I was recently approached by one of my former college professors in regards to my advice on training for a figure show. My first thought was, I can't believe a teacher I had is now asking me for information and advice. This was one of my favorite professors from Penn State asking me for help with diet and exercise. I was excited to start spilling out information, stats, numbers etc. As my excitement built up, I started having a hard time figuring out why it was so hard for me to type it out in a message back to her. Here I was, filled with knowledge and facts yet I couldn't seem to write them all out. I took a few more sips of my starbucks, and then it all made sense. I wasn't excited about the information I was about to provide, I was hesitant because I was anxious. It brought back memories of training and dieting. I'm writing this today from my all out honest opinions and evidence. I'm not going to sugar coat this, so take it for what you want.
Attached is the e mail of my response to my former professor.
In all honesty, and I'm sure you know this as well, the figure/bodybuilding mentality and training is terrible for your body. I didn't realize how much of an effect it would have on me post competition.
Sure, I realized what it takes to get 'ripped', but in all health related aspects its the worst thing I did for myself.
I have been having a hard time re introducing foods into my system that I gave up for 16 weeks. I can no longer process alcohol, wheat, and dairy. My body fat dropped so low that I haven't had a mestral cycle in 9 months. I have to see specialists to figure out how to cure a lot of what is going on with me, and in the end hoping I can have kids someday in the future.
It was not only physically but mentally draining for me. I'm not saying you can't do it, or shouldn't do it, but I just want to share my feelings and journey with you. None of it should be sugar coated to look nice. I trained in an untraditional 'bodybuilding' way by doing crossfit (which i think saved me in some aspects) and realized now that I could have done less and still seen the same results. I nearly killed myself with the supplements, workouts, and lack of sleep. It may look great from the outside, but coming off of it has been the hardest thing.
I had a desire to train for another one afterwards, but it was the time and money commitment that also stopped me into doing so. The glamor, glory, and fame make it look so appealing from the outside. What was happening inside was a different story. I train athletes and realized that what I was doing to myself (training like a figure competitor) wasn't athletic. I was lacking flexibility, spending HOURS in the gym without even sweating, and I wasn't having fun.
If you want to win shows, you have to bulk up, gain muscle (which is a lot harder than I thought), your clothes somedays fit and somedays will rip because of how big you've gotten. After you've done that, you have to 'shred' food from your already bland diet. Diet isn't the hardest part, it was mentally staying alert which was the hardest for me. My clients saw my mental state suffer, as did their workouts from the way I was not thinking clearly.
To say the least, it took over my life. It was all I knew. My family and friends (what I had left) came second. I was obsessed, and to be honest you HAVE to be obsessed to do it. There is no 90%. Its 110% or nothing at all. No more "just one cookie" or "just a small portion of milk in my coffee." No cheat days, and you cooler was your best friend.
I'm not sending you this to scare you from doing any type of show, because I have no doubt that you would be great. You have great muscle tone already and if you're diet is already in check then by all means I'll give you some tips and pointers to help you anyway I can. I figured this was the more genuine way to go about answering your question as a message instead of a wall post.
Hi!
We should get together sometime soon! I'm not doing hybrid competition..I've been having some injury issues and trying to figure out what is going on with me health wise...from coming off the figure diet I have been having some bad stomach and bowl issues. TMI!?
In all honesty, and I'm sure you know this as well, the figure/bodybuilding mentality and training is terrible for your body. I didn't realize how much of an effect it would have on me post competition.
Sure, I realized what it takes to get 'ripped', but in all health related aspects its the worst thing I did for myself.
I have been having a hard time re introducing foods into my system that I gave up for 16 weeks. I can no longer process alcohol, wheat, and dairy. My body fat dropped so low that I haven't had a mestral cycle in 9 months. I have to see specialists to figure out how to cure a lot of what is going on with me, and in the end hoping I can have kids someday in the future.
