Things You Should Know Before You Sign Up for a Bikini Competition
Get a coach. A good one. One who handles your meal plans, workouts, show day stuff, everything. There are many out there, research all of them. Make sure it’s someone you feel you can talk to, that is professional and has your best interest at heart.
Make sure you are emotionally and physically ready to do this. You are going to be placing your mind and body under a lot of stress. If you have issues with food or body image, this will process can magnify them. Do this for the right reasons, not as a plan to get skinny. Go to a doctor before you start prep, make sure you disclose what you are doing. Any health issues or old injuries need to be known to your coach so they can adjust workouts to accommodate and meal plans to fit.
Not all your friends and family will understand or want to. “Just eat this cake, it’s your birthday, one piece hurt”, “Let’s go to the bar, it’s Lisa’s bridal party”, “it’s Christmas, or Halloween or Valentine’s”, you get the drift. Then the body image judgments will start, “you’re too skinny”, “your too muscular”, etc. What you are is dedicated. What they are is jealous. I am not saying that in a rude way but more often than not when someone starts succeeding at something many people get a little judgey. Especially if they have tried to lose those “last few pounds” 17 times. Nor do they understand what it takes to say “no” to all these things. Who doesn’t love cake? The time you used to spend doing other things you are now spending in the gym. It is hard for them to understand why and the science behind the meal plans and scheduled work outs because they have never done it. My mom flew in the day before my show, she hadn’t seen me in months and the first thing she did was try and get me to go have dinner with her because I look too skinny?! While she ate, I sat and sipped water. She’s a mom, that’s what mom’s do.
Prep will consume your life. Food, exercise and sleep are essential for a successful prep. Juggling home life and work with prep is tricky. Time management is key. Scheduling your workouts , meal prep days and kid’s sports while working is tough. Always plan ahead.
Cost. None of this is cheap. Trainer, gym membership, supplements is just the beginning. Suit, shoes and jewelry can vary depending on what you want to invest. There are many options for suits, new, used or rental with a wide array of prices. Shoes and jewelry are not overly expensive. Depending on which organization your plan on competing with you have to buy a membership, then pay for your show entry. (Some charge an entry fee for each class you enter.) Prior to show day is also something you can either save or spend on, body sugaring, mani, pedi, nails, teeth whitening. Some women go all out, some do this themselves. Totally up to you. Show day is more expenses, stage shots, spray tans, hair and make up. Another thing to factor in if you don’t live where the competition will be is travel and accommodations.
Enjoy show-day! You have worked your ass off for this. Come prepared and enjoy every moment there. Things will go wrong, smile through them. I lost 1 of my buttons just before the second show, they made me a new one. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You are going to meet some amazing women. Laugh, take selfies and eat the donut afterward. Celebrate your hard work and don’t worry about where you placed.
Post-show Blues. Many women have a very hard time bouncing back. A successful prep should end with an epic cheat meal, a couple days off and a solid reverse diet plan and getting back into a new gym routine to prevent excessive weight gain and slowing adding in calories. But after hardcore restrictive dieting for an excessive period of time the mind starts to play tricks on you. Comments like “Oh, I guess you are off your diet?” from people that don’t understand that stage weight is not a reality, no one can maintain that look for long, for real
