You have no business on stage: five honest reasons
Competition season is approaching again. Before you climb on stage, there are a couple of questions you should ask yourself honestly. This article isn’t meant to drive anyone away from the sport — it’s meant to save time and money for those who simply wouldn’t benefit from competing right now. Anyone can pay an entry fee and turn up to pose. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. A bit like having children: everyone can, but that doesn’t mean everyone should.
Why stepping on stage isn’t for everyone
Let’s start with the most basic reason: you don’t have enough muscle yet. Competing is for people whose physiques are packed with muscular detail. If that detail isn’t there, you’ve got nothing to show on stage. Fortunately, you can fix this — building muscle simply takes time. What’s the rush?
Ask yourself: do you want to step on stage just for the sake of it, or do you want to win? There’s a difference. The first approach leads to disappointment; the second makes you keep working until your body is truly ready.
Genetics: are you built for the stage?
Here’s a harsh truth: if the sport doesn’t love you, loving it won’t help. I’m not talking about minor flaws that skillful posing can hide. I mean a wide waist, very short legs, a narrow frame. No coach can fix those things — whether it’s Ott Kiivikas, Indrek Otsus, Fred Antson or anyone else.
Genetics also determine your ability to burn fat and build muscle. Some bodies respond to a diet; others refuse to give up fat at any cost. It’s a genetic lottery, and you should be honest with yourself about it before handing over an entry fee.
Discipline and the ability to withstand a diet
You lack willpower — that sounds harsh, but the determination to resist outside influences is exactly what separates a competitor from the average gymgoer. How many people have spent five years saying they’re about to start cutting, only to need a cheat meal in the second week? Too many.
The other side of this is that some bodies simply can’t tolerate an extreme calorie deficit. Sleep problems, mood swings and exhaustion set in. Why put yourself through that? Face the facts: competing may simply not be for you. This is more of an issue for women, though there are exceptions. Men can often spend three months eating sawdust without an emotional reaction; women tend to have a deeper emotional connection with food.
People often step on stage for the wrong reasons
Competitions aren’t a place to show off how much weight you’ve lost. They aren’t a place for a coach to advertise their work. They aren’t a place to simply beg for attention. Competing is a journey to the top.
Forgive me, but I find the saying “It’s not the winning that counts, it’s the taking part” quite a joke. You need to be realistic, but if you don’t dream of winning and you’re afraid to think big, the stage isn’t for you. Respect the judges, your fellow competitors and yourself. Don’t waste anyone’s time by turning up fat, with a poor competition tan and no posing skills.
Before you step on stage: a checklist
A couple more points that people often underestimate:
- Your finances. Money worries won’t help your contest prep. Then there are the costs: competition attire, travel, makeup, hairstyling, posing lessons, a personal trainer and entry fees. For women, these quickly run into thousands of euros.
- The state of your metabolism. If your calorie intake is already low when you start contest prep and extremely low by the end, the post-competition period won’t be much fun.
- Why are you competing in the first place? Would you step on stage if nobody would ever find out? Are you just looking for attention, or is there something more to it?
- Recovery from your last competition. If you’re hungry before the diet even starts, you’re tired and you don’t want to work out, this isn’t the right time. I’ve made this mistake myself. The process should be reasonably enjoyable and balanced, not a “road to Calvary.”
FAQ
How can I tell if I’m ready for the stage?
Here’s an honest benchmark: does your physique already show plenty of muscular detail on camera before you start cutting? If not, contest prep won’t create more detail — it only reveals what’s already there.
Can genetic weaknesses be hidden?
Minor ones, yes — with posing, tanning and the right angle. But no amount of training will change the width of your frame, the length of your legs or the proportions of your waist. You’re born with them.
What if I don’t actually want to win and just want the experience?
Being honest with yourself can save you money. You can get experience for less — at a photo shoot, in a posing class or by testing out your conditioning in front of friends. The stage is a more serious place.
Finally, competing isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. If you decide to go for it, make the whole journey enjoyable, including your time on stage. That goes for the people who have to watch you up there, too.
Author: Peep Reinart
Come work out! ArtGym
