Ain't life grand.  You finish one competition, and before you know it, the carbs are gone and you're lining up for another punt at another championship!  This time though, the 'big show', the NABBA Nationals, October 1, 2011, Westlake Boys High, and I can't wait!

Now though, not being a regional competition, you know who you're going to be butting heads against.  No longer wondering, "who's going to come out of the closet" (so to speak) this time out.  It's going to be good physiques right across the board, from Novice through to Masters and all stops inbetween.  Come in looking your best, or be mown down in the crowd!

So it's getting a little tougher now.  We're posing more (much more) in preparation for the big one, routines being polished (more importantly the couples routine, as there is judging on the pairs), and cardio, cardio, cardio, and eating, eating, eating, and preparing food for eating!  It's all a rhythm and ritual though.  For myself, it goes from reading bodybuilding mags at bedtime (for the 30 seconds it takes before I fall asleep) to cooking mags and cook books.  I know it is game time then!

The reading about food that you can't even think about eating goes along with, for me, the building and collection of tucker for the post competition binge!  At the moment Ness and I must have the biggest tupperware container in the world filled with so many varieties of mixed nuts, chocolate pieces, yoghurt nougat, dates, dried apricots that third world nations must be starting (or continuing) to starve.  Then there is the packet of gingernuts that have travelled to Whakatane and Wellington with us without being busted open, and the corn chips that have also survived two competitions.  Not this time guys!  There are also a few well travelled picnic bars that will not be leaving the North Shore after next weekend, and the Burger Fuel vouchers that were being handed out at Wellington will also be in full use - I think I have ten left, I might not need them all... 

Reading that list above, I probably won't need to buy anything to fill the cravings come the 1st, but it's the mind game and the mind that you are feeding more than the belly.  The fact that you are buying these things, if you eat them or not is the key.  Even writing about them seems to make it easier.  Bodybuilding is SUCH a mind game it is not funny.  I LOVE walking down the biscuit lanes at the supermarket at the moment, and gaze lovingly at the millions of packets and empty calories that I won't eat for the next week!  Memories of being a fat little bugger demolishing a packet of Mellow Puffs after school are enough to keep the motor running for another 7 or so days before adrenalin takes over and the flexathon begins.

While reading that list above I forgot the coke zero or pepsi max that I also love post competition.  Ice cold.  It does though make my belly swell like a 9 month pregnant hippo and burps, they could be measured on the richter scale!  Pizza is also a food that I love post competition, but can no longer eat - the last two times I did the labour pains and agony of stomach ache were not worth the pleasure of eating.  If I ate it woth the cold fizzy drink I would have thought I was having a baby! 

Well that is the blithering over for another day - I am sure my fellow bodybuilders out there will understand the random thoughts that just flow in, and those who are not bodybuilders, well, welcome to our world, where what you most want you can't have, and when you can have it, you don't want it...!!