home

I developed the competitor corner as a resource for fitness competitors. When I began competing in fitness over 8 years ago I was so frustrated by the lack of resources available to us. Everybody had a different philosophy and I was completely lost. Who do I Believe? Who do I Listen To? Who is Right? Who is Wrong? What I realized along the way is that everybody had an ulterior motive. I found this industry to be very self serving. I developed the competitor corner to provide you with unbiased information. This site does not benefit me in any other way than making my fellow competitors happy. The competitor corner is meant to just help my fellow competitors.
            

Walking & Posing

There are multiple federations and multiple divisions within those federations. First of all please take into consideration how subjective this sport is. You will need somebody that can teach you how to walk for your federation. This should be customized to your body type and coordination. Once you learn "Your Walk", then it is best to get with a group of competitors and fine tune it. Practice your walk weekly in the off season and daily when you are coming up to a show. Practice really does make perfect. The one thing to really focus on are your transitions. Some girls are great at posing and even walking but they do not concentrate on their transitions and it makes their posing look unpolished.

For walking and posing classes in your area email sharonpolsky@gmail.com. For those of you in Southern California check out my Competition Preparation Page.

Team Miss Fits

My next observation when I started competing in fitness was how lonely this sport can be especially backstage. Girls were either very isolationist or groups of girls were really cliquish. When there were girls that befriended me back stage it was soon followed up with trying to get me to use their coaches for my show prep. Well I like my coaches and I have had great results but I couldn't be part of the team unless I made this change. NO LONGER!!! I developed Miss Fits with my amazing friend and Co Captain Alex Navarro. This is a team for competitors by competitors. Use whoever you want for show prep and join team Miss Fits purely to find support backstage and share resources. We can all agree that resources like tanning, hair and makeup are less expensive if we can share those resources with fellow competitors. There is no charge for joining Team Miss Fits.

To join Team Miss Fits email sharonpolsky@gmail.com.
 

Show Prep

There are so many variables that go into Show Prep, so remember that this is a very complicated subject. Remember what we look like on stage starts in the gym and in the kitchen. So, we can not talk about Show Prep without covering Workouts & Nutrition. Team Miss Fits has a great network of trainers that specialize in show prep including but not limited to Cathy Savage Fitness, M2 coaching, HitchFit Gym, WBFF pro Rob Riches, Coach Doug's Total Body Advantage, Michael Orr, etc.

For a show prep specialist in your area email sharonpolsky@gmail.com.

Day of Show

Last but certainly not least is what I like to call the Day of Show. Remember the way we look on stage has everything to do with our success. Show Prep and Day of Show work synergistically. Think of it this way...when you are competing you are like an amazing sundae. The Show Prep is the icecream and the chocolate syrup; and the Day of show is the whipped cream and the cherry. Without both the sundae is good but not amazing. The sundae needs the finishing touches. I am going to provide you with some tips here. I am not only going to give you the whipped cream and cherry; this cherry is going to even have the stem.

Hair For Stage
I feel like this is where it all begins. I received the worse advice about hair for many years. I was told that I needed to grow it long and where it curly and it never worked for me. I just don't have that kind of hair. Sexy comes in all shapes and textures. You need to find your sexy YOU!!! Then you need to embrace that. Do not try to be something that you are not. What is most important here is that your look is clean, sexy and put together. I can not emphasize this more.

Makeup For Stage
The next step for stage is your makeup. This is where so many girls go wrong. Stage lights are very unforgiving. Many girls try to go for dark and sultry eyes but unfortunately it makes your eyes look like black holes if you go there. Go for bright, fresh and young with some sexy eyelashes and for goodness sake please do not match your eye shadow and your suit color. The next really difficult thing is to blend your face to your body. Be careful using face powder. I do not use it at all. I also mix a little touch of tanner into my foundation to lift my face to a shade comparable to my body.  If you have a lean face do not wear blush it will make you look gaunt. Make sure you don't forget to fill in your eyebrows, they frame the face and you will look like an alien without them. Last but certainly not least lips need to be bright and fresh but I am not a fan of red lipstick. It is just too harsh.

Tanning For Stage
One word of advice....airbrush tanning. If you are going to a reputable show put on by a reputable promoter just use whoever the spray tanning person is that they provide. If you are worried about the quality remember that the majority of the competitors will be using this person so you will all look the same and it really does make it easy. Once you get tanned stay away from water, sinks and toilets are not your friend. Here is my secret I pee into a cup. I know kind of gross but I have learned my lesson with tanning. I also do not wash my hands I use anti bacterial hand wipes. A lot of sinks have killer water pressure.

