My 21st is 1 1/2 months away from my show

[Better Unborn]

Hey,

I seem to have completely forgot about my 21st birthday as I was getting ready for the show in October! What the heck am I going to do now?

My birthday is at the end of August and the show is in the middle of October.

1) I don't want to miss out on the event that happens only once in a lifetime. I have already missed too much of this thing called "life"... and I'm Russian (read: alcoholic by nature).
2) I also have made a commitment to this show and months of pain.

Is one night of heavy drinking going to set me back too far? Sure, I might wake up stage-dry :D but what about the calories / overall body's reaction?

Any tips, advice or suggestions to have my cake and eat it too?

Thank you very much, folks!

[njmuscle66]

Hey,

I seem to have completely forgot about my 21st birthday as I was getting ready for the show in October! What the heck am I going to do now?

My birthday is at the end of August and the show is in the middle of October.

1) I don't want to miss out on the event that happens only once in a lifetime. I have already missed too much of this thing called "life"... and I'm Russian (read: alcoholic by nature).
2) I also have made a commitment to this show and months of pain.

Is one night of heavy drinking going to set me back too far? Sure, I might wake up stage-dry :D but what about the calories / overall body's reaction?

Any tips, advice or suggestions to have my cake and eat it too?

Thank you very much, folks!


Well can't really tell what the impact of your night out partying will be, but it is certainly not conducive to contest prep. It all depends on which is more important to you. If you are truly committed to the show than you can pass up the need to get totally plastered until post contest :) Personally I never put that much emphasis on turning 21, being legal to drink etc...........but you might indeed look at it as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

You have a decision that only you can make. That close to a show there is really no way to have your cake (or in your case alcohol) and eat it too IMO

[lednasmr]

theres always another show, you turn 21 once.

who knows, one night may not even make that big of a difference

[njmuscle66]

theres always another show, you turn 21 once.

who knows, one night may not even make that big of a difference

Just curious..............might it be possible to celebrate a birthday as monumental as turning 21 without alcohol? Just saying :)

[Devils]

Do you feel the need to define the fact that your turning 21 by getting drunk and possibly ruining something you worked hard for?

[BoostBrah]

Its only your 21st, have you honestly been waiting you whole life to drink? Im sure everyone here that drinks, did so prior to them being 21. Dont ruin something good over drinking.

[Keltron]

I know a lot of Russians and I know there will be plenty of opportunities to drink. But it's all up to you. I really dont know how big of a dent one night of drinking will make but I'm sure if you don't do as well as you had hope at the show, it will leave you wondering. Whatever you chose, you should have no regrets.

Let me tell you from experience though, 21st birthdays are a bit over-rated. Plus you can always postpone it until after the show. Sure, it wont be your exact birthday but you can still party like it is. Once youre drunk, you won't know the difference anyway. lol.

[Trapzillaoo7]

Honestly, he wasn't asking for input as far drinking or not drinking. Seriously guys, I highly doubt one night almost two months out will hurt the guy. Just make sure you don't get the drunk munchies and go crazy on that. I'd also pound the water and have a plan the next day as far as getting right back on your diet. I can understand not wanting to miss out on something you get a chance to only do once in your life. Anyway, whatever you decided, GOOD LUCK!

Brian

[lanman]

Do it, you only live once and spending it with all your friends at the bar is a 21st must. Eat before, pound water when you can and be ready to do cardio with a hangover.

[scoobysnacks]

Honestly, he wasn't asking for input as far drinking or not drinking. Seriously guys, I highly doubt one night almost two months out will hurt the guy. Just make sure you don't get the drunk munchies and go crazy on that. I'd also pound the water and have a plan the next day as far as getting right back on your diet. I can understand not wanting to miss out on something you get a chance to only do once in your life. Anyway, whatever you decided, GOOD LUCK!

Brian

I agree. I was 8.8% at the 9 week out mark and my 30th hit. What did I do? I got drunk, had a cheat meal and a piece of cake. Guess what 9 weeks later I was in the best shape of my life and won my open class at the largest regional show in the country, pic from my profile pic.

Bro, this bb'ing is supposed to be fun and enhance your life not take away. Eat good all day, have a huge training sessions, get your cardio in, and you WILL be fine.

J

[kaylabree]

thats too bad your 21st is so close to your comp....

but do you really want to "waste" all of your time and effort of training/dieting and all that?

your 21st may seem really important, but is bodybuilding something you want to continue in the future? i guess its a matter of setting priorities.

[lednasmr]

Just curious..............might it be possible to celebrate a birthday as monumental as turning 21 without alcohol? Just saying :)

sure, its possible. imo it kind of defeats the point though

[Sean15782]

One night is not going to make or break your contest prep. If you take the precautions that scoobysnacks said above, and there is no doubt you will be fine. Just dont let it turn into a birthday weekend. Get back on track immediately when you wake up the next day.

[Jon89]

Hey,

I seem to have completely forgot about my 21st birthday as I was getting ready for the show in October! What the heck am I going to do now?

My birthday is at the end of August and the show is in the middle of October.

1) I don't want to miss out on the event that happens only once in a lifetime. I have already missed too much of this thing called "life"... and I'm Russian (read: alcoholic by nature).
2) I also have made a commitment to this show and months of pain.

Is one night of heavy drinking going to set me back too far? Sure, I might wake up stage-dry :D but what about the calories / overall body's reaction?

Any tips, advice or suggestions to have my cake and eat it too?

