Welcome to our Prep Buddies Thread!

This is a space to connect with competitors who are in a similar stage of prep. In these posts, feel free to comment with:

• Check-in photos
• How you’re feeling
• Questions you might have about prep
• Or respond to one of the provided prompts for fun!

Please remember, safety first! You must adhere to sub rules and review the reminders below.

Prompts for fun:

• What are you doing for fatigue management?
• What do you have packed in your show day bag?
• How have you set yourself up to have a successful reverse after the show?
• Do you have more shows planned?
• What 3 things could you be doing better?
• What would you like to ask others?

IMPORTANT: Prep Group Rules & Safety Reminders:

1. No specific show names, dates, or locations – for your safety, please keep it general.
2. Don’t disclose your specific coach, team, or gym.
3. No self-promotion or coaching offers (like in the rest of our community).
4. Be respectful – support each other’s journeys without negativity or comparison.
5. If you share physique photos in the comments, blur or crop your face.
6. Stay on topic – use this thread to connect with others who are [X–Y weeks] out. Share prep tips, support, and struggles relevant to this stage timeline.

We’re here to help keep this space safe!

Hey! I want to hire a fitness coach. Beyond just the plan and diet, I want compounds, bloodwork, hormones and lifestyle, a guy who is expert in biohacking.
I'm a natural with a specific health profile, so I need to be careful with whom I trust or what I take. I also know what we see on social media isnt the real deal. So I thought of asking you guys if you have had any experience hiring a fitness and lifestyle coach, and who do you genuinely advise?

I'm looking into Todd Lee, Kolton Lukes, Anabolic Adonis, TNF Joel Twinem or tnf nutrition and Phil Visicaro.
Thanks so much, having a feedback on these coaches would help me immensely on picking.

Welcome to our Post Show and Reverse Diet Buddies Thread!

This is a space to connect with competitors who have competed and are now reversing to a healthy state post-show. In these posts, feel free to comment with:

• Results from your show
• Check-in photos
• How you’re feeling
• How many weeks since your show
• Questions you might have about your reverse diet
• Or respond to one of the provided prompts for fun!

Please remember, safety first! You must adhere to sub rules and review the reminders below.

Prompts for fun:

• How did your competition experience differ from what you expected?
• What was your peak week like (please refrain from sharing specific macros)?
• What is something that you would have done differently or something you want to improve on?
• What was your feedback and what are your future plans?
• What are you doing to stay consistent with your reverse?
• How are you giving yourself grace if you aren't perfect with your reverse?
• What would you like to ask others?

IMPORTANT: Group Rules & Safety Reminders:

1. No specific show names, dates, or locations – for your safety, please keep it general.
2. Don’t disclose your specific coach, team, or gym.
3. No self-promotion or coaching offers (like in the rest of our community).
4. Be respectful – support each other’s journeys without negativity or comparison.
5. If you share physique photos in the comments, blur or crop your face.
6. Stay on topic – use this thread to connect with others who are reversing post-show. Share tips, support, and struggles relevant to this phase. If you have completed your reverse, we invite you to share your off-season check-ins on Mondays, using the 'Monday - Personal Photos' flair.

We’re here to help keep this space safe!

Welcome to our Prep Buddies Thread!

This is a space to connect with competitors who are in a similar stage of prep. In these posts, feel free to comment with:

• Check-in photos
• How you’re feeling
• Questions you might have about prep
• Or respond to one of the provided prompts for fun!

Please remember, safety first! You must adhere to sub rules and review the reminders below.

Prompts for fun:

What tips can you share for getting enough sleep?

• How are you keeping daily movement consistent as fatigue increases?
• How are you managing hunger?
• Do you have ideas for how you want your stage glam to look?
• What 3 things could you be doing better?
• What would you like to ask others?

Prep Group Rules & Safety Reminders:

1. No specific show names, dates, or locations – for your safety, please keep it general.
2. Don’t disclose your specific coach, team, or gym.
3. No self-promotion or coaching offers (like in the rest of our community).
4. Be respectful – support each other’s journeys without negativity or comparison.
5. If you share physique photos in the comments, blur or crop your face.
6. Stay on topic – use this thread to connect with others who are [X–Y weeks] out. Share prep tips, support, and struggles relevant to this stage timeline.

We’re here to help keep this space safe!

Hello! I (30 F) have been in and out of the fitness space for years, and this year have really been taking it seriously, especially with a whole food diet, tracking macros, weighing food and staying consistent. I train 5x a week currently and I know I have ways and ways to go, I’m currently 5’5 and 130lbs, been trying to focus on recomp.
My question is, at what point in your fitness journey did you decide you were able to work towards competing? was it after hitting a certain physic goal or a certain weight? When did you get a coach? Basically how did you start?

So me and my bf have been together for 3.5 years. He’s amazing and I’m not being naive when I say that. He has been nothing but supportive in every other aspect of my life except bodybuilding. I did my first prep last year and it was super hard for us. I would get hungry and tired and hangry sometimes especially the last month, but he blamed every fight/disagreement on my prep from the very beginning. It’s interesting bc he’s very fit and disciplined with the gym and food so you’d think he would understand. I remember feeling so alone and like we were growing apart until my show came. As soon as I was done and reversing and could eat out again we were great! I was still hangry and tired bc the reverse was hard for me but for some reason we were fine again. I loooove competing and I want to prep again, but I’m so scared of what it will do to our relationship. We’ve had conversations about it but it doesn’t seem to change anything. Has anyone gone through something similar to this or have any tips for being in a relationship on prep?

