I did my first figure contest in 2011 (coming off a broken arm) and won 1st place in the novice. Two years and twenty pounds later, I’ve decided to do another contest. My reasons for doing the contest are twofold - I’m annoyed at myself for gaining so much weight (I had to buy all new pants) and I really want to see how I do in an open class, oh and I would like to get into great shape and stay that way before I turn 40 (in 2.5 years).
I started my contest prep on Jan 1, and I’m planning on doing 2 shows, the first one in May and the second in June. Stu (my hubby & coach), of course, is doing my contest prep; and I think this one may be more difficult than the last one we did. The first contest was kind of easy to begin, I really didn’t know what I was in for… This time I know exactly what to expect (the intensity of the diet and training), and that alone makes this contest prep feel like more of a commitment. Also, my goals are different this time, I went into the last contest just wanting to train & diet for 16 weeks, simply to see if I could do it… now I would like place in the open class.
The best thing about this contest prep so far is that it has gotten me back into a consistent eating & training routine (which was another goal of mine). This last year was hectic, and I let life get in the way of staying in shape. I actually wanted to do a contest prep last year at this time, but there was just too much going on, I almost lost my job and was in the middle of planning the wedding; I didn’t have the time or mental energy for a contest prep.
Things are still a little hectic (in September I decided to go back to grad school and my job may still be eliminated this spring), but I figure life is never going to slow down, so if I want to do a contest, I might as well do it now.
And I was blown away by your shoulder caps and lats, particularly since you were a novice. This will be great fun to follow. You look quite petite. Height?
Thanks so much for the support, much appreciated!!
@ super saiyan - Stu and I train together occasionally. We go to the gym together all the time, but really don’t plan our work outs together, we each follow our own splits/routines. Most of the time I wave to him or make faces from across the gym. Whenever I use weights or a machine in the same vicinity as Stu it’s a bonus
@ Powerpuff - Thank you!! My shoulders were a strength, my biceps a weakness (will try to bring those up). I’m five feet, two inches (the shortest one in my family). Although I’m short, I’ve always had broad shoulders & back. It’s funny, years ago my friend (who is 5’7" - tall and slender build) loaned me a blazer to wear for a meeting, I couldn’t fit into it - the shoulders & back were sooo narrow, I would have busted out of that blazer like the hulk! It’s the first time I realized, I’m short but not really petite.
Forever 39 sounds like a plan! If 30 is the new 20, then 39 must be the new 29
I know this is about this prep, but would love to see some contest pics, and any others your willing to share. I have more questions but have a feeling they will get answered here soon.
^I know we’ve got a bunch of the pro photographers pics from the 2011 show, as well as some that Cat’s sister snapped backstage. Just gotta dig a bit for 'em!
I’m also going to try my best and grab shots of Cat doing her thing at the gym, praticing posing, eating, whatever else I can get away with before she gets annoyed and smacks me.
Cat may not get a moment to get back in here until the weekend (I’m always trying to check in during my lunch breaks at work), so I figure I’ll toss up a few pics I snapped with my Iphone at the gym last night. Hopefully they won’t be too fuzzy, or humongous as some pics that need resizing end up being.
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
Putting in work! I like the shirt too. [/quote]
X2 just seeing that brought back some brilliant childhood memories
Cat, apologies if it was already mentioned in one of stu’s threads but how long have you been training, and was it stu that got you into it?
I only ask because my wife has recently got into weight training and it’s great because it like she finally UNDERSTANDS
[quote]Thunder Cat wrote:
Thanks so much for the support, much appreciated!!
@ Powerpuff - Thank you!! My shoulders were a strength, my biceps a weakness (will try to bring those up). I’m five feet, two inches (the shortest one in my family). Although I’m short, I’ve always had broad shoulders & back. It’s funny, years ago my friend (who is 5’7" - tall and slender build) loaned me a blazer to wear for a meeting, I couldn’t fit into it - the shoulders & back were sooo narrow, I would have busted out of that blazer like the hulk! It’s the first time I realized, I’m short but not really petite.
Forever 39 sounds like a plan! If 30 is the new 20, then 39 must be the new 29 :D[/quote]
Awesome! I thought we might have similar proportions. I’m not quite 5’2", or glass half full, I’m 5’6" in heels. And that’s great that shoulders and lats come easy for you. I think the only thing that’s come easy for me is calves (which I don’t have to train), and TRAPS - ugh. I’m focusing hard on building more shoulder. Despite all my lifting, I still wear the smallest size I can find in a jacket.
Nice to see the training pics. I never do single leg glute bridges. I think that’s what that is. Nice. It’s all about activation. And you are now a month or so into your cut? Keep us posted and best of luck. You’ve done this before. Go to it!
It’s been a tough week for me, reading these messages brought a smile to my face
Stu says “every contest prep is different” and he is totally correct. I feel like this contest prep is kicking my ass already and I’m only 5 weeks in, 14 weeks to the first contest and 21 weeks to the second contest. I don’t remember contest prep being this hard this early… I had a little meltdown earlier this week, after I got home from work at 9:45pm and had to do pull ups and chin ups (I have a pull up bar in the doorway to the bedroom). Sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough time to handle everything, I simply need more time and more sleep. However, I don’t want to give anything up either - I made a decision to go back to school and I don’t want to put that on hold, I made a decision to do 2 figure contests and I just have 5 months to go, I don’t want to give up my part time job because I may lose my full time job… the result of all this is every minute of every day is planned out for me… time management and keeping organized are two things that I really need to work on if I’m going to survive the next 5 months.
And that’s great that shoulders and lats come easy for you. I think the only thing that’s come easy for me is calves (which I don’t have to train), and TRAPS - ugh. I’m focusing hard on building more shoulder. Despite all my lifting, I still wear the smallest size I can find in a jacket.