The RACHEL RAMPTON Show
090- Peak Week: You’re Not Done Yet
What happens when you’re almost at the finish line… but your body and mind are telling you they’ve had enough? In this episode of The Rachel Rampton Show, I’m talking about the side of competition prep that doesn’t get shared nearly as often—the final stretch when you’re depleted, sore, tired, and discovering what you’re actually capable of. I’m sharing stories from my own preps, including the nights when finishing cardio felt almost impossible, breaking sessions into smaller pieces just to get them done, middle-of-the-night walks with Brandon, and the infamous hot-pool cardio where I promised him it would be “better.” Because getting truly stage lean isn’t always going to feel comfortable, in fact, not even close. That doesn’t mean we glorify suffering or believe harder is automatically better. There’s a difference between recklessly running yourself into the ground and recognizing that sometimes pursuing an extreme goal is simply going to require you to dig deep. And that becomes especially important during peak week—or what we call Grace Week at Grit & Grace. Grace Week isn’t your victory lap….yet. You’re not done because you made it to peak week. You’re not done because you woke up on show day. And you’re definitely not done after prejudging. We finish what we started—all the way through finals. In this episode, we talk about: What the final weeks of a bodybuilding prep can actually feel like Why feeling tired late in prep doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong The difference between productive discomfort and unnecessary suffering Why I recommend creating as much margin as possible during Grace Week What competitors should expect during the final days before a show Why you cannot mentally check out after prejudging Breaking overwhelming moments down into “one more day” How hard seasons create evidence of what you’re capable of Why grit doesn’t mean destroying yourself—and grace doesn’t mean quitting The identity you build when you keep your word even when the work gets hard One of the greatest things bodybuilding has taught me is that sometimes you reach what you thought was your limit…and discover there’s another gear inside of you. You don’t have to feel strong to take the next step. You don’t have to feel motivated. And you don't have to figure out how you're going to make it through the entire week. Sometimes you put your shoes on, turn on Rocky, look toward the finish line and tell yourself: One more day. Because every time you do, you’re collecting evidence about who you are. You are capable of more than you thought. Built with grit. Rooted in grace. ❤️ #bodybuildingprep #bikinicompetitor #peakweek #npcbikini #gritandgrace
