TRUTH TALK: The REAL Pros & Cons of Fitness CompetiTIons + 5 Tips if You Want to Compete

“Sometimes what you’re most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free”. ~Robert Tew.

I’m Kathleen, and I am so excited to share my experience of fitness competing with the Finding My Beautiful readers! I work in two industries that I love: wine and fitness. However, it can definitely be challenging to find balance between the two.

I finally overcame my struggles with weight gain and lack of self-confidence and am now a Fitness Nutrition Specialist, nationally qualified bikini competitor in the Nspire Sports League,  and an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor. Fitness has always been an important part of my life and has gotten me through many tough times throughout the years.

My decision to compete came after a very difficult time in my life. I was recently divorced and had just moved to a new city. My self-confidence took a big hit and I felt like a failure. During one of our last conversations, my ex said that he “wasn’t attracted to me anymore because I had gained weight.” I knew the words were said to hurt me and weren’t necessarily true. However, they hurt like no other. What disappointed me the most about this is that I lacked the confidence to let these words roll off my back. Why didn’t I have the confidence to only care about what I thought of myself? I knew I needed to do something to build myself back up so that I was in control of my self-esteem and not other people’s opinions.

I decided to get back into teaching group fitness classes since I was new to the city and didn’t know anyone. In doing so, I met my boss, Lauren, who I truly feel was put in my path to help get me through this time. She too had gone through a divorce, and now seemed to be living a really happy life. She gave me hope that I, too, could have a great life after this experience.

I soon discovered that she was a serious figure competitor! I remember being extremely excited. I asked her a million questions and thought this could be something that helps me rediscover my self-confidence. This was an opportunity for me to push myself to achieve something I had always thought about doing, but was always afraid to do. I hired the same coach that Lauren used and decided to go for it!

I had no idea that I was about to go through such a life-changing experience. I decided to compete in the bikini division where you don’t have to put on as much muscle mass. I saw competing as an opportunity to:

• work towards a goal
• achieve my best physical physique
• do something to make myself proud
• …and achieve the healthiest version of myself.

The idea of having to walk on a stage in a tiny bikini and be judged was terrifying. Was I even capable of doing this? Will people laugh at me? What if I fail? The self-doubt started to creep in, but I ended up having an incredible journey. I learned so much about how my body works, the right way to eat, how to exercise and the importance of strength training. However, the bigger takeaway was what I learned about myself.

Here are my pros and cons to competing:

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THE PROS

1. A KILLER BODY
   It’s an amazing feeling to wake up every day knowing you look good! You can put on any outfit in your closet and rock it, no problem. Looking good makes you feel good, which can really bring out your confidence. Whether it was making a presentation in front of a large group for work or going out to the beach on the weekends, I felt more confident than ever.
2. FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
   Achieving a goal you set for yourself is one of the best things you can do to build your self-confidence. The feeling of knowing you did something EXTREMELY challenging, that you pushed yourself every day and did not give up is very empowering! You realize that you are capable of doing more than you ever thought you could, which will translate into every aspect of your life.
3. EDUCATION
   You learn so much about your body throughout the process that helps you live a healthier lifestyle moving forward. You will learn what foods and quantities your body responds best to. You’ll learn how to build muscle and burn fat. Knowledge is power and the experience of competing is very educational. Knowledge about your body gives you the control.
4. MUSCLE
   No matter which division you compete in, you will most likely be adding muscle to your frame. Muscle constantly burns fat, so the more muscle we have on our bodies, the better in the long run! Muscle adds nice curves to our bodies and makes us stronger.
5. IT’S FUN!
   I have met so many amazing people throughout my two years of competing who have become some of my closest friends. We travel to shows in different cities together. We get our hair and make-up done together, cheer each other on, and always go out and enjoy a treat meal afterwards (of course!). You can also use shows as an opportunity to travel and explore new cities!

