When Max first found a video of the Bikini Short Finals, I didn't want to watch it, let alone share it with the world.
But, then I thought:
1) You guys have supported me all along this journey so you definite deserve to see the end result, and
2) Those of you who would like to compete should take advantage of the opportunity to learn from my mistakes.
You can fast-forward through the first two competitors if you'd like, but I'd recommend watching them so you can compare what they did right and what I did wrong.
Comments:
- I wound up a liiiiiittle bit watery and flat for the night show. It seems like people who are "on" for the morning show wind up a little "off" for the night show and vice versa.
- I seriously need to gain some muscle in my midsection.
- I do NOT have the personality for bikini. I thought I could maybe fake it 'til I made it, as the saying goes, but obviously I did not.
- My hair needed work.
A lot of people have encouraged me to take what I learned and do another show in a few weeks, but I do not plan on competing again until I can be competitive in Figure.
I would like to do a Q&A post on the entire show experience - contest prep and the competition itself - so if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or e-mail me at squatlikealadyATgmailDOTcom!
I've never actually seen one of these shows, this was cool to watch! I think you did great. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! You should watch the Olympia this weekend =D
Deletecoming from a figure gal,bikini posing just confuses me!
ReplyDeletei think you did great job of posing-you just looked a little nervous...i would have never guessed you were faking it till you made it!
and yes,if you choose to do another show,figure would be a good division for you...
thanks for sharing the video!
you rock!!
I was definitely a little nervous! haha! So many more people showed up for the night show!!!
DeleteI must admit, I know nothing of posing and won't pretend I do. Too me you look awesome and I could not imagine faking it LOL. Thanks for sharing, I've always wanted to go to a show but I haven't looked hard enough for any in my area! (Obviously just to watch...LOL)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Hollie!! =)
DeleteYou looked great! But I can see what you say about the attitude--there's just so much hip-and-booty twitching, I'd have a hard time with that, too! Was the comp/judging really that fast? It seemed to fly by! And woaaah, maybe it's just personal opinion, but #1 has WAY too much hair. And another question for you--is long hair a prereq for bikini/other categories? It seems like you never see medium or short-haired ladies!
ReplyDeleteIt was! Pre-judging was even faster!!
DeleteI am actually super jealous of the winner's hair. SO pretty & thick!! Long hair isn't a pre-req for bikini but bikini does judge on hair, complexion, make-up, etc., and long hair seems to help!
you know I think the girls with a little extra on their stomachs actually looked more filled out and muscle-y. The girl on the far right has a bit of a stomach but I think it makes her look better. You had the best booty of them all!
ReplyDeletehahaha - thank you!!! =0)
DeleteI never really know how on Earth these things are judged - it's so subjective! If I was going on body alone I'd pick you as the winner, but in terms of stage presence and confidence I'd have picked the girl on the far right (she really seemed to be confident, and 'worked it' as they say!)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I might know squat about these things but nothing you did stood out to me as being awful at all! You did seem slightly more shy than the others, a little reserved perhaps, so I suppose that would count against you. You still did 110% better than I ever would :P
xxx
It is tooootally subjective!! What wins one show will place last in another show. It's crazy.
DeleteShe was totally sassy!! I didn't get to see her pose until I saw this video but wow - she really showed her personality!
Video footage is a great way to see what works & what doesn't!
ReplyDeleteT.
Definitely!! =0)
DeleteHe was right. You four were a bevy of beauties!
ReplyDeleteGood things to know is that you can win first and NOT be able to walk in the heels and bring a big and loud contingent of friends to scream for you.
I could not under any circumstances, get on stage and waggle my bootie. OK maybe at gunpoint.
Right?! We had the best class in the whole show I think! =D
DeleteSable-
ReplyDeleteWhile it is definitely important to look at what you could do better next time - don't be so hard on yourself!
There is a huge learning curve to competing - when you are dreaming about your first show the poses look so natural, but they do not come naturally at all. I also find, many ladies who are into weight lifting are not so into the beauty / presentation type stuff on a daily basis so we have to learn to do that as well.
