by darinstarr | Feb 19, 2026 | Beginning Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding, Contest Prep
What Competing Can — and Can’t — Give You This post is part of The Ultimate Bikini Prep Guide – check out the full guide for more! As a coach, when someone comes to me and says they want to compete I always ask “why?” This isn’t about gatekeeping – a lot of coaches...
by darinstarr | Feb 19, 2026 | Beginning Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding, Contest Prep
Body Image During Competition Prep This post is part of The Ultimate Bikini Prep Guide – check out the full guide for more! Bodybuilding and body dysmorphia go together like peanut butter and jelly – hold up, maybe using food analogies isn’t the best plan here....
by darinstarr | Feb 10, 2026 | Beginning Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding, Contest Prep
Things to Know Before Selecting Your Show This post is part of The Ultimate Bikini Prep Guide – check out the full guide for more! Things to Know Before Selecting Your Show So, you wanna be a bodybuilder? That means you’ve gotta step on stage, and in order to do that...
by darinstarr | Feb 10, 2026 | Beginning Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding, Contest Prep
How Long Contest Prep Really Takes (and Why Rushing Backfires) This post is part of The Ultimate Bikini Prep Guide – check out the full guide for more! What are some things we KNOW about contest prep? Some things that everyone knows before they start or even do much...
by darinstarr | Feb 1, 2026 | Beginning Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding, Contest Prep
Common Bikini Prep Myths (and Why They Don’t Hold Up) This post is part of The Ultimate Bikini Prep Guide – check out the full guide for more! As a long-time coach, I’ve fielded inquiries and questions from a wide range of men and women looking to compete. What’s...
by darinstarr | Jan 8, 2026 | Beginning Bodybuilding, Contest Prep
Mental Challenges During Contest Prep This post is part of The Ultimate Bikini Prep Guide – check out the full guide for more! Contest prep doesn’t just change how your body looks. It changes how your brain works. And not necessarily for the better. As calories drop...
