It raised a bunch of interest, which was nice, but what I noticed more was that it also was adding to the already confusing world of 'I want to compete so I can look like that' talk. That's my good friend Deanna, amazing athlete.
Here's the truth: if your metabolism is not strong, if you have eating issues, if you haven't lifted for years, it may not create the results that you hope for, IF your expectations are out of line with your experience. Many times, the women that we see have been at it for years, and their bodies have been groomed year after year. Weight lifting is the one sport where you look better with more time invested.
Or perhaps, if all you want to do is experience being on stage, then that is your goal and then you are all good.
But most competitors are also not prepared for the hardships that training and competing require. Many do one show and that's it, as the road is long and hard. It can take a lot out of you, if you're not
careful.
And then there are women who enjoy the rigors of competing and use it to gain experience, and done properly, it can actually enhance your body and metabolism, as well as build confidence and help you to
age well, if you do it properly. But they're the minority.
Plus most women have an idea (media fueled) that if you compete, you will look like this: shredded, defined, lean. Not always so. Rarely so.
And they have the idea that you will stay like this, or something not far off, for the rest of your years. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The truth is, I have been training since I was 21. Deanna has been training for close to 20 years. We have a great relationship with food, no emotional eating, on bingeing, because we have worked on
it.
We didn't do any crazy stuff that you hear about - water load and deplete (do tell me how drinking 7 liters of water a day, then drinking none, is healthy?). We did a very gentle carb deplete and load, but
no crazy cut then add like crazy to try to 'fill' out your muscles. Your muscles are full after every regular meal, so take a look...that's how they're going to look on stage).
No fat burners (if you're doing fat burners, you're
not doing the work. And you risk burning out your adrenals, kidneys and thyroid, not to mention your nervous system).
And of course, no drugs or 'assists'. Our choice
(many girls do because they are told they have to, if they truly want to compete. I say you should determine what you are in it for...for us, it was always about health, truth be told).
It is one of the toughest sports I know, where you
have to cut down on eating yet lift 6-7 days a week, for 1-2 hours. Then add on cardio to top it off, as much as needed.
It's not a normal way for the body to live, and so
it will fight you in the process. And this is what trips women up.
And if you have had a lengthy diet history, your body will see it as another diet and will revolt...you will plateau easier, finding it hard to take the weight off, and when you do, right after show (like
one millisecond after!) you will start putting on weight. And this is where many post-show competitors put on even more weight after the show, and they struggle for years to try to take it off...many don't. They have created a 'new normal' or a new set point for where their body holds weight. It is simply the body going into compensation mode. It senses starvation and works to hoard even more fat post show.
And this can be a brain F**K because it is hard to watch the weight come back on in 5 milliseconds, when it took you 6 months to take it off, with sweat and tears.
But if your metabolism, food habits and mindset are intact before heading into show, if the years of body and mind training is in place, there is little rebound. The body is working fine because it has
been trained to do so. So an additional 6 or 8 pounds is all that is added on.
And if you haven't been lifting for years, your 'look' on stage will likely be softer, the fat won't come off as easily, and you might lack that 'mature muscle' look: full muscle bellies, thin skin showing
all the definition.
It's simply time invested, is all. 'Success leaves clues' as they say, so someone who has been at their craft for years will display a much more mature and full look than someone who hasn't. It's simply
the way it is.
So if you are wanting 'the look', then start now. Today. Don't delay. The longer you train (really train, with isolation moves, not HIIT or BeachBody or....) the deeper the results. And the better your
relationship with food, with steady macro's and no dieting, no fasting, no keto, etc, then better the chance of having the body and metabolism you have always dreamed of when you walk OFF the stage, and for years to come (of course you still have to train and eat well in those years too...this is a Lifestyle, not a Diet Plan).
Or, if you just want to experience a show, then go in with that goal in mind. It's cool. But be prepared to be taken way outside of your comfort zone (which is something I actually like...it tests you like
no other).
Everything I learned in life I learned in my 40 years of training, eating and always focusing on building health. I have learned about commitment, discipline, patience, fortitude, honesty, integrity...and
these same values that keep me in the iron game are the same values in all areas of life: business, family, relationships...
If you want to compete and you are a 40+ woman,
train properly, train now, and never miss a day. Four to 5 days a week to start.
And stop ALL dieting and cardio (us competitors do little cardio on the off season. To this day, I do NO cardio, because I want to keep my metabolism strong and my body lean. I do activities like walking
and hiking). Do NOT low carb. Do NOT try to lose the weight. Focus on building the body, the musculature. You can't build or shape in a deficit.
And always focus on health first. Always. Too many
women have ruined their bodies and their metabolisms with even just one show, done incorrectly, or done when their bodies and psyches weren't ready. Choose your coach wisely. Go for 'old school' (yes, the young ones thing us coaches who have been around for many decades are out to lunch and aren't up on things...well, experience trumps out science when it comes to this arena).
And most of all, enjoy the ride. It is an elite few women who make it onto the competitor's stage. It takes grit, courage, consistency and determination.
The years of competition were some of my best years ever...
Want to know how to stoke
YOUR metabolism? Or what you need to do as you move into your later years? I've lived it, and know the Path, so book a call and let's chat!
We can go over where you are, where you want to go, and craft a strategy to get you there. It's not complicated, but it is different than what you think you know...
:)
