Money can't buy you happiness...

But how much money do you need to compete in bikini fitness (or any other fitness series)?

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion in the social media about the fitness competitions in Finland. Especially bikini fitness seems to be the kind of thing that is really appealing to young girls. I am sure, that at least some of this enthusiasm has been brought up by Anna Virmajoki and actually her amazing success in the bikini fitness. She is pretty, smart, funny, nice and has an awesome body. -What's there not to like! No wonder so many girls would like to be like her.

This morning I woke up to read a little bit of a different story. This blog is in Finnish, and is written by a young girl who was competing with me in the try-outs in Jyväskylä. In her blog she is tellling how she became completely obsessed with the competition and felt really tired and not happy. The thing that really shocked me, at least how I understood her writing, was the fact that she had done her diet and her training routine BY HERSELF.

I must say I would never do such a thing as competing by myself without a trainer unless I had the proper education to nourishment, personal training etc. I am absolutely aware, that personal trainers etc. are quite expensive, but (and I am truly sorry to say this) competing in fitness is not a thing that you can do if you have no money.

I listed all the things I personally think you will need to compete, looked up the medium prices for these and added them up in total. Here's what I came up with:

Personal Trainer/Coach: 1500€/year (this is a standard list price, and the price can vary)
Gym 600€/year (once again a standard list price)
Supplements 1200€/year
Food 3600€/year
LPG or other kinds of beaty treatments 1200€/year
Massage 960€/year
License 100€/year
Tanning 80€/competition (for me last year 160€)
Hair salon & extensions 400€
Acrylic nails 60€
Fake Lashes 80€
Make Up (foundation, lip stick etc) 200€
Bikinis 180€ (my last year's bikini was quite plain, the price can rise a lot with sequins etc)
Shoes 80€
Jewellery 60€ (this of course can vary a lot)
Gasoline/other transportation to the venue at least 100€
Hotels 120€ per night (my hotel costs for last year were 360€)

Then you might have to pay for a stylist/hair dresser/make up artist if you don't happen to have such an awesome friend as I do, who can do all of this for you. Thank you again Satu for being there for me in last competition!

So, how much did I spend to the fitness competitions in total last year?

10 840 EUROS.

Ok, this included also the food, which obviously everyone has to eat, AND I did not spend any money to bars, nightclubs or alcohol. But still, it is a hell of a lot of money, just to shine on the stage for five minutes or so.

Of course you can try to get yourself some sponsors, but in the vastly growing mass of competitors, it is quite hard to stand out in the crowd. Of course after succeeding in competitions it will get easier to get sponsors as well.

So, money can't buy you happiness. But it is also very very hard to succeed in fitness without any money.

I don't want to put anyones dreams to the ground, but I am not sure if anyone has talked about this side of fitness competitions before.

And finally, here are some things you could buy for 10 840 euros:

• an Audi A3, 2007 from Nettiauto
• One months holiday for two people in Mauritius, five star hotel, all inclusive
• a 65 squaremetres house in Suomijärvi, house built in 1960
• a small buster fishing boat (used)

Mauritius..

But then again, if fitness is an ambition of yours, you will invest in your self and that amazing body of yours.

And once again, I am not telling anyone what to do, just offering something to think about ;)

And here's a thought: Who would you rather look like, one of the richest chicks in the world or one of the hottest chicks in the world:

Paris Hilton



Anna Virmajoki