ALL ABOUT MY FIRST BIKINI PREP
National Physique committee
The first thing I want to say is I am not a pro or never couched others on a bikini show this is just my honest experience with my first show, what I learned and what I did, what worked and what did not ! So This topic is impossible to get down all in one blog post so for now I’m gonna tell you my experience about my first time competing in an NPC show. In 2017 I decided to do a bikini competition in arizona where I live, I was so inspired and motivated by fitness already and wanted to take it to the next level. I have done TONS of research and figuring out cost, where shows are, when I wanted to start, diet, exercises, the list goes on for first time competitors. I had no idea what I was getting myself in I just knew I wanted to try it no matter what. Overall competing is expensive ! I’m not even over exaggerating. To be honest I was not ready emotionally, physically, or financially. When I read about competitors saying to be emotionally ready, I thought they were overreacting but seriously there right, and I wish I took that more seriously. For some reason though, it was all worth it on show day and I loved every second of it. Till this day I think about trying it out again and I feel that I’m more stable to do so. I know at moment what I don’t have is TIME. Down below I’m gonna break apart what competing is.
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RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD: Strict meal plan was CRUSIAL, I weighed out everything , also my carbs, fats and protein were always changing depending on weight, gym days and rest days. Once you find your macros go on from there and see how your body responds.
TIME MANAGEMENT:
Member when I said a full time, I was not kidding.
This is how my days looked !
5 am fasted cardio
8 am to 5:30 work
6 pm back at gym lift
8 pm have meals ready for next day
REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT
I had tough times not going to lie, but I also had to remember that I choose to do this, no ones making me and although it can be stressful this should make me happy and not depressed or else I probably should find something else to do.
SELF LOVE:
Respect your body and love it from the start to end. When I started my competition I looked at other girls competition body's and wanted me to look like them, that was the wrong thing to do. After doing the competition I needed to love my body and want to transform my body into the best it could me for my self not anyone else. I wish I noticed that more in the beginning I feel It would have been way more healthy for me!
HARD WORK/ DEDICATION:
Down to the meals to training to the tough times, this sport is not easy! I had to stay strong at all times, having full time job, working out and meal prepping and fitting in time for loved ones sometimes it can be stressful. Every day counts up until show day in this sport pretty much is what I’m saying. I recommend letting your finds and family know about what your plans are, that you will not be eating there food or might not show up to events/ parties while your on prep lol ! they should understand, just let them know how much it means to you. I still had fun on my prep, went to events but I brought my own food and snacks, no matter how crazy I looked.
TRAINING: I personally did not have 100’s of dollars a month to pay for a coach, this is where it gets quite expensive! I got lucky and found a online training guide from a past competitor who I trusted and really liked. She offered a program that was very affordable . Honestly for me I did like her program but I would like some more communication with my coach and weekly check in’s. Pretty much I just followed week by week what she had on her guide for the 16 weeks of prep until show day. In person is still way better in my opinion for me. My comp was 16 weeks away and that's all the time I had to get to my goal weight by comp day! My training was crazy, they were hard and I was always challenging my body, having your body being comfortable with your trainings will not give you fast results is what I learned. I lost about 40- 50 pounds, defiantly my nutrition was a big part of it as well.
TIPS:
Use yourself for motivation instead of pictures you see of other girls.
Weekly pictures and weigh ins
Experiment with your foods
Pose practice everyday
Have fun with it !
Find a good trainer or coach specificity that have experience with shows
Don’t do it if your expecting sponsors to notice you
Don’t expect to win, if you do great but getting up on that stage and showing off what you worked is already a win!
Don’t start a prep if your already struggling to pay with bills, I DID THIS AND I MADE IT WORKED BUT WAS NOT WORTH THE TEARS AND STRESS!
Listen to other competitors advise
Don’t copy other peoples macros, everyone's body's respond differently.
WATER, WATER, WATER, AND WATER!
Till this day I know if I were to compete again I would have a better experience, body wise, money,
confidence and since I know what I'm doing 2nd time around I have an idea of what needs to be done or achieve. If you have done a competition I'm sure a couple of things will stand out to you. If this is something you are thinking of trying or are doing now share with me your experience!