Bikini/Suits
Every federation has a different look that wins. I strongly suggest you look at the girls winning in those federations and get suits similar to those suits. Local shows are not what you need to be looking at. National caliber shows and pro shows is what to look for. Remember a local show is providing you with the experience to take you to the big leagues. If you wanna compete big league then you have to look big league. There is no right or wrong answer here and it doesn't have to be terribly expensive. Word of advice is match style to past winners but not colors. Don't be afraid to wear a color that stands out but still looks good on your skin when it is very very tan. Find a suit that you love on another competitor, find out who made it and go to their site. Maybe it seams like common sense but It's not for everybody.

Costumes/Outfits
This is where you get to have fun and the part of competing I love the most. I find that the 3 mistakes that girls make here are 1. Not a Clear Theme 2. Way Too Sexy/Trashy 3. Way Too Over the Top (except at WBFF).

1. Pick a Theme...Make it a very very clear theme. For instance if I think of Tennis I think of Wimbledon which is known for all white uniforms. So, if I'm going to do Tennis I am going to do all white. Also, you want to bling it up. Bust out the bedazzler.

2. Sexy or is it Trashy...There is a fine line between sexy and trashy. Remember there are women on the judging panel and you do not want to alienate them. They can appreciate sexy but trashy just doesn't fly.

3. What is Over the Top.....
I have competed in Bikini with Fitness America and you will see much more simple theme wear outfits. I also compete in Fitness Model with The WBFF and they want stand out theme wear.

Fitness America: Keep it Simple...I find that girls are trying to stand out on stage and they are picking outfits that are way too over the top. The theme needs to be recognizable by both Men and Women. Remember there are men on the judging panel and if they can't relate to your theme you start at a disadvantage. I had a girl that did Queen of Hearts, and when I spoke to the judges after the fact they didn't get it...(yes, they were men)

WBFF: Go For It!!! With the WBFF there is no such thing as over the top, but you still want a clean and distinct theme wear outfit. The biggest problem I am starting to see here is that the theme wear is so over the top that the girls can't walk in their costumes or pose correctly. REMEMBER this is a fitness competition first. Everything has to enhance your physique not take away from it. Also, the over the top theme ware is going to cost you an arm and a leg. LITERALLY!!!

Shoes
Yes you want to wear clear plastic stripper shoes but these are not all created equal. Whatever you get you will learn to walk in but I find that most girls go too conservative or way to sexy with these. What I mean by too conservative is that the shoe is either too small or to bulky. They do this because they think it will be easier to walk in. That is not the case bulky shoes are heavy and drag you down while you are walking and shoes that are too small make your legs look squatty. On the flipside wearing 7/8 inch platforms are not going to give you the long legs that you think they are. Keep it simple. You want a plain clear shoe with a pretty shape. If you need a strap with a buckle that is fine too not to worry. If you are very comfortable in your shoes then you do not have to change them for your theme rounds or your evening gown rounds.

NPC/IFBB - does not want any front platform on the front of the shoe....so you will want to look for a 5 inch shoe.

WBFF - Does not care as long as they fit you well and you can walk in them well. 5 or 6 inch is best. You do want some platform in the front because that is most comfortable. About an inch or less is fine.

Fitness America - Again doesn't really care as long as you can walk, although I see mostly 6 inches in this group.

Jewelry
This again is federation specific and you want to look at what the winners are wearing. You can never go wrong with rhinestones for any federation but feel free to bling it up more if that is what the federation is looking for. Wear earrings, bracelets and 1 ring. Never wear a necklace it will change your lines.

Manicure/Pedicure
No red, I feel the same way about red nail polish that I do about red lipstick; it is just too harsh. You wanna go french here.

Pedicure: There is a great product called Shillac that is a no chip cured polish product. Once you go Shillac you will never go back. I literally can have a french pedicure that will last 6 weeks.

Manicure: I have started using press on nails for photoshoots and competitions and they are great. They last about 3 days even with showering and don't ever chip or dull. I put them on the night before while resting my elevated legs and trying to keep my tanner from getting messed up.

