BODYBUILDING SHOW IN CAIRNS
Some of the Far North’s budding bodybuilding talent will be on display in Cairns next week. On September 22, there will be a show at the Cairns Dinner Theatre at The Reef Hotel Casino. Around 25 entrants will compete across six categories. “We’re going to split the show into two sections to make it more affordable for people to come and watch,” organiser Nellie Ryan said. “The bodybuilding show will be on at noon and the models will start at 2.30pm. “It’s a great opportunity for the Cairns public to come and see what we do because it is rather interesting and unique.” The six categories are: figure, bodybuilding, female sports model, male sports model and beach model. Tickets are $27 per show or $42 for both and available at the door. TIME OFF: Cairns bodybuilders Nellie Hope and husband Tyler Hope.
“I’m given the freedom to create my own daily diet plans so long as it meets the numbers he gives me for the day,” she said. “I track the calories I eat and it’s called macro dieting.
“This year I am eating more beef than chicken so I get more nutrients.
“I also have to keep eating dairy and fruit which keeps the thyroid healthy and improves my general health.
“Over time, competing on and off can take a toll on your thyroid, so there’s been a big focus on my diet.”
Before heading to Melbourne for the October 7 competition, Hope will be a guest performer at an upcoming bodybuilding show in Cairns, which will showcase some of the talent in the Far North.
“There’s about six of us going down to Melbourne so this will be a good chance to dust off the cobwebs,” she said.
“We’re going to donate $5 from every ticket we sell to beyondblue so hopefully we get a good turnout.” player in getting fuel into the muscles required for training, recovery and growth.
So, what are the best ways to increase the ‘good’ muscle building hormones, and reduce the ‘bad’ muscle wasting and fat storing ones?
Firstly, quality sleep is the biggest thing bodybuilders can do as growth hormone increases during sleep, and cortisol and ghrelin levels rise if we are sleep deprived. Sleeping conditions that are cool, dark, with a regular sleep time aid in better sleep … and no blue screens 90 minutes prior to bed!
Stress causes cortisol to increase and testosterone to plummet. Activities such as mindfulness or breath-based meditation, floating, and yoga can be significant in keeping the stress beast at bay.
By improving sleep conditions and adding stress management to training, bodybuilders can get their hormones working for them. Rob Gronbeck is a performance psychology coach and founder of the Brain Room.