Starting weight: 113, Current Weight: 107.4
I thought that I'd write about the struggles that I, as a competitor, go through in dieting for a contest. There are several phases in contest prep & right now I'm still in the 1st month or the "excitement phase" as I'd call it. My workouts are still going really good, I can see that I'm getting leaner, I just ordered my competition suit, and I'm ready for a fake tan!
It's in the excitement phase that I feel really motivated to lose the weight but it's also when my are hormones seem to start to acting up...
Then, I end up going to a restaurant with my husband & step kids (In-N-Out Burger, Chipotle, just to name a couple) and there I am, lunch bag in hand, watching them order things I could scarf down in minutes, and smelling the food that could easily sabbotage all of my hard work! It's on those days that I have the hardest time sticking to my meal plan. It has occured to me that my clients (especially the dieting competitors) probably feel the same way as I do. Now in my 4th competition season, I've found that being around food temptations doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to, but it can still be a struggle. That's when I call on my support team for the extra motivation I need to get through the bad days.
My husband has been my biggest fan. He's not only my coach and trainer, he's the voice of reason when I need to hear one. One day last week, I was in a terrible mood. I didn't sleep well the night before and I was feeling really irritable and down on myself. After sending him a text that said something like "I'm grumpy :-(", he made a special picture for me. It had 4 of the top girls in the figure industry, on stage, looking their best, and it was titled "Come and Beat Me!". That was all I needed to turn my mood around. That picture is still hanging on my fridge & I use it as motivation to stay on top of my diet & workouts.
What's your motivation? Who's your "go to person" for when you're feeling down? If you don't know, then you'd better take a step back & think through your competition season a little more. This sport is one of the hardest around- both physically & mentally. No matter how strong of a person you are, you're going to need someone to lean on. Notice I said someone, not something! Trainers, spouses, friends, and fellow competitors are examples of the typical support teams a competitor needs in his/her life. If you don't have anyone close to you to lean on, get on forums (bodybuilding.com, siouxcountry.com, and facebook to name a few) and find one!!! You'll be glad you did!
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