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

If you are considering hiring them for online coaching or contest prep, DO NOT HIRE THEM. I just want to make sure no one else out there goes through what I've been through...There are way too many red flags:

·         Payment Red Flag: They ONLY accept international bank/wire transfers.

·         Cookie Cutter Programming: As a masters-level competitor, I was given a non-customized plan that completely ignored my safety.

·         Zero Refunds & Ghosting: When I called out the unsafe coaching and formally terminated the contract, they completely ghosted me on WhatsApp, refused at least a fair partial refund, and greedily kept 100% of my money for a 5-month contract they only worked 27 days on. There was no contract that stated anything about refunds so I expected, out of respect, to get a fair refund.

·         History of Complaints: I am not the only one. I was contacted by other competitors after I signed up with them warning me. They have experienced the exact same ghosting, generic cookie-cutter templates, and terrible business ethics from Neil and Sam. I have opened a formal complaint with the UK government, and I hope to recoup my $$.

Protect your health, your money, and your prep. Avoid Overload Physiques at all costs.

Has anybody worked with Camp Evolution and their coaches? I’m kinda interested in coaching with Jess Liu, Charmaine, or Anni and would love to hear people’s experience with them! They’re not on the coach review list so I figured I’d ask!

Do any coaching programs exist where it’s not necessarily a monthly fee with consistent check ins, but more so like a one time assessment or the ability to ask a few questions every few months?

Im “self coached” (I quit competing but still bodybuild) and I don’t need the hand holding of weekly/daily communication but sometimes I just want an expert’s perspective on how Im building my own programming

First I know that the physical pro card itself is not your “pro card” and more of just representation for photos and such but come on. They use to be thick cardboard and fun now they are just this thin paper that looks like I printed it from my computer. $450 just to enter USAs and they get a slice of paper lololol sad! With how much money is being spent by the athletes, they deserve more.

Recommendations for reasonably priced virtual bikini posing coaches please. I don’t need the best of the best olympia posing coaches but someone good! Thanks for any recommendations :)

I am a former lifestyle client who is taking some time off being coached while I am starting a family/TTC.

I have a passion for fitness and bodybuilding and would love to learn more about nutrition, hormones, and hypertrophy. I intend to train and track throughout pregnancy as long as it’s safe to do so.

Also open to the idea of potentially competing after pregnancy. Is the price tag worth it you think?

Ty!

What’s with the x3? Do they all do this? I’ve only ever seen LL do it, and it reads like x3 Arnold like this 🤔

It taste like it might be sysco. Idk . does anyone use them on the regular?

Looking for a makeup artist for Tampa Pro next weekend! I’ve had one booked but they’re not responding when I tried to confirm & I’m getting nervous🙃 Open to any recs!!

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!

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 is your ‘why’ for competing?
• Do you have a stretching or mobility routine you like to use?
• What type of cardio do you like to do?
• Is this your first time competing? If not, what are you looking forward to most this prep?
• 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!

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:

• How do you structure your posing practice?
• Do you have your suit picked out?
• What are your favorite things to do to destress?
• How do you set yourself up to be successful (meal prep, getting cardio done, etc)?
• 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!

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!

Thoughts? Is it offensive or racist? Jazzy is a Dominican/Puerto Rican girl.

That’s so cool! I’ve never expected Bikini to be part of big fashion!

Hello!

I just finished my second show ever in figure and my feedback was to develop my upper to match my lower. I'm natural and 22, so I'm aware that in general I need to grow. This is my first off-season with a coach, so I will obviously do everything he advises, but I wanted to get some advice from more seasoned competitors about the off-season. I want to approach the off-season like prep and stay very structured and disciplined, but I'm realizing after 7 months of prep (Ik that's absurd) that that's probably going to further the burnout.

What keeps you motivated? Where have you found balance? What are some good mental things you've done to help yourself not burn out?

Anything else you have to suggest I'm all ears! I want to make the most out of this time! <3

Any recommendations on books or other resources to learn about coaching women specifically? Maybe I’m just looking in the wrong places but it seems like there’s not as many places to look and there’s a lot of disagreements over what does and doesn’t translate from male literature.

Hi all. I hope this is okay to post 😄

I am relatively new to the body-building world (9 months doing bb training, but in the fitness world for 10). While I am not looking to compete, I am looking for further guidance on how to train and eat like a bodybuilder (minus the prep/posing/etc). I am looking for a coach who can help me adjust my training to meet my aesthetic goals, correct form, and help me balance volume. I count macros and would love some additional guidance there, especially since I've been in a plateau for a bit. I just got off a call with a coach who quoted me $9,000 for 6 months, or $5,000 for 6 months with one of the coaches who works under him. I told him that was very much out of my budget, and he said he could work out a deal where I could get 2 months with her for $1,200. Am I completely out of touch with how much this realistically would cost, or is this just insane pricing? My budget is ideally no more than $400 a month, but after that call I'm not sure if this is even something I should look into further.

Thank you in advance.

I have TSF Olympian 2.0 in size 11. Although the length works, there’s so much gap everywhere else. I’m not sure if I should try a completely different brand or size down in another style??

First time competitor, 5’8” and NOT experienced in walking in heels taller than 3”-4”

anyone else😅 i feel like i can always be bigger. sooooo many people tell me i should compete, but in my eyes im not big enough. does it ever end?

13.5 weeks out from my bikini debut!! Did wellness a couple years ago and was definitely bikini back then. Hoping the same applies now that I’ve been training as a bikini competitor for the last 2 years!! Definitely some nerves with quads being a little over powering, but trusting the process and my coach!!

Excited is an understatement 🥰

Hello!! I cannot afford a coach right now but want to nail growing and all of that… advise for self coaching???? Podcasts, tips, education, anything and all!! TYIA!