With Each Client I see both new and old challenges arise as a result of their decision to compete in body building, and often undergoing a weightless transformation. This article will focus primarilarly on the misconceptions for bodybuilding, however may resonate with everyone.
Unfortunately, in our industry of "Bodybuilding", the competitor has a built-in support system their coach, social media, fellow competitors and gym goers. But who is talking to and supporting their “Support” system.
Here are some common misconceptions I see which can cause fear, confusion and create a divide amongst the competitor, client, those we love the most, and the sport as a whole. What’s the point if when we get off stage… and there is no one there to greet us:
Misconception: You are back stage with all of these “perfect people” you are going to meet someone else. Truth: Most competitors are SCARED to death, nervous about to get on stage, the farthest thing from their mind is dating or checking people out. And when they are checking people out… its usually who they think is in their class and how they measure up against their physique. In my experience, this is where they begin to mind fuck themselves and start to feel inadequate.
Coach Christina Says: I have my athletes bring a towel and a pillow for backstage. They are told to lay down, get off their feet and ZONE out… and they do.
Misconception: Competitors are hungry Truth: Unless they have a shitty coach… competitors need to eat- and eat a lot. Their muscles need to be filled with glycogen (carbs) so that they do not look flat or stringy on stage. If a competitor is “hungry” it’s a sign of bad coaching or poor planning plain and simple. They are THIRSTY… NOT HUNGRY
Coach Christina: My athletes typical will eat every 2 hrs. having 7-9 meals a day the day before and heading to their competition day. Body Builders shouldn’t be skinny… they should be full (muscle belly wise)
Misconception: Bodybuilding creates binge eaters Truth: There may be a certain “type” of personality driven to participate in a sport like this but no, absolutely not. Binge eating is a coping mechanism we humans use to temporarily deal with a situation typically stemming from childhood or a trauma in the person’s life. Food just like sex, drugs, alcohol, etc can be used as what I call a “self soothe” mechanism. Just because a person goes out and perhaps has a couple too many vodka cran’s they don’t all of a sudden start using heroine or become an alcoholic. They are two very extremes. They need counseling and support.
Coach Christina: You and your coach need to have a plan for after the competition for food, rehydration and training wise. Either reverse dieting, getting back on your meal plan… something. This is where I see 99% of coaches failing. As soon as you step off stage- I have seen coaches have nothing more to do with you unless you have signed up and paid them to do another show. As much as you think they are your “friend”… this is a business. In my experience as a competitor, your coach most likely will not be calling you to “check on you”. In most coaches’ eyes… their job is complete once you get off stage after the night show. This is one of the reasons I charge on a monthly basis. I do not want to lose sight of my athletes regardless of how many shows they choose to do. They need to have a transition plan that is professionally created and monitored. They need just as much support after they get off stage as they did before they went on stage.
Misconception: If partner is going to get really fit, they must want me to be just like them Truth: Some might want you to adapt their new-found lifestyle but most…. Love you exactly as you are and YES… YOU ARE ENOUGH! Chances are the household can only afford one competitor let alone two. But most competitors are only looking at themselves. They do NOT all of a sudden need or want you to have a six pack. They need you to be stable, loving and understanding. They are scared, worried they aren’t good enough, tired, and rarely admit... that not a moment goes by they aren't asking themselves subconsciously "Why did I sign up for all of this"? They just need a hug and an ear to listen.
Coach Christina: This is why I spend a great deal of time during weekly check-ins talking and listening to the athletes and clients. As much as we look at the food and training… this is a mental sport 100%. The natural feelings of inadequacy and body dysmorphia is unbelievable. When you couple that with photos on Facebook and Instagram from other competitors that are photoshopped, from their last show being passed off as present day… it’s an all-around mind fuck. Your coach needs to help you mentally with these feelings and helping create a solid foundation for you. THIS is actually the reason I created this article in particular! Please, take it from me… your enough and your partner loves you. They need your support NOW more than ever.
Misconception: Our lives will never go back to normal Truth: Perhaps… but most competitors will only do 2-4 shows in their lifetime and exit the sport. This, much like any real-life experience can either make or break a life. Adapting a healthy eating schedule, drinking more water, getting good quality sleep, and creating a health conscience lifestyle is a good thing. It’s how you create balance that makes it healthy or not.
