Wondering if you should you compete?

I always used to look through magazines like Oxygen & Muscle & Fitness Hers & admire the women on those pages. I always wanted to look like them, but I had no idea what it would take to get there. The models in those magazines make it seem so effortless to look that way. Catch phrases like "Just workout 3 times a week for 6 weeks and get these abs!" lure us into thinking that it should be simple to achieve that fitness model look. I never thought about the fact that those models are paid to make themselves look like they stay that way all year round & are never hungry or grouchy...but that is not reality!

Granted, getting that look is attainable, but not necessarily sustainable for a long period of time. Our bodies need rest from the hardcore dieting & cardio sessions it takes to get that lean & ripped! Fitness models, figure, and bodybuilding competitors eat clean for months on end (no cheat meals at all!), they do hours upon hours of cardio, and train with an immense intensity in the gym 5-7 days a week for as long as they need to get their bodies sculpted to perfection.

So, why do people put themselves through all of this season after season?.......

The answer is simple- The Love of The Sport. There really is no feeling like the one you get when you're on stage presenting all of your hard work to crowds of cheering people. It makes every sacrifice you've made all season long seem validated.

But, how do you know if you should compete? There are several common factors in all of the competitors I have talked to on this subject and here are some questions you should ask yourself:

1. Are you a competitive person by nature? Does the thought of someone else putting in the work while you're watching TV get you moving?

2. Do you need a goal to motivate you to get in the best shape of your life?

3. Are you willing to sacrifice your social life in terms of eating out, drinking alcohol, and staying out late to attain your physical best?

4. Are you willing to put in all the hard work (dieting, training, posing conditioning, & cardio sessions) and still be sweet to & make time for your significant other, kids, family, and friends?

5. Lastly, does your family support you or do you have a support system in place? It's essential that you have encouragement from your loved ones & even your co-workers because temptation really is everywhere. One slip-up during your competition prep can set you back weeks!

If you answered yes to all the questions above, then the sport of bodybuilding & figure could be a perfect fit. Keep in mind that if you answered "maybe" or "no" to any of them, it would be in your best interest to wait & compete at a later date. This sport is gratifying & fun, but if your mind isn't there, then it will just end up being a miserable punishment for everyone involved!

For more advice, check out my other blogs.

Iron Addiction- your source for training, nutrition, & motivation!

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It's mind over matter...

I never really seemed to struggle with weight as a kid. Unlike most kids nowadays, I was always outside playing and was active in one sport or another all the way through high school. It wasn’t until I began my college education, that I stopped exercising and started eating…

Like most students, I spent the most of my college days partying & eating out with friends. I pushed the need for exercise to the back of my mind- behind all the tests I had to study for, the projects I had due, and the part-time job I was working to pay for my “extracurricular activities”. I gained the “freshman 10” pounds almost immediately and kept on gaining weight throughout my college career. It wasn’t until I saw my graduation photos that I decided to make a change and lose the weight.

I ran out and did the easiest thing I could think of…I joined Jenny Craig. At the time I was out of control and I needed someone to tell me what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat it. Having pre-packaged meals was simple (costly, but simple). Over the next 8 months or so, I did lose the weight, but only to gain a lot of it back within the next 2 years.

Looking back, there were a few problems that hindered my goals of a slim, sexy body. The first problem was that I didn’t understand how my body was responding to the food (or lack thereof) that I was eating. The second problem was that I was only running and doing lots of cardio. I thought that lifting weights would make be bulky- and I definitely didn’t want that! The third and most important problem was that had yet to understand my unhealthy relationship with food.

You may not think that you have a problem with food, but if you’re reading this blog and relating to anything that I am writing, then you could be mistaken. I’m not saying that I had an eating disorder, but I didn’t make the “mind to food connection” until a few years ago when I started dieting for my first competition. It was when I had to restrict calories, and count every last morsel of food that I consumed, that I began to understand how much I depended on food. We, as a nation in general, depend on food for all types of things: celebrations, rewards, group activities, fund raisers, boredom busters, and consolation to name a few.

After following such strict diet and exercise program, I found that every time I was bored or stressed I began craving all types of food. But with these cravings came the understanding and acceptance that I didn’t need food to fill my time- I needed something productive to keep me busy! In my case I began working a second part time job and filling my down time with things I’d been neglecting to do- like housecleaning, organizing, drawing, and spending quality time with my husband.

Some important things you can do in your fight with the scale are to first understand why you eat. Are you really hungry? Are you bored or stressed out? Are you just trying not to offend group of people ordering the super fatty entrees? The second thing you must do is break your bad habits. I no longer get the extra buttery popcorn at the theater or run to the pantry when I’m upset. Once you begin breaking some of your most destructive habits you’ll create a new outlook on food. It will no longer be a comfort, a time killer, or a stress reliever. It will be a source of nutrition and the pathway to your goal of a great physique!