Branding Your Look
So, about a month ago I started working with a PR manager and he educated me on the importance of branding. When you compete you are your business and it is just as important to brand you as it is to brand your business. So I started looking at running my competing the same way I was running my business and really work on branding "ME".  Look at some of the great fitness/figure/bikini competitors like Monica Brant and Jamie Eason; and they really do look like a brand not only when they compete but also when you  see their modeling work. Recruit a top makeup artists, stylists, hair designers, etc. and figure out your brand. Look  at all of your competition photos and find the look that resulted in the most success and you felt your best. Take that look and tweak it commercially. Remember you need to look marketable. This is YOUR new brand.  So no matter what hair, makeup, costumer, choreographer, photographer, etc. you work with you are going to stay true to this brand. The reason branding "YOU" is so important is because it creates visual recognition for promoters, judges, photographers, magazine editors, etc. Think of this visual recognition like Nike, you would recognize that swoosh anywhere.

So, what does branding entail.

Makeup - your makeup artist develops a look for you, provides you with a diagram of that look that you can hand to any makeup artist to implement. Also, it is best to purchase the makeup and carry your own kit for the makeup artist to use so you  can always stay true to my brand.

We now have this service available to all of our team members for $150.00. You receive a complete makeup lesson and customized face chart. For more information click here.

Hair - Carry photos of your look front and back and provide those to your hair artist.  Feel free to make subtle changes with your hair color but nothing drastic.

In addition to providing visual recognition of who I am on stage it also makes show preparation so much easier.

As a member of Miss Fits you will be provided with a list of Day of Show specialists as well as on our links page on this site but if you would like a list of your own email sharonpolsky@gmail.com

Suit Sources

Suits You Swimwear - NPC bikini and figure www.suitsyouswimwear.com

Tanya Theberge Designs - WBFF & FAP
www.thebergeswim.com

Vizion Wear - NPC & FAP
www.vizioncouture.com

Crystallini Bikini - FAP & WBFF
www.crystallinibikini.com

Jodi Lane Bikini - NPC, WBFF & FAP
www.jodilane.com

Suits by Amy - WBFF & FAP
www.suitsbyamy.com

Suit Yourself
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suit-Yourself-Fitness-Figure-Bodybuilding-Posing-Suits-by-Laura-Richards/102415156467054

Note: any of these suit makers can make a suit appropriate for any organization.

Shoe Source

Attractive Wear - Call and ask for Dan
800-300-5800
 www.attractivewear.net
Order: Brand = Ellie, Style = 601 Vanity, Color = clear and clear
Size = these shoes come in whole sizes only if you are a narrow size or a 1/2 size go down to the size below. If they are too tight you can heat them up with a hairdryer to fit them

Rhinestone Source

M & J Trim
 www.mjtrim.com

Clear - are regular stones
AB Clear - are irridescent or rainbow (ish) regular stones)

ss34 - Large Size
ss20 - Average Size
ss12 - Small Size
ss7 - Extra Small Size

Flat back are for glue on application (I prefer)
E6000 glue - (dries fast so it takes practice but lasts longest)
 

Competition Camps

Monica Brants FEM Camp
www.femcamp.net

Cathy Savage Fitness - Camp Savage
www.cathysavagefitness.com

Chady Dunmore Fitness Camp
www.chadydunmore.com/fitnesscamps

Countdown To Showtime (6 weeks)

6 Weeks to Showtime
1. Final Goal Planning
2. Show Prep Nutrition & Workout Planning

5 Weeks to Showtime
1. Book Travel; room, airfare and transportation
2. Register for Show
3. Make makeup, hair and tanning appointments.
4. Book a photoshoot with a reputable photographer.

4 Weeks to Showtime
This is where I really turn up the juice. I pull out all of my secret weapons and really get focused...
1. Make sure your bikinis, dresses or theme wear have been received.
2. Weekly photos and measurements start Wk 4. (caliper and circumference)
3. Confirm makeup, hair and tanning appointments.

3 Weeks to Showtime
1. Dial in walking, posing and presentation in my actual show shoes. 15 minutes a day.
2. Confirm Travel
3. Packing List Check Off
I lay everything out on my dining room table until the Monday before I leave. This gets me really excited about competing. You can find my packing list below.
 

2 Weeks to Showtime
1. Confirming travel (and printing all of my confirmations)
2. Directions: mapquesting all of my directions (hotel, venue, etc. and printing those directions)
3. Final Shopping for things like Eyelashes and Wax Buffers.
4. Reviewing all emails and websites of the promoter and printing all of these emails.
5. Practice walking and posing every day for about 15 minutes in my stage bikini.
6. Beauty Treatments:
(towards the end of the week. I never wait until the week of show to do this stuff)
Hair -  fresh cut, color, etc;
Facials & Body Exfoliating (this helps your tan tremendously)
Waxing
Nails
7. Pack- Everything will be packed up in my bag this week.

As you can see, I leave very little to be done the week of show because it will lower my anxiety level. This is where I start to get really excited about competing. This is actually my favorite week of the process, the show is so close I can taste it.

Week of Show
This week really is the calm before the storm. Once travel starts it is like whirlwind. So I create calmness now. I have done everything prior to this week.

More Fun Competitor Information

If you would like some more fun competitor information then check out my blog. There are some great tips and secret weapons that I have discovered along my journey.

http://sharonpolskywbffpro.blogspot.com/

FOOD PREPARATION: (general, not show day)
Competition Prep & Travel. Like Oil and Water. Don't really Mix

So, as many of you know I travel all over the United States year round for work and to compete and traveling and contest preparation are like oil and water, they just don't mix. So, the number one question from fellow competitors is how do I do it....

The key to any successful enterprise is preparation. I prepare my food in advance. I prepare my post it notes. I also prepare my eating schedule against my travel schedule.

1. Food Preparation: Freeze Everything.

Ok, so I prepare all of my foods the day before I leave. Yes this is a very busy day. I then freeze everything except my morning meal which I make sure I eat at home. Freezing everything is very very important. I pack each food item in a sandwich bag (not storage containers they take up too much room). So, after you eat the item you can throw away the storage bag. I pack everything a six pack cooler and this keeps it perfectly cold. No need to add ice to the cooler since everything is frozen. Note: your first meal might be kind of frozen, frankly it doesn't bother me, but when the flight attendant walks down the isle I ask for a hot cup of water, place the food still in the baggie in the cup and off I go. I also travel with an extra shaker so I can place my food in that and eat it and the six pack has a place it slips in perfectly. Check out the picture below and you will see exactly what my freezer looks like post freeze. The morning I travel it is loaded in my cooler. It takes me about 10 minutes.


* Storage: All of the foods I prep are placed in zip log bags. Never mix foods because they have different expiration. My zip lock bags are the key to easy travel because as I eat something I throw the bag away. I never carry dirty stinky storage containers home. Lastly, I never pack extra food. This will encourage me to eat the extra food.

*Refrigeration on the Road: Not everything needs refrigeration. Request a fridge from the hotel but they are not always available. If there is no fridge available request extra Ice Buckets. I only ice my meats and tilapia. Take an ice bucket, place ice in the bottom of the bucket, place the meat and tilapia on the ice, cover with ice to the top of the bucket and then I place the veggies on top.

2. Prepare my Post It Notes.
I prepare post it notes for all of my meals. It is just how I stay organized. I will be posting this in competition secret weapons later this week. When I travel I prepare my post it notes with each of my meals per day per post it note. When I compete I have a competition binder that I use with everything I need in it so I place the post it notes in the front of the binder.When I open the binder the post its are stuck to the inside of the cover of the binder. This is a gentle reminder to stay on track. I used to actually label the travel containers but that was really confusing for me.

3. Prepare my Eating Schedule.
I normally eat 6 meals per day for peak week but if it is an air travel day I make it a 7 meal plan. It is the exact same amount of food just less per meal. If I plan on eating 7 meals, every 2 hours, and I miss a meal because of travel chaos I can easily combine 2 meals. Also, I will always plan a meal while I am sitting on an airplane. There is nothing worse then having some guy with potato chips crunching next to you and you still have 2 more hours before your next meal. This is how I prepare my eating schedule. I look at my flight itinerary and make sure a meal is planned during that time, then I start backing out my meals 2 hours from that flight. I include my eating schedule on my Post Its for that day.

So this is my 3 step approach to traveling while prep'ing for a fitness competition. I hope it helps.



Most importantly...Never Ever Ever check your meals. Always carry them on. If they lose your luggage you will starve.

