Competing and the things that no-one is talking about

We want to start this blog by stating that we ABSOLUTELY AREN’T slating bodybuilding or trying to discourage anyone from competing…We compete ourselves & have an incredible passion as a team for the sport. However, there are things in the industry that are considered taboo or simply aren’t spoken about enough. These are things that we believe all competitors should be aware of, especially first timers stepping into ‘the unknown’. 

Here at KOMPAK we do feel a strong sense of responsibility to educate & inform competitors about ALL areas of competing.

So please bare this in mind, we have so many blogs with all of the highlights about competing, this just isn’t one of them. Disclaimer aside, lets talk all things bodybuilding…the things that no one else is talking about.

Prep Goggles

If you have already competed it is very likely that you know exactly what we are talking about when we refer to ‘prep goggles’. As we get deeper into prep, we get leaner & the way we view our own bodies often changes. Prep can be anything from 12-20+ weeks long & as we see ourselves every single day it becomes more difficult to see the physical changes in ourselves.

Bodybuilding is a sport literally about aesthetics, so of course we become fixated on the way we look constantly checking for signs of progress. In particular, when you get really lean your mind may convince you that you aren’t lean enough, that you can always do more. This is no different to other sports where athletes constantly strive to be 1% better each day, however bodybuilding has the added aspect that it is visual rather than stats which can be a little more difficult to view analytically/ or subjectively. This is because when we look at ourselves our brain immediately focuses on the things that we perceive in a negative way rather than as a whole.

This is why a coach is helpful as they can take away that worry for you as they are able to view your physique in an objective way with no emotional attachment to it. On these days where ‘prep goggles’ occur, don’t be too hard on yourself. Compare photos of how far you have come already, practice self care & remember to appreciate everything that your body does for you every single day.

If this is you right now, begin inserting selfcare into your routine right now! You deserve it!

Menstrual Cycle

This doesn’t happen to everyone, however it does occur more often than spoken about. Getting leaner, being in a prolonged caloric deficit, increasing expenditure etc. are all added stressors to our bodies. In order to protect itself & preserve energy, some females experience a loss of their menstrual cycle.

As we know, prep is not healthy. We are pushing our bodies to new lows in which the body does not want to be at. Females in particular need extra fat to keep their hormones in check, facilitate childbirth etc. So when our body essentially feels ‘under threat’ and it can sense that we are not at optimal ‘health’ it may respond by reducing internal stressors. This includes the menstrual cycle, as we wouldn’t be ready optimally to conceive or grow a child (the main purpose of a menstrual cycle).

If you do have a coach, at this point, we would highly recommend doing a review of your supplementation & micronutrient profiles of your diet right now. Just because calories might be low it doesn’t mean that you can’t make some changes to improve this.

Hair & Skin Changes

Another thing that may occur due to changing hormones is changes to your hair. You may find that your hair becomes thinner and/or that it sheds more than normal. Although not ideal, again this is due to your body reserving nutrients to fuel you as this is more of a priority for your body when depleted (rather than keeping your hair healthy). Your skin may also become more dry/sensitive too. Please bare this in mind when you are doing your skin prep, exfoliating etc. For more information take a look at our blog here, which goes into skin prep for your tan in more depth.

For more information regarding the science behind the last two points in particular, all of the other intricacies of prep & how they affect your health, we highly recommend you check out ‘The Physique Collective’ here. They have hundreds of pre-recorded videos on a huge variety of topics & they also have forums so that you can ask any questions that you may have!

We hope that you have found this blog helpful. Maybe you have gained an insight before you start your first prep or maybe you have found something you can relate to. Either way, hopefully it has eased your mind that you aren’t alone. These things happen to more of us than it may seem.

Still have questions? Drop us a DM on Instagram @Kompakwomen or via email info@kompak.store we are always happy to help!