How To Handle Backstage Jitters

I don't know if you male competitors get nervous backstage when competing or psyched out or whatever but I know I used too. I thought it might be helpful to those who are going to be competing this year for the first time or not who do get nervous or don't know what to do to post what you guys do to "get in the zone" and stay calm and focused before you go onstage.

Cortisol is the enemy and stress brings it on. I know of a female FBB competing at the Olympia level for years who would look great till waiting backstage, then she would freak herself out and actually smooth out by the time she went onstage.

This is my first thread....so post pretty please

That's something I've always been fascinated with. Imagine the level of condition at Olympia level shows and you know their livelihood is based on the show. How do you not stress out. I was popping Valium like tic tacs before my last show.

It will depend on what your trainer says but I need to do something deferent than last time the whole way around. Or Cytadren.

I always stayed to myself. I was confident that the package I was putting on stage was enough...not cocky, but I think a quiet confidence backstage is best. I never looked or worried at the other guys and my trainer would always tell me that the guys were looking at me. That to me was great because I knew they were comparing. The one show I placed second in was a killer for me especially when Vince Taylor came to me and told me I got screwed by politics and not to worry about it. This is a real part of bodybuilding and maybe we should be talking about how people handle that part of the sport?

Great Topic Jenn, and I Honestly never ever thought that someone could smooth over just from backstage stress levels, but when u think aboout it , I guess it makes sense.

Ive never done any huge shows, I think just keeping to myself and not talking to anyone helps alot, thats what i did in the local shows i did. Never did a real big show so who knows maybe I woulod stress out as well. I guess it makes a huge difference when you are looking at everyone your competing against and knowing you have them beat, or knwoing you have maybe 3-4 others who are on ur level which was my case in the local shows I did, and thats not bragging , i simply did smaller shows,lol. So i havent a clue how I would feel if i was looking around and everyone there looked atleast like me and better, then im sure it would be a mind fuck for sure! lol

And jenn you said you "use to stress" so Im assuming you dont anymore, so what do you do to stay calm

Okay so I don't have a ton of experience. I have only competed three times. Once in 2000 at the Michigan, then twice last year. Florida state then the Nationals. At the Michigan there was this girl who was frigging huge and she really intimidated me. My boyfriend at the time (now husband) told me not to worry that I would beat her with my symmetry, he was right and I did however here we go with the politics. I won the heavyweight class but lost the overall to a girl who had a roid gut like a turtle. Turned out her trainer was one of the judges and she had been competing at the show for years. Florida state last year, I did not dial it in entirely as I was just trying to requalify to go to the Nationals. But I was freaking out,looking at the other girls, and omg actually talking to them. Felt like I was gonna throw up before I went onstage and I totally lacked any confidence onstage,made no eye contact with judges. I was off but I still feel that I deserved first with my symmetry alone. So for the Nationals I did hire my new trainer, and I did what she told me exactly, I say that because for the Florida I threw a fucking fit about 5 weeks out and my husband gave me a cheat meal just to shut me up! She texted with me the whole time backstage which helped. I have a hard time with self confidence. I don't know your guys life story but there is a reason it took me so long to get back to competing. I had some serious personal issues in that 10 years so when getting ready for the Nationals I just thought well fuck it. If I can survive what I have went through and come out the way I have there is nothing for me to fear really ever again and especially at a show. Some sort of light when on for me and I became and stayed totally calm. I agree with former npc. I did not go in the pump up room, I talked to no one except trainer and I just chilled. Politics again happened at the Nationals and if I lose to someone fairly I have no problem with second. Farrah came up to me before the night show and said honey just keep hitting those glutes it's really close, you will take the whole show. I got second no pro card. I think it is just a reality that you will get screwed competing and you will never get rich bodybuilding. When I keep that in mind I am ok. I was really ok getting second. My husband not, the dude not, but it is what it is. I always think to myself as well, it's ok. I will kick her ass on the pro stage . I get freaked out about size, it doesn't matter how big your competition is, if you have good symmetry and come in shape you can beat them. One girl at the Nationals freaked me out big time, in clothes she absolutely drawfed me. On stage she couldn't touch me. How's that for a novel Presser? LOL

Yeah Politics suck, My wife was robbed in the same fashion by a local girl and the drive home sucked from maryland to Jersey as it was our first taste of getting bent over. But shit happens and its all relative anyways I guess.

