Tuesday 4 October 2011

'Tis the season muscular and ripped physiques come out to play...

Yes, the bodybuilding competition season is in full swing, an exciting time for those who have spent weeks and months preparing. Many knock this sport, as a vain, selfish sport. I agree it can be very selfish, especially near competition time, when every meal, training session and day counts, and every box must be ticked. I do also agree though, that it is a wonderful personal journey in transforming a physique. It shows how the accurate manipulation of training and exercise styles, perfect nutrition and supplementation, and most importantly the discipline to carry it all off, can all work together to produce a fabulous result. 
Yes, we could go on a 'diet', lose some weight and feel good about it.  But I occasionally like to take things to the next level, and thats why this sport fascinates me.  Its not just about losing weight.  Its also about building and sculpting muscle, and then revealing it by losing bodyfat in a controlled manner.
And its taking all these things and putting them into a package and displaying it.  We put on layer upon layer of fake tan, a glitzy sparkling bikini, some serious bling and a pair of 6inch heels, and strut the stage. That part can be considered vain, and it is for some, and that certainly isn't me, but I like the idea of being proud of what you've achieved.
So it is a massive motivation for myself, to go along and watch these shows, as an up and coming figure competitor, to see and admire the physiques onstage I one day hope to stand next to. 
I had a change of living circumstances recently, and life was turned upside down for a short while, and I took a month or so off my training, to take a break and find my path again, improve my health etc. Although the improving health part usually comes with training also.  The bodybuilding shows came at the perfect time to spur on my training, so I reassessed my nutrition, supplements and training programme, and have come up with a new formula to help with more muscle gain for the next few months, then begin a competition prep around February, as I intend to step on stage around May/June 2012! :)