Chris Bumstead keeps his rituals different during his offseason and prep periods.
Chris Bumstead has taken over bodybuilding, both on and off the stage. He has proven to be the competitor to beat in Classic Physique and might be the most popular athlete off the stage in the world right now. Each year, Bumstead has set his sights on the Olympia and that is where his prep has gone. Recently, he broke down what his morning routine looks like, both in prep and during his offseason.
Bumstead took over the Classic Physique Olympia title from Breon Ansley in 2019 after two-consecutive silvers. From that moment on, Bumstead has not relinquished the title and has become the class of the division. Each year, Bumstead puts his focus on the biggest show of the year and has not disappointed with four-straight titles.
READ MORE: Chris Bumstead Shares Top 10 Exercises To Build Muscle
When you have been as good as Bumstead has been, that means you have completely found what routine and ritual works best for you. According the Bumstead, he keeps his mornings fluid and they vary depending n the time of year.
“Prep evolves. I’m very fluid. It’s just wherever I feel natural, I kind of just flow into that state and do what I can. I thrive in that structure rather than regimented.”
Bumstead joined Chris Williamson for a conversation regarding his different workouts and routines.
Chris Bumstead Breaks Down A Typical Morning
Chris Bumstead began by discussing his morning ritual in the offseason, which is different from when he is preparing for the Olympia.
“Offseason, I wake up and usually do a bit of light cardio…It’s been brutal lately. I’ve been in different time zones for the past six months. Lately, I haven’t been putting on an alarm and I’ve been waking up around 7:30-8 o’clock. I normally wake up and do a little bit of cardio, about 20 minutes, just to make sure that my appetite is going. Then I do a cold plunge. I usually dip my legs in there at least, if not my full body, then shower, eat, and go to work.”
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Bumstead was then asked about his breakfast and he admitted to getting sick of food quickly. He will avoid eggs when trying to eat a lot of food so he resorts to a smoothie with oatmeal blended in along with Ezekiel toast and almond butter.
During prep, Bumstead adds in some different focuses in the morning.
“During prep, I’ll wake up and do sort of a breathe work thing and get sucked into that. First, I tried to do it like mental, just to like tap deep into my mind. Now, it’s literally to oxygenate my body before cardio. Three rounds of 30 breathes, hold and exhale and repeat. Three rounds in the morning then going to do cardio, I didn’t need caffeine. I could just blast through my cardio way easier.
I always cold tub if I sauna because I like finishing with cold. Cardio will be higher at that point then I’ll go shower and eat.”
Bumstead has spoken about his use of the cold tub for systematic inflammation. This is something he has focused on during contest prep.
Chris Bumstead is working to compete for his fifth-consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title this year. If he comes in at his very best, he has shown that he is impossible to beat and this could be another year.
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