Bottom line - the vast majority of people will never even have the discipline and determination to make it to the stage so be proud of your accomplishment.
Thank you SO much for this comment, Leah!!!
DeleteI am definitely, definitely not so into the beauty/presentation/etc side of things haha. But I am learning!! I will be better for my next show =)
Your intro to this post made it sound like you did a terrible job on stage...but I think you did anything but! You look amazing, the best body & the prettiest, out of the 4 for sure:).
ReplyDeletePlus it was you 1st show, & bikini was not your 1st choice category. You are way too hard on yourself!
Aww - thank you so much! =) I am definitely my toughest critic. I'm working on being gentler with myself!!
DeleteI enjoyed watching it. Thanks for posting it and it was amazing watching this transformation through all the hard work and effort you put in.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!!! =0)
DeleteYou are AWESOME. :) I have a question! What makes you so sure that figure is best suited for you? I definitely have my heart set for figure one day but I'm learning that maybe bikini might fit me better. Do you think one should go with their dreams or go with the division that best suits them?
ReplyDeleteAww thank you Brittany!!
DeleteI am planning on writing a whole post about that actually! In short..it depends. haha! I think bikini was the right choice for me this time around but I won't do it again.
I don't understand the difference between figure and bikini, so that's my question. Sable, you should be proud of getting to this awesome point in your journey. Only more good stuff to come! xo
ReplyDeleteI will definitely address that!! =0)
DeleteThank you so much for all your support!
Figure is for women who are very muscular and strong... it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and strength building to be THAT muscular after all of the dieting down.
DeleteBikini is more fun and flirty... the women tend to not be as muscular as figure. Most of the time, they are more muscular than Sable and the ladies in her video... except for the last woman- she looked like a seasoned bikini competitor.
Anon, I would LOVE for you to post a picture of yourself if you're going to take hits at my muscularity. I am assuming you are the same person as Anon below.
DeleteIf you absolutely MUST know, I lost a lot of muscle when I started treating my hypothyroidism. That is a side effect of thyroid meds.
Thanks for the motivation.
(By "anon below" I mean the wonderful person who left the comment, "You are way too thin/baby muscles to do figure.")
DeleteI'm in full agreement with everyone who's telling you to stop beating up on yourself. You know what? I actually liked that you didn't "shake it" so much. You posed and competed in the way that fit you, so it was authentic.
ReplyDeleteMy question for you: Do you think long-distance running and figure competitions are mutually exclusive endeavors?
Aww geez thank you so much Anon =) =)
DeleteI definitely don't think endurance cardio & competitions are mutually exclusive...BUT I think you would have to focus most of your effort on figure during prep. As you prep your cardio/endurance level will unfortunately suffer at least a little bit so I don't think it'd be a good idea to plan a race and a show close to each other =)
I've never seen a competition like this before, it's so interesting! Like some other commenters have said - it's so subjective, i don't know how the judges ... judge.
ReplyDeleteYou were great though, Sable, you did amazingly well and i know what you mean about bikini - it seems you have to be quite peppy, if that's the right word.
I can't wait to see what your next move it :) xx
It's super subjective! I imagine it's really hard for the judges to be consistent but the head judge at my show said that all of the judges were within 2-3 points of each other on 99% of the athletes so there must be a method! =)
DeleteI mean, I've been in a bikini at the beach, but I have no idea how I'd handle posing for a competition! That alone seems the scariest part of the entire process. But at least you weren't frowning. From the spectator view, I don't think you did badly and you'll improve from here.
ReplyDeletehaha it's definitely much more nerve-wracking! Well, depending on who you're at the beach with I guess. ;-)
DeleteYou are way too thin/baby muscles to do figure.
DeleteGee thanks Anonymous! Did I say I could do figure tomorrow?? No. I said it's going to take a lot of work.
