The following is a guest entry from IFBB Figure Pro Melody Clere on the need for competitors to have an offseason. Melody herself has just recently come off a great offseason dedicated towards putting on a little more muscle in some key areas.

I'm in complete agreement with her position here obviously as I think one of the biggest problems with those trying to develop 'The Physque', is that they're always focused on fat loss, fat loss, fat loss. The need to stay lean year round, always competing, doing numerous shows per year. When do you make any gains? Oh wait, you don't. That's why you never look much different. Competing successfully is not just a fat-loss contest.

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Many figure, fitness & bodybuilding competitors are so “gung-ho” when it comes to pre-contest preparation, but come the offseason (wait, is there even an offseason for most girls?) and you see girls start slacking a little on their training, or their nutrition, or maybe they just fail to map out a plan until it’s time to diet down for the next show. How many times have you heard the following or perhaps are guilty of saying so yourself?

“It’s my off-season, so I don’t want to think about food and training.”

“Ahh I can be ‘normal’ again.”

It might seem like the right time to take it easy, to become a little more lax in your training and a little more lenient in your nutrition, but in reality, all this does is waste precious time. I'm all for some much needed offseason flexiblity, but flexibility is not the same as taking it easy. You have the greatest chance of making your best progress in a well planned out and focused offseason, unless of course you're planning on presenting the same package next time. If you’re serious about moving to the next level, you need to be serious 100% of the time, not just for those 12-16 weeks out of the year leading up to the show. Heck, even worse are the competitors who are competing year round - when do you get to make improvements if you're always dieting? Again, it's fine if you feel your physique is developmentally right where it needs to be, but honestly, how many can really say that?

The offseason ...

You need to get in the right mindset. Now I know most female competitors freak out over every little pound they put on - get over it! You can't stay nearly contest lean all the time and expect to add muscle to your body. Don't misread me here; while I agree you're going to have to accept a little body fat in order to gain that much needed muscle, it doesn’t mean you have to be a slob about it. Don't be afraid of gaining a little weight. It comes off just as easily.

In fact, speaking from experience after just completing my own offseason phase, my body is even MORE responsive to fat loss now. The extra calories not only served to support new muscle growth, but they helped normalize my metabolism.

Let's also not forget that, while you might look great, it’s not physically or mentally healthy to remain contest lean year round or do what it takes to remain contest lean year round. Your mindset needs to change from losing fat to gaining lean muscle and improving your weak body parts.

One of the main problems is that good, ol' thing we call vanity … meaning “I need to look amazing year round.” This mindset is the kiss of death in my opinion. You’ve essentially just put the brakes on your ability to take your physique to the next level .... again, unless you’re one of the the few and far between who are totally satisfied with your physique and as such are content just to maintain.

The next time you reflect back on your past show(s) and before you start with the excuses of “it’s political…”, “the lighting was bad…”, “the judging criteria…”, or whatever the excuse is. Think about this for a minute. Your offseason will determine your NEXT season. Perhaps you need to work on presenting an improved physique next time around.

Posted Jan 05, 2010 by Erik Ledin.
This entry is filed under Contest Prep, Guest Blogs, Training, and IFBB Pros.