Competition Prep by Lisa Clark

Do you think bodybuilding and figure competiton is an individual sport? I am here to tell you that it isn't. When you make the commitment to compete you are asking the whole family to partake in the competition. Your spouse/significant other becomes your cook and your psychiatrist.

For eight months your diet consists of chicken. I cook 70 chicken breasts a week. Fortunately, we have learned by trial and error how to cook them so they are edible. No restaurants for 8 months, roughly January through August. Meal preparations at home. Sunday evenings are spent in the kitchen cooking brown rice, baking sweet potatoes, cooking brocolli and baking chicken. These are divided into individual meals ready to eat during the week. Every morning, oatmeal is prepared and eggwhites with vegetables are made, all before you (I) leave the house at 6:15. Rice cakes with peanut butter are sorted in baggies and the water jug is filled with filtered water. The protein shakes are blended and put in insulated glasses. Funny thing, I am actually "addicted" to these foods now and don't want to eat anything else. Hang in there, it will be worth it.

The competitor needs praise every few hours throughout the day so this is where the psych therapy comes in. As the competition date gets closer, they suddenly think "I am fat, I am not big enough". What, are you kidding me? You are pumped and shredded. What mirror are you looking in? Take some more photos and reassure them. Keep them built up and positive but not too much or they start thinking with their ego instead of their heart. They feel that "nobody understands what I am going through?" Remember, competitor, you have not taken this journey alone, your spouse/significant other has been there all the way. They seem to now respect stranger's opinions and evaluations of them other than yours. They need lots of stroking. Hang in there, they need you, sometimes they just lose their focus. It will be worth it.

Family and friends on Facebook are hidden under the new 100 friends who wear very little clothing. Where did they all come from? Everyone has now seen your spouse in their man or girl panties. You just thought you were the only one, ha! Facebook and forums play an important role in the competitors life. Who are these people? What do they know about you or me? Facebook should be renamed "FACEOFF"; who can be the most seductive and show the most skin, tell the tallest tale.... it becomes a " faceoff." Hang in there, it will be worth it.

Training, well, we know that is a priority. All the energy is placed in the training at the gym and you get to have the fatigued "vegetable" for dinner. Its okay, you will get back to a normal life in August or so. Hang in there, it will be worth it.

On stage, you will look at your spouse/significant other. This hasnt been an individual sport. YOU helped get them there. YOU shopped, cooked, sacrificed, tolerated new "friends", supported, listened, took pictures, slept with the left overs. YOU won't get on stage, YOU won't get the trophy, but YOU are proud of them. It was worth it.