My first competition
By Kaisa Piippo

In April 2004 I decided I would compete in the body fitness novices class in two years. After training for two years with my eyes on this one competition, they day was finally there. I learned a lot about myself and my body and definitely got hooked on the sport of figure – or body fitness, as it is called in Europe.

The challenging competition prep

Kaisa Piippo

My diet for Boosman Fitness Classic 2006 was long – 23 weeks – and I didn’t go through it the easiest way. I was sick for four weeks and had to skip workouts. Obviously I didn’t really tighten up much during that time which really bugged me. In November 2005 when my diet begun, I lived in Arizona with my boyfriend. In the end of the diet we had already moved back to Finland, our home country. It was challenging to follow my first competition diet in a country with different culture, different foods and very few friends. I’m proud I didn’t cheat on my diet even once – I managed to handle it very well even during our trip to New York City and the flight back to Europe.

I was very precise with practicing my stage presentation, walking in heels and posing. When I was seven weeks out I hired a professional to coach me with stage presentation. I wanted my stage presence to be terrific since I knew my condition would be a little off (of what I wanted it to be). I could excel in something, even if everything wasn’t right on place. I had also ordered my suits from a designer in the US, Crystal of Competitive Edge. I knew having all these things polished would make me feel and look confident on stage.

In the end of the prep I did morning cardio six times a week for 90 minutes, lifted six times a week and did cardio after lifting for 45 minutes. It was crazy, but I was extremely determined to do my very best. I know I did, and I couldn’t have done anything more for that competition.

Kaisa Piippo

The week before competition was mostly fun: I did a couple of slow pace morning walks, relaxed and dreamed big! I had done so much in advance: made a list of things I’d need with me, labeled my food containers for the days I’d be traveling before competition, packed my suits in separate ziploc bags and so on. My diet was pretty much the same with an increase in carbohydrates. I had been on very low carbs so I didn’t have to deplete, and since we fitness girls don’t have that big muscles, my coach said I wouldn’t need to carb load that much either. My friend Jenni, who competed also (and placed sixth, yay!) painted me with pro tan. We had to put on nine layers because I was so white! We had so much fun during the last days before the competition. I didn’t stress about anything.

Time to shine!

The competition day was finally there. I felt surreal somehow.. could it finally be that moment I had been waiting for so long? Five years ago I would have never guessed if someone had told me I’d compete in figure. I was happy and anxious to get on the stage. I understood all the work I had done was for a reason, there was no single workout that would have been meaningless.

My mom and my sister came to meet me before the competition. Mom didn’t recognize me, she walked right past me! I looked so different with the stage makeup and competition color on me. My boyfriend came to wish me good luck also. He had been my best supporter throughout the diet. The buzz had begun, there were guys with huge arms bursting out of their tight shirts, girls with round shoulders and short skirts. This was THE EVENT of the spring and this time it was even bigger than usually, because of the Nordic Grand Prix in bodybuilding.

The atmosphere was excited in the backstage. Some girls had assistants helping with the last minute stuff like gluing the suits on and correcting makeup, putting Vaseline on their teeth and so on. I had baked a batch of American chocolate chip cookies and I told all of the girls to have some, everyone definitely deserved some goodies! Slowly the excited bursts of laughter and jokes filled the backstage and we were ready to go soon. A little pump up with the rubber bands, last look in the mirror and off we went.

Body fitness novices of the year 2006 walked on the stage with a better line up than the fans had ever seen before. There were 19 girls in great shape and the best ones of us were definitely on the same level with the girls in the open class – maybe even better. The stage lights were awfully hot but I could only smile. It was pure joy to finally stand there in heels and the beautifully sparkling suit! I felt proud and confident. It didn’t matter how many call-outs I made or how high I would place. What mattered the most that moment was that I really made it on the stage and won myself.

Lineups

After two rounds I knew I wouldn’t be in the top five. I had done my best and this time it was good enough for 9th place. I went to the audience with my family and friends and cheered like crazy for my friend Emma, who took 5th place in our class. I got tons of compliments from people I knew and even some who I had never met before came to me and complimented my posing and stage presence. It felt really good to hear my happiness really shone through! After the bodybuilding Grand Prix we continued the night by going out for a good steak and some dessert. The big day was finally over, but my competitive career had just begun and it would definitely just get better over time. Before I closed my eyes that night, I had already decided when I’d do my next show.

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