 

Basic Packing List:

Printed Direction to the Hotel
Printed Registration Forms
Printed Bio
Business Cards
Bathing Suits - In Baggy
Outfits - In Baggy
2 shoes
Jewelry in lunch bags, inside of each Suit/Outfit Bag
Hair Stuff
Makeup Kit (small just the essentials)
Tupe Tape to hold my suit bottoms down
Extra Tanner/Rubber Gloves/Buffing Pad
Baby Wipes
Scissors/Safety Pins/Sewing Kit/Tweezers
Travel Mirror & Electrical Strip
Flip Flops
Head Phones/Ipod
Sweats to wear with tanner
Clean sweats to wear home on the plane
Food
Money
Cell Phone Charger
Photo Shoot Stuff
Bands/TRX
 

Packing: To Backup or Not To Backup

Competition Secret Weapons - 12 total

Secret Weapon #1 - Reminders of my Journey

In January of this year I started a program for my clients called GAP (Goal Assessment Program). My clients create a short term goal and for every new goal they start they start with a different colored wristband (like the live strong wristbands). I decided to apply this to my goals and my training. I am going to wear a different wrist band for each show. For Fitness Atlantic on April 16 my wristband was white, for Central US Championships my wristband was cream, for build and break before worlds my wristband was lavender, and for the WBFF World Championship and my pro debut my wristband is pink. I wear it all the time. It is a great reminder even when I am at dinner with friends and getting so much pressure from them to eat something bad "it's just one bite", or drink something I don't want "it's just one sip"...that these are my goals not there's. What is really cool is that you can write on your wristband with a sharpee marker or you can order a single wristband with a msg already printed on them. This is my wristband and I kind of like the sharpee. It makes it more real, organic, and personal for me. www.wristbands-with-a-message.com.

 

Secret Weapon #2 - Secret Weapon Cardio

So we all have to step up our cardio before we compete, but I hate cardio. So rather than stepping up the amount of cardio I completely change what I use for cardio. I would normally do step, or spin, or run...So when I am getting ready for a show I do the same duration of cardio but I use a HELIX...It's like an elliptical but instead of peddling forward and back you peddle in and out. The HELIX really is my cardio secret weapon 3 weeks out from show.

 

Secret Weapon #3 - Eating Clean Made Easy

Eating clean for me is very easy, but eating really structured can become a little bit challenging because I am so busy. It is difficult to eat on time and to eat exactly what I'm supposed to during the 5 minute breaks between fitness classes I teach. Every Sunday I prep my meals for the week; but that is not enough. I also prep my Post It's. So, my secret weapon #3 is the Post It. On Sunday I post on my fridge a Post It for every day of the week with my meals for that day written on the post it. As I eat a meal or pack a meal to take with me it is checked off the Post It. I save all my post its week after week until the show is over. If I love the way my body looks like on stage (not if I won or not) I journal those meals. This journal will become the framework for the meals I use to prepare for my next show. If I feel I came in too hard or too soft I go back and look at the Post Its, alter them and then journal what my diet is going to look like for the next show. So needless to say I go through a lot of Post Its; but I love them.


 

Secret Weapon #4 - Finding Peace During a Very Restless Time

We all have competition secret weapons that have to do with the way we workout. I have already told you about Helix for my cardio. My next workout secret weapon is Power Yoga. I do yoga all year long, but starting 5 weeks out I step it up with a very specific yoga class. I drive 45 minutes once or twice per week to Bryan Kest's Power Yoga in Santa Monica and a class by an instructor named Vytas. A mix between traditional Ashtanga Yoga, Kest's Power Yoga, and a little bit of general fitness with a yoga flare; this class never disappoints. It is not only instructionally dynamic, challenging and mind clearing; but the environment from the room to the people I am surrounded by is exactly what I need during this time.This packed room full of a variety of yoga styles and levels pushes me in a way nothing else can; especially when I'm exhausted and depleted. I am completely drenched with sweat by the end, I feel energized, I am at peace with myself and the world around me, and my body is flexible. I think Vytas' quote explains it best for me, "Try dropping out of the rat race for a mere hour and a half. Leave that insanity at the door and join us." I think every single competitor can relate.

 

Secret Weapon #5 - My French Pedicure

Here is one of my most treasured competition secret weapons. We all love to have french pedicures for a fitness show, but it is so frustrating when they chip before we ever make it to stage. Well, have you ever heard of Shellac....Shellac is this amazing permanent and no chip nail polish. I love it. I can even do my fitness routine without it chipping. It really is that amazing. So call a couple of nail studios and ask for a Shellac French Manicure....

