Posing coaching is a good idea, but they can range from $65.00 - $95.00 per hour. However, if posing in a group, it could be less expensive. Not really sure, because I did it one on one.
I had my routine already in mind that I'd already been practicing. So meeting with one coach for the first time, she gave me a few pointers. With that said, choose your coach wisely. They don't have to believe in you,.....you do!
Sidebar: I said I would be authentic, so I must share my posing experience with one particular coach. I'm not going to give names or too much details, because I told myself I wouldn't speak on "that" session again. My experience wasn't good at all. I believe because I only purchase one session with this coach, she wasn't interested in helping me. Her attitude was horrible and she was very critical. I was really getting annoyed, angry and forcing myself to get thru the hour. I had gotten to the point, that 35 minutes into the session "I asked how much longer do I have?" I also began taking off my shoes. I wasn't upset about the money I'd thrown away, so much as that I'd wasted my valuable time. I could have been doing cardio or something. Needless to say I would not use her services or speak of her again.
I learned latter that most coaches want you to start posing with them 8 weeks out, perhaps meeting once a week until the show. Well I'd been practicing for about 12-16 weeks prior with another coaching advisor that advise me very well. I learned a lot from everyone that I interacted whether it was good, bad or ugly.
Some people i learn that I may want to continue doing business with, then others I may not.
Then you have Supplements, which are not cheap. Depending upon how many times a day you consume and the brand you choose will determine how many times you need to replace, can run from $160.00 to about $300.00 a month. There's also the deep tissue body sculpting massages. These massages aide in helping muscles "pop". When I say pop I mean some areas of my body may need extra manipulation to enhance the work that I'd already done over the past months. So my Massage therapist got into to areas and really stirred up the blood to continue to push my muscles to make them become even more separated. It's was an instant gratification. I was able to get a massage every week until the week of the show. I choose an hour massage because it was rewarding, yet very intense. But I loved the way I look. I could immediately see the sculpting results. It's worth the $60.00 to $85.00 and hour. Pedicure and nails $25.00 are also necessary, just because they feel good. I hadn't had nails in years and decided I would go all the way. It's not a necessary though. I also found a product at HEB just my own personal touch to Ginger and Clay detox body wash $6.00, my body three to four times a week. I'm talking about detoxing my skin to make it even more smooth and glowing. After using the detox foaming body wash two to three time, using a loafer $5.00 (or you can a brush) I then use a body scrub $5.00 (also from HEB), exfoliated twice, then I was done. Competing is definitely a luxury....with many small victories (that you shouldn't discount) along the way and huge rewards at the end.
You have to also consider your food. Choosing to eat as the lifestyle of a bodybuilder eats, is important. I wouldn't say eating is expensive, however it can be depending upon what you choose to eat and the type of person you are when it comes to food and having a variety. I'm kept my eating pretty simple. You're taking your food and low sodium ozarka water with you at all times. You can't take the risk of eating out and falling off your diet. I never liked miscalculating my time that I would be at work and didn't bring enough food. That's a huge deal, because you may not have the opportunity (or extra money) to stop and purchase something within your diet. My diet consisted of lots and lots of egg white, it's the purest form of protein so I ate it the most. I also ate chicken, fish (once a week), and beef (once a week). Earlier I talked about me choosing to have a Nutritionist/Coach on my team. He helped me to stay focused on the goal. Knowing I was being held accountable gave me the motivation to work that much harder.
The reason I choose to keep my Coach because as the journey got long and lengthy, he helped me to focused other things I had going on, which steered me to continue my journey with zeal, tenacity and motivation. He commended me for my efforts and applauded my consistent progress. He didn't know that I was feeling overwhelmed, however whenever I went to see him, the lesson for the day inspired me to keep going. Stay focused. I'm on the right track....it's all a part of the process. I regained my footing, remembered to be patient with myself, keep a great attitude and stay in the fight. I think I said this before, but it's not about the journey, it's about the lessons along the way!
There are ways to reduce your expenses. There are some competition apparel companies that will rent suits and many competitors sell their old suits. I heard some of them only wear their suits once, sell the old one and get them a new one. If you build a network, you’ll be able to find a suit at a great price, or wear one off the rack. If you have friends who are personal trainers or have nutrition or competition backgrounds, they can help you come up with a nutrition plan and evaluate your progress pictures. Progress pictures are pictures I took every two to three weeks to see my progress of my body. I was able see where I needed the most work, at that time. I also used the pictures to build my portfolio along my journey.
