Self-Selecting

I’m back with another rapid-fire Q&A—60 questions covering bodybuilding, PEDs, glute growth, contest prep, fat loss, training, hormones, and more.

In this episode, I answer your questions on anti-estrogens during contest prep, increasing estrogen levels, GH vs. IGF-1, carb cycling, PEDs I wouldn’t use again, and whether stacking Anavar and Primo actually makes sense. I also talk about virilization warning signs, post-cycle bloodwork, GH water retention, and how I think about PED use for women.

On the training side, I break down building a better back, fixing glute imbalances, growing your lower glutes, downsizing an overdeveloped upper body, training abs for different looks, exercise selection based on limb length, and how long it realistically takes to grow your glutes naturally.

I also get into contest prep—when a physique is actually ready to prep, how many shows a first-time competitor should do, returning to maintenance after a deficit, DEXA scans, regaining your period after a show, when I lower calories during prep, and how long I think contest prep should last.

Plus, I answer some more personal questions about competing again, my current training split, moving to NYC, traveling constantly, gym culture, bodybuilding burnout, leadership confidence, and whether I think bikini competitors are using glute fillers.

Sixty questions. No fluff. Let’s get into it.

Timestamps:

- [00:00 – 02:09] – Anti-Estrogens, Estrogen Levels & Bodybuilding
- [02:09 – 04:47] – Building Your Back, Coaching Relationships & My Favorite Stage Physique
- [04:47 – 07:42] – Peptides, Glute Imbalances, GH vs. IGF-1 & PEDs I’d Avoid
- [07:42 – 10:15] – Getting Abs Naturally, Carb Cycling & Competing Again
- [10:15 – 12:41] – GH Water Retention & Returning to Maintenance Calories
- [12:41 – 14:51] – DEXA Scans & When I’ll Compete Again
- [14:51 – 17:24] – Building Muscle, Limb Length & Exercise Selection
- [17:24 – 20:47] – First Bodybuilding Shows, Glute Growth, Downsizing & Abs
- [20:47 – 23:09] – Muscle Growth vs. Performance & Training After an Ovarian Cyst Rupture
- [23:09 – 25:09] – Post-Cycle Bloodwork & Zone 2 Cardio
- [25:09 – 28:10] – Off-Season PEDs, Bulgarian Split Squats & Extreme Contest Prep
- [28:10 – 31:04] – Competing as a Couple & When to Leave Your Coach
- [31:04 – 33:41] – Anavar Virilization, Ab Training & Pre-Workout Nutrition
- [33:41 – 36:28] – How Long Glutes Take to Grow Naturally & Gym Culture
- [36:28 – 39:29] – Natural Potential, Downsizing Muscle & Anavar + Primo
- [39:29 – 43:02] – Glute Fillers in Bikini Bodybuilding & Moving to NYC
- [43:02 – 45:15] – Traveling, Starting Contest Prep & Muscle Imbalances
- [45:15 – 47:20] – Two Coaches, Cardio Heart Rate & Leadership Confidence
- [47:20 – 49:22] – Bodybuilding Burnout, Anavar, Sleep Supplements & My Training Split
- [49:22 – 51:18] – Regaining Your Period, Dropping Calories & Contest Prep Length

Links & Resources:

Purchase The Complete Fat Loss Guide:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-fat-loss-guide/

Purchase The Glute Building Blueprint:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-glute-building-program/

https://coryfit.com/

⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min

⁠Consults: Book a Call⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultation

For more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠:
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⁠Patreon⁠:
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If you’re a woman using anabolic steroids or other androgenic PEDs, there are certain signs of virilization I don’t want you to ignore.

In this video, I break down seven warning signs I would pay attention to when using compounds like TRT, Anavar, Primo, SARMs, or other PEDs that can produce androgenic effects. I cover changes in vocal pitch, persistent throat changes, clitoral enlargement and sensitivity, acne, changes in body and facial hair, and increased hair-growth frequency.

I also explain why tracking these changes early matters. Some androgenic side effects may be manageable, while others—particularly vocal and anatomical changes—can become difficult or impossible to reverse once they progress.

If you notice new changes after introducing a PED, don’t dismiss them or assume they’ll automatically go away. Track when they started, communicate with the professional overseeing your care, and seriously consider whether the potential physique or performance benefit is worth the long-term trade-off.

Timestamps:

- [00:00 – 01:12] – 7 Virilization Signs Women Using PEDs Should Know
- [01:12 – 02:57] – #1 Voice Changes & Vocal Pitch
- [02:57 – 05:03] – #2 Clitoral Growth, Swelling & Sensitivity
- [05:03 – 07:05] – #3 Persistent Hoarseness & Throat Changes
- [07:05 – 08:26] – #4 When Other People Notice Your Voice Changing
- [08:26 – 10:20] – #5 Acne & Androgenic Skin Changes
- [10:20 – 12:03] – #6 Facial & Body Hair Changes
- [12:03 – 13:24] – #7 Faster, Coarser Hair Growth
- [13:24 – 14:33] – Irreversible Virilization & When to Reconsider PED Use

Links & Resources:

Purchase The Complete Fat Loss Guide:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-fat-loss-guide/

Purchase The Glute Building Blueprint:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-glute-building-program/

https://coryfit.com/

⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min

⁠Consults: Book a Call⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultation

For more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠:
https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/

⁠Patreon⁠:
https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Why do some people actually start looking and feeling worse the longer they diet?