DeleteHey Sable, you did great! I really admire your discipline. My question is (and I mentioned this in a previous comment), how do you plan to change your training for figure? I would love to have that figure look but I have such a hard time putting on muscle :/
ReplyDeleteI didn't forget your question! =) I'm waiting to answer it 'til I see what Jay has me do. This is my first week back in the gym so I'm sure I'll be doing more volume etc once I'm back in the swing of things a bit more =)
DeleteI'm going to be honest and tell you the thought of getting up there in front of a teeny tiny bikini in stripper heels scares the living daylight out of me.
ReplyDeleteYou did amazing girl. can't imagine how nervewrecking it must have been!
It is definitely scary! But hey no one who was there ever sees me in day-to-day life except Max & grampa & a couple of gym friends =) IDK if I'd do a show in my hometown!!
DeleteI have a great team of colleagues and a while back one of my employers asked if i'd like it if they'd come to support me. I said that would be so sweet - but honestly.. YEEKS! haha
DeleteThat was so interesting to watch. I could never do it. You looked fantastic. Seriously! A little reserved and unsure of yourself but definitely something you could overcome.
ReplyDeleteOverall you did a great job though.
Aw thank you so much Trudy! <3
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! I was totally surprised! haha
DeleteAs far as Q&A, I am curious how you dealt with preparing for a competition that is so subjective in nature! How did you decide how lean/how muscular/how tan/etc? I feel like it would make me mental!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, OMG you train in SRQ?!?! I am there all the time, haha we should lift together sometime!
OMG really?!?!? We totally should!! E-mail me your #!! We can train at LA Fitness together & you can get in for free as my guest!
DeleteMaybe you addressed this previously (I'm a new reader), but why did you select a type of competition that's so focused on appearance (and so subjective) -- rather than something more objective, and measured by strength, speed, distance, etc.?
ReplyDeleteI think the dedication takes a lot of discipline, so kudos to you on that, but I don't understand the appeal of this type of thing? I understand the enjoyment and health benefits of lifting and being strong, but all of the posing and tanning and flat-ironing that's required, it seems like a strange fitness beauty pageant. And it definitely seems like it would destroy anyone's self esteem in the process.
So, I guess my second question is do you feel more or less confident after participating in this event?
GREAT questions, Anonymous. =) I will probably address this in a whole post by itself because it is a detailed & long response, but the short version is: I did it because I've always admired people who have accomplished this sort of thing & I never thought *I* could. I am more confident now, having done it, although I did briefly have some insecurities during and immediately after this video.
Deletei think you looked AMAZING girl! i think it would be fun to know what its like backstage with the other girls - is it a bitch-fest or are girls friendly? do people try and throw each other under the bus? hahah
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie!!!! =) It was BOTH haha! The girls were friendly on the surface but there was a bit of behind-the-back trash-talking!
DeleteJust by looking at pictures I wouldn't have put you last. I'm not a judge and have no clue what they look for but you look pretty darn good to me.
ReplyDeleteI too am like you, I have a personality but when i'm in a bikini on stage I am like WTH am I doing? I hate being in a bikini first off and i'm NOT a 105 lb girl. LOL!
I like figure better being it's more "robotic" for the posing.
It takes a hecka lot' o bolloks to get on a stage in a bikini! A lot of people would not be brave enough to take on the challenge of a doing a competition like this at all . HUUuuge pat on the back, for you Sable:).
ReplyDeletePlus you look FAB!! I actually preferred the less 'flirty' ,and more demure approach you took. Classier!
Sarah
Xxx
OH. You're only 23 years of age? That explains a ton, and I now have more acceptance about your naivety. Your former fat photographs always prompted me to think that you existed in your early 30s, and that prompted my complete disgust with your 'philosophy'.
ReplyDeleteI'm officially intrigued to view the evolution of your philosophy over the next decade as you learn to manage your eating.
A bit of show recommendation? Be more vibrant. You look very unconfident... embrace your Loubis. Your body is gorgeous.
Good for you! Even though you weren't satisfied with your performance...... the most important thing is that you went out an did it. As with anything, your confidence will build up.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in future competitions!!!