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Connect with Valerie

📲 Instagram: @valerie_ocano

Episode Transcript

Ryann

Valerie, thank you so much for coming to the Food Freedom Lab today. I’m so excited to pick your brain on all things, bodybuilding, fitness, binge eating. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today.

Valerie

Yes, of course. Thank you for having me. Very excited to be here.

Ryann

So for anybody that doesn’t know you yet, I would love to just kick things off with a little bit about your story. What is your history with fitness, bodybuilding? What got you started with bodybuilding? How has your relationship with bodybuilding changed? Drop the tea, let’s hear it all.

Valerie

Yeah, so what got me started in the fitness world was I just honestly was feeling terrible because I wasn’t taking care of my body. Back in, I was right out of high school, so I was like 19, I was eating terribly, fast food every day, not moving. And I have a background of cross-country and track and field, so in high school I was definitely very active and then after I graduated I was not and I was partying a lot and I was again eating junk and just I felt horrible and I knew it had to do with my eating habits and obviously the drinking and then not moving. So I finally said, okay, something’s got to give.

I joined a CrossFit gym that I initially thought was going to be like a mainstream gym. Like I go and I get trained and it’s just that kind of gym, but little did I know that it was CrossFit and all the workouts are prescribed and it’s this very crazy intense like hit style of training. When I signed up for it, again it was by accident, and I remember going into it and letting the trainer know like, hey, I don’t want to get bulky, because I didn’t have any experience with weights.

Ryann

Yeah.

Valerie

And so I definitely had that whole fear of getting bulky, and so I told him right off the bat, I just want a flat stomach and I don’t want to be bulky. And now looking back, that’s funny to me, right? Because all I do is body build. But I actually really fell in love with CrossFit and then through CrossFit I got introduced to the Paleo diet, which initially was great to go from my really processed and fast food ridden diet to something that was more whole food based just being on the whole paleo side of things like eventually put me and we’ll come back and talk about this but it put me in this like binge or strip cycle that’s like I started I just felt really crappy dove into CrossFit, paleo and then eventually I didn’t really enjoy that CrossFit didn’t allow for me to like shape my body the way that I wanted to shape it.

So I had started becoming really quad dominant, and tricep dominant, and trap dominant, and I didn’t necessarily want to have those bigger muscle groups, and I wanted to just have more of a, in hindsight, I didn’t realize, I wanted the bikini body at the time, and so then I started getting into bodybuilding because I knew, okay, well this is how I’m gonna shape my body the way I want it to look by actually doing, you know, bodybuilding and weightlifting in that sense. And so yeah, I got into that. Bikini and like competing was always kind of like a thought that I had years back. It started kind of around that time a little bit after, but it was always just like, I don’t know, like maybe, maybe I’d be interested but I never actually dove into it.

And then finally like six years later I decided in 2020 it was actually a New Year’s Resolution I said you know what I’ve been thinking about this I’ve been researching I’ve been binge watching videos on competing why don’t I just do it so 2020 I made the New Year’s Resolution I’m gonna sign up for a show I did and then I stepped on stage that June and I just like fell in love. Like the moment my heel hit the stage I was just like oh gosh I feel like I belong here. And I fell in love with the whole process of it too. Yeah that’s what got me here. It’s been definitely awesome and I feel like I’m in a really good place as far as like, I’m doing what I do because I love it, right? Not because of, I feel like I need to look a certain way or whatever, so.

Ryann

Yeah, yeah, totally. And so how many shows have you done thus far?

Valerie

I have done six. So I did two in 2020 and then four this year. So it’s my second season competing this year.

Ryann

So I would love to know, since you have six shows under your belt and diving into a little bit of what you said about the binging and restricting that you fell into after the paleo diet, like, first of all, let me back it up. Can you talk us through a little bit of what the prep process is actually like? Because I feel like it’s so easy for anybody to look at a picture on Instagram and just make assumptions, or from what we’ve seen on media, just assumptions about what the process is like and all of that. So can you just give us like a little overview for anybody who has just like seen a picture and has made assumptions or just have heard in general what it’s like just from like your perspective of what the process of like from beginning to stage is like.

