So, you think you want to compete?

So you believe you’re ready to compete? You’ve put in the effort to train, fine-tuned your nutrition, and you feel pretty confident about your appearance. What’s the next step? Perhaps it’s entering a bodybuilding competition, where you’ll push your body to its physical limits and expose every inch of your aesthetics for judgment by the world.

But is it everything you imagine it to be? Allow me to provide you with some insight into contest preparation. I recently participated in my first UKBFF Bodybuilding competition, specifically in the Bodyfitness category at the East of England Championship. It’s important to note that everyone’s preparation is unique, as each body reacts differently and individuals have varying experiences. However, I can share my perspective based on my own 16-week contest prep.

Looking back four months ago, there are several questions I wish someone had asked me:

1. Are you emotionally prepared for contest prep? Contest prep takes a toll on your emotions. It can be physically draining, but the emotional aspect is what truly tests you. During my prep, I faced two difficult weeks due to external factors beyond my control. I felt an overwhelming urge to quit. Fortunately, I had a strong support system comprising my partner, close friends, and family. They played a vital role in keeping me motivated and reminding me of how far I had come. There will be moments when you no longer want to train or dread it altogether. It becomes the hardest part of the journey. The very thing that brought you this far and the one thing you loved may become something you want to avoid. However, these feelings will pass. To successfully navigate prep, you need to be mentally and emotionally resilient, especially when faced with depleted training, monotonous meals, restricted food choices, and early morning workouts. I certainly questioned myself at times, but I firmly believe that mental health is just as crucial as physical well-being, and it’s not worth sacrificing your emotional and mental stability.
2. Are you financially prepared for contest prep? Competing in bodybuilding is an expensive endeavor that should not be taken lightly. The costs can add up significantly. Expenses include items like posing suits, tanning, shoes, entry fees, federation memberships, jewelry, hair, and makeup—just for the show day. But the expenditures begin even before that, with food, supplements, gym memberships, coaching, and training. The list seems endless. For instance, my posing suit alone cost me £250, although it was adorned with stunning Swarovski crystals courtesy of Harlequin Workshop. It’s crucial to consider these financial implications, as they can quickly accumulate.
3. Are you prepared for comments, both positive and negative, regarding your journey? Embarking on contest prep will undoubtedly attract comments, not all of which will be pleasant. When I began my prep, I received numerous remarks that were far from encouraging. People told me I was too skinny, looked ill, appeared anorexic, resembled a man, and questioned if I was making myself sick. These comments came from both close acquaintances and people with whom I had minimal interaction, all offering their unsolicited opinions. Understandably, most people won’t comprehend the dedication, goals, and judges’ expectations involved in this process. They won’t understand the end result. Nonetheless, negative comments can be hurtful. It’s disheartening to hear your best friend or sister express that they find you unattractive or unappealing. However, there will also be positive comments about your transformed appearance. Often, these positive remarks can outweigh the negative ones. When someone tells you that you’ve inspired them to hit the gym, compete, or make healthier choices, it makes everything more worthwhile. It also doesn’t hurt when people compliment specific aspects of your physique, like your legs, arms, or shoulders. These little compliments not only give you a boost of confidence but also help push the negative comments to the back of your mind.
4. Are you willing to make sacrifices? Contest prep inevitably requires giving up certain things. However, if you’re fully committed and mentally invested in the process, these sacrifices won’t necessarily feel like losses. Some people claim that contest prep is the most challenging thing they’ve ever done, while others find it more manageable. It depends on how much you feel you’re sacrificing.

Food and eating habits: You’ll likely have to give up some of your favorite foods. No sugar, processed foods, alcohol, dairy, fizzy drinks, and sometimes even artificial sweeteners. You’ll probably be eating the same foods day in and day out for 10 to 16 weeks, which can be mentally exhausting. Moreover, eating out becomes challenging, potentially causing you to miss out on social events—unless you’re comfortable bringing your own prepped meals, which I’ve done on occasion. Some fortunate competitors have cheat days, allowing for a bit more flexibility and maintaining sanity.

Sleep: If you have a job with shift work, be prepared to sacrifice sleep. Fasted cardio sessions typically begin upon waking, which means you might need to get up earlier than usual. Goodbye, to a full night’s sleep because, honestly, who can go to bed at 8 pm?

Time: Contest prep demands a significant amount of your time. In addition to weight training sessions five to six days a week, you’ll also be spending up to two hours on cardio each day. Food prepping can take up to four hours per week. And then there’s the show day. You may find yourself waiting for hours—sometimes over 12—to take the stage. I was fortunate enough to only wait for around seven hours.

While many of these sacrifices may sound like negatives, it’s important to understand that prep is not meant to be easy. For me personally, stepping onto that stage and feeling the rush of walking in front of a crowd of hundreds of people made every moment of it worth it. The euphoria that lingers for a few days after the show helps sustain that feeling. I loved showcasing the results of my hard work, and explaining to everyone why I committed to the past 16 weeks of intense dedication. Why have I woken up at 3:45 am, pushed myself, and occasionally missed out on certain things during the past four months?

No one truly comprehends what you went through during prep. They only see you on that stage. They don’t witness hardships, challenges, losses, or strained relationships. They see the end result, and you must bring your best, be your best, and make every second count for the weeks of hard work you put in.

Agnieszka Jaszczura

Looking for professional online coaching and personal training? Look no further! Connect with Agnieszka Jaszczura, an experienced coach, at the AMJ Fit Project. Reach your fitness goals and receive personalized guidance by contacting Agnieszka on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/amjfitproject. Take the next step towards a healthier and fitter you today!