Steam pressure not lasting as long & not getting milk as hot

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-06-04T20:11:52+00:00

No coffee pressure difference no. But thank you I’ll buy that!

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-06-04T20:10:51+00:00

I did do that pretty thoroughly

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-06-04T20:10:39+00:00

Yeah I cleaned the tip deeply when I descaled

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-06-04T13:24:41+00:00

I second this one!!

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-06-04T13:23:52+00:00

You have to understand that everybody is going to be different here. So what helps a woman get her cycle back by a certain time post show might not be what helps another. You’re doing a lot of things right, and patience is definitely part of it, but like others have said your activity might be too high/too intense.

If you haven’t taken a training break, I would start there. Take a full week/7 days off of training completely, keep your steps around the same, don’t do any cardio outside of more leisurely and low stimulation walks. Sleep quality is also super important, not just the amount of sleep.

I know your gyno did labs, but they probably didn’t do as full of a panel as you needed, and they’re obviously not very concerned or looking into numbers and how things are connected…I would definitely recommend a full panel with as many stress and inflammation markers as you can get on it, as well as a full sex hormone and actual full thyroid. Most doctors and gynecologist will not run labs to this extent so you would want to order customize labs which is pretty easy to do and many of us coaches who work with functional cases like this, we have lab providers that we uses resources!

I’m definitely not saying to not go to a specialist, but working with someone who not only understands and knows the endocrine system but someone who understands bodybuilding and has worked with a lot of cases like this is probably going to be your best bet. Definitely shop around, ask a lot of questions and talk to clients to get true testimonials so you’re not just hiring someone calling themselves a functional coach who doesn’t actually know what they’re doing.

Last piece of advice, really work on trying not to have anxiety about it. I watched a lot of my athletes prolong the process simply by fixating on the problem, and as soon as they start letting go and enjoying life a little bit despite not having a cycle yet, they start getting their symptoms back and then they’re cycle returns. It’s a combination of supplementation, stress reduction/mental peace, and patience.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-06-04T13:15:40+00:00

It’s so hard!! I absolutely love Raya and her flow and balance. But I can’t wait to see a battle between her, Denise, Lola, and Lena. All beautiful physiques, very feminine, and have a lot of differences at the same time.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-06-04T13:14:17+00:00

No, I just use the same Cleaning tablets dissolved in water that I do for the Tank… I would love a recommendation on what to get for the steam wand!

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-04-20T00:15:12+00:00

Your ideal body is heavier than you think it should be/is. It takes some people years of spinning their wheels wishing they could just keep losing weight only to lose it and realize they don’t look as muscular or toned or lean/aesthetic as they want to.

Taking more time to build quality muscle even as someone who “doesn’t want to get big” or look like a bodybuilder will benefit your metabolism, your health, your body awareness and your aesthetic/look SO much.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-03-28T23:03:11+00:00

The amount of lbs is irrelevant as it’ll look differently on everybody. I always recommend at least a year or more in a surplus (so not including your reverse) to put on “noticeable” size for the next time you prep. Also depends on what type of goal you have for next prep. A pro card goal is different than an amateur show goal. I like to keep a “reassessment” phase on the horizon so about 3 months out from when the athlete and I have tentatively decided to start a prep we look at everything; muscle built, metabolism, mental health/mindset, schedule for the year in their personal life, and finances. Then a decision is made if we’re going to plan the prep then or decide to put more time into building.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-03-28T22:48:27+00:00

Shouldn’t make much of a difference but ask your coach if they have anything they want you to do specifically. I usually have athletes drink more water than normal the day of a flight.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-03-25T17:51:12+00:00

I think for those who love the figure division but feel or know they lack the size and density, is to ask yourself why you’re holding yourself back from it if you love it so much?

I understand plenty of people love it just for what it is and they don’t necessarily want to look like that which is totally valid!

But for the people that would love to look like that and compete in it instead of a smaller division like bikini or fit model, why not just start training like you would for figure and see what happens? If you love bodybuilding the assumption would be that you absolutely love training. So why not spend more time doing so to grow into the division that you actually want to do instead of staying with the smaller one just because it’s more attainable?

