Getting Into A Competition Mindset
It’s been almost four years since my last bodybuilding competition, due to the pandemic, injuries, and quite frankly, burnout. The workouts are tough, but the hardest part for me is the diet.
Here are some things I’ve noticed about my eating habits when I’m not training for a bodybuilding competition:
- I’m lucky to eat vegetables one meal per day (dinner). Like a proud eight-year-old, I hate eating my vegetables.
- I drink a lot of calories because why drink tea when you can have a pot of coffee with vanilla creamer? Even sugar-free, creamer calories add up when you have 6 cups per day.
- Wine.
- I snack while watching TV and then go to bed. My metabolism will helpfully hold those calories for future use…around my waist and thighs.
The good news is these are all behaviors within my control and thankfully not medical issues.
Bodybuilding Diet vs. Normal Diet
When you’re bodybuilding, everything is measured and divided into proteins, complex carbohydrates, fats and vegetables (which are technically a carb, they aren’t ‘fun’ carbs like potatoes or rice, so I put them in their own category.) When you want to grow muscle, eat more protein. When you want to shake water weight, cut carbs. Feeling cravings? Add some healthy fats.
Technically, competition prep starts 12 weeks from the show date, but because I’m deconditioned (that’s a nice way of saying I put on some pandemic pounds), I have to start tracking my macros now so I can get in shape without starving myself the final weeks. My goal is to eat 35% protein, 45% carbs and 20% fats. This is known as “eating clean”.
Beyond eating clean, I’m trying to get my head back in the mindset of an athlete. Here are three quotes I’ve been thinking about lately.
3 Mindset Mantras
- “Embrace the Suck.” This is military slang to accept unpleasant, but necessary, tasks in stride. In other words, eat the damn vegetables and quit complaining about it.
- “Dead last finish is greater than did not finish, which trumps did not start.” This anonymous quote is good for taking some of the pressure off. Starting is a victory too.
- “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”-Jim Rohn. Yep.
How about you? Do you give yourself a pep talk before you start training? What things do you say to motivate yourself?
Be healthy,
Lisa 😉
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