 

Secret Weapon #6 - Goal Planning

Creating and maintaining focus during such a long competition season is a big challenge for me. In addition I find that having a busy personal life will distract me from my fitness and business goals. Conversely, having a busy fitness/competition life will distract me from my personal and business goals. So finding harmony among all 3 aspects for me is the hardest part about competing. Last year I went through a very difficult time in my personal life where my goals and dreams were shattered in a single day; but I had to pick myself up by my bootstraps and make the best of a challenging situation (like so many of us have to). I went to visit my good friend Alex Navarro and as I sat on her bed feeling sorry for myself I looked up and saw her dream board. It reminded me of when I did those in my 20's and how great it was for me. I returned home from that trip and made my dream board and it was the best thing I could have done last year; and I will continue to make a dream board for the rest of my life. I include my person goals like "only love the deserving"; and my professional goals like "host a booth at the IHRSA convention"; and my fitness goals like "Eat clean 6 days per week" and "Do yoga 2 days per week". I hang my dream board right outside my closet and bathroom, so every morning I have to take a look at it. One last thing I do is add to it. There are fun shapes of paper on it and as something special happens to me or I hear a great saying I add that to my board. Lastly, I add mementos to the board to remind of special things as they happen; a plane ticket for a special trip, a fortune cookie from my best girls wedding, and most recently the top 5 medal and blue scarf from the opening number of the WBFF Fitness Atlantic competition. This really is a great way to remind myself of the many things that take me off course, create an imbalance in my life, and distract me from all the things that mean so much to me.

My dream board then...
 

My dream board now...
 

Secret Weapon #7 - Motivation When I Need it Most

Motivation is the key component to being successful in life. I have a lot of little things that motivate me from my bracelets, to my dream board; but a friend of mine turned me onto a clothing company a little while ago. I have always been somebody that has gone against the grain in life. People have always told me I couldn't do something and I proved them wrong and did it. When I was a child I was a champion Equestrian and people told me unless your parents are rich you will never win. Well guess what, my parents aren't rich, and guess what, I won!!! I bought horses that were on their last legs intended for the killers (this is not a joke) and won against horses that people paid 100's of thousands of dollars for. A few years ago I saw something with this Pole Fitness thing. I am a business woman and I want to do pole fitness so their have to be other women like me. I told my friends in the fitness industry that I was going to develop a legitimate pole fitness program and teacher training program. Everybody laughed at me. Well guess what I am the pioneer in the pole fitness industry and I was first to have my program 3rd party validated. Then I wanted to compete in Fitness and I wanted to use my pole as my prop. I was told you will never win with that pole. I was told I was a one hit wonder that can't do anything else. Also my judges score card said "stripping isn't fitness". Seriously I am an acrobat not a stripper. So, what did I do. I created pole fitness routines that had more strength moves then any other competitor. I knew the judges wouldn't give me any recognition for my strength moves on my pole so I did a minimum of 6 strength moves on my pole and an additional 6 strength moves on the floor. Well guess what, I did win on a national and an international level. So every single time anybody has said I can't or I won't I have told them I will, I have, and I did!!!

So, this is my new favorite clothing company "Say I Won't". Say I won't reminds me every day what I stand for. I have this sticker in my studio on the top of my pole. I love what I do and I love changing the face of fitness every chance I get.

 

Secret Weapon #8 - Stop Using Bikini Bite and Start Using Tupe Tape

Hello Ladies...we all know that having our suits crawl up our bumms on stage is not only really irritating, but it is also really distracting and can be pretty embarrassing. Most competitors use Bikini Bite or Spray Adhesive which both work great, but they don't travel very well and get really messy. Well what most of you don't know is that I have worked as a costume tech. and designer for the musical theater stage since I was 16; and I have learned some amazing tricks. Toupee Tape is a double sided sticky tape that is used to hold toupee's on sweaty heads and I use these to hold down anything. When you use Bikini Bite you have to turn to the competitor next to you and say "excuse me do you mind"...then the competitor peals back your suit exposing your ass and maybe a little more and with her face in all of your business has to apply, stick and push. With toupee tape I place it into the suit and then I just step in. No adjustments needed once it's on. 2 words of caution you have to stick it correctly the first time cause it is really really sticky. Also, hollywood fashion tape is not the same and in fact I don't like it. I tend to "glow" on stage (AKA sweat a little) and hollywood fashion tape would slip. The best toupee tape to get is the short strips either straight or curved, I prefer curved, but do not get the kind on a roll. It is super cheap. A 2 year supply is about $14. Here is a link to a site that carries it or any beauty supply that sells hair, wigs or extensions should have it, but they typically keep it behind the front desk. Good luck ladies and keep up the great work.

