It has been a week since I had my first bikini show. Before you know it, what you worked so hard for is just happening. In the following, I want to go through peak week and competition, my conclusion on it, and the next competition planned.
Peak Week
The last 7 days before a competition are called “Peak Week.” This is where different strategies can be applied. My coach chose to reduce carbs for the first couple of days in the week and then started loading carbs on the last day before competition day. We loaded carbs on the day before the competition, so it went up by quite a lot to get more fulness in the muscles. My calories were at about 1300 kcal for the first days. Macro distribution was 150g protein, 75g carbs, and 40g fats. It might seem low, but it was only a couple of days and didn’t feel so challenging. I had some basic foods like rice, broccoli, and chicken, I was eating already the two weeks before and felt good.
My workout schedule has changed because we didn’t want to load the legs five days out of the show. The upper body was targeted with lower intensity. Two days before the competition, my last upper body session involved pumping blood into the muscles. The last days before competition are about reducing inflammation as much as possible.
Before I knew it, the competition was just one day out. We traveled five hours north to get to the city where the event occurred (link to the event). After arrival at the Airbnb, we did our first two layers of tanning and went to bed right after.
Day of the competition
On the day of the competition, I went through all different kinds of emotions. I set myself a goal to step on stage and challenge myself about 1,5 years ago. Back then, we started my journey by building up calories and ended before prep at about 2500 kcal. In January 2022, after one year of structured building, we started the diet on January 1st.
After 18 weeks of dieting, I started my first bodybuilding competition. My feelings at the competition were unmatched. It felt surreal, and I had trouble digesting all my impressions and emotions that day. I always pictured what it would be like stepping on stage and performing my poses in front of the judges and hundreds of people. But in the end, when you have never done something before, you honestly can’t really imagine what it is like. So standing in line and waiting to step on stage was nerve-racking. I was pretty calm the whole time up until the last competitor before I stepped on stage, and it was my turn.
I walked out there, and the spotlight was on me. The eyes of the judges and hundreds of people. Of course, I got nervous. I did my thing. It was okay, but I didn’t feel as secure and confident as when I practiced in my room at home. Not a surprise, really. Once I was done with my i-walk, I stood in line, looked at the crowd, and felt blessed. It is not common sense that someone has the opportunity, environment, support system, and not to forget financial stability to do something like bodybuilding.
In the end, I came in third in my height class, which I am very happy about. Step by step.
What’s next
We are going on stage again in about two weeks. After this first competition, we know how I look next to other competitors and what we need to improve: drop some more body fat and improve posing – by a lot. I am so ready!
Interested in previous posts on this topic?
- 2 weeks out – My Road to Stage 2022
- 3 weeks out – My Road to Stage 2022
- 4 weeks out – My Road to Stage 2022
- 5 weeks out – my prep to stage 2022
- 6 weeks out – My very first prep to bikini 2022
- 7 weeks out – My very first prep to bikini 2022
- 8 weeks out! My very first prep to bikini 2022
- Week #9 – Road to bikini 2022
- It’s about halftime! Week #8 – Road to Bikini 2022
- Week #5 – Road to Bikini 2022
- Week #4 – Road to Bikini 2022
- Week #3 – Road to Bikini 2022
- Week #2 – Road to Bikini 2022
- Week #1 – Road to Bikini 2022
- My Road to Bikini 2022