Valerie

Yeah, oh, it’s a lot. And I honestly, whenever someone even just starts to think of the opportunity of competing or something like that or starting a prep, I just tell them like, you better do your research. Like it’s not something to be taken lightly because it’s a lot. And I want to like kind of like start off by saying that that look that you see on social media, right, that stage look is absolutely not sustainable. And it’s just not healthy, plain and simple. maybe the 1% of the population can be okay at that level of leanness. And I’m specifically talking about women because for men, they’ll still experience crazy hormonal issues and stuff if they stay that lean, but especially for women, staying that lean for long periods of time is just terrible for your health.

And so I think that people like glorify it right because they see like oh my god like the glamour and wow She looks amazing. She looks so healthy, but Just know that it’s like you’re new to the entire like bodybuilding world Like typically when someone looks their best, they’re also feeling their worst Like they feel like they feel like crap and that’s you know Not to say that’s every single person that competes, like I said, there are the select few that can be okay and can still thrive at that crazy level of leanness, but that’s not most of us.

But for the whole process of competing, it’s just getting to, like I mentioned, crazy levels of leanness that is just, the purpose is just for that stage, for that day, and that’s it and maybe for the few weeks and hopefully max a couple of months that your season lasts but you start off and you know your prep start it could be I think on average what I what I saw in the research in a recent study maybe like 20 ish pounds up from your stage weight right most I think most women lose around that 20 pounds in the whole process But you start off, you know, you don’t start off with like crazy little calories Over the process, you know, you take it down slowly and then you know prep can last Hopefully for most people it should be at least 16 weeks or so 16 to 20 weeks and it’s just you know incremental Increases of your cardio to keep you know, the body progressing and to make sure you continue to push past any Plateaus or whatever and then dropping the food slowly as well, right?

and then Throughout the process the onset of like your dieting symptoms Of course that starts to happen the closer you get to that stage leanness and you get all the symptoms, I have experienced all of them, right? Like crazy amounts of fatigue. And typically this happens like deeper in prep when food is lower, right? So the first, maybe the first couple of months are okay and everyone is different too. Like some people feel crappier at the start of the prep and then maybe they get through that wave and then they feel okay. And then again, toward the tail end, they feel like crap again, as far as like energy levels go and just like hunger, just being, you know, of course, nice and high and, and all that stuff. Things like, you know, libido, libido, it’s very common for libido to get very low just because sex hormones are out of whack, right?

And it’s just, it’s your, it’s your body kind of just fighting you, because it’s not optimally healthy to be at those body fat levels. So I mean, I’m making it sound like there’s, you know, it’s all cons when it comes to getting stage lean and getting to that level. But I typically like to start off whenever someone has any questions about it. I like to lead with that, because it’s like, again, it’s not something to be taken lightly, right? And it’s not the glamor, we shouldn’t be glamourizing looking that way. Because not even the typical, the average bikini girl or figure girl or even physique man looks like that on an average day. We don’t walk around looking like that, right?

So it’s a process and it takes a lot of sacrifice As far as social events go as well. You know there are a lot of things you’re gonna have to say no to and it just takes Being just on point like it’s an all like it’s an all-in type of thing to prep for a show It’s not like you know okay one of these like today. I’m gonna. You know check off all my boxes and tomorrow Oh, I didn’t check this box off. That’s okay. No, like every single day you got to check off your boxes. And yeah, so.

Ryann

Oh, appreciate you saying all of that. I think that you’re totally right in the glamorization. And I think that, you know, when we compare ourselves to other people, it’s so easy to look at somebody’s body and be like, I want that body. And then taking a step back and being like, would it make me happy to do all of the things that it requires to get a body like that, even if I could get a body like that? Like who even knows in the sense that like, you know, I could eat and do whatever you do. And like, you know, my body is never gonna look exactly like yours looks. And so I think that it’s super important to like, be able to like, look at all of those things.