I have also been a Judge during one of my wifes shows and also partly sponsored that show and it was close but I was honest and placed my wife where she belonged which was 2nd place and it would have been real easy to give here the win, so I honestly dont get the politics involved, I mean theirs no money involved at the lower levels or any level realy so your simply a dirt bag if you cheat another competitor who busted their ass to get ready and compete.

Ive seen guys get escorted out by security after being robbed and then throwing a fit, and it was soooo bad that the audience went nuts as well booing the judges, so its all over,lmao

And your right symetry is everything and should be everything, but some still put emphasis on size alone which ruined bodybuilding for a while in my opinion.

ANd I love the Novels, but i think i still hold the record, mine was long enough to get published.

You placed your wife second??? OMFG. LOL. Well it's good you are honest. Looking at your avatar it looks like you have a pretty body, nice symmetry. I like freakshows for sure but it nice to see a Mr. O with a pretty body and freaky size. Just when you figure out what the judges are looking for, it changes! At least for FBBs it does.

Jenn Kennedy said:

You placed your wife second??? OMFG. LOL. Well it's good you are honest. Looking at your avatar it looks like you have a pretty body, nice symmetry. I like freakshows for sure but it nice to see a Mr. O with a pretty body and freaky size. Just when you figure out what the judges are looking for, it changes! At least for FBBs it does.

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lmao, yep. She never said anything about it, but I wonder if she was upset with me, what do you think? I guess i might have been trying to come off maybe as being super fair, cause 2 other judges had her in forst,lol. Plus it would have looked bad being a judge and havening MuscleChemistry Sponsor the show.

Jenn Kennedy said:

You placed your wife second??? OMFG. LOL. Well it's good you are honest. Looking at your avatar it looks like you have a pretty body, nice symmetry. I like freakshows for sure but it nice to see a Mr. O with a pretty body and freaky size. Just when you figure out what the judges are looking for, it changes! At least for FBBs it does.

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LMAO, Gee thanks, "Pretty" a nice way of saying you look alright Presser, lol, women have pretty bodys,lol, tooo funny

I cannot believe she didn't say anything! Fair or not you would've heard from me! Yeah I think for the future just be a spectator, that way she can't get mad at you. A lot of respect for your wife and I don't even know her, talk about self control!

Presser said:

lmao, yep. She never said anything about it, but I wonder if she was upset with me, what do you think? I guess i might have been trying to come off maybe as being super fair, cause 2 other judges had her in forst,lol. Plus it would have looked bad being a judge and havening MuscleChemistry Sponsor the show.

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Presser said:

LMAO, Gee thanks, "Pretty" a nice way of saying you look alright Presser, lol, women have pretty bodys,lol, tooo funny

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You dont hear that too often, pretty body. Lil cute guy you. oops pretty guy!

Hey! I describe Dexter and Heath as pretty so you are in good company. You know the look, a big distended bloated freak, or a symmetrical, shredded pretty body. I like the bloated freaks but pretty it is not. So it is a compliment to you.

Presser said:

LMAO, Gee thanks, "Pretty" a nice way of saying you look alright Presser, lol, women have pretty bodys,lol, tooo funny

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Jenn Kennedy said:

I cannot believe she didn't say anything! Fair or not you would've heard from me! Yeah I think for the future just be a spectator, that way she can't get mad at you. A lot of respect for your wife and I don't even know her, talk about self control!

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lol, realy? well she won the overall bodybuilding, and crossed over to figure in same show so i gave her 2nd place in figure, maybe i should have been more specific, she had already won bbing overall and i just think it would of looked bad to give here figure over all as well. This was years ago when you could crossover like that in local shows.

Oh makes sense.

I was going to post about the original topic at hand, but I got side tracked once I saw that Presser has a pretty body, my whole mind went blank