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Thoughts on bikini competitors?
HayleeRenaeFit
Posts: 43 Member
Hey everyone! I have been asked recently by a bunch by prep coaches in the gym if I would consider competing in a bikini comp. lately I have been seriously considering it because of my hard work and dedication in the gym as well as diet. I have heard bad rumors about it and don’t know if it would be healthy, or what my macros/calories would have to be. Any insight would be great! Thank youu
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Replies
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You could start with a wet t-shirt contest. JK
The prep sounds grueling and you hear a lot about people developing eating disorders. But if you’re not prone to that and have the time and inclination...., go for it.10 -
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If your serious then I would hire a coach. You obviously need some help if you're asking about calories and macros because that isn't a one size fits all type of thing. There's a lot of variables that go into it for each person. So it really sounds like you need do some research.10
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Yes I definitely do, thank you1
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If it requires that you pay for entry or for coaching to prep for a contest...beware a scam. This isn't too dissimilar from those people who used to grab teens at the mall in the 80's and tell them that they have a future in modeling in order to get them to sign up with their 'agency' and pay for head shots.
That said, if your head is on straight and you know that it won't make you develop any body/eating/exercise issues, etc. then go for it. Might be fun.15 -
It is clear from your photo that you work very hard at the gym. You have great muscle definition, so I am sure you would be suited to competition. Give it a go!5
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Looks like tons of work goes into it, some iron discipline and good goal setting but I actually find them kinda gross. I think the posing in the sparkly thong makes a bit of a joke out of what goes in to getting the physique.18
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Be very mindful of the "cookie-cutter" coaches. These are the folks that put all of their girls on the same meal plan, same calorie plan, same macro plan. Clearly, not an ideal situation.
This is a very very very different way of life. You will be - towards the end - in very dangerous waters with respect to caloric intake. Things that everyone in MFP would jump all in your s**t about doing. That is just what happens in the "prep life". Mentally, you need to be really strong (it is going to be the hardest thing - short of giving birth - that you have ever done) and committed. You can not have any doubts about doing this....it is TOUGH!
This is also a very expensive way of life. Make no mistake about it. Competing - at the actual show - is going to be an expensive day. And that does not include the travel | accommodations should you not live within driving distance. You will be eating very well (read: expensive)…..
There is a coach - Paul Revelia - who is top-notch! His web site is https://prophysique.com. There is also William Grazione. His web site is http://www.metabolicevolution.com/bio.html. There are lots and lots of other coaches. These two dudes do it right. I could fill up this space with awesome and amazing coaches….but will stick with these two initially.
We clearly do not know the folks at your gym. How comfortable with them are you?4 -
And, don't know you - but your profile pic looks very good. You clearly have worked really hard (or, are just a very genetically-gifted individual). So, props to you on your hard work.4
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^ Paul Revelia has a great youtube channel, I would definitely recommend OP check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMNvwRc9pQo
Here's a link to one of his videos on competing. He has MANY more, even some that go into calories/macros/cardio/coaching etc etc.
Aside from that, I would stress that you really need to have your own motivation to do it (a coach saying 'hey you should compete' does sound slightly suspicious..) and be prepared for the potential consequences of getting that lean. Many girls lose their cycle, develop eating disorders, and are pressured to use PEDs. I personally would not categorize competing as "healthy"..3 -
I am not a fan. I feel like bodybuilding competitions feed into an unhealthy amount of self-obsession. And objectification.24
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When are you planning on starting this? Perhaps wait until your video shoot is done.1
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^^competing isn't healthy imo either. And I've done it.
OP, I worked hard and was very dedicated to diet and training to lose 25kgs (and gain some muscle in the process as a newbie lifter) without giving a thought to competing. I loved my new found lifestyle and the time I spent in the gym, I also loved my body and was really proud of my physique. Then I decided to compete, and boy did all that change. Seriously, if I could take myself back in time, it would be telling the younger me to just enjoy what I had and keep living in a happy place. So, I'll tell you the same thing!