And I love that you’re able to like, share all of those and like put them at a platter in the front to really get down to that deeper why where it’s like, why do you actually want to do this? And why do you love this in the sense that I think that when you can have that deeper why that is the ability to fall into doing this for maybe the wrong reasons versus doing this for something that you do actually love. So I would love to hear from you, like, what is it about this that you like, love or like your fire? Like, why is like this worth it for you?

Valerie

Yeah. I mean, for me, it’s the process of. It’s just the constant pursuit of improvement because that’s what bodybuilding is. And I absolutely love that. Like I thrive on that and I’m very goal oriented. And so obviously like having a show date, like that is like a set deadline. Like that’s, you know, that’s something that is tangible. And I know that the work that I put in is like, you can’t fake the work and no one can do the work for you. And so to have that like end result and to see it and to feel it like at the end of a prep, and when you get to like that show day, like you can’t just, that feeling is invaluable. But it is also just the process as a whole, right?

Like I know every single day that if I show up, I am going to get what I want as far as my results. And I think it’s just that in itself. Like for me, it’s not the destination that drives me, it’s just the process of journey itself. And I didn’t like know that that’s what I would love about the sport until you know, I actually did it. And I remember like my so my first prep, I almost was like, I don’t even necessarily like I almost want my show day to be pushed because I love this so much. Like I love the now so much because I I just really fell in love with like the day-to-day like again the checking off the boxes thing and that and then like you know getting judges feedback after my first show and then being able to take that and then actually improve and then the next show hopefully doing a little bit better. And it was always, it’s always just about like doing a little bit better than you did before.

And it’s not really, I don’t view it as a competition amongst others, it’s always like you versus you type of thing, which like I just, I just fell in love with. And that and like the community is amazing. I’ve met so many of my friends through competing and some of my best friends through competing and I mean there’s just because they can relate right. Very few people know what it’s like to go through a prep and they know exactly what it’s like and so just that’s just like a deeper bond that you don’t form with you know everybody. So I mean I could probably keep going and so yeah I just I just love the sport. I don’t know what it is. I mean, I just, I fell, absolutely fell in love. And it’s like, it’s an obsession for me at this point. Like I am willing to undergo all of the side effects and the post-show, you know, struggles and all that because I love it so much. And it’s such a passion for me. Can’t, you know, can’t express that enough.

Ryann

So, yeah, no, I really appreciate you sharing that. And I think that like, knowing and like honoring the fact that there are trade-offs and being willing to like, you know, embrace those trade-offs and looking at okay, like, what is it about this that lights my fire to make it worth it for me? And like, there’s nothing wrong with that, right? Like we all have our different obsessions, passions, and that doesn’t make it right or wrong. Whatever lights your fire is what lights your fire. But what I would love to dive into deeper with you right now, since I have you firsthand and you’ve done six shows, is the mindset element to this.

Because I feel like with this, you have to do mindset work to stay level-headed through being judged on your body, the weight fluctuations, the attachment to food. So from show one, prep one, to now where you’re at now, like what have you done to kind of keep yourself level-headed with your mindset throughout all of the changes and the ups and downs that goes along with being judged on your body and your body changing so much and all of that?

Valerie

Yeah, so I think first and foremost I had that foundation even before prepping, right, because I went through, you know, my struggles prior, my relationship with food and binge and restrict, following like a paleo diet and all that, so I had already gone through that and I healed myself and so I think before starting a prep, I had a solid foundation. And so, because I already had that, you know, my first prep was actually not that bad. I mean, it was, I mean, my second prep, that’s a different story. Every prep is different. But my first prep, like I, again, relationship with food was great. And so I just knew what I needed to do. And you know, I needed to hit these macros, I needed to hit this cardio. And so I think the like the prep itself wasn’t the hard part. It was hope show, you know, that is something that like, I feel like nobody can prepare you for.

