So, You Want to Be a Bikini Competitor?

Since my first show in March 2013, I have learned a few things about competing. There are A LOT of little things to consider if you are thinking about preparing for a competition. I thought I would share some of the things that I have found helpful for me:)

Deciding to Compete:

1. How much money are you willing to spend? Competition preps can be VERY expensive. You can easily spend $1-5K on a single prep. Make sure you can budget for the costs!

2. Are you going to hire a coach? For your first competition, you will probably benefit from hiring someone to help you with your nutrition, building a good physique, and posing...not to mention having someone to be accountable to and to reassure you is always nice:) BUT don't just hire anyone. Just because someone looks good or has a lot of clients, does not mean that they are the best choice. If you are not careful with who you hire, you may find that your metabolism can face being seriously damaged. You don't need to eat fish and broccoli five times a day and you shouldn't need two hours of cardio to get lean enough. Try to find a coach that will work with you individually. Don't pay for a print-out coach. (If you are interested, I do training and competition preps...message me!)

3. Do you have a specific competition in mind? If you have your eye on a specific date and competition, make sure that it is realistic to prepare for a competition in the time frame you are setting up. Ask your coach what they think. It will depend on where you are starting. Be open to extending your prep to do a later show.

4. How does your family feel about your decision? Maybe I should have listed this first...but there isn't really a specific order to any of it...haha. I am married and before I made any solid decisions I made sure that my husband was okay with the idea. Stepping on stage in a glammy little bikini and posing to show off your butt for a full audience might not sound like the most appealing thing for a significant other. Be sure that the people who matter most are okay with what your doing. In my case, that was ME and my husband. Evaluate your reasons for competing. Write them down. It's important for you to know why you want to compete, too.

Preparing for a Competition:

1. Food: 

• Preparing: You don't have to eat the same thing every day, if you plan accordingly; however, some people choose to have a routine diet during a prep. Either way, there are probably going to be a few items in your meal plan that you will rely on pretty regularly. Meats, rice, pasta, etc. I like to prepare these foods in bulk a couple of days during the week to save time and to keep my healthy meals 'convenient'. I also like to cut up my vegetables at the beginning of the week to save some time but still have freshly prepared meals. Oh, and BUY A FOOD SCALE AND USE IT.
• Packing: I pack a lot of my meals in tupperware. Sometimes I will measure out every meal into a separate container, but I generally like to pack all of my chicken/rice/sweet potato, etc. into one conatiner and measure it out when I am going to eat it (this doesn't work as well if you are out of the house a lot...I would recommend splitting your meals in that case). I don't like to pack my food with me everywhere I go. If I am going to be gone for an extended period, I will pack my meal that is planned during that time and the next (just in case). I do this more to help prevent hunger cravings (and being grumpy) than for timing factors. I have a cooler bag that I can load with tupperware, ziploc baggie meals, and ice packs...you can get a standard lunch box or cooler from walmart or target...if it keeps  your food cool, it doesn't have to have a name brand on it. 
• Packing while Traveling: This can be really important. A lot of shows you are going to need to travel to. I pack EVERYTHING in ziploc baggies while I am traveling. Individual meals in sandwhich bags, full day of sandwhich bags in a ziploc bag labeled for the day. I do this to save space. You can pack a weeks worth of meals in a carry-on this way. If you are flying with food: if it's solid, you can take it on. Nut butters=no...unless you buy the serving size packets (which is what I do). Jelly, creamy, liquid...it's probably safer to buy it when you get there (or use an alternative food). 
• CRAVINGS: This was HUGE for me. I have always had a pretty wicked sweet tooth, but until I started competing, there were certain sweets and junk foods that I never craved. I didn't even like them for that matter...NOW, this is why I say it's important to find a coach that will work with YOU. At one point, I literally ate the same thing EVERY DAY for 3 months straight. If you don't start craving every other food after that, then you are probably a freak ;) Hahaha...but really. It took some time and education, but I finally learned that I don't have to restrict my diet like I did to reach my goals. I can get lean and eat pretty much ANYTHING I want (yes, there is a slight catch to that...portion size...etc.). There are not 'good' and 'bad' foods. Food is food...there are only choices about what food you eat :) You can do a competition and avoid insane cravings (you wont avoid hunger...you are eating less than you burn. You will be hungry). You can avoid cravings.
• Supplements: The most important supplements that I took were vitamins. Supplements aren't magic pills that are going to melt your fat away. Most of them are loaded with stimulants (caffeine).  A fat burner is not going to burn your fat. Don't let anyone tell you it will. Supplements are meant to SUPPLEMNENT your diet. When in a caloric deficit it can be difficult to get all of your micronutrients (vitamins and minerals)...but otherwise, you aren't going to get anywhere much faster by spending a paycheck on supplements.