I know lots of competitors who struggle mentally and physically during prep and after comps. Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should, or that you need to. By all means, if it's something you're passionate about and want to make a truck load of sacrifices for with little return (except personal satisfaction in most cases) go ahead
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I have a friend who started out doing bikini and has since done figure and physique. It took her quite sometime to move through the different divisions because she had to add more mass to do figure and physique. She is also a professional trainer.
As to healthy or not? That's probably very individual, particularly when you're talking about the mental aspect of it all. In regards to her cuts for competition prep, I've never seen her eat low enough calories to what I would deem unhealthy...her diet is pretty boring though when she's getting competition ready. She typically starts prepping about 12 weeks out...the first 4 weeks or so, she's around 1500 calories...the next 4 she's around 1400. The last 4 weeks...particularly the last couple of weeks is the most grueling at around 1200 calories and very low carb. Like I said, her diet is pretty boring...chicken, chicken, and more chicken (like plain *kitten* chicken)...lots of salads, salads, and salads...egg whites out the wazoo, etc. Also not much social life during that time as she can't really drink alcohol and whatnot during prep.
She is very lean during competition, but she doesn't stay that lean year around...doing so would be unhealthy for sure as she's typically around 10-12% BF for the stage...more like 18% average walking around. In the off season she also competes as a power lifter which is when she gets to eat a lot more, compete, and put on mass.
If you do it, I'd recommend definitely doing more research...maybe check out a bodybuilding show so that you can see the different divisions and what they do and see what poses are required by different federations. I'd also recommend a coach.8 -
I think we all need to re-read Dietland.5
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If it requires that you pay for entry or for coaching to prep for a contest...beware a scam. This isn't too dissimilar from those people who used to grab teens at the mall in the 80's and tell them that they have a future in modeling in order to get them to sign up with their 'agency' and pay for head shots.
That said, if your head is on straight and you know that it won't make you develop any body/eating/exercise issues, etc. then go for it. Might be fun.
You always have to pay for entry. Every stage competitor I know has a coach as well. But yeah, I'd definitely look into it more and likely talk to some of the people being coached by these coaches and go to some shows before I committed to anything.2 -
I would just add that if you choose to do it that self-validation is the most important. External validation can be fine if it is from a healthy source that legitimately cares about you but otherwise doesn't matter.7
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Thank you all so much for your insight, it truly is super helpful! Definitely some things I need to consider. To answer a few questions, some of the coaches I was not too familiar with. However, one coach that asked me I definitely trust because he owns a gym and I work for him. He offered to prep and train me for free bc it would be good exposure for himself and the gym. Though, I definitely think if I did decide to compete it would be for me to challenge myself and see what kind of dedication I have. I know it entails a lot of hard work and discipline.7
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cwolfman13 wrote: »If it requires that you pay for entry or for coaching to prep for a contest...beware a scam. This isn't too dissimilar from those people who used to grab teens at the mall in the 80's and tell them that they have a future in modeling in order to get them to sign up with their 'agency' and pay for head shots.
That said, if your head is on straight and you know that it won't make you develop any body/eating/exercise issues, etc. then go for it. Might be fun.
You always have to pay for entry. Every stage competitor I know has a coach as well. But yeah, I'd definitely look into it more and likely talk to some of the people being coached by these coaches and go to some shows before I committed to anything.
The cost was one thing I'd be sure to research. It is a substantial financial investment: besides food, and gym, there's entry fees, a personal trainer, positioning coach, bathing suit/heels/spray tan/make-up/hair, and some of the fitness competitions have a dance/talent portion and you need music and choreography ...3 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »If it requires that you pay for entry or for coaching to prep for a contest...beware a scam. This isn't too dissimilar from those people who used to grab teens at the mall in the 80's and tell them that they have a future in modeling in order to get them to sign up with their 'agency' and pay for head shots.
That said, if your head is on straight and you know that it won't make you develop any body/eating/exercise issues, etc. then go for it. Might be fun.
You always have to pay for entry. Every stage competitor I know has a coach as well. But yeah, I'd definitely look into it more and likely talk to some of the people being coached by these coaches and go to some shows before I committed to anything.
So you have to pay for entry for a bunch of people to look at you half naked...? Yikes!
