One of our resident NPC Figure competitors, Ana Tigre, lends some insight on how to avoid burnout, motivation and more. If you have a question for Ana feel free to email her and she’ll respond to your questions here on HARDBODY.com
Ana, I have done 2 competitions and I am burned out. I don’t even feel like training. Plus all of the weight I lost to compete came back and now I am depressed. How do you deal with your off season? Why do you compete? And what keeps you motivated to keep going?
I am sorry you are going through such a hard time. What you are experiencing is called the Post Contest Blues and it is a part of competing people don’t talk about very much. When you go through a competition prep your body will be pushed to the limits. You are asking your body to go above and beyond what it is used to doing. Training for competition is not only physically demanding but it is mentally demanding. Also, the more weight you have to shed, the harder your prep will be, and the more likely you will get overtrained and burned out. When the competition is over, we can feel lost and we can’t find the reasons that make working out and eating right a priority anymore. We talk about a lot of those issues on my board, so the girls don’t feel so alone anymore.
I am a firm believer that every new competitor should do a pre-prep prep. By this I mean, take your time to go from your current fitness level to a competition prep level. Get used to the consistency of dieting and working out. Start shedding a few lbs and increase your muscle mass. All of those factors will help tremendously when it is time to get ready for a show. Plus, you will find out what your weaknesses are and how to avoid slips on the diet. You will basically find out if competing is actually for you.
You can look great and never compete. However, you can also diet and workout hard for 3 months, lose a lot of weight, look your best for one day on stage and then, go back to your old habits. I like to keep a balance between the two. I love to compete. I love pushing myself to the limits and I love being on stage looking my absolute best. But when I step off the stage, I don’t feel like my work is over. Fitness has become a lifestyle to me. From the start, my main goal was to build a healthy and strong body that will be the foundation for the rest of my life. I want to look good in 10, 20, 30 years from now. Everytime I go to the gym, I think of it as an investment in my future. Strong muscles will protect a women from osteoporosis, and a healthy bodyfat will prevent a number of diseases. I am not saying I will not enjoy some treats in the off season. I do and I think it is part of a balanced life. However, my overall focus is always to nourish my body with the healthiest food and be consistent at the gym, so I can keep improving. I compete against myself and everytime I step on stage, I want to have made some improvements. That is what keeps me going. That is what motivates me.
My advice to you is simple: take competing out of the equation for a moment. Start thinking about the reasons you started working out in the first place. Not just to look good, but how did it make you feel when you were done with a hard session? Did you like feeling strong and powerful? Add to that, the reasons why you should nourish your body with healthy foods instead of fueling up with junk. Do your skin, hair and nails look better when you eat healthy? Do you have more energy for daily tasks? Do you think you will be a healthier person if you take care of yourself and therefore be around to watch your kids and grandkids grow up? My advice is to go back to the basics. Find a workout plan and a nutrition plan that are realistic and that you can work into your daily life. Focus on health and well being. The looking good part will come as a bonus. The pounds will melt and you will feel better about yourself. At that point, you have balance. That will be the time to decide if you should give competing another shot. If you decide you want to try it again, find a trainer that will help you get in competition shape slowly (sometimes we need more than 12 weeks to achieve a stage look). And get mentally prepared to refocus on health and well being once the competition is over. I promise your whole experience will be a much happier one.
Ana Tigre
Creator of FIZEEK BRAZIL
www.fizeekbrazil.com
