Just picture it: your name in lights, crowds cheering, a big ol' trophy with your name on it and bragging rights at the gym for life. Haven't you ever dreamed of being the next Mr. or Ms. Olympia? Who hasn't?! There's an old saying that goes we must shoot for the stars and follow our dreams. But when it comes to dreams as grand as Olympia, it can be hard to apply that advice to our own lives. We are here to give you the inside scoop on how to prepare for a bodybuilding competition.
There are many factors involved when deciding whether to put yourself out there in a competitive setting. You have to be honest with yourself about your body type and metabolism. You need to be sure that you have the discipline and emotional resilience (trust me, this process can be mentally grueling) to plow through the intense workouts that will be demanded of you. Do you have a good support network? Are you ready to buckle down on your diet?
This blog will help you determine whether competing is the right move for you, and if you decide it is, we can help you prepare for a bodybuilding competition!
I am not going to sugar coat this for you. Preparing to compete is an incredibly demanding (yet rewarding) process and it will begin with some pretty brutal self-evaluation. The first thing you will need to ask yourself is: do you have the body type/metabolism to realistically win?
There are three types of metabolisms:
Ectomorphic
Oh, the plight of an ectomorph is a bittersweet one indeed. These are the people who you usually find eating french fries and milkshakes yet never gaining a pound. They are typically skinny with relatively small joints/ bones and have naturally revved metabolisms that are equipped to handle even the cheatiest of cheat meals. Here's the catch: they have a hard time gaining muscle too. If you are an ectomorph, you will need to make sure to keep your protein intakes high and your cardio sessions short. Stick to compound exercises (that work multiple muscle groups) as opposed to isolation exercises (that work only one muscle group at a time). Get ready for intense meal-prepping my ectomorphic friends as your prep season will be about gains, gains, gains.
Endomorphic
Endomorphs, the future has not been kind to you. This is a time when Flamin' Hot Cheetos are bountiful and Oreo is always releasing a new flavor of cream filled decadency. Well guess what? You have a higher tendency to store fat and a harder time losing weight then your ectomorphic competitor. Endomorphs typically have rounder body shapes (pear or apple shapes) and while they gain muscle easily, they usually also have high levels of body fat. If you are endomorphic, you will need to watch your carb intake and add some high intensity interval cardio training to your already vigorous weight lifting sessions.
Mesomorphic
Mesomorphics are naturally lean and muscular. If you are a mesomorph then you have essentially won the genetic jackpot. Although you CAN get away with higher carb intakes, that doesn't mean you SHOULD. Most mesomorphs take advantage of their naturally attractive builds (wouldn't you?) and never reach their full potential because they do not have to work as hard as ectomorphs and endomorphs, so they don't. Keep the protein intake high and your weight-lifting on point to test the limits of perfection and challenge the laws of human limitation.
Determining which of these body types you are rockin' (and we know you are rockin' it) is crucial to starting the process of prep. You will need to adjust your diet accordingly and accept the reality that some people may have an easier time achieving Pro status, but that doesn't mean that you are doomed! Hard work will always prevail over a mediocre level of determination, I don't care what your body type is, so be honest with yourself but don't get discouraged. After all, Arnold himself could have been deterred from his dreams of becoming a professional bodybuilder by his dad, who tormented him for being too "gangly". And look how that turned out. Just sayin'.
This post was brought to us by 6 Pack's resident social media badass, Jade. Check out her other posts on good fats vs. bad fats and wild vs. farmed salmon. Don't forget to come back for our Meal Prep Sunday recipes, and browse all the 6 Pack gear here!
