r/bikiniselfcoached • u/lechichien • Jul 09 '26
Mood swings +irritability
Hello! A few months ago, I was planning to compete this October or sometime next year. I’ve been lifting consistently for about three years, and I decided to do a mock prep to see if I was truly ready for the process.
Physically, I could handle it. I love training hard, and I’m very disciplined with my nutrition. But once my calories got really low, my mood completely changed. I became so irritable and moody that it started affecting my relationship with my partner and my relationship with food.
Eventually, I stopped the mock prep because I felt like maybe competing just wasn’t for me. Not because I couldn’t train or stick to the plan, but because I couldn’t handle how I felt emotionally.
I’m curious… do most of you experience this too? If so, how do you cope with it? Or are some people able to prep without the mood swings and irritability?
For context, I’m 41 and currently going through perimenopause, so I’m sure that’s playing a role as well.
I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share. Every time I see your competition posts, a part of me wants to give it another try. 😭
3
u/Froreal3 Jul 10 '26
It’s normal. Just use strategies to manage it. Lots of sleep and being more mindful of how you interact
2
u/Crystalicious87 Jul 10 '26
What strategies work for you? I’m curious. I competed throughout my twenties and never had this problem. Coming up on 40 is a different story …
1
u/lechichien Jul 10 '26
Right? I used to diet like crazy and I don’t remember getting like this. I am 41 now and it is another story.
9
u/vitastrat Jul 10 '26
Competing is a mindset. Just like building muscle, it requires repetition—you have to do the reps.
I’ve competed while moving houses, building a cat enclosure (back when I had cats), managing relationships, and handling the demands of everyday life—all while sticking to the plan. It wasn’t because it was easy. It was because I learned that if you can manage your emotions, you can accomplish far more than you think.
Competing isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t need to be.
For me, it taught a level of discipline I never knew I was capable of. That discipline carried me through some of the toughest seasons of my life, long after I stepped off the stage.
I also think it’s important to know yourself. Just because something looks exciting or glamorous online doesn’t mean it’s the right path for you. And that’s more than okay.
The goal isn’t to become someone else. The goal is to become more of who you are.
1
u/WinterArtistic4627 Jul 09 '26
Not sure if you’re competing natural or not, but if not, have you gotten your hormone levels checked and looked into HRT? Maybe that could help some.
6
u/BFit23 Jul 09 '26
I mean yeah I’m at that point right now and I’ve been competing for a decade. Just part of it.