The word "competitor" is so strange to me that people call themselves that
when they plan to enter a fitness show.
I feel the word "competitor" could set up the wrong mindset.
When I hear people say, "I'm a competitor" or "I compete" I think it's weird.
This word really started being used as the newer divisions came about. Divisions
that include Bikini, Fitness Model and Muscle Model or also called Physique.
Before that is was that you referred to yourself or others simply called you a bodybuilder.
Once you had done a bodybuilding show it sorta became part of who you are.
You did bodybuilding and you have the pictures to prove it. The rest of your life you were
a bodybuilder.
Maybe you only did one show in your life but somehow you become part of the hashtag #fitfam
it is now a part of who you have become and it becomes part of you. You still follow the shows
as a fan and even show up as a spectator. You are part of the family.
When I hear people say "I'm going to compete" it sounds so hardcore and yet they are doing a
bikini pageant and it sounds like they are going to war. I hear it and think warning warning warning
this person is going to EXPLODE when they get 2nd or 3rd place. Stand Back they will be having a meltdown any second now. Way too serious for the first show.
I just think of shows and being a part of shows more of a fitness lifestyle.
Eat clean, get healthy, feel really good, have a little bit of a six pack and know and enjoy the
fitness lifestyle. Struggling with weight loss will NEVER be an issue for the rest of your life.
You did it and no need to diet books, diet plans, coaches, trainers, you now know what to do.
When people say they can't recover from a bikini show and it ruined their life I think they
went too crazy with the competition part and it is more much mental than physical. Now maybe
they did go too extreme on the diet but that was not the right way or only way to do it.
You want to be serious about follow a plan and placing is great but this hobby should never
mess anyone up physically or mentally. It really shouldn't.
This is about having a good time and seeing results.
People know I make Fitness Atlantic into way more of a SHOW than a contest.
I'm told all the time that the venue, the lighting especially the moving lights and even the music choices don't matter. Yet I disagree and wouldn't have it any other way.
WE are having LIGHTS and lots of them.
Sure it doesn't matter to the "competitor" looking only for a piece of paper that says PRO. They don't care if the audience is empty and in the class they enter maybe one person or nobody else shows up.
For many people it is about bragging rights to say they did it an they won it great.
An old saying is that "only the winner is happy" and in a contest that is usually true.
Sometimes I see people unsubscribe from this list and write, "not interesting in competing anymore" and that just sounds like someone that went on a diet and looked amazing and then out of nowhere said screw eating healthy I want to get really fat and stay fat. I don't want to feel good anymore. I can't help but think what just happened? They did the show last year and now forever the rest of their life they don't want to be involved? I just don't get
it...
What the heck just happened to that person?
All about it one year and bam crazy the next and over with fitness. They stop working out.
I don't think it is just about balance.
I think it is more than balance of learning how to eat to get lean and control your weight.
The contest, competitor and competing that makes people forget all the good stuff about this fitness show stuff.
I think when people force the emphasis on winning so badly it takes any fun and learning experiences away from the participation in an event like this "show".
More importantly think how often do you ever get to walk on a stage at Mohegan Sun Resort Casino? NEVER that is when - you will never be able to go to Mohegan and get one a stage for the most part so it is kinda a really big deal.
When you and your friends and family walk into that convention center and sees the rigged lighting, the stage, the sound, the whole glamour of the venue and how professional everything looks the focus then should be the whole experience.
This is way better than just a simple contest.
If you say you are a fitness model is a fitness show at Mohegan Sun it is not like saying I'm competing in a contest in April. Those two things are the same yet outcomes are completely different.
One you will be happy no matter the outcome you walk away a winner and option two it ruins your life.
Pick option one.
- Brian