 

THE CONS

1. CAN BE UNHEALTHY
   We are all genetically different and trying to get our bodies to a certain level of leanness can be unhealthy for some people. I almost didn’t compete again after my first competition because even though I looked fit, I wasn’t my healthiest. I had kidney issues and very low energy after my first show. Several women lose their cycle during prep and can have their hormones out of balance, and others suffer mentally with body dysmorphia, disordered eating and negative body image. Thankfully, I was able to compete healthy later on after discovering a new league with different divisions that allowed me to compete in healthy way for my body type. If it weren’t for discovering this new league, I probably wouldn’t have competed again. The goal was to reach the healthiest version of myself, and even though I looked good, I didn’t physically feel good after my first show.
2. NEGATIVE BODY IMAGE
   Competing can be great for your self-confidence, but like I touched on a little above, it can mess with your body image, too. “Stage Weight” is not typically a maintainable weight for most women. A lot of competitors gain anywhere from 5 to 20 pounds in the off-season. This can  be hard to deal with after being so lean. Several of my friends who compete go through this same struggle. If you don’t ease out of your stage weight by slowly increasing your calories, you can gain a lot of water weight fairly quickly, which can mess with your head. It takes a strong mindset to remember that stage weight is for the stage and that it is normal and completely OKAY to gain some weight after a competition.
3. TIME
   Competing is intense and takes up a lot of your time. Prep alone is typically 12 to 16 weeks before a show. This doesn’t include the time in the offseason which could be months of trying to build muscle prior to the prep time. Prep before a show includes working out twice a day 5 to 7 days a week and prepping anywhere from 4 to 6 meals a day. There’s a reason why everyone walking around doesn’t look like a bikini competitor. It’s a lot of work! Everyone is different and everyone prepares differently, but there is definitely a large time investment required to be successful. It also takes time to work on your posing which is a big part of the process, as well.
4. EXPENSIVE
   Competing is quite costly! Competition suits can run anywhere from $150 to $2,000! This typically depends on the amount of bling you want. You also have to pay for travel, hotel, hair, make-up and your tan (the very dark tan!). Additionally, you have the cost of competing in the actual show. I’ve done shows that were $150 and some that were upwards of $300.
5. QUALITY OF LIFE
   You make sacrifices when you are in competition prep. Socially, you most likely will not be drinking, which can be tough if you enjoy going out. Social occasions, holidays and other events can be challenging, too, when everyone else is enjoying good food and wine and you’re just chillin’ with some grilled chicken (#reallife). You just have to stay focused on your priorities.  For me, I learn to enjoy new things while on  prep. During my last prep, I had a work trip to Napa Valley. Rather than focus on all of the things I couldn’t do, I focused on what I could do—I kayaked on the Russian River, saw some beautiful wineries and had a great time with amazing people. It’s all about your perspective. Yes, there will be things that are off limits, but don’t focus on those! Focus on your goal and what each decision is leading you to.

 
So, there you have it! A lot of good and bad when it comes to competing. Ultimately, my main reason for continuing to compete is simple. Preparing for competitions picks me up like no other. There is no better feeling than setting a goal for yourself and going after it. Competing has helped me get through some very tough times in my life, and for that, I am truly grateful.

5 TIPS IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT COMPETING:

1. DETERMINE YOUR WHY
   Competing is tough and knowing your “why” and finding a bigger meaning from the process is key in getting you through it and making the most of the journey
2. HIRE A COACH
   Do your research and hire a reputable coach. Having someone knowledgeable who can guide you with your diet and exercise is critical. It’s also great to have someone to keep you motivated
3. FIND THE RIGHT LEAGUE
   Compete in a league and a division that is healthy and realistic for your body type
4. MAKE YOURSELF PROUD
   Don’t worry about what other people think. This is for you! There were several people close to me that were annoyed with the process or didn’t understand it. That’s ok! Focus on the people that support you and are excited for you to succeed. Ultimately, this is for you and only YOU!
5. CELEBRATE
   Immediately after you leave that stage and every step along the way! Competing is accomplishing something that not many people can do. Schedule a photo shoot for right before or after your competition so that you can look back on those photos and remember that you set out a goal for yourself and you accomplished it. You didn’t give up and you achieved something that very few people can do. Celebrate your wins! You worked hard for them!

 
Whether it’s a bodybuilding competition, or something else, I challenge you to go after a personal goal for yourself that scares you a little bit.
 
I promise, you will surprise yourself with what you are capable of achieving!
 
XOXO,
Kathleen Jane Fit

[I've linked her Instagram above—ya'll need to go follow her—she's one of the most inspiring people I know! Thanks, Kathleen, for being open and honest about your story—it truly will empower more women than you know.

Hope everyone enjoyed this guest post! Comment below with any thoughts or questions! 
~ Xoxo, Carrie]

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