2 Weeks into Cut and wanting to call it off

[lm828]

I have been training for my first figure competition for the last 4 months now under the guidance of a coach. Recently, he decided I would be ready for a show at the end of March. Needless to say, I got so excited! Then, I saw him last friday and he says he's not sure if I'll be ready by then and he is considering putting me in a show at the end of April. As of today, I'm 1.5 weeks in my cut. This Friday, he will let me know what he decides after he sees my physique.

I am pissed. I don't want to get on stage if I'm not ready. Nor do I want to add another 5 weeks! I don't know if I'm just moody from the changes in my diet or if the possibility of a later show is getting to me. I know this, I'm freakin tired and hungry and it is the hardest thing to pull an intense workout day after day on no energy.

I don't doubt my coach but I am really frustrated with him.

I'm not sure if feeling this way is normal. As of the last week, I'm really not having much fun anymore. I'm trying my hardest to shake the mood but I'm even annoyed with people eating crap! What the heck is going on with me???

I'd regret it forever if I dropped out now. The changes in my physique have been AMAZING but I'm tired. I know that noone is making me do this... It is SO MUCH MORE difficult then I ever imagined.

Thanks for letting me vent.... I'm hoping the feeling on stage (when I finally make it to it) is worth all this!

[sonti]

Contest prep dieting is not fun, it's so emotional and extremely difficult to do (hence the number of ED girls who thrive on it). But it's quite the challenge. IMO, at 5'8 and 128lbs (if that's accurate), you're going to come in really small. It's hard for taller girls to look more muscular than say, a 5'0 girl, something to keep in mind.

But yes, it's a normal feeling from what I understand.

[kimm4]

How long have you been into weight training before you decided to prep a figure show? Have you been dieting for a total of 16 weeks and what were your stats when you started? I looked for updated progress pics in your profile, but I didn't see any?

Is his concern that you're not going to come in lean enough? My bigger concern is that you don't have a lot of overall muscle to be competitive in figure. Based on the pics I saw, you're better suited for bikini at this point, not figure. :)

[lm828]

Thanks for the replies ladies. I have been lifting heavy for about 7 years now. I have definitely have more muscle than the average woman but you're right - I'm thinking I may not come in with enough. For the last 16 weeks he has had me eating clean and bulking. My diet has definitely helped produce more muscle mass, but now that I'm cutting my weight is dropping QUICK. I got up to about 130 and now I am down to 126at 13.9% BF. I have not done any cardio on my prep. Can you imagine how much smaller I'm going to be in 8 weeks, let alone 13 if he decides I'm not ready? I lose weight very quickly. Fortunately, my proportions are good but they are small proportions.

Because I haven't competed, I can't seem to find an honest answer. In figure, are you judged more on proportions or on overall mass?

I definitely don't want to do bikini - I'd just assume not compete at all (no offense - just not for me). I decided to compete in figure this year because I felt I had finally put on enough muscle... but now I'm not so sure...

[kimm4]

Thanks for the replies ladies. I have been lifting heavy for about 7 years now. I have definitely have more muscle than the average woman but you're right - I'm thinking I may not come in with enough. For the last 16 weeks he has had me eating clean and bulking. My diet has definitely helped produce more muscle mass, but now that I'm cutting my weight is dropping QUICK. I got up to about 130 and now I am down to 126at 13.9% BF. I have not done any cardio on my prep. Can you imagine how much smaller I'm going to be in 8 weeks, let alone 13 if he decides I'm not ready? I lose weight very quickly. Fortunately, my proportions are good but they are small proportions.

Because I haven't competed, I can't seem to find an honest answer. In figure, are you judged more on proportions or on overall mass?

I definitely don't want to do bikini - I'd just assume not compete at all (no offense - just not for me). I decided to compete in figure this year because I felt I had finally put on enough muscle... but now I'm not so sure...

16 weeks of building/bulking is nothing. It takes women years to add quality muscle and you have to be eating enough to support the goal. To be honest, most women spend a lifetime undereating, so even when they're hitting the weights...they never make any kind of decent gains.

When I look at progress pics for figure I'm looking for good size delts/capped, arms showing definition between bis/tris, a wide back showing a strong v-taper with a small waist. I'm also looking for quads showing lines/separation with built up hamms/glutes to match.

In figure you will be judged on overall muscle, balance/symmetry, conditioning, your posing, your suit, your comp color, your hair, your makeup. Stage presence is a huge factor. You want to look like you own that stage, making your posing look easy, like it's totally natural and you've been doing it forever. :)