Would like to try competitions. Need advice.

[Ms. Lucy]

Hey all,

I'd like a goal to strive for while I'm losing the extra fat and gaining more muscle and I'm just trying to learn if a fitness competition would suit me. What are the different categories and what is required for each. I'm not into building to be huge, but I love being extremely defined. And do you always have to do a routine???


I'd appreciate the feedback!!!!!

[MsFit]

You should attend a few in your area before jumping into it. If you don't know exaclty what you want to do, give Figure a try. But, you must do a floor routine in Fitness.

Lorraine Rosa (www.lorrainerosa.com) is a friend of mine who competes in Fitness. She has a Fitness Camp and could give you some good guidelines.

[EME]

Lucy,

Definitely go to a few competitions and see what they are like.
You'ld be suprised how many competitors decide they want to compete, begin training, and have never actually been to a show.
It will really help you to understand what's expected

Fitness competitions have 3 rounds:
1 Piece, 2 Piece, and Routine

Figure competitions have 2 rounds:
1 Piece and 2 Piece

In both Fitness and Figure the competitors are separated in classes by Height. Depending on the size of your show, there may be 2, 3, or 4 height classes.

The judging process for Figure and Fitness in the 1 and 2 Piece rounds is basically the same. You will come out with the other competitors and do 4 quarter turns so the judges can evaluate you compared to the other competitors. Then, if necessary, the judges will move competitors around for comparison and go through the quarter turns again. This will continue until the judges determine the placings.

Fitness competitions also have a 2 Minute ( NPC ) routine round.
All fitness competitors must perform a routine. The routine can be to any type of music you like and can incorporate any type of
background.. dance, cheer, gymnastics, etc... I've even seen baton twirling done. ( although I wouldn't really recommend it )

A couple notes about the fitness routine... The majority of the fitness competitors have gymnastics backgrounds. The fitness routine is NOT a gymnastics meet, but you should have some skill to build your routine around..dance, gymnastics, or whatever. Also, at the state and local level, there are TECHNICALLY no required moves. There are only supposed to be required moves at the National level.

HOWEVER!!!

The judges who judge the fitness comp, are usually the same judges who judge the bodybuilding and figure ( unless you do a fitness only show ).
These people may or may not know a lot about dance and gymnastics, and they use the list of moves on the NPC page as a guide for what makes a good routine. Even though these moves are not "REQUIRED" they will be looking for them. If you are going to do a fitness routine, make sure to include those moves.

Finally, one thing you will also want to consider when deciding to compete is where you will get your competition suits. Most successful competitors have them made by one of several people around the country who really know how to make competition suits. They look great, but they aren't cheap. Each suit will run you about $300 + That's $900 + if you're going to do fitness!
Sometimes you can get a deal if you buy multiple suits, but it's still going to be expensive.

You will see some competitors who make thier own suits, and I'm sure some people out there can do it well, but most look like they made their own suit. You don't want to do all the work it takes to get ready for a show, and then place poorly because your suits weren't good. You usually have to contact the professional suit makers AT LEAST 4 months before a show.. sometimes more.

A final note... I have seen a LOT more women doing Figure, and less women doing Fitness. At the two state level shows we did this year, there were at least 15 women in the Figure - Tall class alone. That's a lot of competition and a lot of people going home without trophies. :-(

So, make sure if you decide to compete, that you are doing it because it's something you really want to do, and not for the trophy. There were a lot of GREAT competitors that didn't place at the two shows we did this year. Just remember, when you train for competition, no matter how you place, you still leave with your body!
Let me know if you have any other questions.

- EME

[Ms. Lucy]

Hey

I'll definetly have to find some shows in my area. But as for the competitions, I think I'd shy away from the Fitness, as I've been prone to injury in the past and would rather focus hard on building at this point--especially with a lot of extra weight to get rid of! It's just nice to have something to focus on!

I really appreciate your imput. This site is wonderful and I feel that I've learned a lot more here than in those wimpy "fitness" magazines like Shape!


Give me a few more months and I'll post my before and after pics!

Thanks guys!

[sweetbecky]

I thought I wanted to compete in Figure until I attended an NPC event. They made those girls stand on stage FOREVER, holding a tense smile, making quarter turns... they all looked great, but I thought, "That's a lot of hard work just to get on stage and stand there". When the female bodybuilders came out, they got to pose, flex, hype the crowd up, and really show all the hard work they did. If I ever compete, it will be in bodybuilding, although I will be a lightweight and will always be feminine :)

Definitely attend a few shows. I was also sort of surprised by the way the event was run. I'm sure it depends on the promoter and the judges, but the event I saw didn't run smoothly and seemed rather unprofessional and thrown together. Had I been competing that day, I think I would have been disappointed.

I went to see what the judges expected of each class and how the girls actually looked. Once you see a line of 5 or 6 amateur bodybuilders lined up, you can make comparisons and critique them yourself. This gave me the best idea of what I would need to get on the stage.

[compete]

I just wanted to point out that different organizations have different rules. I generally train my clients for WNSO events because i find them to be really well run and with a good backstage atmosphere. They also have the TV shows that air all the time on TSN (ESPN) & RDS. Anyways, here are their divisions. For you, I would suggest either the Fitness Model Search or Figure.

Fitness Model Search:
3 rounds where you model your physique via 1/2 or 1/4 turns in different outfits. There is no routine round. You get athletes in all different shapes and sizes & anyone can do well as long as you have the ideal muscle tone and body fat levels for you, and you walk with proper confidence, poise etc. Make sure to choose outfits that show off your body rather than cover it up. They also tend to deduct marks if the outfit is too provocative.
swimsuit round - with heels // sportswear round // evening wear/club wear round

Figure:
3 Rounds - Symmetry Round in Heels
Posing Round in Heels - all poses must be done open handed - so it's not as hard core as bodybuilding.
Routine Round - i think it's 90 seconds but they're not strict if you go slightly over or under. You can use props and themes and stuff. You're just not allowed to do any flips or gymnastic moves.
Figure was designed to be a cross between bodybuilding and fitness - not as striated and hard core as bodybuilding, and for people who are 'timid' to do fitness because they lack the flexibility & strength moves, and talent.


Fitness:
2 Rounds - Symmetry Round in Heels
Routine Round - 2 minutes. Props are allowed. Routines should be really high energy and entertaining for the audience. There are no specific moves that you have to include, BUT you do need to keep your routine high energy and show demonstrations of strength and flexibility. Gymnastic flips are allowed and a lot of athletes do that but the problem is that if you don't land perfectly or do the move 100% you can end up losing more marks than if you just decided to use dance and alternate moves etc.


Bodybuilding:
3 Rounds - Symmetry Round - barefoot
Posing Round - barefoot - can be done open handed or clenched fists. Athletes are ranked against each other for these first 2 rounds.
Routine Round - 90 seconds. Can use props and themes and stuff or just pose after pose. Athletes are also judged on creativity and entertainment too. Make sure to execute all poses right.

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions about these rules, just let me know.

[SweetTange]

I agree w/ sweetbecky. Although figure seems to be the easiest way to start it is still tough. Just when you think you're done they bring you back to center stage to compare even more.

The other thing I didn't like was the fact that we were the first to go out and the last. So we did our 2 piece round first then had to wait around backstage for 3 or so hours to go out again for the 1 piece round.
Make sure to take some comfy shoes, you can imagine the hell your feet go through standing around all day and night in 5-6 inch pumps.

You will be amazed at how sore your abs and lower back will be the next day.

But I loved it!!!