Because I didn’t realize that I got so attached to my lean, like stage look, right? And I was, you know, I obviously like who doesn’t, you know, love looking fit and lean. And I personally really, really liked that like shredded look on myself. So I got really attached to that. And so, um, post-show was actually very challenging my first time around. And so I was not prepared for that at all. I think, like I said, nobody can really prepare you for that and you just kind of have to learn how to navigate through that time. And it does help, you know, to talk to other competitors who know exactly what you’re going through, but it is extremely hard and you definitely have to have tough skin to go through that. To go from, you know, every single week seeing the scale drop to the exact opposite post-show, right? Every week now you’re seeing the weight go up and up and up and up. And even though you know logically, like that’s what’s supposed to happen.

Like we need to put weight back on. We need to get to a healthy body fat percentage again. It’s still just, it just really strews with your mind. So I was, again, not prepared. But having gone through it and, you know, just taking it one day at a time, I’m like very spiritually in touch with myself and so that helped a lot. But I think that if I hadn’t had that, then it would be, it would have been a lot harder. I definitely went through a very like dark time. Last year, actually around this time and like through January and stuff. But I think a lot of that was also like hormone fluctuations which again, it’s just, I don’t even know how to tell somebody to prepare for it. It’s just, I think just knowing that that’s gonna come and knowing that that’s like a normal part of the process. Like not everyone’s gonna experience, you know, the post-show blues. Some will experience it a little bit, others it’ll be, you know, very, very overwhelming. You’ll look at your body and not even recognize it.

And then just, you know, in your head, you’re telling yourself like, wow, I am fat. Objectively speaking, like, no, you’re at a normal, like your body is normal, you know, like, yeah, this is what should be normal. But it’s like, no matter how many times you know, you tell yourself or somebody else tells you that it doesn’t click. And I don’t think that part will ever truly go away. I mean, I’ve talked to many other competitors who like, we all go through that struggle. But I think just like talking about it amongst each other and knowing like, hey, this is, we all go through this. And it’s not something that’s like under your control. Like you can’t help but be disconnected in that way when you’re so used to looking at yourself one way and now you look entirely different. And I mean, the scale can screw with anybody’s mind, right? But especially like post-show, it’s pretty gnarly.

So I, and I still struggle, like, I mean, I’m post-show right now, but it’s been, I don’t know, almost five months. And it’s just an adjustment period. And it has been easier than the first time. So I would say that like, it can get a little bit easier post-show to post-show as you learn more about your body and just try to be objective. And I think what can help is telling yourself while you’re in the prep process, this is not my normal, reminding yourself. And I was trying to do that throughout my second prep and I think that did help, but it’s definitely very hard. Yeah, it’s not easy. So you really have to like love what you do and love the sport for the sake of the sport. To like want to endure those like, tough times. But the way I look at it is like anything in life to me like, if, you know, if it’s not difficult, it’s not, you know, it’s not that it’s not worth it. But I think you know, you know what I’m trying to get.

Ryann

Yeah, like not challenging you.

Valerie

Yeah, exactly. It’s not challenging you. It’s not changing you like that kind of like, yeah, cliche, but I think like, nothing, you know, there’s certain things in life that like that is truly worth it. They’re not going to come easy, right? And so that’s the way I look at this part of the process. Like, look, I love, you know, I tell myself, I love prep and the process and you know what? Post-show, it’s gonna be hard, but it comes with the territory. You just have to kind of accept that and, and again, tell yourself about the process. This is not, like, repeat. I repeat, this is not my normal. This is just for stage and that’s it. You know?

Ryann

Yeah. Yeah. I would love to know from you, like going off of that for anybody whose body is now currently changing as they are healing from a disordered relationship with food. I mean, I feel like relating to those body changes and the way that you kind of have reframed those thoughts have been really helpful. What has helped you the most? Do you feel like kind of just like meet yourself where you’re at, maybe not look in the mirror and say I love my body but just get to a place of body neutrality as your body has changed post?

Valerie

So the the mirror thing is is one of them when I’m really struggling and when I know I’m not being objective and I’m just in my head I just won’t even I won’t even look in the mirror because I know that the habit is like, because in prep, that’s all you do. You look in the mirror to see new lines and you’re assessing your physique because that’s what the sport is, right? But that’s not helpful, for sure, whatsoever. So, you know, I try, like if I’m feeling that way and I know that if I look in the mirror, all I’m gonna do is pick myself apart instead of build myself up, then I just don’t look in the mirror, right? That helped a lot last year.

