Quote Originally Posted by natenator View Post
Contest prep dieting strategy is for sure a major factor.

I knew a guy who basically cheated throughout his diet until the final 5-6 weeks and then had to haul ass to make it. The following year he stuck to the diet, did the cardio as he should have been doing and low and behold he came in heavier and leaner than the previous year.

He'll tell you he gained 10lbs of stage weight and I'll tell him he's full of shit.
Dan Feduluk explains that he did just that in his interview on CBB. Weighed like 15lbs more or something like that in 1 year but he explained the reason.

Also, obviously the more advanced you are like Ron, the closer you are to your potential and the slower the gains are.