤️🔥Diuretics are often misunderstood and can negatively impact a physique by pulling water from muscle tissue as well as subcutaneous stores.❤️🔥Check-ins become more frequent during peak week, requiring detailed communication, documentation, bodyweight tracking, and monitoring of digestion, energy levels, and appearance.❤️🔥Weight gain during peak week can be normal and does not necessarily indicate fat gain.❤️🔥Some female competitors may even experience the return of their menstrual cycle as stress and energy availability improve.What Coaches Are Actually Looking ForSean also discussed what coaches evaluate during peak week check-ins, including:Bodyweight trendsVisual changesDigestion and bowel movementsEnergy levelsRecovery statusMuscle fullnessSigns of spilling overStress and fatigue accumulationShow Day ExecutionPeak week is often underwhelming in terms of major adjustments and overwhelming in terms of attention to detailed variables for maximizing outcomes. Whether you're preparing for your first competition or chasing a national-level physique, understanding how recovery, nutrition, training, hydration, and stress management work together can help you arrive at your best look on stage.Be sure to download the Show Day Packing List 👇https://sendfox.com/lp/3zq8y6 Connect with Coach Sean 🏆Sean on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/sean.vanhorssenSean on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/healthyasahorssen/ 1:1 Coaching Application: https://forms.gle/xNBZXpnfdP7ntr298 More from Physique Blueprint🤍 Join the 57k strong FB community https://www.facebook.com/groups/977540462331935/ 📩 Download the Hourglass Physique Starter Kit https://sendfox.com/PhysiqueBlueprint 1:1 Coaching Applicationhttps://forms.gle/j13b3QNJFF4vzUGu8Ask