Beginning Competition

jenwise78 · 11-09-2009, 01:26 AM

I've made a goal to compete in figure this spring. I haven't picked a show yet, but my time frame will probably be April. Right now I am lifting 6 days/week and doing cardio 5-6 days/week. My cardio is usually some kind of interval training. I'm just looking for advice on getting my body ready and any resources that might help me to understand how to get involved in competition. I'm currently at 23% bodyfat, so there's plenty of work cut out for me, I just want to make sure I'm using my time efficiently. Thanks!!!
PS...don't let my avatar pic fool you, that's a pic of me from 2007 at 17% bodyfat

Nightbird573 · 11-09-2009, 05:05 AM

Good grief! Is everyone competing in April, but me?? lol

dvsness · 11-09-2009, 03:17 PM

That's a LOT of cardio for someone who hasn't started prepping yet!!

jenwise78 · 11-10-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvsness

That's a LOT of cardio for someone who hasn't started prepping yet!!

Yes, I was starting to think that there is too much cardio happening, but I wasn't sure how much I should be doing at this point. I'm thinking of going down to 4 days of cardio, keeping it at about 15-20 minutes of HIIT.
I'm on a deployment right now, and my original goal coming over here was just to get into great shape...down to 15-17%, which is why I've been hitting it so hard. I just decided last week that I' want to take it to the next level and am just beginning any serious research on the subject. Thanks for any advice you have!

dvsness · 11-10-2009, 07:46 AM

I guess that's up to you, but personally I don't do cardio in the offseason. The body adapts to cardio quite quickly, and in order for it to remain effective, you have to keep adding more and more. I prefer to let my calories control my weight gains and losses, and save the cardio for when I have been prepping for a few weeks.

jenwise78 · 11-10-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvsness

I guess that's up to you, but personally I don't do cardio in the offseason. The body adapts to cardio quite quickly, and in order for it to remain effective, you have to keep adding more and more. I prefer to let my calories control my weight gains and losses, and save the cardio for when I have been prepping for a few weeks.

Thanks for the insight, that's an eye opener for me. It's so easy to find information on contest prep, but the off season seems more elusive. Maybe I will try cycling on and off of the cardio. I would go completely off, but my annual fit test, which includes a timed run, is coming up in less than 2 months and I really want to score 100% on it.