Figure Competition

I competed in 2012. My before and after pics are in my profile, its as about 5-6 months prep.

What made me do it? A lot of people over the years always mentioned to me about doing it, I don't know why. Then, my cousin wanted to and wanted someone to do it with her. I had a co-worker who was in to it along with his wife and made the mistake of mentioning her suggestion that I do it. He was super motivational and encouraged me to do it, so I did. My cousin never even started. LOL. I also did it as a challenge to myself, to push my comfort zone.

I had a coach. She put together meal and workout plans. I did them myself. She was at the gym so I could as for help if I was unfamiliar or had questions, but she didn't work out with me. She also coached us (there were several of us from the gym) on posing and other stuff. IMO, I could not have done it without a coach. Then again, I am a direction follower, give me a program and I follow it.

Yes, I changed my eating habits A LOT. Most of it has stuck. It actually really helped me get away from junk foods, although I still eat it in moderation now but not like I used to and I don't crave it like I used to. I basically at oatmeal, eggs/eggwhites, lean meat (with red meat twice a week), white fish (with salmon twice a week), sweet potato, brown rice, and tons of veggies, plus protein powder.

It wasn't easy. My life was gym, eat, sleep and work, with food prep thrown in. I luckily had a super supportive husband who did a ton to help me out. I was up to about 3 hours a day in the last weeks before competition. Oddly enough, the prep was my favourite part. I liked the challenge but I did have bad days.

Now on to the other part. Here is a topic I wish I read before starting.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=130738983
I am not discouraging you from doing it, but honestly, I wasn't where I wanted to be when I stepped on stage. I think this topic was dead on. If your goal is just to get on stage, you can most likely do it.

My other suggestion would be to really get to know your trainer and their methods. Make sure you are comfortable with what they are. My trainer had me dehydrate for the show. Its something I would not do again, not to the extreme.

Also, I really struggled after the competition. I learned that is not uncommon. For a long time I had no perspective on how I looked. If you think that once you have stepped on stage that you will keep the body you have, not necessarily. Many women put on a ton of weight after the show. You have to work to maintain, and its much harder if you have a coach that has you on more of a crash diet.

Again, I am not trying to be negative, just giving you my perspective.

I debated on doing it again this year, however, I didn't work as hard as I should have throughout the year, then I was off the gym from September to about November (I got married, then had a 3 week honeymoon, then struggled to get back into the swing) . I just wasn't ready to start prep in time. I am kicking myself a little that I didn't.


ETA -
there is a group on here that you may get some more feedback
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/151-fitness-competitions

Good luck to you on your goals. I have never done it, but my hairdresser did it. I would say that she was 5'5" and about 130 lbs before she started doing it. She is naturally curvy. She decided to do it because a fellow hairdresser did it. I would talk to her about it a lot. I saw her go down to a size 0 right before a competition, and she really got in great shape. She did develop some great food and workout habits, too. But, she looks closer to the way she did before she started training now.

She always felt that she could never get her body just perfect. She worked out 6 days a week. She paid a personal trainer who trained 5 or 6 other girls at the same time. They all went together in the morning from 5:30 until 7AM. Then, she worked out at night -- maybe cardio and/or something else. I know that she ate really clean, too. And, for a couple of weeks or so before the competition, she had to water deplete.

She showed me pictures of herself in her bikini, and she looked amazing; however, I think it has been hard for her to maintain that level of fitness. She still works out a lot, but her perspective is that when you go back to eating normal -- like pancakes and whatever else you might normally eat, your body goes back to the way it was.