Trish's 2011 Competition Season- Decisions, decisions...

After the Contra Costa competition I emailed the promoter to request feedback from the judges of the contest.  Even though I placed 1st in my class, I placed 6th of 6 competitors in the overall comparisons.  I was curious as to why I placed so low compared to the other girls so getting the judges' feedback was  important to me.  Figure is a hard sport because it is so subjective.  There is no set "look" so getting the right amount of muscle, hardness, and symmetry is tricky. The fact is that the physical requirements vary in each organization. The natural organizations want you harder, leaner, and more muscular and according to the judges I heard back from this week, the NPC is going toward a softer look for the figure girls. At the check-ins the night before the contest, the promoter of the Contra Costa show recommended the new physique division to the "more muscular figure girls".  I never really had considered myself a more "muscular" figure girl until I heard the feedback from the judges.

All 3 of the judges told me that they think I'd do well in the new physique division, so now I've got some decisions to make.  Back in 2008, I started my fitness journey by competing in bodybuilding.  I really enjoyed it, but was afraid that I was just too small to really progress in the sport.  So in 2009, I competed in both bodybuilding and figure to see where I fit in the best.  I ended up placing first in both, but the size of my legs seemed to put me more into the figure category (at least in the natural divisions).  Over the past 2 years, I've really focused on building my legs up to match my upper body and I feel like I've made some pretty good progress; increasing my symmetry and overall muscular development.

But the amount of muscle I carry on my frame now may be a little much for the NPC figure division.  Personally I love having muscle.  I think it helps me to stand out because it's not often that you see a woman with "delts" not shoulders.  I love having "cuts" and definition and I'll even admit that I like having both guys and girls stop me in the store to ask me how I got my arms to look like they do. 

So, now it's time to make a decision.  July 29-30th (USA's in Vegas) is the first NPC physique division contest that I can do.  I was planning on doing the show as a figure competitor, but now I'm thinking it would be a good time to try out the new division.  I love performing routines and you do get so much more time on stage.  Plus, I feel that I can really bring a femininity to the sport that I think has been lacking in bodybuilding, with the exception of the "natural" female bodybuilders. 

I've decided to start practicing the new physique poses, but I'm going to still compete in the Cal State Figure show next weekend in Culver City and just see how I do.  I've leaned out my legs a little and tightened up my glutes and hamstrings, so hopefully I've have a good showing there.  The fact is that I love to compete and whether or not it's in figure, bodybuilding, or physique I'm going to have fun, express myself, and show off my muscular (yet I think feminine) physique!

Culver City here I come!  One week and counting!

Trish's competition season- Contra Costa recap

For the past 4 months I've been writing about my journey to get ready for my first contest of the season, which I finally was in this past weekend. What a great way to start off the season, by winning my first show! While getting ready for this show was much easier this season than last, I've had some serious self-doubt and self-criticism creep in. In fact, instead of relishing in my victory, I've been focusing on how bloated I felt all day, how washed out my abs looked, and how I don't think I looked as good as I could have. It just goes to show that no matter how much experience you have your mind can really mess with you!

The roadtrip to the show was eventful to say the least. We left home about 2 hours later than I'd planned so traffic was a nightmare, our GPS got us lost and added an extra hour to our trip (needless to say, I almost chucked that thing out of window at the lady who wouldn't let me over on the Bay Bridge), and the competitor check-in meeting went WAY long so we didn't even check into our hotel until 9pm!

About 10pm, after I tanned my client with our fancy new machine, my poor husband attempted to do my color. He'd never used the spray gun before and let's just say that he has a very heavy trigger finger. It was so dark that if you would of put me against a black curtain I'd have disappeared! So, I had to wash it all off the next day and redo it myself in the morning. Talk about having some added stress! In spite of the tanning fiasco, I woke up feeling really good. I wasn't holding water and I could see all the definition in my abs and legs. Somehow though, throughout the day, I became totally bloated and had some major issues with holding water. Talk about a competitor's nightmare! I felt terrible right before hitting that stage, so Mike and I have to re-visit my competition day food strategy before this next one in 3 weeks.

The actual competition itself was good though. There were some strong competitors and they moved through it quickly, which is one thing I really like about the NPC organization. I saw several competitors from past competitions and lots of new faces too. While I was in line backstage, waiting to go out, these two girls behind me asked me if I'd competed before. I answered "yea, a few times." and they asked me for some advice, any advice. I just told them to have fun on stage because that 10 minutes you're up there is what you've dieted and worked for this whole time.

That truly is the best advice I can give to new or even seasoned competitors. Have fun! If you look scared, miserable, or tuned out, the judges are probably gonna notice and you'll pay for it. But, if you get up there, strut your stuff, enjoy it, smile genuinely, and really try to light up the stage, the judges won't want to look away from you! I've seen several girls with "ok" bodies place higher than the girls with the best bodies there. That's proof that it's all about how well you present your physique to the judges!

Now it's on to the next one! The "Cal" May 28th!