In this episode, I break down seven signs that your fat loss phase may be creating more dietary fatigue than your body can effectively manage. I cover declining training performance, rising stress and cortisol, muscle loss from an overly aggressive calorie deficit, poor sleep, extreme hunger-management “hacks,” digestive issues, and declining diet adherence.

I also explain why pushing harder isn't always the answer. If your training is suffering, you're losing muscle, holding more water, struggling with sleep and digestion, obsessing over food, or getting closer to bingeing, continuing to cut calories may take you further away from the physique you're trying to achieve.

The goal of a successful fat loss phase isn't simply to lose as much weight as possible. It's to preserve muscle, manage dietary fatigue, maintain adherence, and recognize when you've reached the point where continuing the deficit is doing more harm than good.

Timestamps:

- [00:00 – 02:25] – Why You Can Look Worse the Longer You Diet
- [02:25 – 05:24] – #1 Your Training Performance Is Declining
- [05:24 – 09:16] – #2 Cortisol, Stress & Water Retention Increase
- [09:16 – 13:16] – #3 You’re Losing Muscle in Your Calorie Deficit
- [13:16 – 22:43] – #4 Poor Sleep Is Hurting Your Fat Loss
- [22:43 – 28:52] – #5 You’re Using Diet Hacks to Avoid Hunger
- [28:52 – 32:52] – #6 Digestion & Bowel Movements Are Getting Worse
- [32:52 – 39:50] – #7 Diet Adherence Is Slipping & Binge Risk Is Rising
- [39:50 – 41:13] – When It’s Time to End Your Fat Loss Phase

Links & Resources:

Purchase The Complete Fat Loss Guide:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-fat-loss-guide/

Purchase The Glute Building Blueprint:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-glute-building-program/

https://coryfit.com/

⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min

⁠Consults: Book a Call⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultation

For more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠:
https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/

⁠Patreon⁠:
https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

If you hate your meal plan, forcing yourself to eat the same boring foods every day probably isn't going to make you more consistent.

In this episode, I break down practical food swaps and meal prep ideas I use with clients to make a fat loss or muscle-building diet more enjoyable without completely rebuilding the plan. I cover overlooked protein sources, alternatives to rice and potatoes, ways to add more variety with fruits and vegetables, and how to use fats, dairy, dips, seeds, and different textures to make simple meals significantly better.

I also explain why enjoying your food matters for diet adherence, how your perception of “diet food” can influence hunger, and why you should audit meals you consistently dread instead of waiting until you're so bored that you go off plan.

Whether you're following a structured meal plan or flexible dieting with macros, the goal is to create meals you can actually look forward to while still supporting your nutrition and body composition goals.

Timestamps:

- [00:00 – 02:37] – How to Make a Boring Meal Plan Easier to Follow
- [02:37 – 05:58] – Protein Swaps: Chicken, Steak & Lean Meats
- [05:58 – 08:35] – Seafood, Eggs & High-Protein Meal Ideas
- [08:35 – 10:53] – Better Carb Swaps When You’re Sick of Rice
- [10:53 – 14:44] – Fruit Swaps & Easy Ways to Add Diet Variety
- [14:44 – 17:33] – Vegetables, Seasonal Foods & Finding Better Recipes
- [17:33 – 19:43] – Make Meal Prep More Enjoyable With Better Ingredients
- [19:43 – 22:49] – Healthy Fats, Dips, Nuts & Seeds
- [22:49 – 24:18] – Dairy Swaps & Why Dietary Fat Matters
- [24:18 – 26:08] – Hate Your Meal Plan? Audit Your Meals

Links & Resources:

Purchase The Complete Fat Loss Guide:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-fat-loss-guide/

Purchase The Glute Building Blueprint:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-glute-building-program/

https://coryfit.com/

⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min

⁠Consults: Book a Call⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultation

For more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠:
https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/

⁠Patreon⁠:
https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Fat loss is straightforward—but the way we approach it can make it unnecessarily difficult.

In this episode, I break down seven fat loss principles I consistently see determine whether someone makes progress or stays stuck. I cover why honest adherence matters more than optimization, how inaccurate food tracking can erase a calorie deficit, why you should stop changing a system that's already working, and how to use scale weight and other data without letting normal fluctuations derail you.

I also explain why constantly feeling like you're dieting doesn't mean you're actually maintaining a deficit, why you need to commit before expecting results, and why hunger isn't automatically a sign that something is wrong. If you're putting in effort but still struggling to lose body fat, these principles will help you identify what's actually holding you back.

Timestamps:

- [00:00 – 11:15] – Why Fat Loss Feels Harder Than It Needs to Be
- [11:15 – 21:04] – #1 Get Brutally Honest About Diet Adherence
- [21:04 – 25:49] – #2 Stop Chasing Novelty When Your Diet Is Working
- [25:49 – 34:22] – #3 Scale Weight, Tracking Accuracy & Better Fat Loss Data
- [34:22 – 38:51] – #4 Why You’re Always Dieting Without Losing Fat
- [38:51 – 42:22] – #5 Don’t Start a Calorie Deficit Until You’re Ready
- [42:22 – 45:27] – #6 The Calorie Deficit Comes Before the Results
- [45:27 – 47:54] – #7 Hunger Is a Normal Part of Fat Loss
- [47:54 – 50:12] – Bonus: Consistency Beats Extreme Dieting

Links & Resources:

Purchase The Complete Fat Loss Guide:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-fat-loss-guide/

Purchase The Glute Building Blueprint:
https://coryfit.com/product/the-complete-glute-building-program/https://coryfit.com/⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min

Consults: Book a Call⁠
https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultation

For more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠:
https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/

⁠Patreon⁠:
https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink