If you are interested in Bodybuilding Competitions and wonder what it would take, you are in the right place.
Bodybuilding preparation does take time and there are different things that you would need to do prior and during in order to prepare for a show.
Prepping for a bodybuilding show takes a certain kind of mindset, discipline, and consistency. Here we are going to touch on all of this.
Recommended Reading: The complete guide to setting realistic bodybuilding goals for your first competition
The Basics of Bodybuilding Competitions and Getting Ready for a Show
How to Prepare Your Body & Mind for a Contest Prep Season
Bodybuilding prep refers to the time before you would step on stage. The length of time will greatly vary depending on your starting point.
Prepping for a show takes discipline with your training and nutrition, getting out of your comfort zone, and showing up even when it gets hard. Not to mention, it can be expensive.
This also means that you will need a strong reason why you want to enter and compete in a bodybuilding show prior to starting.
How to Figure out Your Competition Dates and Plan Your Training Around Them
When should you start your prep? Ideally the best time to start your prep is when you have the least amount of stress and potential distractions. It is a time commitment as well, so if you are not able to make the time to dedicate to your training and nutrition already this will be harder to achieve.
In order to schedule training around your competitions, it would be best to keep in mind of important dates and upcoming events you already have commitments too.
On top of this, you have to remember what phase of your training you will need to commit to first. For most that is building more lean muscle and then followed by cutting down for a show.
Your current physique and current routine will be the best to see where and what you need to work on for a timeline for entering a bodybuilding contest.
Eating For Building Muscle and Losing Fat in the Right Ratios
It's important to know if you need to build muscle in different areas first, you will have to eat more. You can't be in a caloric deficit to build.
You can however, go through a recompostion to change the way that your body looks. This means eating maintenance calories in order to build lean muscle and lose some body fat.
Nutrition ratios will depend on your current goal and your training.
A fat loss ratio might look like:
- 40% carbs, 30% proteins, 30% fats
A muscle gain ratio might look like:
- 50% carbs, 30% proteins, 20% fats
It comes down to how your body is also responding to what you are currently doing.
What Supplements Do You Need For Contest Preparation?
The best supplements for contest preparation is what your body is struggling with or what you are not getting from your current nutrition.
So technically you do not need supplements. It's only to help supplement what you are currently not getting in your day.
The basics would be a good protein shake to help get more protein in your day and a good multivitamin.
Keep in mind some federations do have restrictions to supplements and medications if they are a federation who does testing.
Overall though, you don't need to drop a ton of money into supplements. I always recommend to keep it super simple.
Conclusion: Everything You Need to Know About Building Muscle & Getting Ready For A Show
Ensure before starting to prep for a bodybuilding competition, you get your mindset right by setting realistic goals and expectations, you plan it around current commitments, and you are eating for your smaller goals that will lead up to the big one of stepping on stage.
If you are unsure of a timeline and where you first need to start, we have your back!
Schedule a free 15 minute consultation today, and we can chat about what would be the best plan of action for you.