Another, perhaps more positive and less demeaning/insulting, way to look at it would be that you pay for entry for the chance to show the pride you have in the body you've built, and to compare the results of your hard work and dedication against others who have put in similar hard work and dedication.
It's not everybody's thing, but it's some people's thing. And IMO they don't deserve derision for it.31 -
I recommend checking out Kara Corey on Youtube. She is a pro bikini competitor and has a TON of amazing content. I was interested in competing, but decided (after watching her videos) that it's not for me - but she obviously loves the sport and is extremely knowledgeable. I know that my relationship with food is too fragile to survive a competition prep, and I have a family that I love too much to be constantly snapping at them in a hangry state for 16 weeks. : ) But I'm truly fascinated and impressed by all that goes into it. It definitely isn't just throwing on a bikini and strutting around. Good luck to you, whatever you decide!10
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cwolfman13 wrote: »If it requires that you pay for entry or for coaching to prep for a contest...beware a scam. This isn't too dissimilar from those people who used to grab teens at the mall in the 80's and tell them that they have a future in modeling in order to get them to sign up with their 'agency' and pay for head shots.
That said, if your head is on straight and you know that it won't make you develop any body/eating/exercise issues, etc. then go for it. Might be fun.
You always have to pay for entry. Every stage competitor I know has a coach as well. But yeah, I'd definitely look into it more and likely talk to some of the people being coached by these coaches and go to some shows before I committed to anything.
So you have to pay for entry for a bunch of people to look at you half naked...? Yikes!
Another, perhaps more positive and less demeaning/insulting, way to look at it would be that you pay for entry for the chance to show the pride you have in the body you've built, and to compare the results of your hard work and dedication against others who have put in similar hard work and dedication.
It's not everybody's thing, but it's some people's thing. And IMO they don't deserve derision for it.
Thank you Anvil.
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cwolfman13 wrote: »If it requires that you pay for entry or for coaching to prep for a contest...beware a scam. This isn't too dissimilar from those people who used to grab teens at the mall in the 80's and tell them that they have a future in modeling in order to get them to sign up with their 'agency' and pay for head shots.
That said, if your head is on straight and you know that it won't make you develop any body/eating/exercise issues, etc. then go for it. Might be fun.
You always have to pay for entry. Every stage competitor I know has a coach as well. But yeah, I'd definitely look into it more and likely talk to some of the people being coached by these coaches and go to some shows before I committed to anything.
So you have to pay for entry for a bunch of people to look at you half naked...? Yikes!
Another, perhaps more positive and less demeaning/insulting, way to look at it would be that you pay for entry for the chance to show the pride you have in the body you've built, and to compare the results of your hard work and dedication against others who have put in similar hard work and dedication.
It's not everybody's thing, but it's some people's thing. And IMO they don't deserve derision for it.
This. There's nothing wrong with it, any more than there is with people paying money to do whatever else they want to do. Which is to say: Nothing wrong at all with it.5 -
It's expensive. The prep is hard. Getting a taste of that leanness can sometimes be difficult as you put weight back on. But if you're passionate about it, try. Otherwise, don't.5
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People will do whatever they want with their bodies, gain 500 lbs, crash diet, everything in between. My only problem with this sort of thing is that we're letting other people judge us by a standard they call "fitness," but most doctors would call unhealthy. Cardio and some weight training is fine, but women need a certain amount of body fat to support the estrogen they need for regular periods, bone health, and fertility. When women try to achieve the required level of leanness to win these contests they are only going to end up fit to walk that stage, not fit for much else.
Fifty years ago, the "ideal" women in Playboy tended to look like Marilyn Monroe, soft and slightly chubby by today's standards. Most women had to be a little plump to have the required big breasts men wanted to see. Now they can get as lean as a construction worker and still have big round breasts because they have them surgically implanted. How sad that today's ideal is seldom seen in nature and has to be "man made."
I hope for the day women embrace the softness that comes naturally to a body with low testosterone and are satisfied with the breasts they developed at puberty. I'm appalled that women are willing to undergo expensive, surgery to enlarge secondary sexual characteristics.36 -
Slowfaster wrote: »My only problem with this sort of thing is that we're letting other people judge us
...
