How to apply colour for a Fitness or Figure Competition

Tan for a month prior to competition (depending on your natural complexion) to get a base tan and to prevent the competition colour from appearing orange.
One week prior to competition begin using a loofah when showering to remove any dead and flaking skin
No later then Wednesday shave the entire body ( to remove any “peach fuzz” to allow for more even application of colour
Thursday night or Friday morning shower up and towel dry thoroughly and do not apply any lotion, deodorant or perfume
Apply colour in a brightly lighted area (natural sunlight is best) and spread an old sheet or towels over the floor. Put on thin gloves to keep your hands from turning brown incase you need them for fix ups when applying colour
Begin by applying a product called Pro Tan to the larger areas of the body by spraying (a few pumps) and use the brush applicator to gently spread and to even out the colour in a horizontal fashion. Do not use on face, hands, or feet at this time
Be careful of knees, elbows, arm and arm pits as the colour will usually appear very dark in these areas so apply only a small amount
The first coat is the hardest to apply evenly, but don’t worry too much about small imperfections as the stage lights will make them disappear. You can shower off the excess and pat dry before applying the second coat if you like to remove any excess colour.
Once dried you can apply your second coat to deepen the colour. At this time apply a small amount on the face using a smaller brush which can be purchased for less than a dollar at any department hardware section such as Walmart. Brush the colour up into the hairline to avoid looking like your wearing a mask. Spray the hands lightly to blend in the colour from the arms and feet to blend with ankles.
Friday night apply your first coat of JanTana – this is done wearing gloves and rubbing in the colour one area at a time with your hands. I prefer to use both the Jan Tana and the Protan to get a nice rich colour, some people only use one or the either.
Saturday morning apply your second coat of Jan Tana and do touch ups on spots that may have rubbed off in the night.
Purchase a dark foundation (used on African Americans or people with a very dark complexion) and powder and apply to your face to get a colour that matches your body. From personal experience I've found that Jan Tana on the face is too dark.
While backstage apply a coca butter lotion or baby oil lotion over your body to smooth out your colour and give you a nice shimmer on stage. Do not use baby oil or a product called Hot Stuff as these are prohibited for Fitness & Figure Athletes.

Hand washing

With summer time approaching we all tend to eat more foods with our hands such as fruits or barbecued items, so I thought I would share with you the proper technique for washing your hands when working with food. The whole process should take approximately two minutes.

Begin by running tepid water
Apply liquid soap to the middle of the hands
Use the palm of the right hand as a surface for scrubbing your left
Scrub the finger nails by turning them in a circular motion along the palm to get dirt from underneath the nails
Scrub the crease in the hand between the index finger and the thumb
Build up a good lather and scrub the remainder of the hand
Repeat for the left hand
Grab some paper towels and dry your hands
Use the paper towel to turn off the taps and discard in the garbage

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Tracy Orzechowski is a 24-year-old Fitness enthusiast who’s been competing in Fitness Competitions for the past 4 years. She is 5’ 7” tall and weighs 140 lbs. competition weight, and 150 lbs. off-season. She is currently qualified to compete at the Canadian National Level competitions and is presently looking for opportunities for print work and fitness modeling. Tracy is a contributing writer to Bodybuilding.com and Physical Training: Fitness for combatives and is seeking a contract with a supplement company and modeling agency to help pursue her passion and love for the sport. Her competition goal is to compete and place top three at the 2003 Canadian National Fitness & Figure Championships. Tracy states: "I encourage everyone to set goals for themselves and to believe that you can do anything you set your mind to with patience, persistence and determination." Her hobbies are; working out, hiking, reading, and watching movies.

Competition History:

1999 Ontario Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships – 3rd Place
1999 Western Ontario Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships – 1st Place
2000 Ontario Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships
2001 Festival City Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships – 2nd Place
2001 Ontario Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships – 3rd Place Tall Class
2002 Northern Ontario Fitness Championships – 2nd Place
2002 Ontario Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships
2002 Eastern Ontario Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships – 1st Place
2002 Western Ontario Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships – 2nd Place

Upcoming Competitions for 2003:

2003 Canadian National Fitness & Figure Championships

Web page: www.tracystar.com will be operational in the early part of March.

Physical Training June 2003