I've been prepping for this show since March 30. I had 11 weeks to get ready for it after coming off the Relentless meet. It's not a very long time to prep...at all. I know that every year coming into it, but it's just the way it falls.
This prep cycle was not an easy one at all. Lots of life stresses popped up, which makes leaning out and dropping body fat even more difficult. It messes up sleep cycles and makes dieting that much harder. So overall, it wasn't ideal conditions at all. But when does life ever give you a perfect scenario for competition? I had the support of Matt, my kids, my friends, coaches and family. (Some were there at my hardest times and I'm grateful for those people.) Making sure I always had the right food available, making sure I had time at the gym (for training and cardio), letting me nap and sleep when I needed it and so much more. THANK YOU for the support and patience. It's not easy, I often get bitchy and prepping takes up a lot of time. So thank you.
Amit Sapir has been working with my diet since January. We upped food and carbs from January to March and then started the dieting process for the show right after. I know people will ask what kind of "diet" I was on, and I was on the one that worked for my body based on how it responded. As my body changed, he adjusted things. Some days higher carbs, some lower, some cycling, some in the morning, some during training, you name it.
Training was done mostly by Scott Paltos. He attacked it with a little bit of a different approach the way we hit body parts, set and rep schemes, etc. We started out broader early on and got more detailed towards the end focusing on what I needed.
CHECK OUT Julia's Coaching Log
The goal this year was first callouts and the main goal was to bring a better package than previous years.... and we did just that.
From about two weeks out, we really started cycling low and high(er) carb days. Had to deplete and get things tighter before filling out. Water loading started about a week out and some sodium manipulation as well. We got to a good point about four days out, so that's when carbs were added back in and water decreased. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were all depletion training days, total body to go along with the low carb depletion diet. Cardio was stopped on Monday. I was taking pictures two to three times a day for the last 10 days. Amit really wanted to see the subtle changes throughout the day in the morning, after carb meals, and post training. It's pretty amazing.
Thursday, the day before, I was taking pictures about three times a day. Amit was very particular in making sure that I had the fullness he wanted, but also didn't spill over.
Went to bed Thursday night feeling good, a tad thirsty, but ready to take the stage the next day. Woke up feeling good. Headed to the venue for my make-up appointment with Amy Ciganovic. Amy has been doing my make up for the last two years and I absolutely LOVE her work. She travels to many shows with her sister Megan Melone, so if you are in need of show make up, FIND THEM!
Tanning, competitor meeting, and food in between, about every 90-120 minutes. Carbs about two hours before stage time. Skittles in hand for just before when back stage pumping. Fitness routines and bodybuilding (only one female BB competitor) moved fast, so we were on stage by 3:00. There were 13 in my height class and almost 50 physique competitors overall. Very tough class I was in (class B) with some pretty big girls.
For those that don't know, here is how they ran this show:
- Brought our class up in two groups and did comparisons (quarter turns, and all five mandatories).
- Brought out individually for 60 seconds of free posing. No particular music, just hit mandatories for judges to see.
- All brought on stage on the diagonals and made call outs.
I hammered my posing HARD this year. Two or three posing sessions a day, posing during training, just hitting it hard and making tweaks to certain poses to show my shape best. I was feeling really really really good about it. I haven't had any formal coaching with posing so this was a huge improvement for me. However, when under the lights and under the pressure and under the eyes of the judges, just like any other competition, you kinda freeze. They turn you through those poses so quickly that I know I didn't hit them my best. Again, just something I know I need to work on for the future.
Comparisons went okay. Individuals were great. Not making first callouts was a disappointment, but I knew I was up against a very tough class, probably the toughest class.
BUT...when you look at the big picture (my conditioning, leanness, dryness, tightness, muscularity, symmetry) this is the best I've had on stage so far in the past three years. Definitely much to improve. Size will be a big thing for me as well as leaning out my lower body to match the upper body, which is difficult as a natural athlete. Staying natural is important for me, so I know I'll just have to work a little harder to get bigger and leaner.
Will I ever win a pro card? Who knows. But I've accomplished a lot and have done pretty well (in both powerlifting and physique) naturally and I want to continue to see what I can do. Maybe it's the side of me that likes a good challenge.
I didn't have a chance to get feedback from the judges, but one of the commentaries online said, "muscular and aesthetic, great triceps and arms. Legs need to be a little tighter. Great upper back!"
So yeah, pretty much what we knew going into it. I originally had planned to do another show in a few weeks, but other than getting my legs a little tighter and possibly losing some size in my upper body, I'm not sure it's the best thing to do. I'd rather wait, save the money, let stress calm down, and do what I need to do: put on some muscle in the off-season.
Competitively? Maybe a meet in the fall (possibly raw for fun). Definitely more shows next spring too.
What's interesting about this sport, and I talk about it in my ebook Judged, is the subjectivity of it. Unlike powerlifting, where numbers are numbers (sure, there is some subjectivity in powerlifting with judging a good/bad lift, but it's more concrete than bodybuilding), bodybuilding is based off what the judges see and what they like.
I'll be documenting my off-season training and diet as well. Reverse dieting out of this mess, which is always a challenge for me. But that's also why I continue to work with Amit, so I can do the right thing, stay on course and put on good weight, muscle, and size.
Show Results and Placings
Comparison shot images via Muscular Development