Lauren Backstage After Competing

Lauren reflects on her mistakes and what she plans to improve next time she competes (if there is a next time). She also chats with her sister, Kristin, her father, Carl, and friends. Lauren had a lot of free time to relax and watch the show before going out for her final walk at 5:00 p.m.

Lauren's Final Evaluation - Open "Short"

Lauren competed in her final category "Open 'Short'" at around noon. She had an issue with not closing her legs and touching her heels together like the judges requested. She said later she didn't think it would count against her and that she really could not put her heels together without messing up her pose. She had to account for the size of her thighs in making this decision.

Her boyfriend, Chris, her father, Carl, her younger sister, Kristin and quite a few other friends came out to watch her compete. They sat tensely in the audience while she was up on stage.

Lauren's Second Category - Figure Novice "Short"

This is the video footage from Lauren's Figure Novice "Short" category evaluation in its entirety. Because she is only 5'3'' (5'8'' in the heels) she could compete in this category as well.

Lauren's Figure Novice Debut

This the entire footage from Lauren's first time out on stage at the competition in the Figure Novice Debut category.

Lauren Gets Pumped Up for Competition

It's important to pump muscles up right before competition so they are more prominent. Blood fills the muscles causing them to swell. Jereff Clady, who currently holds the bodybuilding title "Mr. Cape Cod," helped Lauren get pumped up with a rubber cable. She also ate a small amount of a rice cake. The carbs help to expand muscle as well.

Figure Judging Criteria

This is what the judges are looking for in the figure division of bodybuilding. To see a more detailed description of judging criteria or to learn more about the figure competition click here.

Figure Judging Criteria

Good Leanness

Good conditioning

Full and Healthy-Looking Muscularity

Balance

Proportion

Symmetry

Lauren's Workouts

Here are the various ways Lauren trained for the big day. She alternated weight training on all muscle groups throughout each week. She did 2-3 hours of cardio a day. "I've literally used every inch of this equipment," she said during her last workout. Lauren likes to run but wasn't able to do so after the early stage of her training because she didn't have enough caloric energy. She was only consuming 1,000 to 1300 calories toward the end.

Lauren's Workouts

Target Weight Training

Elliptical Machine

Stair Master

Pilates

Running (only in early stage)