Anyone training to be a fitness competitor? HELP!

I have been looking into training to be a fitness competitor.  I need to jump into something strict with a definite goal to reach.  I just don't know where to start and could use some help from anyone who is currently trying to obtain the same goal as me.  I look in the mirror and see a flabby mess that I just can't tolerate looking at any longer!  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Any book recommendations, websites.....etc.

Thanks,
Heather

I used to follow it when I was much younger, long before I became morbidly obese. The truth is, they are nothing more than a muscular beauty pagent. I'm not saying a post WLSer can never do it, but you would need extensive plastic surgery after your weight loss to even stand a chance. Personally, I think it might be a bad route for a post WLSer to take, since the judges just scrutinize how horrible you look in their eyes, they don't know where you came from or all the work you have put into it. Not to mention you have to grab a bucket of tan paint and paint yourself since the judges for those things think pale or fair is disgusting. The whole thing might bring you down. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Jillian,

I have always been interested in bodybuilding.  However, I don't feel that after having WLS I will ever be able to achieve the caloric intake that is neccesary to build that much muscle.  That said I feel that the fitness/physic competition would be a much more attainable goal.  I understand the concept behind the competitions.  I try not to dwell on the negative aspects since I think my ultimate goal is all that matters.  By no means do I expect to win one of these competitions as I am well aware my body is "flawed" far to much to even be a consideration.  I do however want to have that type of physique.  If I should decide to compete down the road it certainly isn't going to be to win but to show the bobybuilding community that we WLS patients have just as much drive and determination as they do.  In fact it will be harder for me to achieve the same results as them simply due to the malabsorption I have to work around.  Not really the "easy way out" at least not in my eyes!

Heather

Heather i cant give you any advice on this matter, but what i can tell you that there was a woman on here that weighed more than your starting weight, and by the time she reached her goal she was doing bodybuilding competitions so it is very possible for you to reach your goal. I wish i could remember her name but if you go to the home page and look thru the before n after pics you might find her, dont know if she had surgery but i tell you what she looked awesome. I wish you lots of luck.

Thanks for the encouragement!  I don't have a TON of sagging skin and hope that by doing this I can "fill out" more so it doesn't look as bad.  I'm lucky in that I pretty much have the saggy belly of a mother of two.....which I am....lol  Hopefully I can have the same results as her!  Hopefully I can track her down!

Thanks,
Heather