By David Tepera, May 31, 2023
How many of you look at someone with huge muscles and say, “I could look like that if I took steroids.” Well, hold that thought and let me give you an insight into the life of a bodybuilder.
First of all, for women and men, there are multiple categories according to the body you want to sculpt. The categories range from an athletic beach body to the classic large muscular physique.
Tina, Dylan and my stories are similar to other bodybuilders, so this is what it takes. We’ve been lifting weights for many years before we decided to compete, so our bodies were accustomed to training.
To prepare for the competition, we performed a rigorous weight training program — six days a week for almost a year. There was no drinking or staying up late. We cooked all our food and ate six to seven times a day.
Once we were within three months of competition, our day started at 4 a.m. for breakfast, gym at 5 a.m. for an hour of posing, then shower and off to work. Eating every two hours, we were back at the gym around 6 p.m. for weight training. Afterwards, one last small meal with no carbs, a casein shake and bed.
Have you ever had boiled chicken, bland broccoli and jasmine rice for breakfast?
In the last few months, most bodybuilders will perform more than an hour of cardio per day. We stay somewhat lean year-round, so our cardio is minimal.
Let’s fast forward to the last week before the competition. This is where champions rise to the top.
Just know, the last week’s prep is all about science and understanding your body. It’s not the healthiest plan, but necessary to dial in on game day.
Six days from the competition, we drink 2 gallons of water per day, reducing a half gallon per day to only a half gallon of water on the day before the show. On the day of the competition, you can only have little sips of water every now and then.
Also, you cut out all carbs, sodium and seasonings for the entire week. Every night you must soak in a tub with Epsom salt for 20 minutes. Two days before the show, no lotion or antiperspirant.
The night before the show, there’s professional tanning over your entire body. It’s not like the local spray tan. No, it’s gooey and you feel like someone threw tar over you, plus you’re not allowed to shower. You’re hungry with no energy and very irritable, but because of the strict diet, your skin is now totally shrink-wrapped with every muscle fiber displayed.
On the day of the show: Wake up, eat a small breakfast and it’s time to battle. It’s typically an all-day event, with awards in the evening. The ultimate goal in competition is to win a pro status. The athletes’ bodies competing to win pro cards are off the chart. Tina and I competed against athletes 20 and 30 years younger than us.
In case you’re curious, I won two pro cards at the age of 55, Tina won two pro cards at the age of 46 and Dylan was an undefeated teenage champion.
Believe me, there’s so much more to this lifestyle than I can put in a small article. Today, we are not training for competition, but we still lift weights five days a week, along with maintaining a healthy diet.
My goal was to hopefully help you understand the discipline and sacrifice it takes to be a competitive bodybuilder. I tip my hat to all those who have stepped on stage. You’re all winners!