I went to see my coach today and practiced the mandatory poses I will be executing on stage. Quite different from Figure! lol. It was awkward to pose in bare feet and when I am completely off-season (read: soft) but, hey, it is what it is and I gotta get started! It was fun/challenging. I will require a lot of practice :)
I have my music picked out, just need to get the song edited and recorded. I really like it, I think it'l be fun to pose to!
All is progressing as it should be at this point, just getting my head straight and focused and finding and harnessing my drive & determination again. I am really looking forward to overcoming all obstacles and kicking my own ass (again) this year.
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On a bit of a rant, I have to say the following. I have heard a few people in the fitness industry who are either pro-level or hi-profile say variations of the following theme : " If you have to take 16+ weeks to prep, you are not staying lean enough in off season".
This completely infuriates me. What, Meso/Endomorphic body types shouldn't compete? What, women should constantly keep their bodyfat under 15%? What, I should feel like a fatty because I go up to 18-21%bf in the off season?
If someone wants to compete, and has the right work ethic and somewhat decent genetics and a great coach who is willing and able to get them to the stage, who cares how long it takes? I have tryed my damnedest to stay leaner in off-season. Many times! I have wrestled with feeling too thick and and not liking my off-season body. But finally this last year things started to change. I realised my off-season body is strong, it is healthy, it lets me eat a few more treats that I enjoy. I am more than my body anyway, and my self-worth is not completely attached to my physique (thank-god, can you imagine what 50+ y.o. would feel like?)
So yeah, bottom line, I just wanted to say that for me competing is about bringing MY best package to the stage, and enjoying my life outside of competing. And I wouldn't want anyone to think that 16 weeks is too long to prepare for a physique competition. We are not all natural-born attention-seeking glamour queens who feel comfortable posing and parading in front of an audience. We are not all able to stay ultra-lean 52 weeks out of the year. Some of us require more time and work to get onstage. Who gives a shit? End rant.
