My first show

[MissMegan1]

I'd love to hear from any amateurs about their first figure show if it was in the NPC!!!

I'm about 9 1/2 weeks out from my first figure competition. My trainer suggested two shows - both of which are NPC- as she's a former NPC competitor. When I talk about it to gym friends of mine , they're like "oooh. the npc, huh?" What gives?!? I mean, I'm entering the novice class and I think I can hold my own ... I plan on competing in the NPC ultimately, so why start at a local show in the NGA or OCB? Feedback would be appreciated, girls!! I think I'm learning the golden rule in competition here which is don't listen to anyone except your trainer and your body, but I just want to hear about anyone's experiences with this and people psyching them out before the show ... thanx!

[j_neatherlin]

i'm not really sure what you're trying to ask here, or what kind of feedback you're looking for....

[str8flexed]

I'd love to hear from any amateurs about their first figure show if it was in the NPC!!!

I'm about 9 1/2 weeks out from my first figure competition. My trainer suggested two shows - both of which are NPC- as she's a former NPC competitor. When I talk about it to gym friends of mine , they're like "oooh. the npc, huh?" What gives?!? I mean, I'm entering the novice class and I think I can hold my own ... I plan on competing in the NPC ultimately, so why start at a local show in the NGA or OCB? Feedback would be appreciated, girls!! I think I'm learning the golden rule in competition here which is don't listen to anyone except your trainer and your body, but I just want to hear about anyone's experiences with this and people psyching them out before the show ... thanx!

point being, do you want to know you are going up against clean competitors, or can you live with the fact that some may or may not have had 'extra' aid

[Beefcake Girl]

The more you get into the competition aspect the more "noise" you will hear. Ignore it---people who say negative things have ulterior motives and have nothing productive to add. Listen to your coach and trust them.

As far as NPC vs other federations, I like NPC best because it is the most challenging for me. I am a naturally thin girl and I have busted my butt in the gym to gain muscle. I like the challenge of lifting hard and heavy and NO not everyone in the NPC is on drugs. My trainer trains the top girls in the sport and I can honestly say none of us is on ANYTHING We just do things the hard way----TONS of hard work and patience. And we dont pick shows because we can win them, we pick them to expand our experiences and challenge ourselves. Judging is so subjective and winning is really only the icing on the cake anyway

Nothing against the other federations but NPC suits me best. And yes, although some girls may try "enhancements", I don't care. I don't base all of my satisfaction on my placings---and really that is how you have to look at it. You accept the playing field for what it is and either deal with it or don't compete I say to each his own---for me there is so much more that I enjoy about competing, regardless of my placings! And so far my hard work has paid off anyway---I have no need to use anything to enhance my physique....

I hope you decide to compete....I bet you will love it

[coloBB]

NPC does hold natural contests, i'm not sure what state you are competing in. But here in Colorado the NPC has many natural contests each year, although i have heard the testing isn't nearly as strict as others.

[str8flexed]

NPC does hold natural contests, i'm not sure what state you are competing in. But here in Colorado the NPC has many natural contests each year, although i have heard the testing isn't nearly as strict as others.

in many npc 'natural' shows the 'natural' statement is more of a suggestion than a requirement

[coloBB]

in many npc 'natural' shows the 'natural' statement is more of a suggestion than a requirement

even if they say they will conduct polygraph and urine tests?

[TexFlex]

even if they say they will conduct polygraph and urine tests?

yep. even then they may only urine test the winners. and from what i understand, it's not hard to be a piss test.

[MissMegan1]

Thanks, BC Girl - I am definitely doing the competition and yeah, I guess I was kind of unclear to everyone what I was 'asking' -- just looking for someone to tell me to GO FOR IT despite others' comments about the federation ... anyway, like you I am naturally very lean having been a former runner and I've been busting my ass to make gains so here's hoping!!

Any tips or advice? I'm going to a posing camp that looks to be great - Cathy Savage runs it - just before my show. I'm in Phila, PA and it's near Boston but it should be really helpful!

[coloBB]

Go For it and good luck!

[j_neatherlin]

I'm not familiar with Cathy Savage, though I've heard the name. Assuming that she has a good reputation, going to the posing camp is a good idea. When I've worked with people in the past, it becomes very apparent that some people need a lot of help with posing...so that's a very good idea.

Also, I think that heading out to Ohio to get in some work with Mike Davies is probably an idea worth tossing around. I am pretty sure he runs posing classes every weekend, and he is certainly someone who has a lot of success with figure girls.

As far as competing is concerned, yeah...there are girls who decide to become chemically enhanced and go for the IFBB...but there are natty's in the NPC who also gun for the IFBB as well (and I guess enhanced girls who are just happy with competing locally)...but for all intents and purposes, I would imagine that most local & regional contests who have a lot of enhanced girls, so the "playing field" should be relatively level.

If you are looking "take it to the next level" your best bets seem to be NPC and FAME. I know that NANBF (I think they are primarily midwest, but there is a branch that operates out on the East Coast...it will be "something" - NBF) and NGA also have figure classes and I am pretty sure that they have pro figure, but I don't know much about it. I know Anthony Monetti's (think MTV True Life - I Want the Perfect Body episode) girlfriend is pro INBF or WNBF, but I don't know how much opportunity there is in that.

I am a fan of the NPC and compete in the NPC myself...but in all honesty, to be really successful in the NPC and remain natural...would require sick ass genetics. You could defintely be natural and be successful in the NPC at the local/regional level. Brian (trapzilla or w/e) is proof of that, and there are many others as well.

Just go for it. Prep your best...diet hard, train hard...be proud of what you accomplish b/c your body is your trophy. Not some piece of wood & metal.

[MissMegan1]

Thanks, J Neatherlin - you rock. I'm going to remember that one -- my body as my trophy!!!!!!!!!!

Check out her site -- www.savagechoreography.com -- she is a former competitor herself and has helped LOTS of pretty big names with posing; I think this camp will be a lot of fun ...

Thanx too for the tips. I could have done NGA or OCB or any other circuit locally, but I really did want to take it to the next level a bit. I saw some shows and one NGA show they had a couple of girls onstage that I could have stood next to without even training.

Guess I'm just a bit anxious ... but I'm going to go for it (Thanx Colo BB too)

I like this forum b/c there's not a lot of places a girl can go to talk about this stuff and the regular people of the world do NOT understand the diet, obsession, training, tanning, etc routine