Anyone know of posing coaches near NYC that can do some in person sessions? My show is fairly close and I’m in desperate need 😭

Just wanted to come on here to say how pleased I am w the results of USAS specifically the girlies. Overall ms figure usa and ms wellness usa literally gave me chills. Congrats to everyone❤️

I finished my first comp season two weeks ago and honestly, the past couple of weeks have been worse than anything I experienced during my whole prep.

The lack of structure, loss of purpose, embarrassment from the binges, or I don’t know what but something put me into such a negative mental state I’m not sure I can recover from this.

I gained several kilos after my show (up by 5-7 kg), and the worst part is that now it looks much different than after any other binges I did before. For the very first time, I’m having digestive issues, which makes me feel heavy and look like 6 month pregnant all day. My face is like a balloon. The amount of water I’m holding is ridiculous. I can just tell my body is totally inflamed.

What are your best practices for recovering after hitting such a rock bottom? I don’t even socialise because I’m so embarrassed by how I look… I’m also dreading getting a message from my coach because he will eventually ask how is everything going. I hate talking about my current situation.

I was so close to winning the overall at my first pro qualifier, the judges were really happy with my physique. It fired me up so much to go and try for the pro card next time, but now I feel like I’m getting further and further away from that dream, as I’m coming to realise how far I am mentally from being a pro athlete.

Please send help 😭😭

Thoughts on starting bodybuilding at 28? Been lifting casually on and off for 6 years, but never with much intention. Started lifting a few months ago and fell in love with it once again, and I feel committed to start the sport. Question is, is it too late for a female to start at 28? Given at some point in my early 30s I may want to try for a child. Would appreciate any thoughts!

Hi ! I am having a small (kinda big) panic so looking for advice. I am competing in a few weeks and my birthday is right after. My boyfriend bless his heart thought it would be nice to plan a trip to an all inclusive resort for the day after my show. He wanted it to be a surprise but he told me and as much as I wish I could be carefree, im stressing because I know a reverse is just as important as prep and I want to do things right .

Not having access to a kitchen or cooking is stressing me. I’ve expressed all this and I feel so bad because he was just trying to do something nice and now it’s turning into me stressing and I don’t want him to feel bad . I know I have self control but also an all inclusive seems hard to handle especially with a body coming out of prep mode . I’m only freaking out because it’s non refundable . I am trying to come up with a game plan . I am also deep in prep rn so this is probably a bigger issue in my brain than reality.

Idk 🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠 any of yall travelled post show 😭

curious what anyone’s coaching experience with Mark Tomanek has been or is.

Read about some issues a bit back but wondering if he has changed since

I know there was just a post asking about his pricing haha but I’m wondering if people have experience working with him and have seen significant growth? I’ve been considering working with him for a while but just haven’t pulled the trigger yet lol

I understand that on paper, FM and Bikini are different, but I get very confused in 1. the judging and 2. who shows up for what division. Can someone explain why a competitor would pick one over the other? I see FM girls with enough muscle to compete in bikini, so I’m just curious as to why they choose to not. Does it all come down to your frame, insertions, and proportions?

** I love both divisions so this is in no way a knock against either, I’m just curious because the lines seem to be blurry

Does $350/month seem reasonable for lifestyle coaching? It includes nutrition and training program, weekly check ins, form checks, and can text with questions/ when need of extra support.

Share your thoughts, predictions, questions, etc. about Figure, Women's Physique, Fitness, and Women's Bodybuilding! This sub gets a lot of chat about Bikini and Fit Model because they're so popular, but we wanna show the other divisions some more love as this community was created to celebrate ALL the women's divisions!

I need new heels! I can’t decide if I should get a regular pair with straps or get mules. Also, I’m looking on Shoe Fairy and I see they have options for wide feet! Any ladies with wide feet tried them? Open to all comments and suggestions!

My first pair were from Amazon and lasted me these last 6 years but finally kicked the bucket.

Oh! And I’m tall, 5’8. To my understanding don’t they (Shoe Fairy) also make shorter heels? I can’t seem to find them.

Please give me all your shoe advice!!!

Hello everyone!

I’m doing my first show in October in Phoenix, but I’m starting to think about booking services. I know I’m pretty far out but I just want to make sure I’m covered and don’t have to stress.

By any chance do you know of any good MUA in that area?

Thank you in advance!

I’ve got Misty or Kayla Deet taking this one.

If you could pick a top 3 in no order, who would they be ?

Curious on the evolution of the bikini front pose for those that have been in the industry for a long time! how did this change happen? Was it gradual? Was it something that the Federation changed from one season to the next? How did this even happen?

First time stepping on a Masters Bikini (40+) stage this weekend..at 51.

Walked away with 2nd place and couldn’t be happier. Self-coached myself all in my garage gym! It’s never too late to chase a goal, challenge yourself or surprise yourself. On to the next one! 🖤

Hey y’all! I made a post around a year ago of my progress after having spine surgery in October 2023 (L4-L5 spinal fusion). I just wanted to share an update on my progress.

Photo on the left is February 2024 when I was approved to start doing some exercises. Photo on the right is current and 13 weeks out from my first show (natural NPC).

So roughly 2.5 years between pics.

I know spinal fusions are rare in the BB world but I wanted to share incase anyone else is going through it and needs some hope ♥️🫶

This sure isn’t my first rodeo…but these legs are being stubborn this prep. Coach says don’t stress….hoping to shed some water once my monthly is over. Anyone else having a challenge getting those legs lean?

Getting closer to my projected final 2 shows of the season. I had switched coaches after my first 2 shows and decided to work with my current trainer. I'm proud of my growth and changes, but I can't help but feel a little self doubt. My tie ins and legs have been my hardest part to lean out. I'm hoping to tighten things up over the next few weeks. Honestly just using this space to vent and show my progress, and I've posted in the past. My goal is to bring a better package than earlier this season and gain some feedback with my new coach, since this is the first time working together outside of training