Confessions of an Honest Figure Athlete

As a repeat bodybuilding, fitness or figure competitor you already know the basic ins-and-outs of what goes on with the diet and training for a competition. There are no surprises that the diet is going to be bland, tasteless and low calorie but that doesn't stop athletes from doing it anyhow. There are no surprises that the weight training is going to be grueling and there are days you wake to the feeling of being run over by a steam roller, but again; we do it anyhow.

I love the sport but will admit there is nothing easy about it. It is a time consuming and brutal sport offering little more than a trophy to the winners. Yet, once again, I am doing it. The difficulties for me have been in other aspects that are important to me though.

Concentration

Concentrating on any sort of activity for too long is problematic at this point in my diet. My diet is stringent and low in carbs so my energy level is nearly non-existent.

Fatigued but Functioning

Grouchy is a word that I would use to describe someone dieting. For the most part I keep my moodiness to myself so I can function in everyday activities with my kids. I laugh and pay attention to them because I don't feel it's fair to be "short" with them. This was my decision to do a bodybuilding show; not theirs.

This decision of doing a show has left me fatigued and there are days I would love to sleep in until the kids wake. But, in my case, cardio and the bulk of my writing must be done before the kids are up so 4:00am comes very early.

Peak Week Worries

Outside of doing activities with the kids I am doing my cardio and weight lifting for this last week of contest prep. I am exactly one week out and this is peak week. It's the make-it-or-break-it stage and I'm feeling behind...again. It is the last and final week so there is no time left. This week is for carb loading, cutting water and the application of the fakest of the fake tans.

Writing

As for my writing; it has nearly gone to the wayside. Not because I don't want to write but because I can't focus on it long enough to get a 400 word article finished. I have started eight articles in the last week and only finished 2.5; not a stellar performance for someone who is trying to increase pay and page views.