Bucket List Bodybuilding Bikini Show #2
I had this crazy idea at 47 years old to see if I could really get in the best shape of my life. So, I signed up for a bikini show! Here’s what I learned: Finishing last is always better than not finishing, which is better than not starting.
Be brave enough to be bad at something new!
18 months ago I had this crazy idea to see if I could really get in the best shape of my life. I also decided I didn’t want to get to the end of my life with no stories to tell.
So, I did want any crazy person would do, I signed up for a bodybuilding bikini show!
After the show in 2020 (you can read that whole story here), I said I would never do it ever again. But then throughout 2020 when my fall marathon got cancelled and I felt like I had no fitness goals, I figured, why not do one more bikini show and see how much muscle I could build in one year.
So, I signed up again!! I was able to add 4 lbs of muscle over the last 12 months, and I learned so much! All I really wanted was to come in stronger than a year ago. After all, for most of us, this sport is less about being compared to others, and more about comparing your own progress year over year!
Here’s a picture from before I started losing weight to Saturday!
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox.
Here’s what I did for this bikini prep:
My diet for the bikini show:
I was following macros as prescribed by my coach, Shane. For the majority of the year he had me on macros of 150 g protein, 150 g carbs, and 30 g of fat. I did take flexible dieting very seriously, and fit in all the delicious food I wanted to make. But mostly I stuck to this simple meal plan here.
Then, about 6 weeks ago, we dropped to 125 g carbs and increased fats to 40 g. That’s what I was eating when I wrote this full day of eating post.
My workouts for the bikini show:
I kept running most days of the week for my cardio. I reallly love to run, and taking that away would likely be a deal breaker for me. I’d rather run than be in the gym.
But, I can honestly say, after 18 months of lifting in the gym, I truly love it! I look forward to it every single day! In fact, I actually hate rest days!
My lifting schedule was:
- Monday; Legs
- Tuesday; shoulders
- Wednesday; Back
- Thursday; Legs
- Friday; shoulders
- Saturday; Biceps & triceps
Show Day!!
Moving into peak week I cleaned my diet up a lot. I stopped drinking diet sodas. I removed all the artificial sweeteners. And I kept my meals very consistent. Lots of egg whites, oatmeal, rice, rice cakes, chicken and ground turkey. While it’s boring, I actually don’t mind it. It seems the less variety I have, the more I don’t have an appetite at all.
Friday before the show, I ate more carbs (from rice and rice cakes), and drank lots of water.
On show day, I weighed the exact same as I did 1 year ago (I was 103 lbs and I’m 5 feet, 1/2 inch), but I definitely added muscle, and you can tell! All my hard work for this bodybuilding competition paid off, because I improved from last time.
Saturday morning, I woke up early to get my hair and makeup done! I love how it turned out and it was fun to have someone else do it!
I entered two categories. Masters category, age 45 years and older. And bikini open class A. Like I said, the girls looked amazing! I knew I didn’t stand a chance in the open class. Those girls have the best skin! Mine is still saggy from my weight loss. I was hoping after a year of staying lean, that the skin would finally shrink to fit my legs, but no such luck. Loose skin is the worst!
Here’s the photo from the age 45 and up! I placed 4th out of 5th in this classs!
And then here’s the open class A, short girls of all ages. They gave awards to the top 5, and I was dead last!!! So, no medal from this group. LOL
Will I do another show?
While I am not counting out the idea, I have no plans to do it again. I met my goals, and I’m happy about that. While I am a little disappointed in my placings (the other girls looked AMAZING), it’s not like I’m trying to become a bodybuilding pro at 47 years old. It’s a LOT of money to spend on a bucket list item, or just something that gets me to the gym every day.
My next goal is to keep up with the weight training, but also my running and try to Boston Qualify at the St. George Marathon this fall!
Anyway- that’s the show in a nutshell!! Hit me up if you have any questions!
More pics from show day!
TRANSFORMATION!!!
2020 show Last year vs this June 2021!
Post show treat- Crumbl Cookies!
2020 show vs 2021!
RELATED POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Hi Amy,
Thank you again for your advice. Do you workout in the evening? , since I workout around 5:35 pm on the weekday, do you think it will be ok to take white rice as a carb on the evening with a protein shake immediately after the workout and then eat 4 oz of chicken breast when I get home? I was not sure taking protein shake and then eating chicken breast is too much protein at night, I weight 125 and 5’ 4”. According to macro calculation I should stay around 1476 calories to lose fat. Any suggestions – advice is appreciated.
I admire your hard work and dedication!!!
Hi Sandy! I workout in the morning (4am!) But, I really believe the timing of your nutrients isn’t critical. Whatever works with your schedule to fit it in is OK. Our bodies are great at spreading out the nutrients when and where it needs it.