My first competition really started on Friday night! The kids were with my parents and that enabled us to go downtown kid free so I could get my spray tan with Liquid Sun Rayz! It was a $120 cost, but really made the muscles pop AND as I write this 10 days later, I still have a nice tan! I even went to Target right after getting my tan….oh the looks I got! A lot of people ask, “Why so dark?” Up on stage under the lights, it is what’s best to show off your hard-earned physique!
I headed home (hair and make up NOT done!) and had my 3 ounces of wine and then off to bed. This trick is supposed to dry you out overnight and really show off a tight physique the next day, but honestly I’m not so sure it was the best for me. Read on……
Up at 5A the next day to start eating my carbs and then off at 7A to get the locks and make up on! My friend Kara said I looked like someone who needs to be on Jersey Shore with that tan and hair! It was a treat to get this service for my first show and I’ll have to take it show by show to see if I can do this each time. It was nice and hassle free to have this done for the day by a prfessional!
We had to be onsite at the Madame Walker Theater for the April 13, 2013 NPC Natural for the athlete’s meeting at 9A. The show started at 11A, but I did not get on stage in the Master’s 35-39 Figure until about 1:30P….that’s a LONG time to figure out the nutrients for my first show! In this picture, I’m third from the left. I ended up being moved to the far outside, which does not indicate the best placing, BUT I got up there and did it and enjoyed every bit of it! In looking at this picture, I realize that a.) I had gone really flat and skinny in my first prep to the stage AND b.) that I was not posing correctly to really highlight my upper body. I prepped and practiced for 19 weeks for this and we were up and off stage in roughly 2 minutes. It’s was basically a blur! That’s why in time and with more shows and prep practice under my belt, I’ll be better able to represent my physique on stage.
Final quarter turn
It was HARD to keep that smile going AND flex AND focus on posing. Practice, practice and more practice!
One tip: approach the judges after the evening show. I was able to talk with 4 judges and get their feedback. Of course not everyone concurs on what they said, but their advice given was to: improve my v taper (wider shoulders and narrower waist), increase my delt size, and lean out a bit in the waist. Ok…not always easy to hear, but I do plan to revamp the workouts and see if I can fill out a bit in the next few weeks before my next shows in June.
Here are my 2 cents on my prep: I got pretty skinny on this diet down, so the goal next show is to pack on a few pounds, stay lean and fill out the upper body. This was my first time doing this and the diet was basically on my own. I followed an ebook eating plan and some online macro calculators to map it all out, but in the end, I still have a lot to learn with the last few weeks and mastering which foods fill me out and when to eat them, without losing my muscle mass. Figuring this all out….it’s a lot easier said than done, but I’ll give it my best! NO excuses! I am planning to hire a Coach for my next build and compete season so I can get professional help and guidance in fine tuning the diet specifically to my physique. Oh so much to learn!
First quarter turn. Hello hamstrings!
Back pose. I really needed to roll those shoulders forward more to flare out my lats and in turn max out my v taper. Again, live and learn!
Night show line up!
Some new Figure friends! LaShon on the left and Yanick in the middle rocked the stage. These are some hard working ladies and I was honored to share the stage with them! Congrats to LaShon on her 4th place finish and Yanick on her 1st place finish in the Masters!
My babies came to see me! Bless their hearts…they sat in the audience for nearly 4 hours waiting on me to take the stage in the Finals in the evening. They just wanted Mommy to get a “sword” as those were the trophies they handed out. I prepped a goodie bag gift to thank them for coming to my show and for them to have something fun to do while they waited. They were troopers and made it thru the night! Love my little ones!
The next AM, my oldest approached me with a smile and was asking questions about my next show. I’m happy they got to see me compete and excited they can see options in sports for any age group and ability level.
By the day I hit the stage, I weighed in at 128.3 pounds, down from 225 in October 2009 (center lower picture). My body fat was probably sub 9% and I did have a six pack. However, those are just numbers and we aren’t valued by numbers. We are valued by who we choose to be and how we choose to treat others and if we keep our word. Don’t ever let a pants size, scale weight or placing determine your value. You are a beautiful creation made in His image and you’re created for purpose, not statistics!
