Bodybuilding- Never once have I said that this sport is easy. In fact, I guarantee it's one of the toughest sports out there (aside from maybe an Iron Man race). When you choose to prepare for a contest, you have just committed your body and mind to months of dieting, cardio, and heavy lifting- even on the days where you're feeling like a complete zombie. Then, you have all the sacrifices that go with this contest preparation which may include- missing parties (because you can't drink or eat so what's the point?), opting out of going to the movies (the smell of popcorn is just too much to handle!), ignoring the fast food restaurant you so often would visit (who really wants to watch other people eat hamburgers and fries while you're eating fish and asparagus?), and then trying to ignore the Starbucks on every corner (this is not easy cuz that caramel latte is calling my name!).
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| Me and my team at the Sac ABA show |
We do all of this to look our best on stage and ultimately to prove something to ourselves. I've been competing for a few years now and after taking a look at myself, my team, and fellow competitors, I've come to the conclusion that many of us have issues with our body image or just food in general. After all, getting up on stage in a teeny bikini leaves little to the imagination and will definitely show any lapses we've had in our diets or workout discipline. I was at a contest this last weekend with my team and I was shocked at how many girls and guys got up on that stage when they truly weren't ready. I mean jiggly butts and flabby guts do not a winner make! But for those of us who stick to the plan 100% and come in on point...what happens after the show when its time to look like a "normal" person again? I always see people I know at these shows (its a very small community) and this last show proved no different. I saw a girl that I've competed with in the past and she said to me that I must not be competing because I'm "usually way more ripped than now". I wasn't quite sure what to make of that comment so I just reiterated that it was my "off-season" and that I had until next year before I had to be stage ready again. Gotta love people that put in their 2 cents...
I realized last night while talking to my husband that I have my own body image issues. Unlike the skinny anorexic chicks of the world, my issue is what some may call Bigorexia. Although mine's not an extreme case by any means, I do see myself as a much smaller person (muscle wise) than I really am. My loving husband pointed this out to me last night when I compared myself to another figure girl that I competed against in the under 5'2" category. I honestly thought we were the same size or that she was more muscular than me, but it turns out that I'm wrong- really wrong. The picture above is a great example. There I was, thinking that I'm close to the same size as the girls on my team, that is until I looked at that picture. Triceps anyone? Even the photos from Oxygen and Flex magazines below show that my eyes don't see what's really in the mirror. Having that person (whether its your husband, wife, or trainer) be honest with you and snatch you back into reality is crucial in this sport and lifestyle. I must say that I'm thankful to have my husband's support and (sometimes brutal) honesty, because without it, I probably wouldn't be able to see what really standing (or flexing) in the mirror. So...Who's gives you your reality check?
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| Oxygen magazine |
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| Flex magazine |
