Bodybuilding Advice For Beginners: Real Tips From Competitors At Le Coach Fitness
If you’re looking for bodybuilding advice for beginners, there’s of course no shortage of opinions online. But the most valuable insights usually come from real people who’ve actually been through prep and stepped on stage.
Bodybuilding Advice For Beginners
We asked competitors at Le Coach Fitness, the best equipped gym in Cambridge, to share their best advice for bodybuilding and the one thing they wish they’d known before their first show. Here’s what came up.
Start earlier than you think
One of the most common pieces of bodybuilding advice is simple - give yourself more time.
As competitor and Le Coach PT Tom Hermitage explains, “time to build muscle properly, time to diet without rushing and time to actually enjoy the process. Rushing prep almost always leads to a worse outcome.”
That also applies to posing. UKDFBA Novice Champion Sujan Sriharan emphasises starting early, even in the off-season. “Posing isn’t natural and takes time to refine. Leave it too late and it becomes another stress during prep and it will show on stage.”
Block out the noise
Another key theme from Le Coach members and bodybuilding competitors was mindset.
Khai Wern, UKDFBA Overall Bikini Champion, highlights how easy it is to get distracted by other competitors, opinions and social media. “Comparing yourself to others can quickly turn into unnecessary stress.”
Katy Elizabeth, Bikini Division competitor echoes this: “Stay in your own lane. Whether people think you’ll win or not is irrelevant. The outcome is decided on the day. Your job is to focus on your own process.”
Know your why and expect the reality
Nathaniel Goldstein, owner of Le Coach Fitness and PCA Men’s Physique Pro, stresses the importance of knowing why you’re doing it in the first place. “Prep is demanding, and having a clear reason helps you push through it.”
But it’s also important to understand what happens after. Jade Bagstaff, Le Coach gym manager and Figure Division competitor, points out that post-show can be more challenging than prep itself.
“Physique changes, weight comes back up, and it can feel like you’re going backwards. In reality, that’s recovery. Knowing that in advance makes a huge difference.”
Get guidance and learn the process
A consistent piece of advice for bodybuilding was not to do it alone.
Lewis Stalley, Classic Physique competitor, recommends watching shows before competing to understand how they run and what judges are looking for. “Having a second set of eyes on your progress can be the difference between a good physique and your best.”
Kerry Duncan, Junior Bikini Competitor, adds that prep is what you make it. “With the right mindset, structure and support, it becomes a rewarding process rather than just a difficult one.”
Train in the right environment
All of this comes back to where you train.
At Le Coach Fitness, you’re surrounded by people who have competed, are competing and understand exactly what prep takes. From experienced coaches to a dedicated posing room, it’s an environment built for progression.
If you’re serious about stepping on stage, the right environment isn’t a bonus - it’s a difference you’ll see when it matters most.
Grab a discounted day pass and come and see it for yourself.