2. Packing:

• Bikini (and a spare...if you can)
• Heels 
• Hair product
• Shampoo 
• Conditioner
• Hairspray
• Dry shampoo
• Heat protection anything
• Shower Gel
• Exfoliant
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Hairbrush
• Comb for backstage bag
• Safety pins for backstage bag
• Cramping pills
• Hygiene products
• Old sheets
• Jewelry for backstage bag (SUPER BLING)
• Makeup
• Dark foundation to match your tan
• Dramatic eyeshadow
• Falsies
• Mascara
• Eyeliner
• Lipstick
• Darker blush
• Coverup Robe/dress/pants and tshirt
• Hair clip (keep hair back for makeup)
• Floss
• Latex gloves
• SOLO cups (a couple for backstage bag)
• Toilet seat covers
• Shower Cap (for tanning)
• Blanket and pillow (backstage)
• Touch up Tissues (backstage)
• Straws
• Clothes for post-show (backstage bag)
• Other clothes if you are traveling (although from the day before until after finals, I choose to basically live in my cover-up)
• Flip-flops
• Headphones/ipod(backstage)

3. Makeup: You can hire someone to do your makeup, a lot of girls do. I do my own:) I had no clue what I was doing when I started...but that is the magic of youtube! I watched video after video and tried a few times on my own (the first few attempts were a mess...but it got better, so don't give up). A few tips for makeup: 

• Foundation should be pretty close to matching your tan...so it needs to be DARK (I have heard a few times that a shade or two lighter than your tan is okay...but not your natural color. TRUST ME). Also, your face should be matte. If you have any shimmer or shine on your face. Make sure you pull the foundation down your neck so everything blends!
• Eyeshadow should be SUPER dramatic. You will feel a little ridiculous...like a drag queen (a beautiful drag queen)...but everything on stage gets washed out under the lights, so DRAMATIC IS GOOD!
• Don't go too heavy on the false lashes...something to add a little volume, but if they are too long and thick they will cast shadows on your face and your eyes will turn into black holes...not pretty.
• Contour a bit, but don't highlight...the lights will do that for you. 
• Pick a dramatic lip color. Something darker or brighter than what you might typically wear. I love dark tones:) Plums and red/browns...beautiful.
• BLEND. Blend everything so that it has a nice transition...it will help it look natural:)

