The first layer of brown spray tan is already on bodybuilder Luco Hendrikx from Esbeek. He will participate in the Natural Mr. on Saturday. Olympia in the United States. That is a bodybuilding competition at the highest level. 22-year-old Luco has traveled all the way to Las Vegas and he can’t wait to represent Brabant on stage. “I am the only Brabant resident, so I have to put Brabant on the map,” says Luco.
After he won the Dutch bodybuilding championship in April, it is now time for the bigger work. As one of the youngest participants, Luco participates in three competitions of the world famous Mr. Olympia: two matches among the amateurs on Friday and between the professionals on Saturday.
“I just registered for the competitions,” he says. “Everyone was of course together there, so we were fully comparing.” According to Luco, he immediately saw that it was not just him who was in good shape. “The pros look big and good. The list of participants is very strong and there are about forty people participating.”
Yet the Esbeeken resident has good hope. “I hope to reach the top ten. But I won’t know whether that is realistic until I am standing next to the others. Everyone still has to load up on carbohydrates.”
Carb loading
In the run-up to a bodybuilding competition, athletes often eat extremely little to retain as little fat as possible on their bodies. A consequence of this is that their muscles appear less ‘full’ at the end of that preparation. That is why bodybuilders eat extra carbohydrates a few days before the competition – this is called ‘loading’.
Luco already started loading on Wednesday. “I eat 650 grams of carbohydrates and I saw immediate results: I have a fuller look and more veins.” To eat 650 grams of carbohydrates you need to eat about two whole loaves of bread. An average man eats 350 grams per day.
To process those carbohydrates, Luco also has to drink a lot of water. “As much as five liters a day,” he explains. “As a result, I had to constantly go to the toilet and I didn’t sleep well. But it’s all part of it.”
“Wokda and tablespoon of salt.”
And that’s not all, the icing on the cake only comes minutes before he has to go on stage. “Then I take a shot of vodka and a whole tablespoon of salt, so that all the fluid disappears from your body.”
Luco does not do the show alone. “My mother and group of friends traveled with me.” He is very grateful to them for that. “The last few weeks have been very tough. Because you eat so little, your testosterone level drops, which means you no longer have energy, become grumpy and have no libido. So I can sometimes react irritated to the people who support me so much. I therefore appreciate it all the more that they are now on board.”
Now it is especially important that Luco rests well, so that he has all the energy for the match on Saturday evening. In Brabant it will already be deep into the night. “It’s starting to get exciting now, but I’m really looking forward to it. I’m trying to enjoy every moment, because before you know it it will be over.”
