A Very Encouraging Contest Prep Testimonial All The Way From Australia!
FLASHBACK to comp prep in the year 2010 (Before Erik):
Sobbing in my car, parked outside the gym for the third time that day, desperately trying to summon the energy to walk from my car to the gym door, knowing that if I could just get inside I could probably then force myself to at least start the RPM class and hopefully, hopefully, the music would drown out the sound of my legs screaming as they endured yet another torture session on zero energy. I might as well go in, because it had already cost me so much to get there: my broken heart as I pulled away from my beautiful six year old daughter who couldn’t understand that I had to leave her again and that I could still go the gym when I didn’t have the energy to play or even walk with her, my marriage in a shambles as I was constantly in hysterics from hunger, lack of confidence, lack of patience, lack of any time to do anything but food prep, train, work, sleep. People whispering behind my back that perhaps I was dying of cancer. My screwed up head that said if I went even one single gram over my starvation diet I would balloon up and be a failure for the rest of my life. Couldn’t sleep from hunger. Couldn’t think. Felt no joy.
Endured all the usual comp prep tortures, did the ‘only drink Evian water in the last week because it’s the only water with no sodium in it’, had only tiny serves of grilled chicken breast, some broccoli, some asparagus, was allowed a little basmati rice at breakfast, and for an extra special after dinner treat – a glass of mineral water! Still, I stuck to it 100%, which is, I suppose, an enormous achievement in itself! Comp day – I was marked down for being ‘too lean’. After comp – spent well over a month eating, eating, eating, out of control, huge depression, suicidal thoughts, desperation, put on over 8kg in a few weeks. My metabolism had taken probably the whole ten year gap I’d taken after my first competition period from 1998 – 2000 to actually get on track, and certainly mentally I hadn’t felt ready at all before that ten years had passed, and now it seemed I was right back at my worst, after just one more competition season.
COMP PREP 2011:
There’s no getting away from it – it was still incredibly hard, mentally, physically, emotionally. I’d read on forums about Erik’s girls having ice creams throughout their prep and not doing any cardio at all. It sounded easy, but it most certainly wasn’t, for me. There were days throughout when I still trained twice a day, I pushed myself incredibly hard in every workout, was often hungry, tired and sore. But the results came – I’d told Erik what I wanted to improve – he gave me specific workouts for me to achieve those aims. The diet was BY FAR healthier and better for me than any other comp diet I have done, seen or heard about. Comps over and I’m still pretty much eating the same kinds of things, which shows how it was tailored for me.
Erik’s seen me (or rather heard from me via email) at my worst. He didn’t give me sympathy, pats on the head or excuses (which is probably what I really wanted), he gave me the tools and framework to achieve the goals I’d been chasing for eleven years (what I needed). Despite the time difference (I’m in Australia) he always responded to my emails. He made it clear what he wanted from me and gave me the means to achieve it. He has more knowledge than anyone I’ve ever met, seen, heard or read about. He was always honest. I know he has been the difference between winning and losing. But more than that, he hasn’t stuffed me, my body or my metabolism up for years to come. I can’t believe the years and energy I’ve wasted time and time again, the frustration I’ve endured of putting all of myself into something and not getting results! DARNATION!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of enormous value also was the LBC Facebook page, and the accountability of the fortnightly measurements/reporting.
I personally can not thank Erik enough. His mantras, comments and the inspirational photos he puts up on Facebook, along with all the wonderfully positive comments from the LBC family on the Facebook page, ran and continue to run through my head at all kinds of times, and keep on helping me. I hope to keep going with this lifestyle for as long as I am possibly able!
– Bridget Freeman, Launceston Tasmania, Australia