5 things I wish I knew before competing in Body Building

I started to get really serious about Body Building and competing in the NPC Bikini Division after college. I was an athlete growing up and played competitive soccer my whole life. I thrived off of hard work and pushing my limits physically. I would say competing was just in my blood.

But, I remember back in 2020, when I started my first bikini prep, I was just "trying it out". I had no expectations and wasn't even sure I'd like being on a stage posing in a deep painted tan with caked make up half naked.

The second I walked out on that stage though, it felt like it was where I was meant to be.

Sometimes I wish I found the sport sooner. Sometimes I wish I started working towards my goals sooner. Sometimes I wish I never found it at all lol...

There was A LOT I did not know. And there was a lot I wish I knew before I ever even had the thought of competing.

If you're thinking about competing, getting into Body Building, or just curious what this is all about... keep reading!

Things I wish I knew before competing/my body building journey:

1. Make sure you enjoy the process!

2. The sport is based on WHO shows up

3. You will never feel ready/satisfied/that you did enough

4. If you're doing it for a placing, you will be let down

5. Post show is harder than prep

I want to explain each a little bit and hope this helps you, if you're deciding to compete!

ONE: Make sure you enjoy the process!

It's going to be difficult, but don't let yourself be miserable! Competing is a choice. It's a challenge you're choosing. Espeically being a first timer, take in every single moment. The good. The bad. The ugly. Embrace it all. You willl learn so much about yourself and your body. Appreciate yourself and your body through the process. Give your all to each day and soak in your hard work on show day regardless of the outcome!

TWO: The sport is based on WHO shows up

This one was REALLY tough for me to come to terms with because I am super competitive. But I am super competiive with myself as well. "Doing my best" means winning or placing 1st. This is a different sport. You can do your absolute best, go above and beyond and still "not win" or "place 1st". Everything is VERY subjective. It is based on who shows up. What you look like standing next to others and what the judges are looking for that day. You can literally win a whole show and then get last the next weekend. The sport is about beating yourself. Improving from each show. Giving your all and leaving no stone left unturned. If you do that, you already won!

THREE: You will never feel ready/satisfied/that you did enough

The second you step off stage, you will already have things running through your head on what you want to work on and improve on. Posing, tightness, fullness, muscle size, muscle maturity, stage prescence, confidence, etc.

It's just the name of the game. Competing/body building/even just fitness goals in general is about constantly improving and getting better. There will always be another goal.

It's important to just be aware of this. It's GREAT to want to improve and better yourself, but it is also okay (and VERY important) to stop and be proud of your efforts and hard work!

FOUR: If you're doing it for a placing, you will be let down

This goes along with number TWO and THREE, but as much as this sport is about the placing, it's not about the placing at all. It's about YOU vs YOU. It's about challenging yourself. Pushing yourself to your limits and see what you're capable of. You don't need to win a plastic trophy to tell you that you did a good job. If you gave it your all, that is truly all that matters and you should acknowledge that and be proud. It doesn't mean you should stop striving to win, but it just means you shouldn't let a placing dictate if your hard work was "good enough". Like I said, you can win a whole show and then show up the next weekend at another show with other competitors and get last place. Placing isn't everything.

FIVE: Post show is harder than prep

You may have heard this a lot from other compeitiors, but everyone truly experiences post show differently. I think a few of the hardest parts are; having to just switch gears so fast (dieting dieting dieting to then boom, after one day, your going the other direction), working so hard and so long for a specific goal and then after one day the goal is so much further away again, and then lastly, being hungrier and fighting the urges that may come with that. It's important to take a slow approach to limit putting on a lot of excess body fat.

Now, these are 5 things I wish I knew before competing in body building, but I honestly could have written 20 more things.

I hope this was helpful and I hope it is more encouraging in starting your journey! Competing is one of the most rewarding sports to compete in. It is also more than just a tan and glam on show day! Be ready for the tough days, but always rememeber that is when you are getting stronger. Tomorrow is always another opportunity!