Firstly - it's Kirsten here. I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of Candice in coming forward and giving you a very candid insight into her first few weeks post-comp. Sometimes I am overwhelmed at just how unreal this whole 'world' can be and nothing is more grounding than the post-comp experience!! And Candice is telling you how it's been for her - warts and all. I really love this girl!!
I'll add my own story in the near future but for now....the floor is yours Candice...
Candice
So…it’s all over!!! If someone had have told me a year ago that I would have entered two fitness model competitions this year I probably would have slapped them for being so ridiculous – but I did it! I placed first in the fitness model category in the INBA competition and also took out the overall fitness model. I competed again the very next weekend in the NABBA/WFF competition but didn’t place. What an experience!
So what was the week leading up the first comp like? Shit. Excuse the language, but I can’t think of a more appropriate word to describe that week and how I felt. My meals consisted of 90g chicken and a cup of greens five times a day and I was drinking at least 7 litres of water a day…I was on placement full time in the ICU at Royal Darwin Hospital trying not to break down after every sad patient I treated. I was dragging myself along to 3 HIIT sessions a week with Kirsten (who is a godsend, by the way) and completing 5 weight sessions a week. I. Was. Exhausted.
I came down to Katherine the weekend before to spend some time with Kieran (and to make sure I had no unsupervised time near the fridge or in Woolworths) for emotional support because by this time, I really needed it. I won’t go into the details of the weekend but let’s just say there were multiple tantrums and breakdowns that rivalled that of a two year old. You know how it’s really annoying when people don’t unload their weights at the gym? Imagine how emotionally damaging it is to find the squat rack loaded up for a 6 foot male one week out from comp. My god were there tears. That same day I went to drive back to the gym to do an abs session and I got into the passenger seat of the car and couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t moving. The next day Kieran put my wallet through the wash. Again, I won’t go into details, but there were tears and I may have thrown my protein shaker at his head (sorry again!). So that week was eventful for everyone involved. I swear I will never do a chicken and green beans diet ever again!!!
The comp itself was such an experience. I am so very thankful for everyone that came up from Katherine to support us all – it was the best feeling to look out and see you all sitting there. I won’t go into a lot of detail about it all because this will be the worlds longest blog so I’ll just talk about a few things that this journey has made me realize that might help some of you out there too…
1. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has their own opinion about everything – particularly bodybuilding. Some people have been fantastic beyond words. I was getting constant messages from really good friends and some friends that I haven’t spoken to in forever wishing me luck – thank you guys, my replies probably didn’t make much sense but it really meant a lot! Others were not so good about it. Some people are convinced that eating clean and training really can’t be all that healthy in the long run (‘You just need to give yourself a break!!’…don’t ask me how that works). Others have sent me concerned messages warning me to not get ‘too muscly, because that’s not hot on girls’. Hate to break it to you guys, but I think it’s pretty damn sexy. For those who are confused about what I mean by sexy muscles go and google Erin Stern, Jamie Eason and Amanda Latona. You can thank me later. Moral of the story – stuff everyone else. Also a little shout out to my special little friends who think it’s hilarious to strike all the body building poses every single time I see you…If I look that bad on stage please don’t let me get back up there!
2. I need thicker skin. I don’t take criticism very well...I always knew that, but it’s even harder when they are comments about your body – I think all females reading this can relate. The above comments from friends and family made me quite upset. Some of the judges comments also got under my skin a little bit. I need to learn that this is a subjective sport – one judge can absolutely love you and another can think you are rubbish and that’s ok, you can never please everyone and you are pretty stupid if you try. One of the best comments I have heard thus far… ‘Oh god, those tans really do make a difference when you compete…you don’t look ANYTHING like you did last weekend’. George got a cracker today as well ‘Oh, your face is looking really fat today’. Not nice people, not nice.
3. Post competition blues exist. And they suck. I’m slowly emerging from this deep dark hole, but the last few weeks have been a bit rough. When I tell people this they really don’t get it and I suppose it sounds pretty ridiculous – going from having every meal, every drop of water, every rep of your training planned out to absolute freedom probably sounds like bliss to most, but it is HORRIBLE! I’ve found that if things are written down and there is someone to tell me what to eat and when, I’ll most likely do it. If it’s training related, I’ll definitely do it. If nothing is written down, I feel lost. Yep, I have a fair idea of what I should be eating and when, but do you think I have been doing that? Not really. I’ve only just started getting my self together these last few days. I’m not going out and gorging myself on junk food and takeaway, I’m skipping meals, or picking at shit in the fridge (I’m looking at you, grated cheese!) or my favourite, eating grapes. Now you’re probably sititng there thinking I’m a little bit crazy because that’s really not that bad, but after not really eating this stuff for 12 weeks, I can tell you that my body doesn’t agree with it at the best of times. Sadly, the six pack is long gone. So, how am I going to get over this? I’ve picked my next comp, and have gotten a yes (she probably wants to take that back after reading this) from the coach I have been harassing for the past few weeks so I’m waiting very patiently for my new programs so I can get straight back into it
4. Just showing up in the gym isn’t good enough. I did this for a few weeks, I’ll admit it. And I got nowhere. You need to be in there lifting heavy every single day to make changes. If you aren’t making stupid faces and struggling with the last few reps, you aren’t lifting heavy enough. I finally pulled my finger out when I started training with Kirsten and I was amazed at how much more I can lift when I try, even on next to no food. I think her Arnold Schwarzenegger quotes while she was spotting me helped a little too…Lightweight baby, lightweight!
5. A good coach is worth all the money in the world. I thought I was being clever paying a little bit less for a very well know fitness model and coach, but it backfired pretty badly. I ended up not hearing from her for the last month and poor Kirsten had to pick me up and put me back together time and time again. I’m a prime example of why a generic diet will not work for everyone. I was on nothing but chicken and greens (maybe a few stolen grapes when I went to woolies) for almost three weeks and I STILL wasn’t lean enough. I’ve well and truly learnt my lesson – you get what you pay for!
So what’s next? My next competition is almost locked in – about 15ish weeks away from that one. I’m going to be leaner and harder this time…I’m convinced I have a lot more muscle on me somewhere – I just need to get more fat off to see it all. My goal for this next round of prep is to be more consistent…I stuffed up my diet too many times for my liking and I don’t want that to happen again. I am hoping that some of Kirsten and Georges awesome dedication and motivation has rubbed off on me so I can be better.
Thanks again everyone for your support, it means the world. I’m still getting people coming up to me and congratulating me in the gym which has been so nice – thank you!!! I’ve plastered pictures of Kirsten and her newest addition to the trophy cabinet all over the walls at the Y and someone came up and asked if it was me today…maybe my post comp fruit binge hasn’t been too bad after all???
