The articles are usually extremely informative, accurate, and detailed. Physique and fitness experts educating the masses on the rigorous preparation, the time consuming training, and the emotional and financial dedication required for competition.
Proper coaching, healthy dieting, and well formulated, organized planning.
That's some darn good advice. Advice I offer when asked.
Advice I'm glad I didn't know when I first embarked on this stage strutting adventure.
Huh?
I giggle when I think about my first competition.
I had never heard of the term, "prep." I had never been to a show. I had heard about bodybuilding competitions from a family friend and since I went to Planet Fitness, thought it might be a cool thing to do.
I Googled:
Hmm, so it looked like I'd need a new bathing suit. It appeared as though I would need some high heels and maybe a pair of earrings. The ladies looked like they had some muscle so I increased my strength training by doing BOTH wide and close grip pull downs and began performing cardio on an incline. They were tan...so I went tanning.
I picked an organization and then a show by scrolling through a list and landing on one that didn't look like it would require too much gas money. I heard oatmeal and sweet potatoes were good so I picked those up and downed Diet Coke and Crystal Lite like a mad woman because it had zero cals...so like, it was good for me of course.
About 3 weeks before the show I ordered a bikini from Victoria's Secret new spring line. It was bright blue, had a padded top, and made my butt look like a pancake. I loved it.
I bought the gaudiest looking bracelet for $5.99 at Charlotte Russe and earrings at Claires.
I searched, "stage heels" and found a pair from a very questionable website for $20 that pinched my toes and made me feel like a teetering rockstar.
I bought some self tanner because I wasn't sure if my tanning bed commitment had truly sealed the deal.
The day before the show I woke up early to bleach my hair and asked my mom to paint me orange.
I then realized, about an hour before departure, I would probably have to walk on the stage at some point so again, Google time: "bikini walks." I did a few rounds across my kitchen floor and then popped in the car for a trip to Massachusetts for a bikini show.
I arrived at the show 10 minutes before I was to go onstage.
I had no idea what the hell I was doing.
And it was the best day of my life.
I LOVED the beaming competitors, the huge lunchboxes, the brown bods, the sticky smell and THEN...the stage.
The music, the nervous ladies backstage, and the lights- I freaking frolicked my heart out.
I could not.stop.smiling.
I knew I found something. A strange mix of health, commitment, fitness, dedication, and fun. Something I knew I wanted to do again and even possibly, do it well.
The thing is, the relentless preparation, the dedication, the planning- it's for a day.
One day that is an exciting culmination of a rigorous lifestyle.
You better make sure you like that day.
You can still be a devoted fitness enthusiast and strive to attain a 6-pack with striated glutes without that day. It's called a hobby and an impressive one at that. There are coaches for that, there are plans and preps for that. The difference between a dedicated hobby and competing is (in my humble opinion) love for those 24 hours.
If you're thinking about competing, do yourself a favor...and do it. You may place dead last. You may get embarrassed. You may end up wobbling around in a wedgie filled bathing suit with orange streaks up your arms and legs. You may do all of those things and still have the best day of your life.
Before accepting the common mindset of backbreaking allegiance and diving into the mental, emotional, and financial costs that often come with advanced competition, see if you like the darn sport.
I sure did.
And since I did, I decided to learn more about it. I hired a coach. I ordered a real bikini (sorry Angels). I embraced the necessity of a flawless tan. I walked around in my heels a bit. I had a more structured prep which at times, tested my dedication. Throughout those testing times I remember with a smile: why?
Not because I saw someone's photos on Facebook and wanted some of my own. Not because someone tells me to. Not because I have a love for healthy living and all things fitness.
I compete because I love competing in the sport of bodybuilding.
And I didn't know it...until I did.
