Went to a BB’g contest today
I went to my 1st bodybuilding contest today. But first, I got in an early Saturday morning leg workout to make up for yesterday. I cheered for my friend Owen from my gym (I’ll post a pic of him & I later). He looked great. 46 and he’s a hardbody. Not ginormously huge, but bigger than average & very cut. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. Here’s my impressions:
1) I could never do that, and I have zero desire to. But my hat is off to those who do. Definitely very hard.
2) It seemed like a cattle call (I attended the Pre-Judging, not the main show this evening). Group after group after group of competitors. Owen told me there were over 170 competing. Light weight, middle weight, etc. Fitness, figure, bodybuilding, etc. Tall, short, etc.
3) There was a wide range in those competing. Some were huge, some were closer to my size. Some were cut razor sharp. Some, hmmm, not so much. A few of the men & women should not have been up on stage. It’s one thing, IMHO, to do your best. To compete against yourself & your own limits. It’s another thing to be too skinny (not muscular), or too soft (way too much BF and/or cellulite covering things up).
4) Sorry ladies, but the women have to wear ridiculous amounts of makeup. Seeing some of the women up close was almost laughable with the amount of makeup caked on their face. Also, this is just my preference, but I preferred the ladies with natural endowment over the ladies with obvious implants. I know there are unfair standards, but I think a woman looks better natural. And a woman in great shape with low BF is simply not going to have blimp size mammos.
5) Same with the tanning. Goodness gracious it looks so fake. And there was this one guy competing, I’d say he was in his early 50’s. Great physique. But with all the tanning on his face, he looked 65 or older in the face.
6) The straining & holding of the poses looks exhausting, and looks to bring on major soreness. Owen confirmed that this was definitely the case.
7) The stage is deceiving. Women in the 5′2"-5′4" and 5′4"-5′6" categories looked very tall. I was surprised to hear what their height cateories were. And women over 5′6"………they looked like Amazon women. LOL
8) Seeing the competitors up close, walking around away from the stage, was more impressive than when they’re onstage posing. Seeing them up close, even though not posing & flexing, was what gave me that ‘Wow Factor’ for the amazing shape they are in.
So there you have it. Glad I went. Interesting experience, but not my cup of tea. I think I’ll stick with my goal of shooting to test myself sometime next year in a sprint-Triathlon or a mini-T.
WORKOUT THIS MORNING — LEGS:
– Hack squats (6 sets, 6-9 reps, 60-75 sec’s rest)
– Leg extensions (4 sets, 15-18 reps, 30 sec’s rest)
– Smith Machine squats (6 sets, 6-9 reps, 60-75 sec’s rest)
– Leg curls (4 sets, 15-18 reps, 30 sec’s rest)
– Standing calf raises (6 sets, 7-10 reps, 45-60 sec’s rest)
– Leg extensions (4 sets, 15-18 reps, 30 sec’s rest)
ABS: Crunches with 25 lb weight (5 sets)
Just getting to the gym IS a successful workout! 
November 7, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I agree 100% with you AL! I have only ever been to one and that was over 16 years ago! Way too much politics and hard work for me! I will stick to having a few too many curves! Boobs help balance things out, but some women go way overboard! My mom commented on my one pic of double front biceps after surgery, "i dont like that one as much as the ones of you in a sports bra, it makes your boobs look fake" haha I said "mom, my boobs are fake!" hahahaha silly mom!
November 7, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Well there’s a difference. Women onstage with fake boobs & below 10% BF look like they’re going to tip over……LOL.
At least they wouldn’t break their nose. And they’d bounce.
November 7, 2009 at 1:43 pm
interesting!! I’d like to check one out when I get a chance.
November 7, 2009 at 1:54 pm
very true! I just told the surgeon, I have a big ass and broad shoulders make me look proportionate! He picked way bigger than what I would have but they fit the frame! bouncing would depend on wether they got saline which would probably splat or silicone, better chance of bouncing!
November 7, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Well, Al everything has its reason. The caked makeup because the lights on stage are too bright. The unreal tan because the darker you are the more defined your muscles are. As for the boobs, I think they could influence the judges, I would hope not, but you see a heck of alot enhanced ladies on the stages across america. I am what I am. I have had large breasts and a large body to go with them. I will take my small ones and nicely shaped behind other them any day. Competing is hard work but in my opinion well worth it. It is definitely not for everyone.
Wendy
November 7, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Oh I understand the reasoning of the makeup & tanning. Just noting my impressions & observations. Like I said, hats off to those who compete, I know it’s hard. ESPECIALLY ON DIET, to get that ripped.
November 7, 2009 at 2:43 pm
im with you Al. I admire them for doing it, that is amazing dedication! I couldnt and wouldnt do it myself. way way too lazy! and I hate the politics of such things. great bodies get put behind beautiful looks with good bodies. would make me very crabby!
November 7, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I think you should visit another one. I agree with Helen, everything has a purpose and reason for the stage. I just got back from a SNBF pre-judging show. One figure competitor had a very developed upper body BUT had a lot of lose skin and dimples on her thighs. It looked like she lost a lot of weight.I can see her saying ‘I am proud of me and losing this weight, what the heck, I may not win but I am going to strut my stuff!!" Glad you went to support your buddy!
November 7, 2009 at 3:33 pm
The makeup and the tan glop were two things I didn’t like from the show I went to recently.
It was a smaller show than the one you attended, but there was a range of cut and muscular too.
November 7, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I agree that it’s great when folks have achieved a goal of losing lots of weight, and they have a lot to be proud of. But I think they shouldn’t be in a BB’g contest if they’re not yet in the shape to even look the part, much less be competitive. To me, that’s like doing a Triathlon, and walking the entire run & dog paddling the entire swim. Yes, a person can do that & finish the event, but what’s the point? Entering an event is not necessary to prove something to oneself. I hope to give a Triathlon a try next yr, but only if I can "run" the run & properly swim the swim part. Anyway, my 2 cents.
November 7, 2009 at 4:46 pm
once again, I agree completely with you AL! I dont think it benefits anyone to go and compete when they arent in the shape that one needs to be in to do such things! Good for you if you lost the weight and built some muscles, go get some glamour shots taken and display those! Otherwise I think that disappointment and embarassement defeats all the good feelings that one has achieved by loosing the weight and gaining some muscle. My impressions from talking with a very good friend who did just that, beat cancer, lost weight, went to gym ,competed and wasnt in that kind of shape and now is doubting everything that he has done. klink klink of my two cents worth!
November 7, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Not my cup of tea either but I respect those who do .Takes all sorts…each to his (her) own
November 7, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I agree with Al in that i prefer natural over fake.I mean i live in a town(sin city) that it’s everywhere.If you love a woman before the kids and age/gravity, you should love her as is.On the other side of the coin..for anyone taking roids or having implants, it is very risky short and long term.So unless you are making $$ coin off your body via movies, modeling, stripping etc. you are risking too much.
November 9, 2009 at 8:14 am
looks like it was a really good experience. Great leg workout.
November 9, 2009 at 9:42 am
Wow, I guess I never saw a negative side to competing put in words. hmmm I think I better pray on my decision a little longer. I am going to call my trainer and have him put everything on hold until I can rationalize Why i’m doing it.
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