Bikini comps and such like
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ramshackles
Posts: 85 Member
I've reached a stage now where I'm starting to feel like I need a goal. Can anyone suggest some low level amateur comps and things for women? I'm not extreme enough for bodybuilding ones.
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Replies
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Anyone!??0
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Not that I could help you, but people who know their way around this would need you location. I think those competitions are set up in local "leagues" that you fight your way up to national. Where I live, there are (nearly) no professionals so anyone participating is an amateur anyway.2
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A few people at my gym as well as my fiancee have competed in these shows. I recommend you check out the NPC (National Physique Committee) and the NGA (National Gym Association). You should be able to find shows for both that are local to your location. Both of these organizations have novice categories for those who have not competed in the organization's shows before and NPC has true novice for absolute first-time competitors anywhere. You can compete across categories, too (true novice, novice, and regular bikini, for example). The NGA is a natural competition (you have to do a polygraph test related to performance-enhancing drug use beforehand) and we found that those shows tend to be smaller than NPC shows. That being said, there was more of a tight-knit community feeling to them (compared to NPC) which the people I know who have competed in the NGA really liked. My fiancee really enjoyed her experience and won places at both shows she did (NPC and NGA). If you decide to give it a try, definitely find yourself a good posing/stage presence coach. Posing and stage presence are a large part of your judging score and being relaxed and comfortable on stage will definitely be key your first time out there. Good luck!3
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Why do you want to compete? What is your reason for that being a goal?
(yes, I'm answering your questions with more questions, but my response will change depending on your answer
) 2 -
livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Why do you want to compete? What is your reason for that being a goal?
(yes, I'm answering your questions with more questions, but my response will change depending on your answer)
I think my motivation comes from how much I love lifting weights at the gym. I really get so much positivity out of doing it but need some justifiable reason for taking it to the next level in terms of diet etc.0 -
ramshackles wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Why do you want to compete? What is your reason for that being a goal?
(yes, I'm answering your questions with more questions, but my response will change depending on your answer)
I think my motivation comes from how much I love lifting weights at the gym. I really get so much positivity out of doing it but need some justifiable reason for taking it to the next level in terms of diet etc.
To me, loving lifting doesn't correlate to competing in a bodybuilding competition. Prepping can be draining, and take the joy out of training. Lifts/performance would likely suffer. Many people develop body image issues which can be hard to overcome.
If you love lifting, why not set yourself lifting goals? Go for numbers, perhaps consider powerlifting?3 -
livingleanlivingclean wrote: »ramshackles wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Why do you want to compete? What is your reason for that being a goal?
(yes, I'm answering your questions with more questions, but my response will change depending on your answer)
I think my motivation comes from how much I love lifting weights at the gym. I really get so much positivity out of doing it but need some justifiable reason for taking it to the next level in terms of diet etc.
To me, loving lifting doesn't correlate to competing in a bodybuilding competition. Prepping can be draining, and take the joy out of training. Lifts/performance would likely suffer. Many people develop body image issues which can be hard to overcome.
If you love lifting, why not set yourself lifting goals? Go for numbers, perhaps consider powerlifting?
Yes, maybe that's the path I should take. It would just be interesting to see how far I could push my body with the discipline demanded from doing a show. Why do you do it?0 -
ramshackles wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »ramshackles wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Why do you want to compete? What is your reason for that being a goal?
(yes, I'm answering your questions with more questions, but my response will change depending on your answer)
I think my motivation comes from how much I love lifting weights at the gym. I really get so much positivity out of doing it but need some justifiable reason for taking it to the next level in terms of diet etc.
To me, loving lifting doesn't correlate to competing in a bodybuilding competition. Prepping can be draining, and take the joy out of training. Lifts/performance would likely suffer. Many people develop body image issues which can be hard to overcome.
If you love lifting, why not set yourself lifting goals? Go for numbers, perhaps consider powerlifting?
Yes, maybe that's the path I should take. It would just be interesting to see how far I could push my body with the discipline demanded from doing a show. Why do you do it?
I have competed (in 12 shows), and I'm not sure I'll do it again. I did it originally because I was enjoying training, had lost lots of weight for my wedding, got married then needed a goal.