It was not only physically but mentally draining for me. I'm not saying you can't do it, or shouldn't do it, but I just want to share my feelings and journey with you. None of it should be sugar coated to look nice. I trained in an untraditional 'bodybuilding' way by doing crossfit (which i think saved me in some aspects) and realized now that I could have done less and still seen the same results. I nearly killed myself with the supplements, workouts, and lack of sleep. It may look great from the outside, but coming off of it has been the hardest thing.
I had a desire to train for another one afterwards, but it was the time and money commitment that also stopped me into doing so. The glamor, glory, and fame make it look so appealing from the outside. What was happening inside was a different story. I train athletes and realized that what I was doing to myself (training like a figure competitor) wasn't athletic. I was lacking flexibility, spending HOURS in the gym without even sweating, and I wasn't having fun.
If you want to win shows, you have to bulk up, gain muscle (which is a lot harder than I thought), your clothes somedays fit and somedays will rip because of how big you've gotten. After you've done that, you have to 'shred' food from your already bland diet. Diet isn't the hardest part, it was mentally staying alert which was the hardest for me. My clients saw my mental state suffer, as did their workouts from the way I was not thinking clearly.
To say the least, it took over my life. It was all I knew. My family and friends (what I had left) came second. I was obsessed, and to be honest you HAVE to be obsessed to do it. There is no 90%. Its 110% or nothing at all. No more "just one cookie" or "just a small portion of milk in my coffee." No cheat days, and you cooler was your best friend.
I'm not sending you this to scare you from doing any type of show, because I have no doubt that you would be great. You have great muscle tone already and if you're diet is already in check then by all means I'll give you some tips and pointers to help you anyway I can. I figured this was the more genuine way to go about answering your question as a message instead of a wall post.
I am here to help in any way, I have A LOT of information in regards to diet and training so let me know what you think.
Hope you're doing well!
-Kara
Hope you're doing well!
-Kara
I respect the hell out of that post Kara. I know exactly what you are talking about and can relate when I was a college wrestler cutting 25+ lbs. You can do horrible things to your body that seem "necessary" for your goal/sport. I wish I knew what I know now in college and I am happy you are using your experiences to help other people. Keep truckin' champ ; )
ReplyDeleteHi Kara,
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I forget how I found your blog but it must have been a connection of a connection (you know how the internet is!) but I remember reading your goals for the year and was inspired.
I logged back into my blog account now that I have a little more time to begin an online fitness journal if you will but enough on that...this article's brute honesty really struck me and would love to share a similar one with you:
In my undergrad I worked and studied the finer arts and science of fitness with a degree in kinesiology and spent many hours with all sorts of fitness fanatics in a well endowed gym where I was highly encouraged to get started with fitness shows.
My training didn't last too long before these mental tolls really took a strong hold over me and have since changed the way I look at and train others on fitness.
Now I am not saying, much like you, that these competitions are evil, merely that they do take a tremendous and under-advertised toll on the individual. Once I headed into the shredding phase which I was using a ridiculous cleanse diet to do(yes i am well aware there are better ways to do this now) I was so physically drained and cranky that I became the most miserable person to be around. I remember sitting at a restaurant to meet my Dad and was dying to eat one of their chicken salads, which was not allowed in that day's diet plan, and was basically crying by the time my Dad arrived.
The true toll hit me when i was talking with one of my best friends and training buddies while I was flipping through a magazine and criticized the body of a model in one of the ads. I was shocked that my friend looked over at me in disgust at my comment as she said "I cannot believe that you are really pointing out the fat on this skinny model" from there she very bravely and bluntly told me how crazy I was getting and how it scared her (a former elite gymnast and anorexia sufferer).
Call me a quitter but I realized that I was hating life and that's not how I wanted to live the summer of my Junior year. From then on I have trained based on functional fitness and encouraged healthy lifestyles that include the pleasures in life such as the occasional ice cream.
But having said all of that I greatly admire the discipline and challenge that these competitions produce and to you congratulations for pushing yourself and I really am sorry to hear that it came at such a cost.