So this thought has been floating around in my brain. There are pros and cons to competing again. This is what I've come up with so far. Feel free to comment if you think of anything I've forgotten!
PROS:
1) Goal setting and achieving: I can honestly say that I was not really good at this before I competed. I'm pretty good at it now and I know I wouldn't have been if I hadn't done a competition. You really have to set a goal to hit the stage by a certain date and then every single day leading up to that day you eat, drink, workout, and rest to get you to that stage busting out the best "stage" you possible!
2) Meals are set: You don't have to question at all what you're going to eat. You already know. Even with my menu plan, it wasn't set in stone as to what type of protein I was to eat unless it was egg whites. Then it was. But other than that I still knew that I was going to eat 1/4 cup oatmeal at Meal 1 with 6, 7, or 8 egg whites. I knew I would be eating a certain amount of brown rice or kamut along the way. I knew each Sunday what I needed to prepare for the week. It made mealtime very easy.
3) Workouts are set: Again not a lot of thinking going into my workouts. They were pretty much the same all throughout my prep. This actually goes in both the pro and con list since that can be not always good. I mean it's nice to know what you're going in there to do, how much cardio you need to do and what body part you need to work.
4) Incredible sense of accomplishment: The day you actually hit the stage is SUCH a sense of accomplishment. Just to be standing up there and saying to yourself. I did this. ME. It was all me (well, and my team of family and friends and other supporters along the way.) But I'm the one that chose to eat right, get up every single morning at 5:00am to head to the gym for fasted morning cardio, eat to plan all day, hit the gym again at night for weights AND more cardio. I was the one that said no to social engagements so I could stay on point. So yes, it was all ME and I DID IT! That is an accomplishment that you can't even imagine. It would be nice to have that accomplishment again!
5) Constant change in your body: The constant changes you see in your body make you push more each and every day. It's fascinating to see the changes and know that you can shift your body composition a lot with food, workouts, and rest.
6) My age: This is a pro because if I did decide to compete again I wouldn't do it before October so that means I would definitely be in the 45+ group. And I think I would rock that age group. I can't believe I'll be 45 this year! That's NUTS!
CONS:
1) Expensive: Few that don't compete realize the extreme cost and money put out for a competition. It's NOT cheap. Just to name a few expenses there are coach/trainer/nutritionist, supplements, food (more than you would imagine), shoes, suit, NPC card, competition registration fee, hair, makeup, tan, parking fee (at the gym), workout clothes, jewelry.
2) Hard on your body: I'm not in my 20's or 30's. I'm not using it as an excuse but I think it truly takes a toll on your body in many ways. And I think women's hormones really take a beating when they get so low in body fat and are lifting such serious weights and just stressing your body day after day for months at a time.
3) Returning to "normal" after: This has been so much more challenging to me than I thought it would be. I was really prepared for the aftermath of competing and still I feel like I'm still struggling with how to live a "normal" life post-competition. It hasn't been easy. You get kind of confused about food and what's normal to eat, what quantities are normal to eat. I don't really know how often I should be working out, what's normal and what's not. What my body needs, what it wants, and mentally what I am okay with giving it or not. It's all very confusing. I'm not struggling every day day in and day out. But it has been a challenge. That's for sure!
4) Workouts are set: As mentioned above this is both a pro and con. It's a con because you're not really free to do whatever you want to do in the workout world. You're not really allowed to challenge your body and abilities in any way you want because you're too busy sculpting the best body for a certain composition that will get you noticed and rank you higher. The freedom to do whatever I want in the gym is great! I'm not sure I want to give that up again.
5) Socially difficult: I'm a very social person and I like to go out to eat, have people over, cook, eat, hang out, and not really be restricted in doing so. I didn't do as much of that as I normally do while I was in contest prep. This was of course my choice. I know a lot of the younger competitors can do that more easily but I really basically wasn't very social because it was easier to not go to certain things than to go and be ridiculed or asked a million questions about why I'm not eating this or that or why I AM eating what I'm eating.
So as you see I'm pretty much even on my pros and cons. I know it's just a decision I have to make for myself. And when and if the time comes I'll certainly let all of you know and even let you come along for the ride. In the meantime I've got other foci. Any other competitors have any insights about competing or not that they would like to share, I would be happy to hear them.
4 comments:
I say go for it. I think the pros outweigh the cons here. You totally rocked the first competition! Expensive, yes, that's not going to change. The workouts, well, my trainer had me switching things up every few weeks so I wouldnt get bored of them but I know what you mean. Social engagements? I say pick a show to where prep won't interfere a lot with stuff like that. I chose March because I figured what the heck am I going to do from January through March? Not much at all! I'd say don't pick a show in September so you have to miss everything about summer, bbq's, parties, etc. You know? Post comp was difficult for me the first time. I expected it the second time but it wasn't as hard. I had a tough week after, ate everything in sight and didn't work out once. After that, I was done and ready to get back on the wagon. I think the second time around you KNOW what to expect because you've been there and it's a little easier to deal with. You did SO well the first time, I say go for it =)
It's a tough call and a very person decision to make. As for expense wise, you already have your shoes, suit, jewelry (unless you want to change it up), and workout clothes.
As for the social aspect, it is hard. No two ways about it. I found for my last prep, it was much easier for me to be social, partly because my trainer gave me more food choices and partly because I had been through it before and I knew what to expect.
Personally, I've just signed on with a new trainer and received my plan. For me I need something to focus on right now, so it works.
Can't wait to hear what you decide!
The more you do the cheaper it gets, you have the suit, jewels, shoes etc .. you can probably do your own hair because you know whats expected, same with make up.
I'd say go for it!
Thanks so much for your responses!! You all have some very good points. I guess I have a little soul searching to do before January 2012 since I definitely won't be competing again before then.
Lisa, thanks so much for the compliment. Liz, I know what you're saying - the new goal and focus is very helpful for sure! Julia, yes I'm sure I can do my own hair and makeup but we don't want me looking SCARY on stage. I'm NOT a makeup person and my hair is just better left in someone else's hands. ;-)
Yes, it gets cheaper but it's still a hefty chunk of change and I really want to do some international travel. Oh, decisions decisions! I mean stand on stage with a rockin' hot body or go eat delicious bratwurst in Switzerland or some homemade pasta in Italy? Or maybe someplace in South America. You know what I'm saying?!? LOL!
Thanks again for you input girls!
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