CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE CPA NOVEMBER ISSUE | Page 58

program for your personal
self-improvementGetting
ready for a show and
coming in decent shape
requires a lot more
dedication and resources
than people think. Unlike
other sports, this is a sport
that requires more than a
few months of training to
do well in. Unless an
individual has a solid
previous base of muscle
through prior physical
training, it takes years to
build a decent amount of
muscle mass. It also takes
years to be able to learn
certain principles that only
hard and focused training
will teach you, in order for
you to do well at a show.
You can read these lessons
in my article, “The 12
lessons I have learned
from bodybuilding”. (JUNE
2018 ISSUE)
If you have not dedicated
the time to learn these
lessons, you still need
more time to train. You
should be disciplined
enough to follow a
regimented nutrition and
training program for your
personal self-
improvement. If you
cannot even be strict
enough to follow a basic
daily eating guide and 
stick to a regimented
training then a physique
competition might be
slightly too advanced at
this point. Although
contest preparation can
be an amazing journey, it
can also be more
damaging than good for
your physical and
psychological state.
The main difference
between being a
competitive physique
athlete and being an
athlete in any other sport
is that even at the
amateur level, you must
pick up a lifestyle that is
24 hours of your day.
Those who tend to do
well are often self-
motivated, regimented,
selfish, and focused
individuals. Individuals
who are able to have
laser-like dedication
towards their goals and
do not let distractions
get in their way.
Oftentimes, regular
society is used to eating
on the fly 
whenever they are
hungry, eating what they
are craving, having
spontaneous adventures,
and going out for pizza
after the bar at 2 am.
Even many competitive
athletes at a high level
can get away with going
out for meals of their
choice and not worrying
about the
macronutrients etc. of
the meal. If you want to
do well even at the
amateur level of a
physique competition,
paying attention to these
minor details is a must.
At the amateur level of
other sports, it requires
no more than a few
times a week of