I don’t think she’s letting herself go, she’s just gained a bit after the show. From the past years, it’s obvious she’s most toned and skinny during the time of the VSFS, and then gets a little softer afterwards.
Last year:
Oct/Nov 2016
Then around March/April 2017
I think she has a bodybuilder mentality in that she has a 'contest weight' where she restricts heavily and works out to be ready for the show and then experiences a post-contest weight gain as she loosens the reins after working so hard, especially with the holidays etc. I can see how that helps her stay sane.
I don’t think she’s letting herself go, she’s just gained a bit after the show. From the past years, it’s obvious she’s most toned and skinny during the time of the VSFS, and then gets a little softer afterwards.
Last year:
Oct/Nov 2016
Then around March/April 2017
I think she has a bodybuilder mentality in that she has a 'contest weight' where she restricts heavily and works out to be ready for the show and then experiences a post-contest weight gain as she loosens the reins after working so hard, especially with the holidays etc. I can see how that helps her stay sane.
I think you two are right.
This is what fitness models who have a career that last typically do, not just bodybuilders. In season, they go down to their "photogenic" bodyfat level, and out of season, they allow their body fat to raise a few percentage points. The few who have careers that span years all, all do this. Jamie Eason used to be my best example, as she had a few statements out about what offseason really meant for female bikini models... but im not sure if she's working anymore. (Many guy bodybuilders talk about epic bingeing post-contest and offseason, but the girls cant afford the calories- neither can the "natty" guys.) Most fitness models only work a year or two, because staying at photoshoot bodyfat level year-round, on top of the heavy year-round lifting, is really taxing and pretty much impossible. Sets you up for injuries or to get sick. But seasonal cycling is quite a different level of discipline to master. "Loosens the reins" is a nice phrase for it- for she does still hold the reins and steers, just less calculatedly.
The female finess models with a lasting career dont binge after season and gain shit tons. That would make it way too hard to get back to photogenic. They just are a little less strict, and bodyfat goes up, but never up to supposed "ideal" levels, just rises out of "dangerous"/ultralean for awhile. Staying that higher bodyfat a couple months a year- if you can stand it psychologically- is actually better hormonally. It makes it sustainable. Most people who dont have to frame the timing around their career choose to peak their bodyfat for summer...
If youre NOT a fitness model/bodybuilder... Training must be changed seasonally too, if you alter diet/bodyfat seasonally, or you can easily end up bulky in a few years. Like, i gain muscle easy. So if youre like that.... while youre leaning out, you can lift and exercise kinda whatever, bc you wont gain much muscle and itll mostly just help you retain what you have... but during the periods where your bodyfat is higher, your better off doing yoga and walking, and maybe a little bodyweight stuff, but definitely no lifting heavy or power work. If you keep too much intense workouts in year-round, in a few years you do gain significant bulk.
VS girls overall look more like fitness models than model-models, so i think it's relevant what fitness models do bodywise and dietwise... it's interesting, even if it's not the direction we aim for.
I honestly am a little curious how Romee is altering VS's plan, and if she is just not muscular genetically, or -probably- both are a factor. Its been like 2-3 years shes been with VS...