Coping with contest prep

[SB100%Natural]

Hey guys and girls,

I was wondering what sort of things y'all do to cope with all the stress that comes with contest prep? Any little tricks or tips?

I ask because this is my first natural contest and I feel like I've the weight of the world on my shoulders. I'm finding it so hard when at work to concentrate on the job mainly because I'm always busy with calorie/macro tracking, eating every 2 hours, planning training etc.

How do you guys deal with work whilst cutting?

I can only begin to imagine what it's gonna be like when I start to sodium load and deplete in about 2 weeks time, I don't see how there will be enough hours in the day to get everything done!

As a natural how important is it to sodium load/deplete?

I've no experience with this and I read that some practice this method and some don't.

Any responses would be greatly appriciated... my brain is so dead right now I can't think too well for myself lol! :D

Cheers all.

[Inklined]

You just got to stick through it man. That's what seperates great from greatness. If it was easy then eeveryone would be walking around ripped up, just know that you've come this far, and why even think about turning back. This sport takes dedication, and i feel with being overwelmed, but just practice good time management. Plan ahead. SUNDAY is when i plan everything for the week, meals and training including, so all i have to do it follow it. I have a full time 700 to 430 job(military), a wife and a kid, and believe me, time management is what makes it work. Sure some things are unexpected but try the best you can to work through it and get back on track. hope this helps and know you aren't alone, and most competitors go through this, but its up to you to stick it out.

I tried the sodium load and believe this helped tighten things up in the end...so i would look into it. Layne has a good plan for that 15 days out, and that what i used.....

hope this helps

Jay

[SB100%Natural]

You just got to stick through it man. That's what seperates great from greatness. If it was easy then eeveryone would be walking around ripped up, just know that you've come this far, and why even think about turning back. This sport takes dedication, and i feel with being overwelmed, but just practice good time management. Plan ahead. SUNDAY is when i plan everything for the week, meals and training including, so all i have to do it follow it. I have a full time 700 to 430 job(military), a wife and a kid, and believe me, time management is what makes it work. Sure some things are unexpected but try the best you can to work through it and get back on track. hope this helps and know you aren't alone, and most competitors go through this, but its up to you to stick it out.

I tried the sodium load and believe this helped tighten things up in the end...so i would look into it. Layne has a good plan for that 15 days out, and that what i used.....

hope this helps

Jay

thanks man,

Yeah, don't worry I wouldn't give up in a million years. I think half my trouble is that I've never done this before so there has been a lot of uncertainty along the way. The last week before teh comp, how was it to work during that period? I'm kinda dreading that.

[littlechick]

the weeks leading up to comp felt the same way to me...all I can say is..keep at it..when you stand on that stage, and when you are done..it is all worth it...It is hard to be so tired, hungry, and wiped..but you will feel a million times better very soon :)

oh, and sodium loading/depletion rocks :) I was losing 1lb/day for 6 days up to comp....I was natural as well...

I wish you luck, stay strong...next time, it wont be as hard ..

just remind yourself that this is something very few people can be proud enough to say "I DID THAT" !!

[LiftsHeavy31]

It's a mind body thing my friend. I know that sounds hokey but so true. When I did my first contest it was easier to deal with the stress of the contest in some ways only cause my job was so stressful in a pyschiatric hospital that catered to violent psychotics I was so busy at work with hardly no down time eating foods I craved was usually the last thing on my mind. Which in another was not good cause undo stress caused cortisol release, less sleep, and not able to go out and have a beer to relieve things after work.
Now my job is hardly stressful at all. In fact most of my time at work is spent reading Muscular Development, or watching television. No stress but eating foods I crave is constantly on my mind. When it gets out of hand that is time I excuse myself and go to the bathroom. Raise my shirt up and see how far I have come. How good I look and and how even greater I will look in the upcoming weeks. That I have accomplished all this through dedication and hard work and no one else around me can say the same. Nobody! It may sound weird but self-talk helps. It does for me anyway! I do not know if you are a religous person but that also helps for me. Going to church and doing this for the glory of God!
Far as sodium load/depletion goes I am in the same boat as you. I will be trying that for the first time this year as well. I have heard nothing but good things about it. Good luck to you man and congratualations on doing your first contest. I really hope it all comes together and works out for you!

[Power-Quest]

A fellow contestant at my last show almost died in the hospital and was on a feeding tube , went in for sleep disorder surgery and when they pulled out the breathing tube something collapsed spent another 30 days in the hospital and was doing the Battle at the river show a week later.

Another competitor was in a motorcycle accident and had skin missin on his legs and did the show.

