To those who are not invested into pageantry or no the workings behind the scene the fitness aspect of pageants can usually be the most daunting. Depending on the current fitness level of the prospective contestant, getting into pageant shape can be a mountain or a molehill.
What does it involve? Sacrifice and lots of it; many contestant will give up certain foods depending on how much time they have. The gym or fitness trainer will become the new best friend of the contestant seeing how most of their time is spent there sweating it out. What enters the body is more important than every before. Figuring out exactly what needs to change on the body to have a more symmetrical look is crucial to have a pleasing look to the judges. But more important the contestant and anyone really needs to know that the competition is won from the neck up. You body is a complement but in the case of not getting to where you would like to be there are some cheat tips that many pageant contestants use.
Nutrition: Depending on the girl, they might have to increase or decrease their daily caloric intake. There should be an increase in protein that is part of each meal and even though they eat a lot or seemingly eat a lot sometimes they are still hungry. Brownies, pizza, soda have become a thing of the past or only enjoys on the one cheat meal of the week. So how do you deal with a pageant girl if she is mode to get into shape. First know that they are not upset with you, but more so with their current situation. They would love to eat that piece of cake with you at dinner or have that second glass of wine but they really don't want to spend anymore time in the gym than they have to.
Now I believe the biggest problem in pageants and dieting in general is that it is used as something for a quick fix. Your diet should be an everyday thing not a four months before the pageant fix. These girls get into the best shape of their life and many a week after the pageant put much of the weight back on when they change back to how they were eating before. So whats a girl to-do? Yo-yo dieting is not the answer. If you love the body you have during competition then work to keep it or something relatively close to it afterwards. If there needs to be some type of motivation of some sorts than try out for figure competitions. They are bikini contests with the same hair and make-up, many of these women only put on five pounds during the off season, they know its a lifestyle choice.
xoxo Amina
