My first figure competition part 2

Hi there! I'm back with the continuation of my first figure competition experience. I need to get better about documenting my journey in here!

So let's pick up where I left off.. I covered packing last time. I'm going to start chronologically starting with Friday night, before show day. 

My show was out of town, so my friend, Julie, and I drove the 3 hours to Omaha. Arrived, checked in to the hotel and then headed to the competitor check in. I would say this is when the nerves really kicked in. It was all very very real! Being there with all the other competitors really made me feel, anxious. Really that's the best way to describe it.

I really didn't know what to expect having never done this before.  There was a lot of people there.  Thankfully my posing coach was there with a bikini competitor she was training so I knew at least one other person.  I'm not really an extrovert. So although a lot of people make a lot of new friends at these type of events, I'm not the type to just go talk new people.  That's one reason I brought Julie, so I wasn't just there by myself.

At the check in I received my number, Tank top from the show and the promoter gave us some information about how the show was scheduled and when to show up etc.  Then we left.

Since I was going to be putting tanner on, we had to prepare the hotel room so I didn't stain anything. I had my own dark colored sheets and had brought my own pillow with a dark pillow case.  I wrapped plastic wrap around the seat and lid of the toilet as it can soak up the color from your tan.

Next, I laid out everything I needed for the following day. Then double and triple checked that I had everything. 

Then we began applying my tan.  I used Jan Tana and I think it went on pretty well.  I'm pretty pale and it's amazing how you paint it one and boom, you're brown!  We actually painted 1/2 my body first just because we were so amazed at how it instantly tanned me.  I'd say it took about 45 minutes or so to completely cover me. Later we discovered bigger applicators would be faster (So next time I know).

After it was applied I waited for about 30 minutes or so for it to dry before putting on some dark colored clothes for bed. 

By this time it was probably near 11 pm.  I was a bit hyped up and had trouble winding down to sleep. 

To be continued...

My first figure competition part 1

So I just competed in my first figure competition. It was an amazing experience. I called this post part 1 because I plan on breaking down the experience in to pieces to avoid a CRAZY long blog entry.  So let's start with "peak week"

Peak week was a bit different than the rest of my training. We did full body circuits Sunday and Monday. Cardio only Tuesday and light cardio Wednesday with my trainer. Then nothing else. That was hard. Partly because I hadn't peaked. I was far from peaking. We hadn't reached our goal. Also, working out has become an important part of my life and I enjoy it. 

So I spent my last couple days before making a list of items I needed for my show and packing my bags. The show I competed in was the Heartland Classic in Omaha which is about 3 hours from where I live.  I was going to be out of torn for less than 36 hours but I had 2 very full bags to take with me. There's a huge list of items I took with me and most came in handy. Below is the list I used when packing. 

Nutritionally we kept everything the same for peak week. I was doing a keto diet  and we kept it the same through Friday. I did a bit of carbs for breakfast Saturday morning and for pump up before going on stage. 

So let's get to the packing list. Here's what I brought with me and things I highly suggest anyone doing any kind of physique competition consider bringing. 

1. Alarm Clock

2. Beauty Blotting Papers or powder if face gets shinny

3. Bikini Bite (to keep your suit in place) 

4. Bottled Water

5. Bras

6. Camera

7. Cash

8. Clothes - dark colored  

9. Competitor Number/Contest Registration

10. Contact Lenses/solution 

11. Cooler – soft sided or hard sided

12. Copy of entry form 

13. Crazy Glue

14. Dental Floss

15. Directions to and from the venue, hotel and any other necessary locations

16. Dixie Cups with Bottom Punched Out (for peeing)

17. Extra Competition Suit – having a back up can be a life saver

18. Flip-Flops

19. Food – premade and premeasured (bring a lot more than you think you need.)

20. Hair Spray

21. Hair Ties, bobby pins, hair clips

22. Hairbrush

23. High Heels for competition

24. Jewelry (competition) 

25. Laundry stain remover stick 

26. Lock for Bag

27. Loose, dark comfy clothing to sleep in and wear around

28. Lotion (for after the show) 

29. Mini sewing Kit

30. Mouthwash

31. Nail File/ Clippers

32. Old dark sheets - tan will stain sheets and hotels will charge you if you ruin theirs

33. Organization Membership Card

34. Panties 

35. Pillow case – tan will stain sheets and pillow cases (or just bring your own pillow with a dark pillow case like I did) 

36. Plastic food wrap – for wrapping toilet seat in hotel room – tan will stain seat

37. Plastic gloves

38. Portable food heater for car if driving

39. Posing oil

40. Posing Suit / Competition Bikini – packed separately in labeled plastic bags so they stay clean and organized 

41. Q-tips

42. Razors or hair removal stuff

43. Robe – to wear after tan application

44. Safety Pins

45. Schedule for the day (received at registration)

46. Scissors

47. Small Mirror one that stands on its own on a table

48. Snacks &  Food 

49. Spare Hand & Face Towels

50. Stage Makeup (even if you're getting your make up done, extra bronzer and lipstick for touch ups are important) 

51. Sugarless Gum

52. Supplements

52. Toothbrush/Paste

53. Tubing to pump up prior to stage

54. Tweezers

55. Umbrella

56. Vaseline for Teeth

57. Vitamins

58. Wipes for quick clean ups

59. First aid kit

60. Deodorant (for after the show is over) 

61. Tanner (if you're doing your own tan, I used jan tana and I liked the result) 

This seems like a lot of stuff, but I used most of it. Didn't need the back up suit thank goodness but it's better to be prepared. 

I think that's enough for this post. I think it's good to leave off at the list. This will for sure be something I refer back to as well as tweak for future competitions.