Thank you very much, folks!

how bout this. YOU DONT TURN 21 UNTIL AFTER THE CONTEST. I.E. celebrate your birthday after the contest. Problem Solved.

[Sylvo]

Do you feel the need to define the fact that your turning 21 by getting drunk and possibly ruining something you worked hard for?

No kidding! You could be celebrating your birthday in the desert while in the military that lies in a dry country in 130 degree heat. (Ok so I'm a little bitter haha ) Seriously though, stay focused and go for the show. You can celebrate it altogether afterwards.
Best of luck!

[Better Unborn]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I really appreciate the opinions from both sides of the perspective.

The problem with some of the proposed solutions like celebrating your birthday after the show is that the difference is not going to be a couple of days or a week... but almost two months. It will be way too late to care about and I might as well just wait for the next year.

To make all of this worse yet, I've just learned that there is nothing to look forward to as an INBF competitor. Apparently when you do make it as WNBF Pro, you got to sign the exclusive rights contract that not only disallow participation of any other non-WNBF shows but also the attendance itself. On top of that, it places additional restrictions like not being able to be featured in magazines (if you do get lucky for an offer in the first place), using your own photos, etc. What the hell? WNBF Pros are actually paying money to be LOCKED IN and suffocated like that?

I know that was semi-off-topic but extremely disheartening... Should I just say screw it and look for a different show in a better organization? What would you do in this situation?

What a week... :(

P.S. Sylvo, I'm in Arizona... so yes, I always celebrate my birthday in the desert in 100+ dry heat :D

[siersy]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I really appreciate the opinions from both sides of the perspective.

The problem with some of the proposed solutions like celebrating your birthday after the show is that the difference is not going to be a couple of days or a week... but almost two months. It will be way too late to care about and I might as well just wait for the next year.

To make all of this worse yet, I've just learned that there is nothing to look forward to as an INBF competitor. Apparently when you do make it as WNBF Pro, you got to sign the exclusive rights contract that not only disallow participation of any other non-WNBF shows but also the attendance itself. On top of that, it places additional restrictions like not being able to be featured in magazines (if you do get lucky for an offer in the first place), using your own photos, etc. What the hell? WNBF Pros are actually paying money to be LOCKED IN and suffocated like that?

I know that was semi-off-topic but extremely disheartening... Should I just say screw it and look for a different show in a better organization? What would you do in this situation?

What a week... :(

P.S. Sylvo, I'm in Arizona... so yes, I always celebrate my birthday in the desert in 100+ dry heat :D

well i would say compete win a show and once you do sign out/ rip up your contract "retire" and then think about comming back later if they dont let you go to a more serious organisation that is dedicated to its athletes rather than its own measly existance

[njmuscle66]

To make all of this worse yet, I've just learned that there is nothing to look forward to as an INBF competitor. Apparently when you do make it as WNBF Pro, you got to sign the exclusive rights contract that not only disallow participation of any other non-WNBF shows but also the attendance itself.


Just curious is this going to be your first show? If so , my suggestion would be to focus on the issues of being a WNBF pro when you are nearing this accomplishment. BTW the exclusivity is nothing new. The IFBB, and NPC have restrictions. Weider Atheltes can not be published in non-Weider publications, etc. Certainly some benefits and drawbacks

[Better Unborn]

Thanks, Siersy. Good point.


Just curious is this going to be your first show? If so , my suggestion would be to focus on the issues of being a WNBF pro when you are nearing this accomplishment. BTW the exclusivity is nothing new. The IFBB, and NPC have restrictions. Weider Atheltes can not be published in non-Weider publications, etc. Certainly some benefits and drawbacks

Haha, nice. This is not going to be my first show. I am not much but I do tend to win my classes and give one hell of a fight in overall. Hence why I'm thinking of "something bigger" despite possibly not having what it takes.

[scoobysnacks]

I think the restriction is ridiculous the NPC is not that restrictive I can compete where I want.

Do the show and if by chance you win the overall you DONT have to accept the contract.

Im pretty sure Layne stays an IFPA pro for this very reason, same with some other guys. I wouldnt sign it, or sign it and say screw it. No one is telling me what I can do with my photos and where I can compete, if they kick you out oh no, you were kicked out of the WNBF, **** it.

Dave Goodin got kicked out for doing the Team U, he isnt to terribly worried and he might be the most decorated natty of all time. Anyways...

J

[njmuscle66]

Thanks, Siersy. Good point.



Haha, nice. This is not going to be my first show. I am not much but I do tend to win my classes and give one hell of a fight in overall. Hence why I'm thinking of "something bigger" despite possibly not having what it takes.

Was not meant as a put down just was curious what your competitive background was. Many people on this board seem to not grasp how difficult obtaining a pro card (either IFBB or natural orgs) can be.

Have seen quite a number of I have been training for 2 weeks and I will be an IFBB pro threads, so was just wondering LOL
Good luck with the show

[Better Unborn]

Just a little update.

I decided to forget the birthday thing in favor of the show. I guess it will be just another sacrifice, just another cliff of the invisible mountains of bodybuilding that we all climb, heh :p

Even though I have been working on my routine for a while already... it is just now that I had an "amazing breakthrough" where all of the poses, transitions and music pieces fit perfectly well together. I haven't been so excited about my evening routine in my life!

8 weeks out, baby! :D

Thank you all again for your honest opinions, I really truly appreciated them.