## 3 Results  
Figure 2 presents the results of daily physical activity as measured with steps per day and total kilocalories consumed each day. Daily steps increased from W31 to W18 by 108.0% and from W18 to W1 by 61.0%. Daily energy intake decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-\)18.6% and from W18 to W1 by \(-\)9.0%.  
The total protein intake remained unchanged throughout the preparation training phase, though a slight decrease was observed during the last weeks. Specifically, protein decreased from W18 to W1 by 3.0% (221 g-day\({}^{-1}\) to 213 g-day\({}^{-1}\)), while the carbohydrates decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-\)13.0% and from W18 to W1 by \(-\)18.0%. Similarly, the fats decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-\)41.0% and from W18 to W1 by \(-\)11.0% (Table 1).  
Table 2 presents the average weekly training volume per muscle group, measured as the number of sets. The muscle groups with the greatest number of weekly sets were the chest and the back muscles, followed by the legs, the biceps, the triceps brachii, and the shoulders.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & & & & & & & & & & & \\ \hline  & **W31** & **W28** & **W25** & **W22** & **W18** & **W15** & **W12** & **W9** & **W6** & **W3** & **W1** \\ \hline Protein (g) & 223 & 216 & 219 & 225 & 221 & 222 & 237 & 220 & 215 & 209 & 213 \\ Carbohydrate (g) & 312 & 277 & 270 & 284 & 232 & 236 & 230 & 230 & 220 & 177 & 220 \\ Fat (g) & 72 & 68 & 64 & 58 & 51 & 53 & 42 & 45 & 37 & 39 & 37 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 1: Macronutrient consumption during the 31-week preparation phase for a bodybuilding contest.  
Figure 2: Steps per day (gray line) and kilocalories consumed per day (black line) during the 31-week preparation phase for a contest. W31 = 31 weeks before the contest; W1 = 1 week before the contest.  
During the preparation training phase, the body mass decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-7.2\%\) and from W18 to W1 by \(-12.3\%\). The total body fat percentage decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-21.1\%\) and from W18 to W1 by \(-63.4\%\), while the lean mass decreased slightly from W31 to W18 by \(-1.0\%\) and from W18 to W1 by \(-2.2\%\). Bone mineral content decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-1.2\%\) and from W18 to W1 by \(-3.5\%\), while bone mineral density decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-0.9\%\) and from W18 to W1 by \(-0.8\%\). Phase angle decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-2.6\%\) and from W18 to W1 by \(-4\%\) (Table 3).  
Testosterone remained relatively unchanged from W31 to W18 but decreased from W18 to W1 by \(-17.0\%\). The cortisol decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-4.6\%\) and increased from W18 to W1 by \(20.1\%\). Free triiodothyronine increased from W31 to W18 by \(35.7\%\) and decreased from W18 to W1 by \(-36.8\%\), while FT4 increased from W31 to W18 by \(8.9\%\) and decreased from W18 to W1 by \(-10.1\%\) (Table 4).  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Weeks Until Contest**} \\ \hline  & **W31** & **W18** & **W1** \\ \hline Total Testosterone (ng-mL\({}^{-1}\)) & 5.4 & 5.3 & 4.4 \\ Cortisol (ug-dL\({}^{-1}\)) & 21.3 & 20.3 & 24.4 \\ FT3 (pg-mL\({}^{-1}\)) & 2.8 & 3.8 & 2.4 \\ FT4 (pg-mL\({}^{-1}\)) & 14.5 & 15.8 & 14.2 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} FT3 = free triiodothyronine; FT4 = free thyroxin.  
\end{table}
Table 4: Biochemical markers and hormone changes during the three time points of 31, 18, and 1 week before the contest.
The liver enzymes and the kidney function markers increased at the end of the preparation training phase. Specifically, SGOT decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-\)13% and increased from W18 to W1 by 50%. In addition, SGPT decreased from W31 to W18 by \(-\)30% and increased from W18 to W1 by 128%. Moreover, uric acid and creatinine increased by 35% and 18% from W31 to W1, respectively. Triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, and blood glucose remained relatively unaffected (Table 5).