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| Me, my oompaloompa tan and my tallest fan! |
Before I share a few things I've learned over the past few years, I'll first address another question I've fielded more than once which is, "How did you ever get into bodybuilding?" And even though most people didn't say this part out loud, there was an implied "at YOUR age"?? I was neither surprised nor offended by the inferred part of the inquiry. Although I have met a number of women bodybuilders who are in their 40s and beyond, it's certainly not the norm.
As for the "why"... I was searching for a health or fitness related goal beyond hitting a particular number on the scale (which is a joyless pursuit that I'm trying to quit) or fitting into a certain size of jeans. I had completed a marathon many years prior (in spite of my general dislike of running) and really didn't want to focus on a goal that involved a lot of cardio. This eliminated both running and triathlons from my list. Then in a conversation with a "kid" (a guy likely 30ish) at the gym, the topic of bodybuilding came up and it piqued my interest. I knew a couple of friends who'd competed in their 20s and I was super impressed, but at the time it wasn't something I thought I could ever do.
Long story short, after I couldn't get the idea of bodybuilding out of my head (which I interpreted as a sign to move forward), I found a competition that was about 18 weeks out and I signed up. And that is the perfect segue into my first lesson learned.
Lesson #1 - Sometimes it's okay to jump in to something new BEFORE knowing every detail about the journey ahead. I'm fairly certain that if I had done extensive research about the training, the tracking of my food, the teeny tiny bikini required, etc. then I may not have committed to that first competition. Sometimes people (myself included) feel compelled to do a ton of leg work, get all the cool gear, read 20 books, etc. before attempting something unfamiliar. I'm not suggesting you make reckless decisions, but sometimes it's okay to take the first step without knowing EVERYTHING. There will always be more research to do...but that quest for the "perfect time" or having all the information can result in no action whatsoever. And that's no way to live.
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| And that's okay sometimes! |
Lesson #2 - A ton of cardio is not required, which for me was a huge plus! I learned about this approach a little late...after talking to a coach (who became MY coach) after my 2nd contest. After daily or even two-a-day cardio sessions with previous contests, I was skeptical. His plan had me focused mainly on building muscle....which is a SLOW process....so I ate more and gained some weight while doing pretty much zero cardio. The cardio got brought in during the last four to six weeks of training, and at most I was doing four, 20 minute high intensity cardio workouts per week. Although counterintuitive, I was happy to focus on weight training and adjusting my food intake until the last phases of prep. There are of course, different approaches to this and I'm certainly an advocate of cardiovascular exercise for general health reasons. I was, however, content not to spends hours Every. Single. Week on the bike or treadmill!
Lesson #3- Not all "natural" bodybuilding contests are natural. Why would I care about this...it's not like I was entering a division with the giant muscle-y physiques that scream of steroid use. Well, even with bikini and figure competitors, steroids, growth hormone or other performance enhancers are used to gain an advantage with burning fat and gaining muscle mass- both things that were high on my list of priorities. The contests I competed in were run by OCB (Organization of Competition Bodies) where ALL athletes take a polygraph and winners take a urine test immediately after receiving their trophy and stepping off stage. I'll admit taking the polygraph for the first time was a little strange, but I liked the peace of mind that the playing field was relatively level.
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| Noooooo....not Barney! |
Lesson #4- The competition suit/bikini/costume is WAY smaller than I envisioned! This ties back to not knowing exactly what I was getting into when I started. I still remember taking the suit for the first contest out of the the fancy satin bag (Thanks to Norma at Bilbo Sportswear in AZ who has made all of my suits!). I held up the teeny bottoms and thought "Holy crap- I can't even tell the front from the back on this thing!". The good news is that the thought of wearing a minuscule bedazzled fragment of fabric helps keep you focused on your nutrition plan. "No thank you, no cake for me tonight". Also, on the day of the competition, you're surrounded by women who are all wearing something similar....so it seems less weird.
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| This year's suit |
Lesson #5- Arguably the most important one.....I learned I am far stronger and more determined than I may have thought (and I think that applies to all of us!) I've always known that I'm stubborn (which might be a different thing), and being determined enough to stick to the workout programs and the food guidelines over a nearly four year period was NOT easy. There were certainly some challenging times- four rounds of physical therapy for various injuries and (thanks to covid) several months of training in my nasty basement. With laundry and litter boxes - it's enough to make you want to call the whole thing off. Additionally, as each contest would approach, I felt like a social pariah. As a plant-based eater, I'm already viewed as someone with less-than-mainstream eating habits. Add in calorie restriction and macronutrient guidelines....I wasn't exactly the life of the party! That being said, all of that was temporary....the feeling of accomplishment is well worth it.
I'll leave you with this - What is it that YOU would like to do, to learn, or accomplish at this point in your life? What have you pondered but not yet taken action on? Whatever it is, I suggest that you take the first step. I'll spare you all the motivational quotes about the "first step"...just get started! Share your idea with a few people who will support you and begin your journey.
Best of luck!
Michelle
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