Post show some of the other competitors brought snacks for all to enjoy! Of course I had a bite of the cookies!
and the next AM, Bob Evans and I made good friends! Hello multigrain pancakes! After the show Saturday PM, I also had some chips and salsa and a few pieces of pizza. Nothing too crazy, but it did feel good to enjoy some treat foods for a bit! Then it was back on plan on Monday and I was eating at maintenance level about 2000-2200 daily.
So there you have it. I was competitor #98 and I took home a 5th place (the sword!) in the Open category. Some of our business affiliates gave me the pink medal that said “Winner” on the back as a preshow gift. They’re right….just showing up and getting this amazing task accomplished makes anyone a winner, regardless of the “place” or “finish”!
Doing this from start to finish was one of the hardest yet most rewarding things I’ve ever done! The more I thought about it the more proud of myself I became. Actually, just getting over and back in those 5″ heels up on stage and in the lights wearing strings of material was accomplishment in itself! To be honest, at first I was SO disappointed I did not place higher, but in all reality, this is a tough sport and I have tons to learn. It’s not about being perfect or winning or even placing each time. It’s about striving for progress, not perfection, day in and day out, staying committed to the sport, learning new strategy and technique, and bringing your best package to the stage. It’s about fueling your body with enough food on a daily basis, challenging yourself with a steady plan to lift heavy, and doing a few rounds of HIIT cardio in a week’s time (I’m anti stead-state and anti low-calorie!) Once you get to the stage, all other factors are out of your control. The fact of the matter is bodybuilding is just that, safely building a better body over time with patience and endurance one day, one good night’s sleep, rest day, rep and balanced good-food choice at a time!
So in case you’re considering competing in a physique competition, please be aware of the EXPENSE in this sport!
Suit: $300-$1000+; my suit was roughly $315…I kept it conservative and LOVE it!
Heels: $45
Personal Training: $45/hour
Gym Membership: $82/month (for a family at the Fishers Y!)
Spray Tan: $120
NPC card: $100 annually
Show registration: $60-$90 depending on your categories and show fees
Hair and Make Up: $100
Hair extensions: $250
Posing clinics: $15 each (5+ sessions attended)
Show Jewelry: $30 at SteinMart…I’m cheap!
Family tickets for show day: $10 each for AM show; $20 each for PM show
Online meal plan: $30-$50
Coach: (I have not hired one yet, but I’m planning to do so ongoing) $1000-$1500 annually
Monthly Supplements: $150-$300
Pre-Show Mani/Pedi: $55
Pre-Show Waxing: $65
Fitness Magazine Subscriptions: $30-$50 annually
Photo Shoot: $150
Ebooks: $50-$100
Of course several of these costs can be higher, lower or even optional depending on your location and training choices. I just wanted to give you a big picture of all that can be involved.
I want to thank:
The Fishers YMCA for giving me an awesome place to lift and for watching my kids while I had my iron time
My Personal Trainer Jackie Wallenberg for teaching and training me last year AND putting up with all my “what if’s”, worries and what nots!
Laura Marenco Fitness for my posing clinics and for introducing me to many other wonderful Figure gals in the Indy area!
Suits by Amy for making my suit….love it!
Lily Spencer with About Mei Salon for doing my hair and make up
Pauline Nordin with Fighter Diet for writing her Contest Prep ebook and diet plan
and to my husband Dan and family for allowing me my “Me” time to prep foods, get to the gym and put a lot of my energy and focus on this sport, therefore enabling me to go after my goals and dreams. Your support is a blessing to me!
Thanks all for following this journey. I’m happy to report that I AM continuing to compete and plan to do two more shows in the Indy area in June 2013. After that, I will go into a building season until next winter and then start the Contest Prep all over again! If you have any questions about my journey or want more info, please email me at [email protected]. The best to you in your Journey to YOUR goals and dreams! Think it….do it!
-Mindy Irish
Photos credit to: Brand Photo Design
Fishers, Indiana
This post is the final post of my 19-week journey to the Figure stage. If you missed any in that series, visit the Figure page HERE to get even more pictures, tips and tidbits that I share out along the way! Thanks for the follow and always remember….go for what scares you!