Dairy of competition prepping
#11weeksout
As many of us have goals each year, it’s important to make a plan for them all.
Each year I have a goal in mind – I’ve accomplished many things such as ocean swims, half marathons, full marathons, 90km hikes in 2 days, lifting my body weight, deadlifting 100kg and improving my sprint times…but this next goal is something I never thought I’d want to work towards……
My goal for 2016 is to compete in my first ever figure competition. Yep tiny bikini and platform shoes!!!!
There are many organizations that hold these competitions now as this is a fast growing industry. The categories for these events are bikini models, fitness models, figure models and body builder. As social media is growing, so is my urge to compete and to push myself into a new area.
Many years ago body building was so well known among men and only some women, but now that lifting weights for women is more popular; these events have become massive not only in the USA, but here in Australia and worldwide. As I have always loved weight training – this just hits the spot.
The prepping for these takes a lot of work not only with the physical training aspects of weight lighting, but also with the diet that goes with it.
I have been involved with the fitness industry for over 20 years, 15 years qualified as a trainer and have been continuously studying nutrition, but this is a new world for me in the prepping for this competition as the work that goes into the training is very science based and out of the ordinary for everyday health and healthy eating.
So as you need for any goal, you need to plan and understand the process. You need to work through process of elimination starting with what category you are suited to.
My category suited best for me is figure model, I am too big for bikini and have good muscle size so fitness model wouldn’t suit either, and I do not want to go as far as body builder.
Then you need to work to a time frame, choose a competition date to work to and for me to get my head around.
Do not expect results instantly, it’s a commitment you need to stick with, and as my love for food has always been a huge part of my life, I realise the sacrifices I’ll need to take to accomplish this goal. I love the training, the cardio and the weights, this part is easy. It’s the diet and the pure focus of eating only what’s on my meal plan. There is no room for “just a little bit here or there”, it’s plain and simple for me for the next 12 weeks of “NO”.
I am lucky that my coach has given me a meal plan I can work with and I feel good with. Yes it eliminates a lot of the foods I need to eliminate foods groups (others may not depending on their body type and category they are competing in).
The good thing for me is that I eat every few hours, so I am not starving. It may be very repetitive but I can handle that.
It’s all about being organized and prepping your meals in advance, there is no room for picking at the wrong foods due to being unorganized.
I enjoy the weight training – each session is based on a different body part – legs, chest and triceps, back and biceps, shoulders and an all over HIIT session. The reps are higher and the weights are challenging, working to failure. I also have a cardio session first thing each morning as I need to lose at least 8kg, some competitors may not need to do as much cardio – again depends on their current weight and body type.
Between these two workouts I train 1 ½ hours per day, 6 days a week. I have been training at least an hour a day for the past 3 months and have already noticed a difference in my body shape. Prior to this I was always training, but more in the endurance style, such as longer runs and all over body weight sessions, not specific to each body part, and they were heavy but less reps (Power lifting). Goes to show my body loves my current way of training, as so does my mind. For many women and men – seeing results and body change is a wonderful thing!
I will update my blog on a weekly basis highlighting the ups and downs of going into my first comp. As a trainer I have passion for all things active, I’ll use my inner strength to keep me going and also to show my clients – I am human, I do have mini meltdowns, but I do follow through with what I set out and I stop all the excuses that will only lead to failure. #trainhard #trainsmart
#11weeksout
