For those of you who have done their first bodybuilding competition. What do you focus on?

[GymRat79]

When it comes to the night before and then the day of the show? Getting butterflies I imagine is normal especially the closer you get to show time doing your first show.

Anyone here care to share what they thought about to calm your nerves and be as relaxed as possible on stage?

 

[rutman]

Just think that all of the hard work that you've done over the last 3-4 months is over and it's time to have fun, and enjoy the moment. Try to relax and enjoy the time back stage with the other competitors. When you go on stage, focus on the task at hand, but also have fun. Don't be too uptight, because it'll def show in your posing. Be loose, but be confident.

 

[Demondosage]

Have fun. Youve made it through prep so you're already a winner compared to most people

 

[GymRat79]

How common is it for guys to get nervous when they first walk out on stage in front of everyone? Did you guys feel a little nervous when you did your first shows? I think I'm really going to put an emphasis on socializing the night before at the hotel and in the backstage area and make friends with everyone. That will relax me and will keep me from being too uptight. Will also give me encouragement as well that we are all pulling for eachother. This is not the Mr. Olympia where I imagine those guys are stone cold serious backstage.

 

[Demondosage]

How common is it for guys to get nervous when they first walk out on stage in front of everyone? Did you guys feel a little nervous when you did your first shows? I think I'm really going to put an emphasis on socializing the night before at the hotel and in the backstage area and make friends with everyone. That will relax me and will keep me from being too uptight. Will also give me encouragement as well that we are all pulling for eachother. This is not the Mr. Olympia where I imagine those guys are stone cold serious backstage.

Dude, honestly most people are hungry, miserable and tired. Everyone is nervous and everyone wants to win. Bodybuilding shows suck, the shows are just the opportunity to show off the finished product and the motivation I need to get into shape. But the shows themselves? Just go out there and do your best and dont worry about jack shit. Its a local show, just have fun and show off your hard work

 

[GymRat79]

Dude, honestly most people are hungry, miserable and tired. Everyone is nervous and everyone wants to win. Bodybuilding shows suck, the shows are just the opportunity to show off the finished product and the motivation I need to get into shape. But the shows themselves? Just go out there and do your best and dont worry about jack shit. Its a local show, just have fun and show off your hard work

So basically don't get so technical as to "Oh fuck I didn't do that step properly to get into my back pose" type of attitude. That is what I am beating myself up over here, the posing. I don't do this for a living so I need to just relax. This is my first show to get my feet wet and see how many shows I want to enter next year. I am entering super novice so no one I am up against has done a show before either.

 

[Demondosage]

So basically don't get so technical as to "Oh fuck I didn't do that step properly to get into my back pose" type of attitude. That is what I am beating myself up over here, the posing. I don't do this for a living so I need to just relax. This is my first show to get my feet wet and see how many shows I want to enter next year. I am entering super novice so no one I am up against has done a show before either.

I placed 2nd to last place my first show in the novice heavy. My next show I went straight into open heavy and placed top 5 and there were some very good competitors in that show. All about improving. Nobody is going to have it all from day 1, it's a learning process

 

[GymRat79]

I used to play golf back in high school, then moved onto competing in college and then after that turned pro and competed on the mini tours all over the country. I look back at that first tournament I ever tee'd it up and had to hit a tee shot on the opening hole in front of strangers and members of the tournament committee. Lets just say I was shaking pretty bad and did not play my best. If I remember correctly I hit my opening drive out of bounds and made a double bogey. My swing I had grooved day after day faltered under pressure. As I entered more events that nervousness subsided and I eventually started earning checks and placing. Competing in physique will be the same way I believe. Tons of this comes down to the mental aspect that seperates the guys who are doing well and the ones who choke under pressure.

 

[Switcher]

Knowing how YOU need to hit your poses is key. You will not have mirrors out there so you have to have really good muscle memory. Work it in front of a mirror but don't look till you are posed. After you hit a pose, look up and confirm you are hitting them right. When it becomes truly second nature, you wont worry and can relax about it.

When you do your routine, you are out there alone and 100s or even a 1,000 or so people are watching. Know your routine backwards and forwards and all the music cues. You probably will not be able to see much for the lights but you can still start to freeze up. Knowing the routine so well allows you to recover without feeling like you blew it.

 

[rutman]

I used to play golf back in high school, then moved onto competing in college and then after that turned pro and competed on the mini tours all over the country. I look back at that first tournament I ever tee'd it up and had to hit a tee shot on the opening hole in front of strangers and members of the tournament committee. Lets just say I was shaking pretty bad and did not play my best. If I remember correctly I hit my opening drive out of bounds and made a double bogey. My swing I had grooved day after day faltered under pressure. As I entered more events that nervousness subsided and I eventually started earning checks and placing. Competing in physique will be the same way I believe. Tons of this comes down to the mental aspect that seperates the guys who are doing well and the ones who choke under pressure.

You can't compare hitting a golf ball 300 yards down a narrow fairway with water on both sides to stepping on stage in your underwear, lol. Like you said, it's all mental. You got this, no problem! Practice posing to where it's natural to you. Just like hitting the golf ball is.

 

[GymRat79]

You can't compare hitting a golf ball 300 yards down a narrow fairway with water on both sides to stepping on stage in your underwear, lol. Like you said, it's all mental. You got this, no problem! Practice posing to where it's natural to you. Just like hitting the golf ball is.

Well I'm glad we are in board shorts. Just like walking on the beach

 

[Switcher]

Well I'm glad we are in board shorts. Just like walking on the beach

Oh, well, board shorts. Real men wear posing trunks in front of 1,000's of people and around other beefy men.

 

[GymRat79]

Did you guys find that your footwork was as solid as holding your poses? Footwork is extremely challenging so far.

 

[Switcher]

Did you guys find that your footwork was as solid as holding your poses? Footwork is extremely challenging so far.

Foot placement on poses is very important. Footwork moving from pose to pose is just as important. Kind of like a golf swing huh?

 

[Demondosage]

Foot placement gives a lot to the illusion you're trying to create of larger hams, wider quad sweep, smaller looking waist

 

[GymRat79]

Explain the morning meeting to me. How long do they normally last? Also what do you guys like wearing that morning to the meeting itself?

 

[Switcher]

The morning pre-judging is where they can size up the contestants, have different contestants come up front and center and the judges get to compare the ones under the spotlight. Essentially, barring craziness regarding a routine, the placements are determined. The evening show is mostly for the people buying the tickets and for the contestants to have a chance to show what they accomplished.

 

[Demondosage]

Explain the morning meeting to me. How long do they normally last? Also what do you guys like wearing that morning to the meeting itself?

Most just wear sweats, gym clothes, etc. Meetings are only about 20 minutes long, morning determines placings 90% of the time so make sure to give it everything that morning. Don't do any ab work in the pump up room or leg work. It'll blur those muscles. On biceps go light and just do enough to get a pump. Posing should be #1 before you go out, as you pose you'll naturally pump up more and gain more definition through that

 

[GymRat79]

So what do you guys do after you are done with your morning judging? Go take your mind off of stuff by going and watching sports at a restaurant/bar? Go home even if you are close enough? I take it most of you just went back to your hotel rooms to relax and work on your posing along with eating until you had to go back for the evening show?

 

[Switcher]

Best thing to do is get out of there and relax whatever that can or will look like.