Oh, another thing is shifting the focus, right? So instead of like physique focused in the off season, let’s focus on performance, right? Or even for someone, you know, who doesn’t compete. And I tell, because I’m a coach myself for lifestyle clients as well as competitors, but for anybody that I coach, I, you know, when they’re going through like a reverse or something like that or building phase like I tell them Okay, well like now our focus is different. It’s not Physique related it’s hey, let’s get stronger. Let’s build more muscle. Let’s yeah, no badass in the gym like let’s lift heavier Because you don’t get to do that when you’re you know when you’re dieting and you’re especially when you’re deeper in a diet You don’t necessarily feel your strongest right? You don’t feel your best.

So just shifting the focus to that, like, how do I feel? Like, forget the looks, like, how do I feel? Do I feel energized? Do I feel happy? Like, do I, you know, do I get more time with my friends? Do I get to say yes to more events? Like, there are just so many positives when it comes to the improvement season, the off season, or just for the general person when you’re not focused on like physique, physique, physique, lose weight, lose fat. You know, there’s so much more to life than like your body. You are so much more than your body.

Ryann

I love that. That’s so beautiful. So was the binging phase that you had before you even like started competing? Yeah. So talk me through that a little bit. Like when did that start for you? And I know you mentioned kind of feeling that on your own. How did you do that?

Valerie

Yeah, so like I mentioned, prior to paleo, I was eating terribly. Like it was just junk food and fast food and that’s it. And then I went from that to cold turkey Let’s go paleo because that’s like CrossFit and paleo was like hand in hand at the time very very popular To do the two and so I did that and you know paleo is for those who don’t know it’s it’s Basically a whole foods based diet like nothing processed like It’s just meat, fish, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits. That’s basically it. You know, certain things are like, even like legumes, you know, were off limits for me. The way I followed paleo at the time, and like, even like potatoes.

Like, all these things that I loved, and I would eat daily, like bread and rice. And my favorite foods are carbs. So I completely just like got rid of that overnight. And so that was just way too restrictive for me. Just restricting entire food groups really, really screwed me up. Um, and then that on top of like. Me giving myself a cheat day. So on Saturday, like I would call that my cheat day. God, that was a recipe for disaster because you know, all week long, all I would do was look forward to this cheat day. And then when it would come, it was like, anything goes. I’ll give you a little brief picture of what my day would look like.

But I would wake up and I was a receptionist at a dealership, so coffee and donuts was always a thing on Saturdays. So I’d have two donuts and a coffee, and then they would do a McDonald’s run and then I would have like the breakfast burritos and then like a McMuffin and then For lunch would be like a double double in and out and a burger and a milkshake and fries And then I would have pizza for dinner like it was insane like it was like let’s just get it all in on this day Because that’s all that’s the only opportunity. I’m gonna have to enjoy my favorite foods, right?

So that went on for like a year. It got worse and worse for like a year and a half Where I would just initially it started as just Saturdays I would like binge but then I couldn’t wait till Saturday then I started doing it Friday Saturday and Sunday so it became a whole weekend thing. And then eventually, I think I just, I think I was listening to a podcast and then it just clicked, it was so crazy. In the podcast, they were talking about, you know, that all or nothing mentality and how it’s like, well, the issue is you’re living for the weekend, right? And how about let’s just do more of like a moderation approach, you know? Like, hey, if it’s a Wednesday night, like just because it’s Wednesday, it doesn’t mean you can’t have ice cream, you know?

