Support for your Support

Much like a new dad might feel bringing home their newborn baby, the hustle and bustle of the hospital with all of its anticipation and excitement… is now gone and we are left mom breast feeding… feeling exhausted and tired… you can feel left out, like you don’t know what to do, unknowing how you can help, participate, or be part of this new life. Here are some ways you can participate in this journey & make life a bit easier on your fellow competitor and on yourself!

MEAL PREP

Their coach should have provided them with a meal plan, and meal times each day for them to eat.

Grocery Shop: Often this is one of the best ways you can help. Adding a trip to the grocery store in addition to their cooking, training, trying to sleep, and cardio is daunting.

Help Cook: Their meal plan should spell out specific portions, seasonings that are allowed and other dietary requirements. If you can read… you can help.

Daily Meal Prep: For the most part, we know each day how long we will be away from the house- which means we will need to have a certain number of meals ready on the go. With a simple conversation, you can anticipate how many meals you will need to have in a lunch box ready to go. You can help by portioning out (according to their diet) how many meals they will need.

Posing:

Video: One of the most important aspects of this sport is showcasing what you’ve created on stage. This can be one area your extra eyes can help. Use a video camera and film your partner.

Set aside time each evening or 3-4 times a week. Have the athlete share this video with your coach to get feedback. I encourage you, as their partner to come to a posing session so that I can show them what I look for. This way when they are practicing at home, they can become an extension of me.

Training:

The competitor needs to train. This is a body building and muscle sport- which means time in the gym. Please don’t make it difficult on them or make them feel bad about going to the gym. If you like, you can go with them- but don’t expect to do their workout- or even workout alongside them. They need to focus. If you are a gym-goer yourself, you can set aside time and do cardio with them… but this part of the journey they must walk alone.

Words of advice

Questions: You are going to have questions… so do they. They do not have answers… and often don’t have any experience either. Some things can only be known through experience. Write them down and have the athlete talk them over with their coach. We are NOT mind readers and often are trying not to overwhelm you with all the details, which at that moment aren’t relevant or haven’t come up yet. There is a lot to learn, so take it slow.

Quality Time: They love you, they want to go out with you… but you too are signing up for this body building show and many of the sacrifices that go with it. They didn’t know what they were asking of you… forgive them. They also didn’t know what they were asking of themselves. It won’t be like this forever and happiness is a choice. You can choose to be supportive or making everyone’s life a living hell. It’s up to you how you would like to go through life each day.

Cheat Meal: Some coaches forget… ask if you can have a cheat meal OR eat your same meal plan food but at a restaurant. Your coach needs to help you find balance. I would rather you ask then suffer or guess. ASK! Even if it’s the same food, but you can take your partner out to a restaurant rather than eating out of a plastic bag or Tupperware… its worth the conversation. You partner puts up with all. Your shit, the least you can do it ask your coach about creating balance.