Journey To The Stage
As a coach in this game for decades, I see so many people who want to compete for the first time. They see the end goal, but do not understand the journey it takes to get to that end goal. When I
am first approached by an aspiring competitor, my first response to them is: “ Do you know what you are getting yourself into and do you understand what it takes to step on that stage?” Most people are blind to the process of contest prep - how much time, patience, and dedication it truly takes to prepare for a competition.
Many first timers approach me wanting to compete in 10-12 weeks, and sometimes even less time than that. I always tell the new comers that their prep will take longer than they expect, and they will probably need to lose more body fat than they expect to.
As a coach, it's my job to assess each client and be honest with them so I can build a realistic time line to make sure they will step on stage at their personal best. I say “personal best”, because
physically, every client has different genetics and structure. Mentally, every client has a different drive and motivation.
With that said, if you feel you are ready to commit to the process of contest prep, here are my tips to get you started on your journey to the stage:
Step 1 : Find a coach
Not just any coach that looks good and says, “I’ve won 2 shows”. When I say coach, I am referring to a professional that has been around and has a track record of years in the game. I'm talking about a coach who is doing this full time and has to make sure that they are on their game. A coach that does this for a
living and is super passionate. If you go on Social media 8 out of 10 competitors are posting that they are a coach after doing 1 show. This makes me crazy because they take people’s money and don't understand the damage that they can potentially do to these clients. Make sure you do your homework and find the right coach for you. There are a lot of great coaches out there.
Read the rest in Get'em Magazine November / December 2023 issue featuring Dr. Josh "Ghost" Stoneking and Chance Gwyen available on Amazon and in print while supplies last.