Body Opus is a “weight loss and recomposition” system that was designed by Dan Duchaine (an internationally known bodybuilding Guru) who outlined this diet plan in a 354-page book, which is referred to as the “dieting bible” of bodybuilders. Duchaine was known as the steroids guru throughout the 1980s. The book reveals all the secrets picked up by the book authors for 12 years in the world of competitive bodybuilding.

Bodyopus diet (ketogenic diet) works by drastically lowering carbohydrate intake and reducing the amount of insulin secreted to trick the metabolism. The Body Opus diet was designed for individuals who were not overweight and searching for a diet option that would not mean lose of one pound of muscle for every three pounds of fat lost.

After all, those who work hard to put the muscles in the first place could not accept losing muscles with weight. Diet plans (previously successful) before Body Opus were characterized by domination of metabolism by calorie intake. This meant that even if an individual drops the calories all the way down to 1,000 calories, the metabolism of his body will be slowed down and the fat-storing enzymes will be ready to work. It also suggested that the individual would actually become fatter than he started since he may be prompted to take more calories for a few days or go off the diet plan completely.

These problematic areas were analyzed and corrected by Duchaine with Body Opus diet plan. His diet plan was all about helping individuals retain muscles while losing body fat besides keeping the metabolism run optimally. The Body Opus diet plan calls for a ratio of 70 percent fat and 30 percent protein and at least 35 percent of the fat should come from the essential fatty acids that are found in flaxseed oil and fish.

The BodyOpus diet is a cyclic diet, with five days of low calorie and very low carbohydrates followed by two days of high carbohydrates and moderate calories, which would lead to expansion of muscle cells and compensation for glycogen. Glucagon is raised during the deprivation period that allows the body to convert fatty acids into ketones. The body muscles use high ketone levels as fuel rather than fatty acids or glucose. Duchaine remarked that glycogen (glucose stored in the muscle) would be temporarily deleted because of ketosis that is attained in the first part of Bodyopus. This will lead to a dramatic anabolic response, as the muscles will be full of carbohydrates and calories.

This depletion workout proves highly beneficial for precontest bodybuilders just before a show as it allows the muscles to get and stay full. By tricking the metabolism into anabolic growth and promoting fat loss, the Body Opus diet plan helps budding and professional sportsmen understand which carbs to eat, how much, and when to stop besides offering valuable advice on how to train and reach glycogen supercompensation(carb loading).

During a BodyOpus diet, an individual opts for depleting carb (Monday to Friday) and uploading card (Saturday and Sunday). During the depletion period, the individual is expected to take 70% fat and 30% protein diet and a 60% carbs, 25% protein, and 15% fat on the weekends. The diet plan also suggests that the individuals should not consume over 16g per lean body weight (kg) of carbs during the weekends. A training regimen – three days a week – holds good for the BodyOpus diet. On the first day of the week, bigger muscles such as chest, shoulders, triceps, and abs should be worked out. Rest of the body (back, biceps, and legs) should be worked out on the second day of the week. On Friday (the 4th day), the individual is expected to eat 2 fruits (under 200 calories) and train every part of the body to deplete his body of glycogen so that muscles will witness depletion of the last bit of glycogen to improve glycogen supercompensation.

We hope that this information on bodyopus diet will help you in reaching new zeniths in the world of bodybuilding.