http://www.superhairpieces.com/super-tape-medical-hair-toupee-tape-36-pcs-per-pkg-p-27.html?cPath=14

 

Secret Weapon #9 - The Best Cooler I have Found

Competing in itself is challenging you have to be organized and prepared and live in discomfort and isolation; but for most of us that compete it is an amazing experience. I love it!!!

So, in order for me to compete and limit the negative impact competing has on my life, so I can enjoy it that much more, I have learned some really cool things. I call these my competition secret weapons.

My #9 weapon is the 6 Pack Cooler
6 Pack is a company that developed a Meal Management System for competitors. They make it so easy for competitors to travel wit food. It is set up with dividers, drawers, pockets, places to put shakers, bottles, supplements, etc. You will love this system.

The small one is plenty big, fits under the seat in front of you on a plane, is light weight, and retails for $69.99 which is well worth the investment.

www.6packbags.com, get one today you will love it!!!

 

Secret Weapon #10 - Protecting the GOODS!!!

So this is a very delicate conversation specifically for the ladies. I have been competing for well over 5 years. Since the beginning I have gotten terrible yeast infections every single show. I first thought it was from the diet, but that has changed throughout the year. Then I thought it was from the water loading, but I don't always do that. Then I thought it was from the sodium loading, but I don't always do that. I finally figured it out 2 years ago it is from the overspray from the tanning products. So I started wearing an itty bitty tiny g string when I tanned and they went away but I don't want any lines or anything. Then I started the research process and tried/researched 10 different tanning products. Same thing happens with all of them. Then I got this bright idea...Panty Liners. Hallelujah. I take a panty liner that is intended for thong panties. I face it sticky side toward me and stick it on to me. PROBLEM SOLVED!!! Now I use pantzies....

Secret Weapon #11 - Getting Water Down the Hatch!!!

So when we are in competition season much of the time it is the little things that bring us joy on a daily basis. For me, I start to get very testy by the end of my week. I start feeling like each next meal I have to eat is a chore and my next bottle of water is an inconvenience. The inconvenience of water is two fold getting it in and getting it out. I feel like I spend my entire day in the bathroom; unfortunately I can't fix this problem as much as I'd like to. But I have found a little secret weapon to get the water in. I love BIG THICK STRAWS... At Smart and Final one day I could not find regular straws to go in my competition makeup kit (by the way you should always have these. Great way to sip water and not mess up your makeup or spill on your tan) so I was forced to purchase Milk Shake Straws. OMG that might have been the best day of my life. I stuck one in a 16 oz cup of water and in 3 drinks it was gone. So, my competition secret weapon #11 is the Milk Shake Straw. I can help you get the water in and your gonna have to handle getting it out.
 

Secret Weapon #12 - Getting Organized

So I have shared quite a few of my secret weapons and I only have a couple more for you. This one is one of my favorites My Binder. Yes it is as simple as that. I keep a binder of everything I have learned over the last few years. It has tons of tabs in it. Tabs include things like Tanning, Makeup, Hair, Competition Suits, Off Season Workouts, In Season Workouts, 5 weeks from Comp Workouts, 5 days to Show Workouts, Off Season Nutrition, In Season Nutrition, 5 weeks from Comp Nutrition, 5 days to Show Nutrition, and Ask the Experts. I then put my show prep for a specific show inside a manila folder in the front of the binder. I carry this with me everywhere I go when I am prep'ing for a show. It is another visual aide that makes show prep so much easier. Lastly, on the outside of my folder I write down sayings that make me feel powerful and successful.

 

Secret Weapon #13 - Take Control

I have a terrible problem with under arm sweat back stage. So what I do is take 2 car buffing pads, pictured below, and place them under my arms. They absorb the sweat and make my armpits look fresh on stage. You can get these where any automotive supplies are sold.

Secret Weapon #13 - Touch it UP

IThese are a must have back stage. I use them to touchup any tanner and to lay on a coat of shine over my tan. They are perfect for the job.