Guest Author: Bikini Competitor Alex Petrakieva on Competing and Finding What Works For You!

Lets be honest, competition prep is tedious work. It takes a substantial amount of time and energy each time you commit yourself to stepping on that big stage in a tiny bikini. And while it can be extremely rewarding it comes with weekly meal planning, twice a day gym visits, and ridiculous amounts of water intake, so certainly be prepared to take on a crazy schedule. As the weeks roll out, you will also find yourself stressing uncontrollably when something doesn't go your way. The constant stress will certainly affect your digestive system in ways you would not imagine. I always struggled with this because I am simply a Type-A perfectionist. Not a good combination. As a result, I pay special attention to my body. I cannot eliminate the circumstances in my life, but there are certainly ways that I can reduce how stress affects me throughout my prep. With two competitions under my belt, I have decided to change things up for my next one. Here are some strategies I have already adopted or plan to in the near months:

1. Sleep
   1. We all know how important sleep is for us; however, many people still ignore the facts. Do you often feel moody and irritable? This could be due to constant sleep deprivation. Trust me; I am the worst at this! You don't want to be near me if I have not gotten enough sleep. Your body requires sleep and that means at least 6-8 hours worth! In order to reduce my stress, I try my best to get to bed early, especially when I know I have to be up to exercise before the sun comes up. I have a regular sleep schedule throughout the week (yes, weekends included!), avoid caffeine close to bedtime, and stay away from distractions. It's really hard to put my phone away when I am going to bed, but I do it anyways.
2. Stop taking pre-workout at night
   1. I am the type of person that NEEDS caffeine to function! Okay, that is very dramatic, but I am sticking to it. Most of all, I love my pre-workout powders! They just get me going and keep me focused. However, I have learned that most of the focus is just my mental drive and not really the caffeine. So I'm taking it easy on the pre-workouts and if I plan on going to bed within 5 hours of my PM workout, then I skip my pre-workout fix!
3. Started taking a Digestive Enzyme
   1. Thank goodness for Jen! She turned me onto the Wholezyme Digestive Enzymes by Whole Foods. These little gems keep my belly feeling happy! Let's face it; there is nothing more uncomfortable than digestive problems and constipation. Who wants that?! But to let you in on a little secret, bikini competitions suffer from these problems a lot, because their diet is so restricted. However, even since I have started using digestive enzymes with my main meals, I have seen a major difference in the way that my stomach processes food. Any bloat that I use to experience is definitely gone! Give them a try and see if they work for you!
4. Exercise even when not competition
   1. I can't imagine not working out; however there are days (especially when I'm not competing) that I get really lazy! However, I force myself to get up and do it regardless of how I feel. Working out puts me in a completely different state of mind and allows me to forget about any problems that are happening outside of the gym. Also, it clears my head and recharges me.
5. Stop the excuses for eating bad!
   1. In addition to continuing to workout, I stay on a "meal plan" year round. Now, that does not mean that I don't have sushi or wine here and there, but it certainly is not the norm. I love prepping my meals for the week (so convenient) and I love the way eating healthy makes me feel, so I continue it even when I am not training for a competition. One of my main goals has been to STOP rewarding myself with food. We all know what this means. If I worked really hard one week, I don't go and celebrate with food, I choose alternatives like shopping J that do not hinder my fitness goals.  Also, I take my food for the WHOLE day with me in my 6 pack bag. This leaves me with absolutely no excuses for cheating!
6. Pay attention!
   1. It took me a LONG time to find out what my body likes and doesn't like. It is very important to pay attention of how your body reacts to everything, certain foods and exercises, specific situations, certain times of day, etc. If you have to write it in a journal, then do that! I have realized that my body does not respond well to carbs, I function optimally on fats (and I'm totally okay with itJ). However, it took me years to realize this. In addition, I found that I crave foods when I'm driving (weird I know but it must be because I'm bored), so I make sure to have my prepped snacks in the car to keep me from stopping and getting something unhealthy. The snacking also keeps my insulin levels stable, so I do not gorge on food later!