chicken_hawk
MuscleHead
- Oct 28, 2010
- 718
- 150
This thread was inspired by another post I made and the critique of other competitors is welcome. I am knee deep with lot's of amateur competitors and this article is geared to those whose life does not revolve around turning pro. Rather it for those out there who want to challenge themselves by getting up on stage and just see were it goes or maybe put another check in their bucket list. So, here is what you need to know and do.
1. Stability: If you choose to compete it will add stress to your family, job and life in general. And if you are a wife or mom even more so. You will be hungry, cranky and generally despondent when it comes to intimacy. Heck, most competitors I know have zero interest in sex for the last month of show prep. All this adds pressure and your spouse or significant other needs to be behind you. Not to mention if you have financial troubles or a challenging job you are going to multiply the pressure. So, just make sure you have support and as much stability as possible.
2. Set your Goals: Make sure you have your head on right so when they hand out trophies you can hold your head high. If you plan on taking the whole show and end up placing 16th than you not doing yourself justice. However, if your goal is to come in the best shape of your life or just to say, I did it. You will not be disappointed and anything more is a bonus.
3.Get a Coach: This is not an option unless you are into embarrassing yourself. You need a second set of eyes when your mind starts screwing with you. One day you will think you look great and the next fat a flat. Not to mention timing your conditioning to come on time. Granted nobody knows you like you, but the experience of a veteran competitor (not some dork personal trainer) is a neccesity to coming in your best and on time. It's one of those, "you don't know what you don't know" things.
4. Get a Posing Coach: I could include this in the above, but to many people think good posing is optional. IT"S NOT. That's all your doing-POSING. This is not something secondary. I can always tell when people do not have posing coaches cuz they look bad no matter what pose they hit...heck I have seen people with good posing coaches pose horribly. A good posing coach is going to make you look your best in every pose. Once again experience in this area is critical even if you have to drive 1/2hr every week to meet with them.
5. Show Prep: This includes everything from music choice to tanning. I am going to offer two pieces of advice that can act as guidelines. The first is do it right, do not go to your friends friend who says they can give you a show tan...no go to someone who is experienced. Two, is do do not try and hit a home run your first time out or maybe anytime. In other words do not go to extremes, keep your posing routine simple and use diuretics and CHO loading mildy. Do not over do it.
6. Have fun: I often tell people that I equate bbing to NASCAR. While I may be in the spot light, I have so many people behind me that the whole team wins when I place. I tanked at my last show, but I had a great time meeting other competitors back stage, traveling with my family and having some beers and pizza with friends after the show. Not to mention any way it ends up you will have challenged yourself, had some cool experiences and stories to tell if you choose to enjoy yourself.
Hawk
1. Stability: If you choose to compete it will add stress to your family, job and life in general. And if you are a wife or mom even more so. You will be hungry, cranky and generally despondent when it comes to intimacy. Heck, most competitors I know have zero interest in sex for the last month of show prep. All this adds pressure and your spouse or significant other needs to be behind you. Not to mention if you have financial troubles or a challenging job you are going to multiply the pressure. So, just make sure you have support and as much stability as possible.
2. Set your Goals: Make sure you have your head on right so when they hand out trophies you can hold your head high. If you plan on taking the whole show and end up placing 16th than you not doing yourself justice. However, if your goal is to come in the best shape of your life or just to say, I did it. You will not be disappointed and anything more is a bonus.
3.Get a Coach: This is not an option unless you are into embarrassing yourself. You need a second set of eyes when your mind starts screwing with you. One day you will think you look great and the next fat a flat. Not to mention timing your conditioning to come on time. Granted nobody knows you like you, but the experience of a veteran competitor (not some dork personal trainer) is a neccesity to coming in your best and on time. It's one of those, "you don't know what you don't know" things.
4. Get a Posing Coach: I could include this in the above, but to many people think good posing is optional. IT"S NOT. That's all your doing-POSING. This is not something secondary. I can always tell when people do not have posing coaches cuz they look bad no matter what pose they hit...heck I have seen people with good posing coaches pose horribly. A good posing coach is going to make you look your best in every pose. Once again experience in this area is critical even if you have to drive 1/2hr every week to meet with them.
5. Show Prep: This includes everything from music choice to tanning. I am going to offer two pieces of advice that can act as guidelines. The first is do it right, do not go to your friends friend who says they can give you a show tan...no go to someone who is experienced. Two, is do do not try and hit a home run your first time out or maybe anytime. In other words do not go to extremes, keep your posing routine simple and use diuretics and CHO loading mildy. Do not over do it.
6. Have fun: I often tell people that I equate bbing to NASCAR. While I may be in the spot light, I have so many people behind me that the whole team wins when I place. I tanked at my last show, but I had a great time meeting other competitors back stage, traveling with my family and having some beers and pizza with friends after the show. Not to mention any way it ends up you will have challenged yourself, had some cool experiences and stories to tell if you choose to enjoy yourself.
Hawk
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