The world of figure competitions

Today was my first earnest attempt to get back into the swing of things at the gym and with my diet. I did a photo shoot about a month ago, and since then, I have not been following a diet much, and the last two weeks, between defending my thesis and getting engaged and packing, I've been slacking at the gym. Well today I went to the gym and attempted to do 1/10 mile sprints at 6 min/mile with 1/10 mile rest between sprints. It about nearly killed me. About two months ago, I was doing a mile at 6 min/mile. Sooo, I stopped when I thought I might hurl, which was after 15 minutes. It'll get back up there. I am about 16 weeks out from my first competition. That being said, I have been at this point several other times, thinking I was so many weeks out from a competition, and due to different reasons, have dropped.

So what am I talking about when I say competing? Basically I am training hard in the gym to achieve a certain look, then get on stage in a shiny custom-made bikini with my hair and makeup did. There are several "looks." There is bodybuilding, which I am sure many of you are aware of. Then there is bikini which is just that. I'm sure you all know what a bikini contest looks like. Same shiny bikini but add a themed sportswear round, like a pirate or sports fan or... you name it. The outfit usually shows off the tummy and shoulders and requires booty shoots.

Then there is fitness, which includes a routine round that is about two minutes long. These girls are nuts. Choreography includes such moves as one-armed push ups, presses, handstands, crazy balancing poses. There is also a bikini round This is what I really want to do but have not yet gotten around to it due to financial reasons. Choreography is expensive, as are the costumes. Here is a link to one of my favorite fitness routines. This is Shana Martin... Not all routines include crazy tumbling skills... but this will give you a flavor of what fitness is all about.

Finally, there is figure, which I mentioned earlier is a cross between bikini and bodybuilding. Not as muscular as bodybuilders but more so than bikini girls. Focus is on symmetry and conditioning while maintaining femininity (unlike bodybuilding). Here are some examples of figure. The picture on the left is Ingrid Roldan, who is Figure America champion.
This is not a picture of her competition ready, but it gives you an idea of the type of look that Figure America goes after.

And on the right is a pic of Gina Allioti. She won the IFBB Arnold Classic last year. Her body is amazing, but probably a little more conditioned than I would like. I say that, but I would be happy if I look like that. So what it entails to get in shape like that is, well, years of consistent lifting. A lot of it is also about eating clean and the diet. Actually it is mostly about eating clean and lean. 10% genetics, 10% training, and 80% diet. People usually start really cleaning it up anywhere from 12 - 16 weeks out, although in theory eating clean should be year round, even in the off season. I know Gina's trainer requires lots of cardio even in the off season as well as a strict diet in the off season.

There are different approaches, though. I know for a fact that Gina's trainer/nutritionist requires a lot of supplements like fat burners and glutamine, BCAAs, etc. To me this is scary because the FDA finds a lot of these supplements to be unsafe, particularly the fat burners. Just recently the FDA recalled Hydroxicut, which is a fat burner. The lady I train with is all natural. Our only supplements are a multivitamin and protein powder. Even the protein powder is very limited.

At any rate, it is time for me to get my bum in gear, especially since I want to do figure and not bikini. Figure requires a stricter diet... I'm definitely feeling up for it now that things in my life are falling into place. My new Ipod helps as well. I bought a nano to replace my shuffle that was stolen. Music makes a HUGE difference in my motivation to get to the gym!