CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE SEPTEMBER || ISSUE 38 | Page 53

POST SHOW BLUES – IT’S REAL!
By: Natalie Waples IFBB Pro
The mentality it takes to compete is unique. It takes willpower, dedication, focus, drive,
athleticism and the ability to balance all facets of your life.
For those of you who have ever done a show, or
are planning on competing for the first time, not
a lot of people talk about what happens to your
psyche afterward but it is a very important topic
and with the recognition that 1 in 5 people suffer
from mental health issues (1.).  It is even more
crucial to understand what goes on in your mind
(and body) after you compete and to be able to
properly manage that and resume some degree of
normalcy to your life. 
Most competition preparations are 12-16 weeks
long. Some individuals start as early as 6 months
beforehand if they have a larger amount of
weight to lose. So, at a minimum, a quarter of
your year is spent focusing on one objective, one
goal, and one day. 
If you think about that in terms of the hundreds
of hours you put into training and cardio, plus all
of the meal preparation time and the increased
need for proper sleep, the return on investment
in terms of your ‘peak performance’ time on stage
is an extremely small window. I like to compare it
to climbing a mountain – you climb the pyramid
and it can feel long, tiring, and extremely difficult,
but when you reach the top, that pinnacle
moment makes it all worthwhile.  However, you
then have to make your way down the other side
of the mountain filled with obstacles. So how do
you ensure you are taking care of yourself after a
competition, addressing any residual emotions
you may be feeling, as well as recalibrate to
normal?
1. Source: https://cmha.ca/about-cmha/fast-facts-
about-mental-illness