Like, so like that, yeah, I think I just let go of the whole paleo thing and I realized like, what am I doing? Like moderation, moderation, that makes a lot more sense. Like why didn’t that click before? And it was so simple, but literally that just mindset shift just completely fixed it for me. And then I wasn’t binging for like years until I had a couple episodes last year post-show because I reverted back to those habits. Very briefly though, I’m thankful to say that it only lasted, I think I only had like two episodes and then I was able to like recognize that pattern and then I was like, okay something you know, something’s off clearly and so I fixed it but Yeah, that’s that’s how that happened

Ryann

What I so appreciate about you sharing that as I feel like so often when people talk about binging They talk about restriction in general like limiting calories But I feel like what gets often overlooked is limiting food groups. So you could have been eating enough on paleo to like physically sustain you, but like that restriction of entire food groups also has the same effect on our mind as just lowering calories in general. And I think that that is often missed.

And so, but I too was a major cheat gal. I’d be like, Sunday is my day, from the minute I wake up to the minute I go to bed, it was like, food, food, food, get it all in now because tomorrow I can’t do this again. And it’s just one of those things where it is like you are living for that cheat where it’s like, first of all, you already feel terrible because the word cheat in general says that you’re doing something wrong. But also it’s like, yeah, what if I do wanna go get dinner with my fiance on a Wednesday night? Oh, it’s not Sunday. And it really has a greater effect on your life long term that you realize when it is this all or nothing mentality.

Valerie

Yeah, that is definitely, that’s the issue is all or nothing mentality. And it doesn’t matter, like you said, whether it comes from calorie restriction or food group restriction or just any time you put, you know, that mindset, you attach that all or nothing mindset. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Ryann

Yeah, yeah. So I would love to know for you, because do you coach clients who wanna bodybuild? Are you a bodybuild coach?

Valerie

Yeah. So if somebody comes to you and is like, okay, this is what I wanna do, train me, whatever, do you run through, kind of just like a hear the expectations like know this is what’s going to happen before they actually begin? Yes, I’ll ask them right away like have you done your research? Do you know the ins and outs? Do you know what it takes? Do you know, sacrifice as much as you have to sacrifice for a prep, right? Because I do emphasize it’s not something that we take lightly and I truly and this could be, you know, people might disagree, but I don’t think it should be a bucket list item because it can really have repercussions for years after, you know, especially if you come into it with already having body image issues and food relationship issues, especially. It can be disastrous. So yeah, for sure.

Ryann

I know for me, I had this phase where when I was trying to fix my binge eating and try and like think about it in a way that like, if I just had more discipline, if I just had something that like made me get my shit together to do this, then maybe I’ll work myself out. So I had a phase where I was like, yes, I’m going to do this. And I think that what you just said is so important, because it’s like, this is not a solution to a food problem. And I think that recognizing that and recognizing that changing out food problems and like, disguising it as fitness is also a recipe for disaster. And so I really appreciate the fact that like you’re just so real up front with everybody.

Valerie

Yeah, I mean, it’s prep is just going to highlight any issues you have, like and it’s going to magnify them. So you really have to make sure that you got everything just, you know, all your ducks in a row and you’re also like, oh, I’m doing it because I wanna look like this. Like nobody looks like that, you know? Like, yeah, they do. You’re not sure after 16 to 20 weeks of prepping and then it’s again, temporary. So.

Ryann

Yeah. What is the approach that you take knowing all of this, having the history with binge eating, when you do begin working with someone who does wanna start bodybuilding that might be different than the norm to kind of help with that healthy mindset around everything?

Valerie

I mean, the approach is the same as far as like, you know, being in that calorie deficit, like you have to be in that calorie deficit, right, for those 16 to 20 weeks to get to that level of stage leanness. But what I do find helps is a flexible dieting approach. Because no matter what, again, you have to be in that calorie deficit. And you can do it by being on a meal plan. Let’s say your coach puts you on a meal plan, which I do not do. I’m not a huge fan of them. Or you could do the macro-based approach, where you follow the macros that your coach prescribes you.