Coach Christina: It’s important for me as a coach to understand the true goal of the client. Is this a bucket list item or are we truly trying to turn pro. BOTH are acceptable and both have 2 very different path’s. Any coach worth their weight should discuss this with you and explain the difference. It’s about YOUR goals- not the coach's ego or client roster.
Misconception: Competitors pics are recent Truth: This is a big fucking LIE!!! Stay off Instagram if you don’t know what you are looking at. Angles, date the picture was taken, guess what… people can say what ever they want, doesn’t mean its true. You also don’t know how tall a person is- so this along with angles, fancy apps, and camera tricks will distort pictures. Do you know what matters… what the judge sees on stage THAT’S IT! Coach Christina: Stop Looking on social media… just like the “happy couple” you know always posting perfect pics yet every time you hang out with them in real life you know they hate each other… yeah its exactly the same. False reality doesn’t not become real reality.
Misconception: That dozen donuts I am going to eat after I get off stage will be heaven!! Truth: Food you fantasize about will never taste as good as you remember. In fact, not only is it not as good, you will get a stomach ache almost immediately. Not only is your body lacking the enzymes to break it down… it doesn’t taste as good as whole, clean, real foods do. You are eating crap… its going to make you feel like crap because it always did – you just didn’t know what “feeling good” felt like so you had no comparison. Coach Christina: Most first time competitors buy cookies/ doughnuts/ cupcakes etc to eat right when they get off stage. (typically a first time competitors because they don’t know any better) Few really eat them. They are so thirsty… they want a salad, fruit, a burger or just want to go to bed. It’s been a long ass day and the thought of waiting at a restaurant at midnight after they get off stage is far from what they want.
Misconception: This is all about them and I can’t participate or help them… I feel left out Truth: Yes, it will definitely feel like this. But isn’t it ok if your partner who obviously has a dream – that for 12 weeks they can be a little selfish and you love and support their dream? I am pretty sure if they are a good partner… they would give you the leeway to follow your dreams. Coach Christina: I didn’t grow up with parents and never had trophies on a mantle to celebrate or be celebrated. This sport allowed me in my adulthood to relive a childhood dream. How could anyone who loves me want me to not experience that? We can lie to ourselves all we like. This sport brings out feelings of inadequacy in everyone. It is how honest we are with ourselves and creating an open line of communication about how everyone is feelings to grow through these feelings and become better humans. These feelings don’t go away after we are done competing… the must be dealt with regardless.
Misconception: Overnight we put on 15-25 lbs from the crap we ate after our competition! Truth: No…. this is water weight. Yes the body weight can fluctuate drastically (women +/- 10-15 lbs) (Men +/- 10- 25 lbs). This is the body’s electrolyte system drastically swinging in an attempt to rebalance itself after the sometimes extreme conditions of sodium and water manipulation). Depending, it can take 5-7 days to rebalance when done correctly. Coach Christina: People LOVE to talk about things they know VERY little about.. and one of the things noncompetitors love to talk about is how much weight “someone they know” put on after a competition. This is actually in an attempt to make themselves feel better because they feel inadequate and don’t think they themselves would ever be good enough to compete. Sorry… I have been coaching for a very long time and this is a sad reality of the sport.
Misconception: You want attention from strangers
Truth: Some do, yes but most of us are battling an internal battle with ourselves. I find insta-famers are more the ones who look for external validation rather than competitors. We want a sense of self satisfaction… we are actually only competing with ourselves at the end of the day and chasing what we thing the judges want… not our neighbor or someone on Facebook.
Coach Christina: Most competitors are quite shy. If you look closely they are shaking on stage… they are extremely nervous, and their thoughts are far from “I feel pretty”. They are too busy trying not to look stupid, hitting their poses and trying not to fall… even though I have never seen anyone fall… They are inside their heads trying not to mind-fuck themselves. I promise you!
