3 Things That I Will Miss About Prep (and 3 That I Won't Miss so Much).
To celebrate the arrival of show day, i'd like to share some reflections on the positives and negatives of “prep” — which is what bodybuilders call the final segment of preparation for a bodybuilding show.
✅ Things I'll miss:
Opening my eyes naturally at 5:30am every morning:
Truly there is nothing like getting your circadian rhythm set like a clock. You are perfectly tired and night and energized in the morning. This, in tandem with an effective morning routine truly sets you up for a positive day, full of intent.
A sense of immediacy:
Being at least slightly hungry for 20 weeks will put you in a constant state of mild panic. While this certainly has it's drawbacks (relaxing becomes increasingly difficult), it also has its upsides. For one, the job gets done - whatever that job may be. I'll clean the house before it's even dirty.
Being comically shredded:
Let's just face it - being in insane shape feels good. While achieving the look has never been my primary motivation, it is a materially quantifiable representation of your effort; not to mention what you are judged on as a bodybuilder.
❌ Things I won't miss:
Being absent minded:
There have been a number of notable fumbles this season. Luckily, I've been able to recover from all of them as people have generally been understanding. Names get crossed, meetings get spaced, and details the are fuzzy. I'll keep the specifics to myself 😂.
Being self centred:
If you're wondering - I do actually like to talk about things other than bodybuilding. Given that the discipline requires 'round the clock attention and upkeep, it's hard not to bring the topic up when chatting casually. Plus, people do actually want to know about it.
Anyways, I look forward to discussing anything else for a long time - probably just running though.
Sacrifice:
It's no secret that sacrifice is required to complete a task this challenging. There was a longtime in my life where overindulgence was the norm, and this sport that I practice and love has served as an overcorrection of my previous self. This season hasn't just cost me fun experiences, it has cost me people and things that I can never get back. You just gotta believe that it's worth it.
As always, I look forward to finding an equilibrium when I return to life as a normal human. 🫶
