Sadik Hadzovic, a Men’s Physique staple, has finally confirmed his next bodybuilding competition. In a recent YouTube video, Hadzovic opened up on his dieting changes, approach to prep, and goal to win the 2024 Tampa Pro before claiming his first Olympia title.
The Men’s Physique category remains one of the most popular and competitive in the IFBB Pro League, making it exceptionally challenging to stand out. However, Sadik Hadzovic has done that, thanks to his powerful X-frame, muscularity, and symmetry.
Having placed as high as second place on the prestigious Mr. Olympia stage (2015), Hadzovic is no stranger to competing at the highest level. The Bosnian-American bodybuilder last tested himself in 2022, earning first place at the Pittsburgh Pro. He attempted to replicate that success on the New York Pro stage but ultimately finished in third.
Fans hoped to see Hadzovic compete at 2022 Olympia considering he qualified, but the Men’s Physique star had other plans. He bowed out of the show and plans to make a splash when he finally returns to the stage in under four months.
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Sadik Hadzovic Announces Comeback Show at 2024 Tampa Pro in August, Talks Diet and Contest Prep Approach
Sadik Hadzovic revealed he plans to compete at the upcoming 2024 Tampa Pro slated for August 1-3.
“Being at this point in my career this show is so important. First of all, the goal is to win the Mr. Olympia, so I need to qualify first. Not only do I need to qualify but I have to make sure that I have at least 12 weeks of preparation from this show to go into a mini-bulk and then a fast and hard cut once again.”
“This show that I’m doing Tampa Pro is perfect. It leaves me 10 weeks to prepare for the Olympia,” said Sadik Hadzovic. “Sometimes I can’t believe I’m doing this again.”
Even though he loves the sport, he admits contest preps come with a fair share of hurt, suffering, and pain.
“I love bodybuilding but doing a contest prep at this level is like, it’s insanity. Right now, you see me smiling, you see me happy, but there’s also something you can’t see which is I have a tremendous amount of butterflies in my stomach.
“I know that there is going to be a world of hurt, suffering, and pain that’s going to accompany this prep. Maybe not so much now where we have over three months away from the show but certainly when we get to that eight week mark, six-week, four-week, two-weeks, forget about it. Body is broken, back is broken, hips are super locked up. Fatigued, hungry, irritable, and then when we get a couple days closer to the show, then you get a ton of different side effects, headaches, you get lightheaded, you know just from the depleting phase,” said Hadzovic.
Hadzovic discussed how he handles contest preps, underlining that the final few weeks are the easiest and most enjoyable.
“You move into kind of a more lean bulking phase which now you have some more momentum. Then, eventually, you go into the cut but by the time you go into the cut, it’s so awesome because you get to pull back on carbohydrates and fats and you know, you save a lot of time because you don’t have to be chewing for 20-30 minutes at a time. By far, the hardest two phases are the first and third but the last four weeks is a breeze.”
According to Hadzovic, he plans to bring something ‘crazy’ and ‘drastic’ this year.
“I’m trying to beat that look [of the past]. I got to bring something crazy this year if I want to go from second to first. I can’t keep bringing in the same. I got to get drastic,” adds Hadzovic.
He also broke down his dieting system, revealing that he decreased his protein and increased his fats/carbohydrates to add more size.
“I’ve always kept my protein relatively high, like seven ounces of cooked protein per meal. I would increase my carbohydrates by about 50 percent but I wasn’t able to pack on a lot of size until I really decreased my protein.
Like normally, I have 10 egg whites, this is seven egg whites. Normally I’d have seven ounces of chicken breast, now I’m having closer to four and a half to five ounces. I’m really going lower with the protein, and higher with the carbs, and higher with the fats. That’s been a catalyst and stimulus for me to get so much bigger.”
Hadzovic expects to be heavier on stage in 2024 compared to his last prep.
“I’m eight pounds bigger than I was for my Pittsburgh Pro prep last year (2022).”
Aside from his latest discussion about the future, the Men’s Physique star has kept fans updated on his progress. He continues to make strides in the gym and recently shared a demanding back workout, complemented by insightful tips and techniques for a better pump.
Should Sadik Hadzovic pull off the big win in Tampa, Florida this year, he will earn his qualification for 2024 Mr. Olympia. The organization’s 60th anniversary is set to light up Las Vegas, Nevada from October 10-13 later this year.
RELATED: WATCH: Sadik Hadzovic’s 10,000 LB Shoulder Press Challenge
Watch the full video from Sadik Hadzovic’s YouTube channel below:
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