This is one of the questions I get on our Facebook Page: The
Fit Life 24/7.
Do you do anything special to prepare for a photo shoot the
same way you prepare for a show?
Andrew and I do photo shoots that are close to shows as well
as outside of show times so if we are close to doing a show....we do nothing as
we don't want to mess with progress for stage, besides if the photo shoot is
less than 4 weeks you should be pretty lean and its the perfect time to do a
shoot.
However outside of show prep times this is one of the
reasons Andrew and I try to stay relatively lean so if a great photographer
will be in town or we go on vacation the preparation is quick and easy. I would
like to say I am always ready but that's not the case so sometimes its nice to
schedule a photo shoot if you don't have any shows coming up ..Pay for it and
make a plan, work hard and capture the progress after. It can be the motivating
step to get back on track.
I also like the images as a reminder why I started this
journey during times outside of show preparation and if its close to ShowTime I
like to compare progress.
Personally, I don't rely on crazy, last minute
"tricks" to get ready for a shoot. If the photographer you are
working with is good they will find a way to feature you in the best way
possible....
Besides you are either ready or not...as the tips do not
change the way you look they simply enhance what’s already there.
Here are a few minor tricks I have picked up over the last
few photo shoots I have done. So here goes...
Diet:
-In general I follow a carb cycle with low, med, high days.
I stay on this up until the week of the shoot.
-4-7 days out: I begin limit sodium intake (condiments and
dressings, cooking methods etc.)
-2-4 days out: I cut out carbs (except from greens) and eat
lean white proteins with asparagus (a natural diuretic) and consume a lot of
water (4-6 liters)
-The day before the shoot I consume only 750-1000 ml of water and add carbs back in
(dry carbs like rice cakes work best for me)
-The day of the shoot I drink water when/if I start to sweat
or sip on it throughout the day
Workouts:
-7 days out I stop my usual workout split as I don't want
over-fatigued muscles or soreness (which may cause water retention and muscle
swelling). I do full body workouts with lower weights and higher reps. 1
exercise per body part, 4 sets, 18-20 reps. You should be lean enough a week
out so I don't do a lot of cardio. Sometimes I will do walking on treadmill or
sauna sessions depending how I feel.
Misc. Tips:
-I drink distilled water starting a few days out and usually
add lemon. (works to cleanse the system and acts as diuretic) a lot of opinions
on this but it works for me so I follow this routine
-Dandelion root tea is a great natural diuretic if water
retention is a concern
-Epsom salt baths the 2 days before the shoot, the last one
is before tanning
-I always spray tan the night before, as my last prep task
and rinse the morning of
The main thing I learned is that balanced eating, training keeps me be in shape so getting ready is pretty easy. I have been able to manipulate my
physique naturally in a short period of time with no stress to feel great and enjoy the experience of each shoot. I am not always super lean but that is part of the process.
My First Photo shoot
Kelowna May 2012
Second - end of June 2012...This one is after a show so my body is fuller and more curvy
Third photo shoot was in Las Vegas September 2012- Olympia Weekend
Fourth shoot was with BAM Studio few days before my last show
November 2012