4. Tan: Tanning is fun...haha. Before you spray tan you need to EXFOLIATE and DRY YOUR SKIN OUT (really as dry as you can get it...to absorb the spray tan). Stop tanning beds and lotions at the beginning of the week (water retention and moisture...). SHAVE/WAX EVERYTHING before you tan. No deodorants or anything on your skin before you tan (or until after the show...it will mess up your tan) ...go in clean and dry everywhere. You can tan at home...but I have always had someone else do my tan. A regular spray tan will not work. Don't go to a commercial place for a spray tan. I have used ProTan in the past, and it has been a good color for me. I have also heard good things about LiquidSunRayz, and JanTana (although, I have heard some bad things about JanTana, too). Your show will likely have a tanning sponsor that will be at check-ins to do tans...take advantage of that, if you don't have something else set up. It will be more expensive than buying a bottle and doing it yourself, but it will look better. You tan naked. 100% in the buff. You will probably be naked in a room with a few other naked women. Luckily, you are all looking amazing so there isn't any reason to feel weird...well, fewer reasons. Wear a shower cap to protect your hair from the spray tan. Don't spray your face. Drying off will be cold (you will be lean and wet and standing in front of a fan). ProTan develops, so it will be darker the next morning. Wear something loose and light to leave the tan (nothing to leave lines in your tan...like undies...let everything breathe tonight;)) Sleep on old sheets if you don't want to get tan on yours! (if you are staying in a hotel they will make you pay if you get tan on theirs...take an old set to sleep on). I like to sleep nakey to avoid any creases...but you can sleep in something baggy and light to protect your tan, too. Cut the bottom off of a SOLO cup. Pee in that to protect your tan from getting splatter stains. The judges CAN see it. Seat covers are smart if you are staying in a hotel or sharing a toilet with a non-tanned person (bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond for $1/5 pack).  

5. Oil and Bikini Bite: Have someone else do this for you backstage about 15 minutes before you go on...earlier if the lines are long. Tanning girls are usually willing, but have a backup because they get busy. Bikini bite is for gluing your suit in place:) it's the best. Once you have bite on, you pretty much don't want to sit...or bend over...or anything that might pull the glue off (and the tan in the places it was glued)...so go pee BEFORE you get your bite, if you need to.

6. Nails  I get my nails done a few days before the show. You can also buy glue-ons...Be a little conservative here, if it's too distracting, the judges probably wont like it.

7. Hair: Another service you can pay for...or do on your own. I have done my hair straight for all of my shows. It it a better style for me, but if you can do it yourself, go for it. I would suggest leaving your hair down and don't put any accessories in your hair. Your hair is an accessory to your body. 

8. Bikini/Posing Suit: Well, this is important. You can spend a fortune on a suit (think thousands...for some girls). You can....but you don't have to. Blinged-out suits are growing in popularity, but for a first competition shiny or sequined fabric is fine. Something 'glitzy' for the stage is good, but not worth selling your car to have. I have started making my own suits. It's easy enough. You can usually find someone locally who can make one for less, too. You can stone your own suit! Swarovski crystals are pretty pricey, but you can buy a few and glue them on yourself:) Save a few bucks:) Otherwise, plan on spending around $200 for an 'inexpensive' suit. $300-400 for a more sparkly one (conservative side of the estimates...definitely not the high end). If it looks good on you...wear it again. Wear it again and again and again (until it falls apart or for some reason doesn't look good on you anymore...haha). 

9. Shoes (and posing): Your heels should be clear, but they can have colorless gems on them. The heigth of the heel matters. My first pair had too much platform and threw off my proportions on stage. 4" heels are pretty standard. Some girls like ankle straps...I don't. You can walk just as easily in either...it's just a preference thing. Practice walking in them. Practice while you prep your food...practice in front of a mirror. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Stage presence is everything. I already said this, but get a coach to help you with your posing. Watch some videos online, too. Add your own little flair, show your personality. Have fun:) oh...and PRACTICE ;)

9. Backstage: You will have to wait at some point. You will have nothing to do...so prepare. Bring your music or a book or someone to talk to. You should have packed a blanket to sit on and a pillow. Kick your feet up and relax. Don't walk around a lot. You will be tired from posing alone at the end of the day. Just CHILL. Eat your food. Keep SOLO cups handy. Touch up your makeup before going on stage if you need to. MAKE NEW FRIENDS (seriously...don't be the bi*** who doesn't talk to anyone...that isn't any fun). Put your jewelry on...practice a couple of rounds of posing (just a couple). Bikini bite and oil. They will line you up (by number/height class/division) when it is time...when that happens, put a smile on and strut your stuff! 

I am sure there are plenty of other things that I am forgetting, so if anyone has any questions, feel free to hit me up on FB or comment below :) Good luck, ladies! I hope this helped!