…What are bikini competitions?…

I would like to take this time to say HELLO to the new followers of my blog 🙂
For those who are new and old, you guys should know by now that I compete in bikini competitions.
When i say that i compere in bikini competitions this does NOT mean those wet t-shirt competitions that you see in movies or during spring break.
These competitions are regulated and have tons of rules.  AND it takes MONTHS to train and get ready for these competitions.
I have gotten a few questions about it…sooooo I decided to just do a “‘Tell All” post about it.
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What is a Bikini Competition?
A bikini competition is a health/fitness competition.  In a nut shell it is somewhat of a fitness pageant (with out the talent and Q&A parts). What you do is you train for MONTHS (eating REALLY healthy and working out to a regular fitness routine).  You then get on stage (in a bikini) and there are judges that look at you and judge you on your overall physic, look, and stage presence.
They have other kinds of competition categories like fitness, figure, physique, and bodybuilding.  Those categories require years of training and building and you have to work hard to gain muscle as well as stay lean.
For the bikini division you  just want to be lean and muscular (slim and fit…similar to what you see on the cover of most fitness magazines).  For my current body type it was the right choice for me to compete in the bikini division at these competitions.
In the fitness division these competitions are required to perform a routine that showcases their gymnastics ability, their flexibility, and their strength.  They also have to wear a bikini and these women are typically more muscular than those who compete in the bikini division.
In the figure division these competitors do not have a floor routine that they have to perform.  They just stand on the stage in from of the judges in a bikini (similar to what the bikini division girls do).  These lades are typically a little bigger and more defined than the bikini or fitness division.
And the bodybuilding competitors are a lot bigger and muscular than all of the other divisions.  Getting this big takes years of training.  Some women like to say they do not want to lift weights because they feel like they will look like the girls who do bodybuilding.  Sorry to burst those women’s bubbles…but doing a small weight lifting routine will not get them to “bulk up” or get as big as these competitors.
How are you training for the competition?
I currently eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day.  Different competitors take different approaches when it comes to eating their meals.  I like to spread my meals out over the day so I won’t be hungry all day.  Some people will spread their meals out in a different way (ex: eat a bulk of them at a certain time of day).  The trick is to find what works for you and stick with it.   My meals are all pre-weighed out so i can grab them when I need them.   I eat a certain combination of foods to help me get the right amount or protein, fats, and carbohydrates so i am fueling my body with the right amount of foods.   You guys may have seen my meal pics on Instagram.  I cook all of my meals usually on Sunday and keep them in the fridge so i can just grab them at meal time.  I currently workout 5-6 days a week and I do 30-45  minutes of cardio plus weight training.
What kind of bikini do you wear for your competition?
here is an example of what i have to wear…
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They do have some rules and regulations for the things you can and cannot wear on stage.  You can wear an “off the shelf” bikini (a bikini you can buy at any store) but it does not show off your body the best way for judging.  So they suggest you get a competition bikini and these typically tend to be more expensive than “regular” bikinis.
Why would you ever want to do something like this?
I was asked to join a fitness promotional team earlier last year and we will get to promo at some of these fitness competitions.  I just got more and more interested in the competitions and thought to myself “Why Not compete if I already have to be there!?”
I have always eaten pretty healthy and worked out regularly.  But, I knew I would have to dedicate more time and effort into getting ready for my competitions.  I also met a girl (and my current business partner) in my area that started training for one around the time I started to train for competitions, so it was just a reassuring thing to push me to want to do it.
It is just one more thing to push me to work hard in the gym so that i can look and feel the way I want 2 🙂
Are your friends/family/boyfriend supportive?
YES all of them are very supportive.  Like I said I was always the healthy eater out of my group of friends, so my friends are use to my “healthy” ways.  Of course I get the random teasing from my friends and family,  but nothing that I can’t handle.  My boyfriend is very supportive and is even helps me when he can.  My family is supportive but they live so far away they they can not actually be here for my competitions.  I do hope to eventually compete in a show in Texas so my family will be able to come and see me on the stage!
What has been the hardest part of training for this competition?
The hardest part by far was getting use to the meal schedule and being strict on your diet.
I was always the kind of person to eat my 4 -5 meals a day but only when my body told me I was hungry.  It took me a few days to get use to the schedule and menu but after that it was OK.  I already was a gym rat so spending time in the gym is nothing new to me. I did have to get use to.  The key is to change things up and have fun!
I hope that this has answered some questions that you guys  may have had! Please feel free to let me know if anyone has any more questions for me!  If anyone else is interested in competing and would love some help or advice please feel free to contact me!