Starting out as a figure competitor can be a daunting experience. There are so many unexpected things to stumble across and information to learn. I decided to add this page to give some tips that may be useful to you, whether you are a competitor or looking to compete in your first a show.
One of the first things I am asked by girls who have decided to compete for the first time, is how do I learn the poses and where do I get the shoes, bikini, tanning etc? Well ladies this is an easy one that I can cover completely with one answer....‘Style on Stage’. Style on Stage is a 'total onstage preparation' business designed to assist bodybuilding, figure, fitness and sports model competitors for their shows. Jo Rogers (8 x Ms Australia)is the founder and owner, and works with competitors all over the world from novice through to the elite. She is a one-stop shop for all competitors so check out the Style on Stage website by clicking here.
Another common question is where to get help with diet and training. There are many trainers and competitors out there who offer on-to-one or online competition preparation. My best advice to deciding who you should work with, is to make contact with that trainers past clients. They are the best guide to what kind of service is provided by that particular trainer. They should be able to give you better direction as to whether you think their approach is something that could work for you. There are many different ways and opinions on how to train and diet, and none are necessarily right or wrong, however there are definitely more effective ways. At the end of the day you have to find an approach that works for you and a trainer who you are comfortable with, and confident in.
The best competition diets also include an off-season plan! Most of us grit our teeth, put our heads down and push through and ultimately make it to the stage. We get into the best condition and shape of our lives only to find out that soon after the show we have gained all the weight we lost, and sometimes more back. Obviously in the initial few days, the majority of the weight gain is fluid and glycogen from coming off the contest dieting, however if you are not careful you will also gain fat. The problem most of us experience is that we have never dieted and reduced our body fat that low, so as result we mess with our hormones and metabolism. Coming off a show we have restricted ourselves so much that when the day is over we binge eat everything (in most cases not because we actually want the food, but because we can) and we struggle to know what to eat. For months everything has either been good or bad, weighed and calculated, so now what. By having an off-season plan in place, you can minimise this problem of gaining excessive weight and not knowing how to transition back into ‘normal’ eating.
Remember, like any sports you get better with practice. Dieting for a competition is a skill, and like every other skill, you become better at it with practice. Contact other competitors and surround yourself with supportive people who have been through the process. There are many great women in this sport who are willing to lend an ear and provide you will some tips and coping skills to make your experience a more enjoyable one.
Enjoy the ride!
I have been lucky enough to meet some incredibly supportive women in this sport and am humbled that they were also willing to share with you, on my site, their best advice or tip to competing. Please visit their sites (by clicking on their photos) and show them the support they have shown me.