Thinking of Competing

I have been kicking around the idea of competing in a local show some time late this year or early next. I have a few questions for anyone who has competed before regarding the " precontest" rituals.

I know some of you were preparing for a show last year and got screwed at the last minute by the organizers but you can maybe speak to some of this. I am going to enter in the " novice" category and will be in the 5' 9-5" 11' height class. I think I should have the precontest dieting under control. I am more concerned with advice for the couple of days before and the day of the show.

I was watching the last " Road to the Olympia" and some of the guys were talking about sodium intake before a show. I guess they were talking about keeping sodium levels very low for a few days, then increasing it to normal or even a bit high the day before the show and eating alot too, using the Na to transport carbs into the muscle bellies I guess. Has anyone done this? Does it work? Also I have to ask about tanning, oil etc. I will get an unlimited one month pass the month of the show and should be a brown wonder by the show. I' ve seen guys also apply something that looks like a brownish dye (almost looks like Betadyne) right before the prejudging. What is that stuff? It isn' t self tanner I don' t think, it is more like a dye or something. Also, what is a good brand of oil? Just regular mineral/baby oil. I think I saw guys spraying themselves with PAM! Is that something to try? I also have to get my posing down at some point too, but that can be another post.

So come on people, what are your pre-contest routines?

The sodium thing can be tricky and wouldn' t recommend it until you have competed a couple of times. If you don' t get it right it can back fire. But here is a run down of what it is.

Your body water is governed largely by 2 nutrients sodium and potassium. Sodium holds water outside the cells and potassium inside the cells. The two are always striving for an equilibrium in amounts. if you get you body to handling large amounts of sodium it wil have to process it all and rid itself of the extra sodium AND water that comes with it.

A couple days before the show you cut as much sodium as humanly possible and SLOWLY start adding potassium. while carb loading. about 1.5-2 days before the show you should start to widdle your water intake down to next to nothing. The net effect is paper thin skin and very full muscles. But playing with your electrolytes is not always safe. Ask around. Potassium is not something to just mess with willy nilly.

I personally start the sodium and water " loading" the day after a contest that gives my body about a year to normalize to high levels of sodium and water.

There are a number of self tanners, protan, dream tan, etc. Some you have to do for days in advance, so a few minutes. Some look better than others. There is actually posing oil you should buy. Jan Tana has some good stuff.

There is really no miracle trick of the trade. Unless you are down to 4-6% body fat, no tanner, oils or sodium manipulation will save you. And if you don' t play your cards right, they can even hurt you.