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For anyone looking to get to the professional level or just competing overall!
You may have noticed the men’s physique class taking the mainstream by storm when it comes to bodybuilding/physique competitions. Although some aspects are similar to bodybuilding, there are some vast major differences in the men’s physique category.
What is Men’s Physique?
Men’s physique is a relatively new category in the bodybuilding/physique competition world in which contestants perform quarter turns wearing board shorts (about an inch above the knees), and are judged based upon muscularity, body conditioning, symmetry, and stage presence. Contestants should be fit and display proper shape and symmetry, but extreme muscularity and conditioning such as what’s typically seen in bodybuilding is frown upon.
Show Day Considerations
Quarter Turns/Posing – During the comparison round, judges will observe competitors in group setting and have them perform quarter turns to access their physiques from the front, both sides, and rear. Competitors should practicing posing in order to display their physique in the best possible manner. Also, appearing confident and displaying polished posing will enhance stage presence.
Stage Presence – Proper stage presence and confidence is needed to successfully express personality, charisma, and charm to judges and audiences. Although this criteria can be very subjective, this is one of the main judging components to the men’s physique class. Therefore, having a great stage presence will be vital to any competitor’s success.
Tanning – Proper tanning will help display and bring out the best of your physique under the stage lights. Most physique competitions will have a tanning specialist available on site providing tanning services for a small fee. If you choose to hire your own tanning specialist, be sure they’re experienced in physique competitions as the tanning products are different from your everyday spray tan. Also, if you decide to do your own tanning, be sure to buy a quality product and practice applying the tan in advanced. The last thing you want is a bad tan taking away attention from hard earned physique.
Attire – Men’s physique competitors should wear board shorts that are waist high and about an inch shorter than the knee. Spandex and Logos on shorts are usually not permitted unless they’re a manufacturing logo/symbol such as the Under Armor, Billabong, or Nike Symbol.
Grooming – Removal of body hair (legs, arms, back, chest, etc) is pretty much expected for all classes of all bodybuilding/physique competitions. Long hair and facial hair are acceptable as long as it’s not a distraction from your physique. On a side note, keep in mind that long, thick, or bushy/poofy hair can make the shoulders appear narrow which takes away from the upper body v-taper appearance. Long, thick, or bushy/poofy hair competitors should either get a haircut, pull their hair back, or style it in a manner that doesn’t take away from shoulder width.
Dieting
As with all fat loss diets, you’ll want to take an adequate amount of time to shed body fat. This may sound redundant, but aiming for about 1lb-2lbs of weight loss per week is a good pace. If you feel as though you need to lose 15lbs to reach your desired level of conditioning, give yourself anywhere between 15-20 weeks to lose that weight. I’d recommend giving yourself more time than needed if this is your first time doing a competition diet because chances are you’ll hit a few hiccups in the road. As far as types of diet plans go, this is a personal preference.
You may have noticed the men’s physique class taking the mainstream by storm when it comes to bodybuilding/physique competitions. Although some aspects are similar to bodybuilding, there are some vast major differences in the men’s physique category.
What is Men’s Physique?
Men’s physique is a relatively new category in the bodybuilding/physique competition world in which contestants perform quarter turns wearing board shorts (about an inch above the knees), and are judged based upon muscularity, body conditioning, symmetry, and stage presence. Contestants should be fit and display proper shape and symmetry, but extreme muscularity and conditioning such as what’s typically seen in bodybuilding is frown upon.
Show Day Considerations
Quarter Turns/Posing – During the comparison round, judges will observe competitors in group setting and have them perform quarter turns to access their physiques from the front, both sides, and rear. Competitors should practicing posing in order to display their physique in the best possible manner. Also, appearing confident and displaying polished posing will enhance stage presence.
Stage Presence – Proper stage presence and confidence is needed to successfully express personality, charisma, and charm to judges and audiences. Although this criteria can be very subjective, this is one of the main judging components to the men’s physique class. Therefore, having a great stage presence will be vital to any competitor’s success.
Tanning – Proper tanning will help display and bring out the best of your physique under the stage lights. Most physique competitions will have a tanning specialist available on site providing tanning services for a small fee. If you choose to hire your own tanning specialist, be sure they’re experienced in physique competitions as the tanning products are different from your everyday spray tan. Also, if you decide to do your own tanning, be sure to buy a quality product and practice applying the tan in advanced. The last thing you want is a bad tan taking away attention from hard earned physique.
Attire – Men’s physique competitors should wear board shorts that are waist high and about an inch shorter than the knee. Spandex and Logos on shorts are usually not permitted unless they’re a manufacturing logo/symbol such as the Under Armor, Billabong, or Nike Symbol.
Grooming – Removal of body hair (legs, arms, back, chest, etc) is pretty much expected for all classes of all bodybuilding/physique competitions. Long hair and facial hair are acceptable as long as it’s not a distraction from your physique. On a side note, keep in mind that long, thick, or bushy/poofy hair can make the shoulders appear narrow which takes away from the upper body v-taper appearance. Long, thick, or bushy/poofy hair competitors should either get a haircut, pull their hair back, or style it in a manner that doesn’t take away from shoulder width.
Dieting
As with all fat loss diets, you’ll want to take an adequate amount of time to shed body fat. This may sound redundant, but aiming for about 1lb-2lbs of weight loss per week is a good pace. If you feel as though you need to lose 15lbs to reach your desired level of conditioning, give yourself anywhere between 15-20 weeks to lose that weight. I’d recommend giving yourself more time than needed if this is your first time doing a competition diet because chances are you’ll hit a few hiccups in the road. As far as types of diet plans go, this is a personal preference.