Distance coaching can be a great idea, too. I didn't have to do this but it is a viable option. You don’t need to go with the flashiest local coach whose girls show up at every competition in matching track suit jackets! You can also do your own tan, hair, and makeup, or seek out less expensive tanning options (like the stand-up tanning machines at many tanning salons; if you do multiple layers of these tans, you can get as dark as the more expensive competition tanning companies can get you). Because I'm already dark, I began early on using sensitive skin exfoliant on a daily basis, Hawaiian dark tanning oil and bronzer to keep my skin nourished, moisturized, supple and make sure I have a natural glow. I also used Tan Physics ($80.00 and tons of cocoa butter. I get a lot of compliments on my skin, when I wear my arms and legs out.
Sidebar: 12 weeks out from competing, I develop a cough that grew worse as the cold days came and went from day to day. I work teaching classes and training and still training for the competition. By the Saturday I've taught and trained my body 30 times. As my body fat was decreasing I stayed cold natured. I didn't best to stay dry and keep my core temperature regulated til I got home for the evening. The Houston weather showed me no mercy. I sweat a lot so that didn't make it any better. I would try to make sure I'd dry off and bundle up but somehow the cough only grew worse. On the Sunday morning, that following week, I woke up with huge knot on the front of throat (the size of a large egg). I was so upset and a bit scared at first. Then I thought about it and calmed down. I'd not been sick in years or had anything seriously wrong either.
I began some home remedies to see if I could do something to make it go down. I didn't know what it was, though I thought j could treat it. I started drinking lemon and honey water. I even took a teaspoon of honey raw (yuk, hate the stuff),'that didn't work. So by Tuesday morning it still had not budge I thought better go get it checked out. I ended up going to the emergency room, that took forever, for them to look at it, do an ultra sound, and order me to see my primary physician. By now it's was at 2am. I still had to go to work the next morning and teach. Because it was cold (February Winter months) for two weeks a wore a variety of scarves to cover my neck, so that I would be asked a thousand questions about my neck. I was able to schedule an appointment and get in to see my primary physician within the next five days. Seemed like it was he longest five days of my life. I prayed and keep a positive spirit.
I'm a pretty private person I only told 7 of my closest friends, only asking them to agree with me in prayer for my divine healing.
{Prayer text to family and friends: Good morning Friends and Warriors, over the last couple of days I've had a health challenge (with a cold and very sore throat), by Sunday morning I saw where the enemy is attacking my throat with some sort of (growth in that area.) Yesterday I decided it was necessary to go to the emergency room to get clarity on what's actually happening in my body. They weren't able to distinguish exactly what it is and referred me to a specialist. My request: though I truly understand the power of a praying woman (and man) and regardless of this obstacle, I know my covenant right as a believer. Please lift me up over the next seven day and agree for the manifested healing in my body. Thank you so much and I'll be praying for you as well. Love you and God bless!!! 🙏🏽}
Before it got in to see my primary physician, I was able to get an emergency appointment with my Nutrition/Coach to see if this was something he'd seen before? Perhaps, another up and coming bodybuilder had a similar situation and he could give me some insight. Well, unfortunately it was something he'd not seen. He too was concerned, yet sympathetic and compassionate. I was hopeful. He did have a few suggestions of some thyroid test that I could ask my physician to run to see if that would be my resolve. At first I was hesitant about asking, because I didn't know how she would respond. However, she did agree that it was okay to run those test along with several others. We ran each test twice over a period of six weeks, for accuracy. Yes I still had to work and train and follow my diet. I couldn't have a pity party, sick days or days off from life. About two weeks later the lump began to dissipate, my voice came back and all the test came back good. All my numbers, levels, glands and overall health came back great. There no evidence of anything in the test, blood work, X-rays, ct scan, ultra sound or mri of any abnormalities. Of course I was gratefully pleased. I still ended up taking antibiotics (I prefer natural) to treat the upper respiratory infection I'd developed over this period. All and all it was a scare but but I didn't get in my head about it.
Hello Angel'a, love your awesomeness and tenacity!!! You are such an inspiration!! Praise God for His healing power!!
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