How do I tell my prep coach...
So a little background: I have never competed before, but my first will be OCB Green Mtn Thaw March 10th. I have been working with a prep coach since July and he has helped me go from 33% bf to 12%! Almost all of his clients compete in natural shows and he is a judge and avid support of the natural divisions. Any time I ask about the NPC he doesn't really have anything nice to say, like its full of politics and steroids. I understand that there is a dark side, but what sport doesn't have this! I mean look at baseball and cycling! I'm planning to compete in bikini so I don't think the latter issue will affect me much...
So please help me out with this one:
I went to an NPC seminar at Bev Francis Powerhouse in NYC yesterday. It was really informative and made me really think about what direction I want to take my competitions this spring. I am conflicted because I have always wondered/wanted to end up competing in the NPC, but took my coaches advice and planned to compete in the OCB. I am still going to do at least the first show (OCB Green MT Thaw), but I am thinking about changing my plan after that. The reason why I am conflicted is because he is a judge and strong supporter of the natural organizations, so he really pushed me that direction and doesn't speak favorably of the NPC. I want to come to my own conclusion about the NPC after competing in it, not just take one person's opinion as truth. But I really don't want to go against what he thinks I should do before I even went through my first show...
So after the seminar yesterday, I decided that I would be upset at myself if I didn't at least try and NPC show this season. In the beginning of my prep I didn't think I would do well in the NPC because it was a "high caliber" type show and my physique wouldn't be ready. But now I have more confidence in myself, and even if I won't do as well because there are more girls, I still want that experience. In the end, its really about my goals and making myself happy, not my coach.
So I need to figure out a way to tell my coach I want to compete in NPC shows after the OCB (March 10th, already signed up), but i'm honestly a little nervous that he won't approve, or won't help me as much because I am not competing in the organizations he supports. Let me just make this one point clear: [I]I have nothing against the natural organizations.[/I] I am just drawn more towards the NPC bikini girls physique (little more muscular and lean) I am also looking to get a little more exposure in the long run because I would ultimately like to make this a career (dream big!), and the NPC or WBFF seem to be the two best divisions for that. Don't worry, I'm a full time engineer, so I won't quit my day job just yet
But my coach has done such a good job figuring out what works for me, he is helpful and for the most part supportive (idk about going to the NPC tho!), so I don't want to tarnish the relationship! Especially so close to the spring shows! What should I do!??