Akers mom passed away just weeks before Battle at the river , he still did it in honor of her.

I myself had many problems for my Battle at the river show , family , work , stress , and more , you just gotta hang in there it makes you a stronger person on the inside.

Besides when you look at what some people go through , i really have no room to complain , i'm healthy , and my family and friends are healthy ,nothing else matters.

There is always ups and downs ,family and friends can really make or break you during contest prep , i have learned.

Even the week after the show is very emotional , from having so many highs and lows , but it's still worth it.

[Inklined]

thanks man,

Yeah, don't worry I wouldn't give up in a million years. I think half my trouble is that I've never done this before so there has been a lot of uncertainty along the way. The last week before teh comp, how was it to work during that period? I'm kinda dreading that.

We'll on a daily work basis, i work in a clinic checking in patients every 20 minutes. So i deal with people on a regular... the last week wasn't to bad epecially since they knew i had been dieting for 18 weeks to be ready for this one day... i treated the week like a regular week and made sure i had it all planned out. the soduim load to the decrease in soduim and what foods i should eat to his the right number for that day.... it all falls in to place, just think about it ahead of time, its much easier

[chanman_83]

I just try and keep the mindset that I'm one of a few who do this. Not many people can or would do what I'm doing right now. Also, I get a TON of support from friends and co workers so that helps also. I also keep my goals near me so whenever I feel like cheating I can read them and say, that guy next to me on stage isn't cheating. Stuff like that to keep your mind focused on the task at hand and NOT cheat.

hahah or as one of my good friends say.. Stop being a wussy and MAN UP.

[urstrulyhb]

if its possible try to take the last week off of work... im trying to get a week and 1/2 bc i feel like im about to roll over and not getup. im not sure what i look fwd to more anymore, a nap or meal time. good luck but we've all been there and we know how you feel... not gonna lie it sucks

[hmrthr1]

stick through it because your results in the end are going to be greater than having that one cheat meal to satisfy you for a short time period and then it is going to get harder and harder because you cheated once and now you want to cheat again.

Stay strong and your willingness not to cheat and to stick out your diet will show the day of the contest

[aguy fish]

hi steve
well stay focused. What you're doing is not something many people have done. It takes dedication, patience and will power but eventually when you walk on the stage you'll realise all the sacrifoce was worth it. Then comes the satisfaction to have gone through all this and the great feeling of achievement.
When I feel really tired and down on contest pre I read all my diaries where I keep record of everything, so i can see all the way i've been through and that usually gives me strength to cary on. Of course friends, girlfriend/wife are great support : my wife deserved a part of my trophy for baring up with me being an ******* sometimes.LOL
You know, when i read your thread about your contest prep and look at your posing vid, I see someone with a lot of determination, courage, strength and will power, i see a real athlete who does his very best. I'm not saying this to be nice, but simply to tell you You're on the good way bro, just hold down to your plans and you'll be fine and do great !
About sodium load/deplete: i personally never took the risk since my blood pressure is very very bad. if you don't feel confident doing it then don't do it !On this forum one day "most muscular" ( randy rapala who won the american national in the over 50 category) said to me : if it's not broken don't fix it !

[Quelly]

steve....after your first go at competition you'll realize that the extreme ocd nit picking you did to get in shape wasn't as necessary as it seemed...you'll find your rhythm and it will get easier, you'll get better and better with the diet and at assessing your progress and making adjustments, a few months after your first show you'll be able to look back on your prep and know exactly what you need to do differently the next time to get better results with less stress....for now....just hang in there its worth it

[SleepLifter]

yeah, this sport will take over your life if you let it. But guess what, this isn't my career...it's my hobby. We do this for FUN. So make sure it stays fun. It should be extremley challenging, but fun. the stress is part of the game sometimes.

[SB100%Natural]

Thanks a lot guys & girls, an awesome bunch of replies :)

If there is one thing that is true of me, I never seem to do things the easy way and I tend to over complicate everything. Well you live and learn right?

Your replies really help keep me going so thanks again all!

[firecracker3]

I know how you feel -- trying to manage everything for your comp at the same time as 'life' seemed overwhelming to me. There were/are some days I think "what am I doing?" but then I add another plate to the bar, add 10 more minutes to my run and notice I've taken yet another fraction of an inch off the thighs and I realize THIS is why I do it. THIS is the challenge, the hard part. This sport is as mental as physical. After the first one things get easier - I swear lol. You learn how to deal with the tiredness and lack of carbs. You find new organizational tools that will help and most importantly, you'd have had one comp under your belt so you'll KNOW what you looked like and what a rush it was on stage....hang in there. This board is awesome for support

Good Luck :)