E. 115 30 Mistakes Every First-Time Competitor Makes (And How to Avoid Them)

13/10/2025 1h 6min

Listen "E. 115 30 Mistakes Every First-Time Competitor Makes (And How to Avoid Them)"

Episode Synopsis

In this episode, I’m walking through the 30 most common mistakes first-time competitors make — from picking the wrong division to failing to prepare for show day details like tanning, posing, and timing.As a coach and athlete, I’ve seen it all — people underestimating how long prep takes, expecting linear fat loss, switching coaches mid-prep, and overlooking the mindset side of the sport. I cover not just what these mistakes are, but why they happen and how to avoid them, so you can set yourself up for a successful season and a smooth show day.Timestamps:- [00:00 – 02:15] – Introduction: Why this episode matters for first-time competitors- [02:15 – 03:45] – Mistake 1: Not having a “why” behind your decision to compete- [03:45 – 08:15] – Mistake 2: Picking the wrong division and underestimating muscle size at higher levels- [08:15 – 09:19] – Mistake 3: Underestimating the commitment - [09:19 – 10:25] – Mistake 4: Getting extra jobs to fund prep instead of planning ahead financially- [10:25 – 11:07] – Mistake 5: Choosing a coach only because they’re local- [11:07 – 13:21] – Mistake 6: Starting prep during a busy or stressful season- [13:21 – 17:11] – Mistake 7: Not communicating the commitment with your partner- [17:11 – 18:30] – Mistake 8: Not giving yourself enough time to get lean- [18:30 – 20:56] – Mistake 9: Expecting to lose fat linearly- [20:56 – 25:29] – Mistake 10: Being overly dependent on your coach- [25:29 – 27:21] – Mistake 11: Expecting to win your first show- [27:21 – 28:44] – Mistake 12: Trying to avoid hunger and fatigue - [28:44 – 35:15] – Mistake 13: Taking advice from too many people- [35:15 – 39:03] – Mistake 14: Switching coaches close to show day- [39:03 – 39:46] – Mistake 15: Neglecting posing practice- [39:46 – 41:52] – Mistake 16: Comparing your physique to others on social media- [41:52 – 43:09] – Mistake 17: Obsessing over peak week too early- [43:09 – 44:49] – Mistake 18: Normalizing extreme food focus- [44:49 – 46:45] – Mistake 19: Making last-minute changes without telling your coach- [46:45 – 47:47] – Mistake 20: Not reading tan prep instructions- [47:47 – 49:02] – Mistake 21: Doing show-day hair/makeup without practice- [49:02 – 50:00] – Mistake 22: Assuming the show weekend will run on schedule- [50:00 – 51:31] – Mistake 23: Failing to protect your tan- [51:31 – 53:12] – Mistake 24: Letting hair/makeup timing delay your call time- [53:12 – 55:23] – Mistake 25: Using inconsistent lighting for check-ins- [55:23 – 58:00] – Mistake 26: Focusing on all the wrong things show weekend- [58:00 – 59:18] – Mistake 27: Skipping finals out of disappointment- [59:18 – 01:01:49] – Mistake 28: Posting negatively on social media post-show- [01:01:49 – 01:05:00] – Mistake 29: Ghosting your coach after your show- [01:05:00 – 01:06:00] – Mistake 30: Post-show rebound Links & Resources:https://coryfit.com/⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min⁠Consults: Book a Call⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultationFor more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/⁠Patreon⁠: https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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