Are you thinking about competing?

Good morning fit fam!

So, are you thinking about competing?
I figured since I talk about competing I would give you (almost) everything you need to know in one blog post about it.  This is research that I spent a YEAR doing.  So, you can thank me later. (:

So you want to compete?  Do your research first.  Read my blog and then read someone elses.


Step one:
Figure out what division you want to compete in and what organization.  Take a look in the mirror and realistically tell yourself what kind of body you want. Do you want to become a body builder and have tons of muscle and little fat or would you rather go for a more feminine but athletic looking body type? How long it will take you to get there is another story..
There are different organizations that you can compete in and they all want different things. The OCB (Organization for Competitive Bodybuilders) is probably the cheapest organization, however they don't have quite as many shows.  The NPC (National Physique Committee) is a well known organization that has MANY shows to chose from in numerous locations across the United States.  There is also the WBFF which has shows that are  absolutely spectacular.  The WBFF allows you to wear heels that matches your suit, instead of clear high heels.
The three main categories that women compete in are bikini, figure, and body building.  Some organizations however have a female fitness model category, a fitness category, and a diva model category.

Courtney Prather

Bikini:
Courtney is by far my favorite bikini competitor.  She has given up the sport, for now, but still continues to lead a healthy and fit lifestyle.
To be a bikini competitor isn't any easier than any of the other divisions.  You still lift weights like you were if you were going to become a body builder.  No dream body is made by just doing cardio, always remember that.

Bikini competitors should come on to the stage with 9-17% body fat.  This is ideal because it will ultimately showcase your six pack that you have worked so hard for.  The judges are looking for proportion, symmetry, balance and skin tone.  Bikini competitors are permitted to wear jewelry and must wear high heels.  Make sure your makeup and hair look natural and not too much like you're entering a pageant.

Figure:
Figure competitors usually come to the stage with a body pat percentage around 9-12%.  These women are a tad more muscular than those of the bikini division and more lean. They also wear jewelry and heels.  They have suits that are still as blinged out as a bikini competitor, however, the suit shape is a little bit different.  Make sure you realize this before you buy a bikini suit for figure competition and vice versa!
That would be embarrassing... haha.
Judges  look for defined separation of the large muscle groups with no striations.

Woman's Bodybuilding:
This type of figure does not come in a 12 week period. These ladies are the most determined individuals of the women competing.  These ladies spend years building muscle in order to look like this on show day.  Women bodybuilders can wear jewelry in some organizations but do not wear heels.
These ladies have the lowest body fat percentages and have a suit similar to those of figure.









Step Two:
Pick a show.  You need to think about how long you want to prep for the show.  Unfortunately, great bodies don't happen overnight.  If you have a good base, you can prepare for a bikini competition in 12 weeks.  This is still a strenuous program.  Diet and workout must be perfect. Start small and pick a show maybe a year away, and see how far you progress and how fast.  Maybe four to six months away from the competition, sign up, and keep going!

Step Three:
Find a trainer.  Trust me.  It will be so much easier if you have somebody right there beside you throughout this whole ordeal. I have tried doing it myself, and I didn't look near as good as I know I can.  I am about to go through it again without a trainer, though I am doing better, it is so much easier when you have someone there to push you through your workouts on a tired day. Your trainer will soon become your best friend and your go to.  A great trainer will even be able to give you nutrition advice if they are certified in that as well.  Your trainer will watch you shed body fat and help you gain the muscle you need in order to compete.  Make sure you do your research and find a trainer that will suit your needs and your budgets.  Trainers are not cheap, but they sure are worth it.  Or, train with me!  kmayvillefitness@hotmail.com


Step Four:
Find your shoes, suit, jewelry, hotel room and transportation.  No one ever said competing is cheap. Besides the few bills I have, I work to compete!  You can find clear high heels on numerous websites ranging anywhere from $65-$110 dollars.  They don't need to be extremely fancy, they are just high heels.  Suits are the most expensive part.  They are usually custom made to fit you.  You can find an extremely basic suit for $70 and they can easily hit $999 before you know it.  Even though these suits can get absolutely gorgeous, the suit only matters so much. Find a suit that complements your skin tone and makeup.  The body is the main think they're judging you on.
Unless you're lucky and live in the town your show  is, you will have to pay for a hotel room and transportation.  Check in and your first layer of tan is usually on a Friday night and then the show is
usually on a Saturday.  So, expect to stay out for two nights.

Step Five:
Get ready for the big show.  It's the day you've worked for!  You will be running around like a chicken with your head cut off.  You will have another layer of spray tan to get sprayed on.  You will need to get your hair and make up finished and depending on how your carb cycling is set up, you might need to eat something special before you hit the stage.  Of course pre-judging is at 10 AM, after a late night up prepping, and a night of almost no sleep.  At least that is how mine went. I didn't want to mess up the tan!


Tips:
--This might sound gross, but it is almost impossible to use the bathroom!  How are you going to use the bathroom and sit on a toilet seat without messing up your tan?  You can't. Bring a plastic cup to use the bathroom in and save yourself the embarrassment of having a messed up spray tan on the body part the judges will be looking at the most.
-- You will stink, don't wear deodorant.  The deodorant will make your armpits turn green.  Again, that is pretty embarrassing.
--BRING YOUR OWN TOWELS.  Most likely the hotel you are staying at think they are classy enough to own white towels.  Stupid. You don't want to have a bill at your doorstep a week after your competition because they are charging you with damage to the hotel room... all because you turned the white towels..brown.
As a matter of fact, it's not a bad idea to bring your own sheets either.  I slept in towels my last show and it was miserable.
--Shave your whole body.  Yes, everything except your head.  I didn't do this my last show, but I learned from four WBFF pro's that you need to shave everything.  The hair on your arms will trap the spray tan (which is true) and it will not get onto your body evenly.


Keep working!

xoxo
K.Rich



OCB website:
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Ravish Sands:
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