Don’t Be So Quick To Jump Ship

Having a prep coach for a bodybuilding show is not a necessity. However, many people benefit from them greatly, and I highly suggest having one. I found my coach a year and a half ago, and honestly have no idea where I would be if I did not have the right guidance from the start. Even MY coach has a coach to prepare for her upcoming shows! Straight from my coach herself, “I know there’s a lot of talk about people not needing a team…I’m not afraid to admit I do. Perhaps it’s my 12 years in the military and the loyalty & comradery that I experienced there that has me feeling this way. If that makes me weak…so be it. However…I’m going to go out on a limb here and say I’m pretty sure it doesn’t.” Now, can I just say…What is with all these girls doing the “one and done” with prep coaches lately?! They start lifting, decide they want to do a show, hire a coach, do a 12-16 week prep, don’t get top 5, blame their coach, and end up with a new one. Or you have the competitors that are somewhat “seasoned” athletes and jump from coach to coach because another’s way of doing things seems more appealing. Let me tell you, you are doing nothing but making yourself look bad.

First and foremost you should start by choosing the right coach for you. Interview them. Ask lots of questions. What is their track record like? Do they themselves have credentials or hold a special status such as a pro athlete or produce pro athletes? Are they educated in not only fitness but nutrition as well? Do they want to know your goals or help you set realistic ones? Are they curious as to what your diet and training regimen were like previously? Too many people do a few shows then decide they want to be “prep coaches” when in reality it takes years of experience to help you do well in this industry. Just because one thing works for one person does not mean it will work for another. No one should have a cookie cutter plan. Research is important!   Is fitness something that has been a part of your life prior to wanting to compete? If yes, then maybe a traditional 12 week prep is for you. If no, you will definitely be needing longer to pack on some lean muscle then time to slowly shed body fat while preserving your hard earned gains to be stage ready. I had a bit of a fitness background for a good couple of years before I decided I wanted to try my hand at competing. Although, my training was not geared toward a rock hard physique so I needed time to work on developing different muscle groups. It took 5 months of a strict training and diet program before I was ready to do my first show. I did very well taking first in my class and first overall, which was crazy to me for my very first show, but looking back now over a year later I have still changed a significant amount. It has truely showed me what hard work, dedication, and some time can do for the body.

I believe I signed off on a prior post saying, slow and steady wins the race, well that surely applies here too. Just because you didn’t win your first show or do as well as you wanted in the second does not necessarily mean your coach does not know what they are doing. Some of those people you’re standing next to on stage may be on their tenth show or might have been at it for years already. Those girls holding that pro status that you may be chasing have been in your shoes long before they earned that spot. Sometimes you’re just not quite ready or maybe it just isn’t your time yet. I can NOT stress enough how important it also is to follow your plan laid before you to a T. I can promise you this, the harder and longer you work the more you will be amazed at the changes you see right before your eyes.   Trust in the process. The best part of the journey to the stage time and time again are the changes you will see. You will get better. You will get stronger. If you put in the work, the results will come. Be patient. Be persistent. Work hard. The rest will follow.

Trust The Process,   Hbombs