I hope for the day women embrace the softness that comes naturally to a body
You don't see the irony here? I'm not a fan of the idea of bikini competitions but I also try not to judge people's bodies, myself.17 -
Bikini competition is a sport, just like skydiving or prepping for triathlon. Takes dedication and money.
It sounds like fun.10 -
Slowfaster wrote: »People will do whatever they want with their bodies, gain 500 lbs, crash diet, everything in between. My only problem with this sort of thing is that we're letting other people judge us by a standard they call "fitness," but most doctors would call unhealthy. Cardio and some weight training is fine, but women need a certain amount of body fat to support the estrogen they need for regular periods, bone health, and fertility. When women try to achieve the required level of leanness to win these contests they are only going to end up fit to walk that stage, not fit for much else.
Fifty years ago, the "ideal" women in Playboy tended to look like Marilyn Monroe, soft and slightly chubby by today's standards. Most women had to be a little plump to have the required big breasts men wanted to see. Now they can get as lean as a construction worker and still have big round breasts because they have them surgically implanted. How sad that today's ideal is seldom seen in nature and has to be "man made."
I hope for the day women embrace the softness that comes naturally to a body with low testosterone and are satisfied with the breasts they developed at puberty. I'm appalled that women are willing to undergo expensive, surgery to enlarge secondary sexual characteristics just to attract men. It's no different than the 19th century Chinese women having their feet bound to satisfy the sexual fetishes of the men at that time and place.
I agree - to a point. But very limited to that point. Let's not detract from her post, though, to argue! :-)
If the OP has a really good coach, then that coach will have a strong idea of what the judges seek for that specific contest. That way they (coach and athlete) can prepare for that expected set of expectations (that sounds funny when I say it out loud) and bring her best physique to the stage. And, let the cards fall where they may.
Since this is her first contest - well, assuming that she does indeed do it....and that is a HUGE assumption!....this is really be more of an introduction to this lifestyle. She may absolutely love it or she may absolutely hate it! I suggest that we all give her our opinions on the matter and give her some guidance so that she can educate herself and then allow her to make her own decision.
We all judge. Everyday. All day. It may be subtle or it may be front and center. And, we are all judged. No getting past that. Physical attractiveness is very subjective. Everyone has a different idea of what "sexy" is. Of what "hawt" is. Of what "pretty" is.
Not that anyone cares, but I do not find "soft and slightly chubby" attractive at all. I like a very athletic and toned woman. Just my thing. And, all about the booty | hamstring tie-in and shoulders. Yep! Shoulders! Who knew? But that is what I find SUPER attractive.
I know a few ladies who compete. And they all compete because they love the sport. That is why I call them athletes. They train just like baseball players and football players and track and field folks. All of the ladies that I know compete against themselves. That is the great thing about this. They are trying to bring their best self to the stage. The placement - they really do not care. If they win or finish well, okay....if they come in dead last, okay.
Anyway, let's allow her to decide if that is what she wants to do. Or, if that is something that she thinks that she would like to do. And then let's support her with her decision. I mean, that is what we do here, right?12 -
geneticsteacher wrote: »I think we all need to re-read Dietland.
@geneticsteacher I read Dietland last month! Started a thread in Debate because I figured it would be contentious, but it didn't get much traction: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10665729/dietland-book-and-amc-series
Would love if more people participated there.1 -
I recommend checking out Kara Corey on Youtube. She is a pro bikini competitor and has a TON of amazing content. I was interested in competing, but decided (after watching her videos) that it's not for me - but she obviously loves the sport and is extremely knowledgeable. I know that my relationship with food is too fragile to survive a competition prep, and I have a family that I love too much to be constantly snapping at them in a hangry state for 16 weeks. : ) But I'm truly fascinated and impressed by all that goes into it. It definitely isn't just throwing on a bikini and strutting around. Good luck to you, whatever you decide!
Yes, ma'am! Kara and "Shredded Jesus" are a great couple. I am subscribed to her youtube channel. Just watched her new video yesterday. She is a competitor and a coach and a registered dietician. She has a lot of amazing content and some 'common sense' things about this lifestyle. She is a class act (I would say). Great suggestion. Lots of others out there, too! But she is a great suggestion.1
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