OP, you need to take a step back and reassess your thought process; you have no idea how hard it is to place in a local npc novice show, yet go pro. I had the same thought process as you when I started working out at 20 years. 23 I did my first show (the whole time, I believed that I was going to turn pro) and placed 3rd in lightweight. I'm a small dude, weighed 180lbs at 5'5" when I started the prep and weighed a f*cking 142lbs on stage 4 months later....142lbs. I looked like a swimmer man. I say go enter a bodybuilding show and you will realize what the fuck mess you got yourself into when people start stripping down to weigh in. I will never forget that feeling. After that night, I realized I don't have the genetics to continue on. My thought process quickly turned to just being a jacked dude in the gym.
It's an extremely selfish journey you embark on when you compete. It doesn't take a few weeks and the work is done, it's a lifetime where everything needs to be calculated years on end; you will have to put yourself above your kids, girlfriend, and sometimes your job/school. You don't even have an associates degree, what if you lose your job? Where is the money going to come from to support your professional bodybuilding lifestyle? I spent close to 5-6K$ in the 4 month prep on gear (ran only 3 compounds at normal dosages), food (probably spent an easy $150 a week on food), driving to other gyms to lift with other competitors, driving to other gyms to practice posing with competitors, tanning, chiropractor work, and a diet coach. To hire a prep coach for 3 months is going to be close to a grand. In addition, I borrowed a ton of money from my best friend to buy gear/food to continue prepping. I felt like a piece of shit asking him for money when I ran out of $. The money you currently make will not cover everything in your life if you try to chase after a pro-card.
Outside of the monetary constraints, was the time invested. All day everyday was based around bodybuilding. Granted I was living at home, didn't have a social life, was in university, didn't have a girlfriend, and working a part time job so it worked out. However now working full-time, trying to buy a house, trying to get my career on track..I could careless about going to the gym for days at a time. I couldn't imagine having the goal of being a pro with a family, mortgage, etc like you have. I think your goal should to be place at a small local show then try a state show. You win overalls at those then keep moving up. In all honesty, you haven't even competed yet, want to go pro, and only been lifting for 6 months....listen to the older posters as they all had the same thought process as you.
.gif "IP Gear")
