Hey Jen! So how did you do in those? What were the judges saying as to why they gave you that placing? What was the major point they said you would need to improve on?
My first show I got second, my second show I got third and my third show I got 1st and won the overall. (Junior Nationals I didn't place but wasn't surprised...I didn't have the size going into it but I wanted the experience for this year). Why did I place where I did...the first show I lost to the winner by one point, she took the overall. I think a major part of me not placing was my posing which was TERRIBLE, also through all my shows I was too thin, I needed more size. Going into these shows I figured I may have a problem because I had run a marathon in June the year before and continued marathon training until October when my boyfriend finished his first. Going through the training I lifted maybe 2 times a week, with little effort, and spent hours a day running...it ate away all the muscle I had left over from collegiate track. Anyway I started training with weights at the end of November and in December decided to do a show...this gave me about 2 months to put on size until I had to start dieting. All in all there was no way I had the time to put on the size to be competitive at any level other then the local level.
The judges in some of these shows said "don't change anything, I had you as #1" others told me I "had a boyish figure, I wasn't curvy enough, and to work on my sweep" after Jr. Nationals I emailed the head judge numerous times....unfortunately she is quite busy but her only response was that she had written one word "thin" for me and couldn't remember further then that. Obviously she couldn't-it was the first time seeing me and I wasn't special, I still wasn't posing properly in Jr. Nationals (I am embarrassed by it) also I needed more muscle. My conditioning was fine (8% bodyfat) but my legs were too small and I wasn't showcasing my physique.
To help all of this I put on 25 pounds and hope to compete about 5-7 pounds heavier this year. I worked my ass on
because the marathon had robbed me of it. Starting almost 3 months ago now I have setup posing sessions at least twice a month with other local competitors (many first timers because I don't want them to look like I did) so we can work on posing and walking.
Currently I am 7 weeks out from my first show, my warm-up and I am at 11% bodyfat and looking sharp. I have done it smarter this year, slower and more steady. It should be an incredible year on stage.
To me it seems that you are stuck on that "legal/illegal" substances mentality. I read this thread and debates that are going on between you, Block and a few others and see that both advocates and opponents have their valid points. I have to agree with Block that drugs that many in this sport use essentially were legal and only had to be banded later due to people abusing them. GH is prescribed in medicine for people with immune system problems so is Clen and insulin and so forth. People who have AIDS are put on some of the drugs that BB's use. So this issue is a two way sword I guess. It's like Block tried to compare the usage of gear to smocking and alcohol or even water. It is a matter of perception and what in one's opinions is good or bad.
But this is the thing, I don't have AID's or any disease that would require me to use these to feel better. I don't understand why my choice of mot wanting to use AAS makes you guys so mad. If you want to use it I will not judge or criticize...when I am squatting I have images of girls on stage, bigger then me, more cut and it makes me work harder, it isn't about short cuts with me, it is about doing things that I want to do and being responsible for the outcome. Honestly if they legalized AAS I still wouldn't want to take it, I feel it changes your appearance and voice and really I don't need it to get bigger...I am already a fairly big girl.
So let me understand better...What is your ultimate goal? Do you have it? Or is it just something like I train for myself and enter a show here and there just for fun?
My goal is to earn my Pro-Card, to get invited to the Arnold. To me competing is fun and winning is fun. I like seeing how I can shape my body into something I think is amazing. Do many of my friends think my body is gross, yep but I do it because I am good at it, I love it and I love to compete and be on stage. That is why I don't run marathons or triathlons, I would never win. Training and dieting this hard isn't something I do because the process is "fun" the outcome is fun. Plus doing something that 99.9% of people can't do is fun.
It's just when I first posted and said that I hope you see things realistically, I meant that it is one thing if you just do it coz you have a personal goal of say improving your physique and getting to the next level and by competing you can actually assess your accomplishments.
Not so...If you do it for you, then sure you dont' have to and that is why you can see so many gorgeous guys and girl in many local gyms who have great physiques yet they have never competed coz they know what the real world of BB is all about and despite the fact that they do look far better then an average Joe, that is not enough to be the winner...But if you want to be the next Monica Brant, then you would be doomed to re-assess your view on things. No, it does not have to be serious stuff but you would not ever get to that level without implemention of some sort of aid that you seem to not even want to consider to be a part of your routine. That's just a reality, unfortunately...I know gals who claim to the outsiders that they are 100% naturals but then people who are very close to them know that is not the case...
I think it is sad you feel this way. The only way to do it is by doing drugs.....that sounds like a losing attitude to me. To be, as you say "realistic" it would probably do me well to get with the "right" trainer or maybe even sleep with the "right" person, talk to the "right" management company, do the "right" drugs and then I will succeed...well, maybe I am just making it easier for the rest of the world (you included) by making the decisions I think are right. If you see me earn my Pro-Card please know it was because of the hard work, sweat, and determination of a "natural" competitor, then you can finally tell people you know someone who is 100% natural who "made it" and drugs aren't the only way.
Whatever decisions you decide to make in this sport, I wish you the best of luck. I also hope you make the decisions for yourself because you feel it is the right thing to do and not because everyone else is doing it.
