This week the ADO Fitness trainers are addressing how their lives have been negatively impacted by fitness to spread some light on issues not everyone speaks about. Coach Jennifer Ann NPC Bikini Competitor shares her story.
When I began my fitness journey I jumped right into bikini prep. I was super eager to transform my body and my life. As I began prep I was excited to have a sweet body but knew very little about the mental battle struggles I would go through. My first prep was relatively easy until the last five weeks when I quit sleeping at night. Every prep I’ve ever had around the fifth and fourth week out mark I literally quit sleeping. And by not sleeping I don’t mean I only get 6 hours, I don’t sleep at all. So I’m basically a zombie the last few weeks. Along with lack of sleep I experience what some refer to as “carb brain”. It’s like your the most spacey you can ever imagine throughout the day. I would go to the same grocery store 3 times in one day several times a week and I would literally sit in the parking lot for 20 minutes every time having no idea why I was there. It sounds kind of funny but can be extremely frustrating and time consuming. Lack of sleep plus being on such a low carb intake when you’re used to more can make regular daily activities extremely exhausting. So mental strength is definitely needed at this point to make sure you get your workouts in and not go HAM on food in the kitchen because the struggle is real. The hunger pains sometimes were so strong I have a feeling that was what kept me up at night. The way your brain changes and the way you view food is an entirely new experience. I caught myself day dreaming of cookies on many occasions and watching the food network like I was hypnotized. Temperature wise I’m either freezing or ice cold or so hot that I’m drenched in sweat. I remember my last prep it being freezing out and I was in a tank top drenched in sweat walking around and I looked over to see a 6 ‘4 man head to toe in winter gear and he was staring at me like I was crazy. The reason our body temps change is from the change in hormones but I had no idea why I felt this way. There were many time I found myself crying for no rational reason at all. I am touching on these things because they do happen, but I will say before I prepped in a healthy manner these hormonal issues, struggles, hunger pains and emotions were definitely way more intense. However, the last four preps I noticed around 8 PM I get extremely disorientated from being depleted and I feel very goofy or “drunk”. And don’t get me wrong I’m not saying all of this because I wouldn’t do it again because I love a challenge and I love things that are hard and I love prep. I love every minute, every sleepless night, every hunger pain, every dazed grocery store adventure, every workout, and every time I step on stage. It’s all a process and I love everything about it but it’s not all sun shine and rainbows and I want people to hear that. You will be alone a LOT because it’s too hard to be around food and honestly between workouts, posing, and work you have very little extra time during the day for anything else. I also want to touch on what competitors know as the “Post Show Blues” after a competition. If I eat too much sugar after my show I go though a “depression” phase that is very hard to understand. I’m a super happy person all the time so to feel despair and sadness and have no idea why or how to change my mood is hard. Good news is it doesn’t last long and I avoid it by avoiding sugar post show!
The point is there will be lots of struggles and lots of obstacles but everyone is different and your prep may be great some while others may struggle a lot harder. But keep in mind there will be tough times for everyone that’s just the name of the game. You will see what you can do with your body and how you can also transform your mind. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but I’d do it again and again because I love the challenge and growth I receive from it ❤️
Jennifer Binder
AdoFitness
