Saturday mornings give us a little more time, so I want to go a bit deeper than a quick weekday tip.
If you’re going to step on a stage — or you’re even thinking about it — start here: know the organization you compete in. Is it tested or untested? That one detail changes the playing field, how you prepare, and what the results actually mean. Two athletes can work just as hard and still be standing in two very different contests.
And don’t stop at the word “natural.” Read the rules. Every federation defines that differently. What’s on the banned list? How do they test — urine, polygraph, or both? Do they test on show day only, or is there more to it? How far back do they look? Two shows can both use the word “natural” and not mean the same thing. Your job is to know what your organization means by it, not what the word feels like in conversation.
This isn’t about picking a side or putting one federation above another. It’s about walking in with your eyes open. If you compete untested, know that and own that choice. If you compete tested, know what they’re actually testing for and what their rulebook says. Guessing — or assuming “natural” means the same everywhere — is how people end up surprised, frustrated, or comparing themselves to someone who isn’t even playing by the same rules.
There’s a popular example at the highest level of sport that I share only as a reminder of how things may not be what they seem — not as a slam on anyone. Lance Armstrong competed and won for years under serious, high-level testing. He was known for passing a huge number of drug tests. He often said he passed more than 500; reporting later put that number closer to about 250, which is still a lot. For a long time, that long streak of passed tests is what people saw. Later it became clear that passing test after test did not mean everything was exactly as it appeared.
That’s the point. Even at the top, with years of winning and a reputation built on clean tests, the picture can be more complicated than the headline. A passed test is information. It is not always the whole story. So a tested show is not automatically a simple stamp that everything is exactly what it looks like, and an untested show is not automatically “anything goes” in every athlete’s mind. The organization, the rulebook, and the person still matter.
So what should you do with a little Saturday time? Do your homework on your organization. Know if the show is tested or untested. Know what “natural” means in that rulebook. Then make an honest choice about where you want to compete and how you want to do it.
And then remember the part that matters most: your best self. Titles, comparisons, and “I passed my test” don’t always tell the whole story. The athlete you’re becoming — the one who understands the rules, does the work, and measures progress against their own standard — that’s the part you can control.
I’m Coach Nate Eaton with Fit Body Physiques — online and here on the Gulf Coast. I’ve been coaching for 30 years — the last 12 full-time — and I earned my M.S. in 2016. I’ve held pro cards in the NGA, WNBF, SNBF, and IPE, and I’ve coached many clients to pro status. If you want help thinking through a show, a federation, or a plan that fits your food, training, and schedule, message us through the contact page for a free tip.
Stay strong,
Coach Nate Eaton