Misconception: This competition is all about people parading around in their underwear Truth: In the United States the NPC and IFBB are the two TOP bodybuilding federations and people compete their entire lives and will NEVER turn pro. This is equivalent to making it to the Olympics. Coach Christina: This is not a hooters wet tee-shirt contest. Its an extremenly expense sport and requires a great deal of dedication, patience, blood, sweat and tears. Graced by some of the most prestigious sports icons in US history- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Cory Everson, Jay Cutler etc this sport is one of the most respectable and honored. I encourage you to watch one first hand before passing judgement or thinking you know something- that without seeing you clearly don’t.
Misconception: You will fall in love with your coach, sleep with them to win and will leave me Truth: The relationship between a coach and an athlete is that similar to a parent and a child. If the coach allowed this line to be crossed or even blurred they are a bad coach- pain and simple. RUN!!! There are bad coaches same as there are bad parents and you need to look for red flags right away. Word spreads like wildfire in this sport and that coach will quickly become ostracized from the sport and the community. Much like a creepy photographer… once you cross this line the is NO GOING BACK. They run the risk of ruining their entire business. Even gossip- regardless of merit is career ending. Coach Christina: I am one of the ONLY female coaches to coach both men and women. In order to do so, I must gain their trust and establish a clear line of who is in charge. I am in charge… my athletes work for me- (I own the dream) and they must see me in a position of authority not as a mistress. This… is black and white.
Misconception: Competitors are always ‘hangry” Truth: Most people eat 2-3 meals a day… and are drastically undereating for their body. Were they an asshole due to lack of food before? Maybe… But its not connected. So when they start on a meal plan or begin prep they are actually eating more than they ever have before. It’s a social mis norms that they are all of a sudden allowed to be cranky and treat people like shit. Coach Christina: Get over yourself. Unless you have a shitty coach and are drastically understating for your body type… you are on the wrong plan with the wrong coach and you need to find someone else. If it feels wrong… it is. BUT… there are some challenges that come because your life overnight has seemed to change. Your habits are new, your working harder, and you are scared of the unknown. They can’t self soothe through dinner out, a glass of wine or a night of blowing off some steam. Well… you wanted to do a body building competition. No one said it would be easy… buck up son. Check your ego at the door and get a better coach who can help with your bad attitude or maybe this is NOT the sport for you. Sorry…. Not sorry.
Misconception: The show is rigged or full of “Politics” Truth: When you are competing in a region where there are large teams- the coach will typically have a certain “look” they bring in each competitor in looking like (they have a type). For example, some will bring their athletes in VERY DRY. The judges can only judge based on who showed up that day. So if you are in a class with athletes of a certain “type” of look… your coach needs to anticipate this and manage your peak week according to the “look”. This is not politics… its basic strategy of numbers. Coach Christina: Any good coach needs to know this and plan accordingly. Sorry…but if you show up not looking like everyone else, it’s your coach’s fault. Give or take a 2 week “peak week” schedule I can make any athlete look either very dry, softer, or fuller. It’s my job to anticipate who will be at your competition and then plan my decisions around getting your body to look like that on competition day. There is no “perfect show day Physique” it is ALL BASED on who shows up that day and how you measure-up against them. Many coaches are lazy in the NPC and don’t spend time on armatures the way they do their Pro’s. They pick a few athletes at the top and spend their time on them. They run a puppy mill of a team. I do not. I hate this about the sport.
Misconception: Competitors are rude or catty backstage
Truth: This is not true. You will find most competitors to be the most polite, organized, positive individuals you may ever come across. Otherwise we wont survive the sport. I guarantee we are harder on ourselves than the world would ever be. We might through feelings of inadequacy, wanting to quit, being drained, pain, slef rejection, and a myriad of other emotions, and it is thrugh this sense of overcoming that we live- and want to insrpire and help others.
Coach Christina: Sure there will always be that one bad apple, but if you are a competotos and see someone with a foul face backstage they are most likely scared shitless. They may be there alone, didn’t have a coach or perphas had one on-line who wasn’t able to be there for the show and thay are down right nervous. These are extreme cases and one where they have worked for months all coming down to the wire and are about to go on stage any minute… they are nervouis… not a bitch. They don’t even know you… why would they be angry or upset with you. Its not about you… right now they are in their own head as YOU should be in yours. Go mind your own business… lay down, and stop concerning yourself with the actions of others. Its YOUR show too and we have other things to worry about.