And so I think the flexible dining approach, you know, following macros and fitting in the foods that you want, as long as you hit the macros, it does help because now you’re not saying, well, I can’t have this food. Like, no, you can have the food. It’s just gonna be about, okay, let’s weigh it out and let’s make sure it’s in moderation, right? And hopefully you’re not also taking the approach of like, if it fits your macros, which is different from flexible dieting, right? If it’s your macros, it’s more like let’s really just fit in the Pop-Tarts and this and that and do whatever I need to do to fit in all these processed foods. That’s, to me, that’s just not a great approach whatsoever for health and you know you’re gonna be starving all the time if all you’re doing is eating the processed stuff right so it’s like kind of like a happy medium where you’re okay 80% of the time let me fit in my whole foods the stuff that’s gonna be you know filling and provide that satiety like the leafy greens just veggies as a whole and fruits and the meats and just the whole foods Approach the majority of time that way 20% of time.

Okay. Yeah, I’m really craving this chocolate Well, let me fit it in right so that does help people because then they’re not like going six months without Eating a piece of chocolate or something that they really really love and crave because there really is just about making sure you’re in that negative energy balance.

Ryann

Yeah, yeah. So, I would love to know from you, just to kind of wrap things up, for anybody who is currently struggling with food and body that thinks that maybe bodybuilding is the solution to fix everything, what would you kind of warn or say or just maybe words of wisdom for that individual?

Valerie

Yeah, like I previously mentioned, I mean, it just prepping and and bodybuilding, kind of bodybuilding world will only magnify any issues that you already have, right, and especially body image. Like body dysmorphia is rampant and we all experience, almost all of us experience some level of it and I would say even the average person does, right, a lot of us do. So just keeping that in mind, like, it’s just, it’s just not, it’s not worth it. You’re just gonna come out, you know, feeling worse if you’re doing it for those reasons and it’s just, you know, if your only goal is, okay, well, I really want that six pack.

And so I think this is the way that I’m going to achieve it is if I, you know, have a deadline and a show in mind. Just know that, yeah, sure, you can get the six pack, but it’ll be very temporary. And the repercussions can be just a lot worse. And the post-show, usually the people who really struggle with the post-show, like rebound and like gaining, and this is not exaggerated, gaining like 20 pounds in two weeks type of thing are the ones that had the issues prior and came into it with that, like, I just want to look like this and I want that six pack. Just reminding yourself, like if that’s you, like nobody walks around with a six pack all the time.

And if they do, they are not eating very much and I guarantee you, majority of those people, they don’t feel good. And I know personally somebody who is like in this cycle of just, well, I can’t eat more because I’m going to lose this leanness, but I also feel like crap and I’m losing all my hair and I haven’t on my cycle in eight years. And yeah, the repercussions are just not worth it. So there’s a lot, there’s a better way to go about it for sure than like competing and signing up for a show. Like those are not the right reasons to do that.

Ryann

Yeah. I so appreciate that. Thank you so much. I think that again, it’s so easy to Look at a photo at face value and think okay well if I just cut some things out or work out this way then everything in my life is going to be better and I’m gonna be so much happier, but I think that recognizing everything that goes into this and Understanding the process that goes into it can be really helpful in taking off those rose-colored glasses and being like, you know, is this worth it to me or not? For some, it absolutely is. Like for you, you love it. And again, there’s nothing wrong with that. But I think that you are very, very clear on your motives and your values. And I think that is essential for being able to keep a level head in whatever you are doing.

Valerie

Yeah, exactly. I couldn’t agree more.

Ryann

Yay! Well, thank you so much again for coming on, for sharing all of that. I know that, again, this is a subject that isn’t talked about a ton, especially in regards to binge eating, so I just really appreciate your perspective, and I know a lot of people will as well.

Valerie

Of course, my pleasure. And I just want to say, like, I don’t want to scare you away. If you truly, truly want to compete, there’s so many pros, but definitely do your research. Highly, highly recommend that.

Ryann

Valerie, where can everybody find you if they want to learn more about you, your story, connect with you?

Valerie

Yeah, so my Instagram, that’s, that’s where I am most active. It’s at Valerie underscore Oconno. And yeah, I don’t really use Facebook, so you can find me.

Ryann

Perfect. I will link all of those in the show notes. Thanks so much again.

Valerie

Yes, of course. Thank you for having me.