If I could go back to my pre-competing days I would honestly tell myself not to start - there is a feeling of accomplishment from competing, but there is also a lot of negative effects. Before I started competing I loved training and was happy with my weight loss and body. After competing, I'm more critical of myself and constantly looking at how I can improve my physique. I took me months to be comfortable and happy with having some body fat. Competing made me physically and mentally unhealthy for a long time. I still have unresolved health issues despite my last comp being 2 years ago. I would be happy getting to a mental place with my physique where I achieve something maintainable that I find aesthetically pleasing, and looking like that long term rather than pushing for a completely unsustainable look that lasts for a day.
Im still involved in bodybuilding, and have many friends who have/do compete. Many are less interested in competing again as they've realised how much more important life and other experiences are. Competing involves a lot of sacrifice, and I honestly don't think that the return is worth it! My husband and I compete together, and prep together - we were intending to compete earlier in the year, but decided against it 6 weeks before the show as neither of us could justify the amount of time and sacrifice we were putting in at the expense of other things.
It's also an expensive hobby - we have spent a lot on comps, money that could have been spent on amazing holidays, or doing stuff to our house, or saved.
We've dabbled in powerlifting, and the vibe around comps and training is completely different. It's not subjective - you either lift a weight or you don't. Training for a number on the bar is a lot more enjoyable than training specifically for a look. It's about being physically and mentally strong - to me, they're better attributes to work on, over competing and trying to look how someone else says you should look to be "the best".
Hindsight is a wonderful thing though, as is growing older and learning from experience. Many people fluff up competing, make it seem amazing. The federations are introducing categories that make it accessible to more people which I don't necessarily think is right - competing is not for everyone, but is starting to become the aim for a lot of regular gym goers without the knowledge or understanding of the complete process...13 -
I've done 3 local pl meets. I'm not sure how "extreme" you need to be in order to compete, but it does take nerve to put yourself out there.
I trained for powerlifting for 2 years before I felt ready for a meet. I wanted to be prepared physically. I had a target gym total that I wanted to hit before competing, so I felt confident going into it.
Like earlier stated, powerlifting isn't subjective...you either lift the weight or you don't. It's as simple as that. Well, not really THAT simple. For me, the 2 weeks leading up to the meet has been mentally stressful. Missing a lift in competition suuuucks.
The people that compete (mostly men) have been great. I've been the smallest lifter 2 out of 3 meets. This hasn't mattered to anyone, and I've never gotten the feeling that I shouldn't be there.
You usually have to wear a singlet...and for some reason, women seem to have a hang up about this. I look super cute in a singlet...I can't say that about most of the men.
ETA: after starting with competitive powerlifting, I'm MUCH less critical of my physique. I focus a lot more attetion on how my body performs vs. how I look in a bathing suit. I have also improved my relationship with food...silly way to put it. Food is fuel...and I only care about my scale weight about 2 weeks from a meet. Powerlifting has improved my self-confidence...and physique.
It's still not a sport for everyone though...there's a lot of sweat, screaming, and occasional peeing on the platform.6 -
Thank you both for your insightful advice. It's really opened me eyes to the potential issues that could arise from competing. I think for now I'll focus on gradually increasing my lifts to see how I progress before I decide which route (if any) to go down.1
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It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders, OP! I'd just like to throw in another vote for powerlifting as an eventual goal. The sport has brought me so much more confidence, and made me proud of and inspired by what my body is capable of. It's much more objectively goal-oriented than physique competitions (which are more subjective, as mentioned above), which I really like. And the sport is full of really positive, supportive people. 10/10, would recommend.
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »ramshackles wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Why do you want to compete? What is your reason for that being a goal?
(yes, I'm answering your questions with more questions, but my response will change depending on your answer)
I think my motivation comes from how much I love lifting weights at the gym. I really get so much positivity out of doing it but need some justifiable reason for taking it to the next level in terms of diet etc.
If you love lifting, why not set yourself lifting goals? Go for numbers, perhaps consider powerlifting?
i got into powerlifting for this reason, because i love lifting, i love training, i love having goals. I found a awesome coach, and there are powerlifting events all over the place all the time. I love meet prep , its draining but thats the kinda challenge i thrive on. Powerlifting is about competing against yourself, you pick your goals and you work towards them. Entering a PL meet is easy, you can enter at any level and be successful.1
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