HARDBODY News & Updates

There are a number of questions that go unanswered in the world of competing. You can find a million and one websites and magazine articles that will talk about sets and reps. That’s great and will always have it’s place as will the questions related to nutrition and how many ounces of chicken one should eat. Again, great and all but what about the other questions many of you have but still seeking to have answered? This is where our new feature comes in with Ana Tigre.

Ana has competed in a number of shows and experienced the good and bad along the way. She recently launched her own line of women’s fit wear, FIZEEK BRAZIL, and is on the rise to success in more ways than one. If you have a question for Ana you can email her directly and she’ll answer it regularly here. Don’t worry, your name won’t be published and all communication related to the topic will be handled directly with Ana. Think of this as a Dr. Ruth meets Dr. Phil with an Oprah twist as it relates to women in the fitness industry.

Q:  Ana, I’m having a hard time finding balance while preparing for a show. Do you have any tips to create balance and still accomplish your competition goals?Ana: Balance is one of the hardest things in life. Throw in competition prep and our lives can really get out of whack.  I have competed 14 times.  The first one was right after I got married in 2002.  If I had not learned precarious art of balance, I might very well be single right now.

The most important thing is to have your priorities in order.  For me, those priorities are my marriage, my business, my dogs, and competition (in that order).  This does not mean I give my competition prep any less than 100% - it only means that I am not going to neglect my marriage, my business, or my dogs for the sake of competition.

This can be a very lonely sport, but we are only lonely if we allow ourselves to be.  The more I involve my husband, Eric, the less he feels left out of my world.  I try to get Eric involved in most of what I do during prep.  For example, we may cook my food for the week while we talk, do cardio together, or pick out my suit colors.  I also have him take my progress pictures for my trainer.

Every night, I make time to be with him and just be normal and I plan my working hours and my workouts around our time together.  That way, when I am done training for the day, I can just relax with him.  My close friends know not to call me after 7pm unless it is an emergency.  We watch some TV, talk, listen to music, and twice a week I get dressed up and we go out to happy hour (where I drink water and eat my competition food out of the Tupperware that I lug around in my purse).  I am still in bed by 10pm every night, but these little things allow me to have a little normalcy in an otherwise hectic life.

I have also learned to ask for help.  Asking for help is a hard thing for anyone.  For me, I like to think that I can handle it all (like I am a superwoman).  Unfortunately, life gets in the way and some days I get caught up in meetings or finishing up a new collection, and I fall behind my schedule.  By the time I get home, I may have to cook, clean house, do laundry, or take care of whatever chores await me.  I have found that if I ask, Eric is more than willing to help out so we can still have some time together.

Another thing we all deal with is the moodiness.  Preparing for a competition has a special way of bringing out mood swings.  Some days, it seems as if I have no control over my emotions.  Of course, those that are closest to us are the ones that suffer the most.  Communication is the most important way I deal with my mood swings.  If things are not going well, I am quick to gently let Eric know that I do not feel like myself.  And if I act bitchy, crabby, or otherwise strange, I let him know that my actions have nothing to do with him.  Sometimes, I just cannot control my emotions. He has come to understand that I sometimes have the typical prep freak out and if I get crazy or go off on him, he laughs it off or just doesn’t pay attention.

The taboo subject of sex is also relevant to the discussion of balance.  On my fitness board, we discuss sex frequently.  A lot of the competitors that I know have a hard time maintaining a normal sex life during prep (prepping can have an unfortunate way interrupting sexual activity).  I feel that maintaining a healthy sex life is very important.  Unless someone has hormonal imbalances due to diet or over-training, they may not feel like having sex during prep simply due to the overwhelming tiredness.  We may feel too sore or too weak from the constant training and sometimes we may be distracted from over-analyzing ourselves while we prepare for the looming competition.

With respect to sex, here is my advice:  make time to be intimate with your mate.  I make time for sex every day.  I have read in many psychology books that most men connect with their mates through sex, not talking.  If you try making an effort to connect that way, you can get a lot more talking in during the day.  Neglecting the needed intimacy for weeks and weeks during prep can be very hazardous to a healthy relationship.

I have a dear friend that once told me that we cannot expect to put our lives on hold for weeks or months at a time during prep and then, in the off season go back to a normal life.  The chance of alienating your mate or family is something not worth risking.

Preparing for a competition can be very hard, but if you keep your priorities in order and involve those around you, you can achieve the always elusive balance.

Ana
www.fizeekbrazil.com
www.anatigre.proboards105.com