The Building of a Champion!
An Article by Tom Nelson
Have you ever wondered what exactly is involved in competing in a figure or bodybuilding contest? There are several aspects that seem obvious, but others that you may not necessarily think about. I am about to give you a brief look at how strenuous the workouts and nutrition can be, how these competitions are not simply about building big muscles, and that tanning is not only for movie stars...
Diet and exercise are parts of the program that should seem obvious. What is not so obvious, however, is that both have to be designed to take full advantage of the athlete’s strengths, weaknesses, physical abilities and daily schedule, as well as taking into consideration any medical conditions (including food and drug allergies) and/or physical limitations. In addition, there are certain psychological and emotional issues to be dealt with as the body is forced to make radical changes.
Developing muscle is only one aspect of preparing for a figure or bodybuilding contest. Muscles cannot be seen if they are covered in fat, or if an athlete is excessively bloated, so diet and cardio are just as important as weight training when it comes to contest preparation. Pre-contest dieting and cardio will vary from person to person, or from trainer to trainer, depending upon each individual’s needs, degree of knowledge, expertise and experience. Most trainers and nutrition specialists use methods that they have learned over the years then put their own twists on. I have highly developed methods that are tried and true. I know that they work because I have put them to the test on my clients who compete in figure and bodybuilding contests. My clients ~ men and women ~ have won FIRST PLACE in their respective categories in major National Physique Committee (NPC) sanctioned contests.
Most people look at figure contestants and bodybuilders and think that they are always in peak condition, or operating at optimum performance levels. Well, that simply is not true. In fact, most highly developed athletes have at least one or more injuries that hinder their performance. Serious athletes learn to train around these injuries, or to simply work through a certain amount of pain, in order to achieve the results that they desire.
And, despite their appearance, most figure and bodybuilding contestants are actually at their absolute weakest at the time of their contest due to the extreme training and dieting that they have endured leading up to that day. The vast majority of contestants are still in extreme dieting mode when they go on stage, so they do not have alot of energy stores to help fuel them through the work of posing for the judges and fans. And, yes, posing is work ~ very hard work! In certain cases posing sessions are used in place of cardio for cutting due to the high levels of intensity.
Skin care is also extremely important in the world of figure and bodybuilding competitions. Alot of contestants ~ especially bodybuilders ~ use large amounts of steroids, growth factors and cutting drugs, all of which can cause acne and a plethora of other side effects. There are methods for minimizing those side effects, such as dihydrotestosterone blockers, estrogen blockers, anti-aromatase drugs, etc. Sometimes the side effects can become so pronounced, however, that even preventive measures such as the aforementioned are not enough to combat them, and that is when a comprehensive skin care regimen comes into play. Many figure contestants and bodybuilders elect to perform their own skin care rituals, but I generally send my clients to skin care specialists.
Another part of the pre-contest preparation that is of the utmost importance is tanning. The direct, harsh lighting used on stage at these competitions can be very unforgiving, so the darker someone can make themselves the more their muscularity can be seen. Almost everyone ~ including naturally dark-skinned people ~ will utilize some sort of tanning techniques. Whether it is simply getting a little extra sun, going to a tanning bed or getting a spray tan, nearly all of the contestants competing in these shows have added some color to their skin. Some go as far as having specialty tanning companies custom spray paint them in order to tailor their tan to their physiques.
Sounds like alot of work, huh? Well, make no mistake about it... it is. Alot of time, energy and effort are spent preparing for these shows. And, the glory of the actual contest is generally over very quickly. Only the few top-ranking contestants in a show will ever earn a penny from all of the hard work that goes into this process, and that is generally from being sponsored to some small degree by one of the supplement companies that claim to be responsible for some of the accomplishments that these athletes have made. The truth is that virtually none of the athletes/models that you see pushing sports supplements and other fitness-related products at events or in advertisements actually use those products.
Well, I hope that I have managed to shed some light on the subject of figure and bodybuilding contests for you. The real-life version of these shows is not nearly as glamorous as the way the contests are portrayed on television and in magazines. Being backstage at these events can be quite gritty, so it is important to consider every aspect of the preparation and competition, and have very realistic expectations of the outcome, when entering into such a contest.
Contact Tom Nelson at Muscle Mechanics L.A.(www.musclemechanicsLA.com) to learn more about training, nutrition and supplementation, or to find out more about training for a contest. Check out the new Muscle Mechanics L.A. gym location at 8471 Beverly Blvd. #202, Los Angeles, Ca. 90048.
Tom Nelson
owner/operator Muscle Mechanics L.A.