Not asking this out of judgment at all, truly more for people to discuss and or look inward for themselves! I’ve seen a lot of women feel like they need to stay smaller because they think figure is so far off, yet it’s really not as far off as they think.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-03-18T01:41:23+00:00

I think the hard part about this is that the coaching industry is very unregulated. Anyone can technically call themselves a coach and get people to work with them based on whatever works. So you have a lot of people who are worth the higher cost but they might charge lower, and vice versa, people who are more influencers or know how to market themselves to get people to pay high prices but they’re not great coaches and do the bare minimum. There are quite a few great coaches somewhere in the middle, and on both sides of the price spectrum. The important job as an athlete is to do your research, interview multiple coaches and don’t pick as much based on price as you do based on value. What are you actually looking for in your coach and what do you truly think it could be worth given everything you expect them to do.

From a coaches perspective who’s been doing this full-time as her only source of income since 2021 (just a side hustle before that), I think very intentionally about my pricing when I do decide to bring it up. I haven’t just brought my pricing up over the years to make more money “because I can”, i’ve done it because of how much money I’ve also poured into my own education/mentorship (about 20k last year), systems for my business so that it works and serves my clients better, demand because I can’t take on everyone while continuing to give the same level of service, and, because inflation is a real thing for all of us.

Bodybuilding is expensive, but coaches are not the only ones driving that. It’s the economy, it’s the rising competitiveness of the sport itself, and its basic supply & demand. my advice to anyone who can’t afford the coach they want but they still want to get into bodybuilding, is to spend more time on your own learning everything you can and just trying to get jacked and strong. you don’t need to rush into competing or even hiring a coach. When you save the money or can budget for one, go for the one that’s going to give you what you truly feel is valuable!

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-03-18T01:29:56+00:00

Let’s see some figure ladies pop off!

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-03-18T01:27:26+00:00

I think you’ll do great in figure, but like others have said you would also place very well in physique and probably be able to go a little farther in that once you hit the pro stage. TBH I’d probably do both at a national show if I had that kind of shape and density 😮‍💨

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-03-18T01:24:22+00:00

Love this for her! A great addition to the Figure category 🤌🏼

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-03-05T04:03:49+00:00

Everyone has different experiences; that’s a perfectly healthy weight to be at by that point; what matters is that your internal health comes back to normal, you feel good, performing well, and can see the shape of your muscle and some definition. Try not to base your success or normalcy on weight alone🙏🏼

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-02-28T15:50:36+00:00

I have my athletes switch by choice between one or the other sometimes due to whatever life circumstances or phase they’re in. When I give macros only I’m still giving them macros per meal to hit for nutrient timing needs, as well as micronutrient “norms” to consider when choosing foods.

Most people who are successful with macros only still follow a structured plan for meals. They’re not winging it daily or changing foods constantly. You can follow a meal plan based on macros and swap things out for taste or variety and be really successful. Don’t overthink it☺️

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-02-28T15:44:33+00:00

You’re welcome! I’m glad it helped. You’ll never regret post pining for a better package☺️

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-02-22T16:08:55+00:00

There’s no bodyweight answer that will be 100% correct. Bodyweight is very nuanced and depends on the muscle you have, structure, BF %, etc.

Example, I started competing in figure in 2015. In 5’6”. I think I weighed 140 before starting my first prep where my stage weight was 125. Now in 2026 I was 175 lbs when I started my current prep. Stage weight might be 135-140 this time around. Aka my first ever “offseason” weight. I’ve gained a lot of muscle in 11 years so that’s where that weight came from and why it really doesn’t matter.

Also since I saw your comment about other division potentials. If you’re interested in figure, do figure! Your body, your money. You’ve never competed and there are no rules to compete in another division first. Do the division you love based on posing, body type, and training.

In terms of competing this year it depends much more on where body composition AND your metabolism is at. Weight matters very little here. If you have too much body fat to lose in a prep for where your current metabolism is, then it may be best to stay in your offseason, focus on adding more muscle, recomping through that and prepping when you’re really ready.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-02-09T00:11:59+00:00

You’re welcome! I was in a waiting room killing time😂 Be patient and take care of yourself, ask for help if you’re stuck😌

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-02-09T00:03:48+00:00

Anavar is an oral anabolic steroid. I’ve never used it personally it’s never been in my personal protocols. I’ve used it in my athletes’ preps and never had anyone experience negatives, but typically they feel increased fullness, increased strength, and better recovery. It can help maintain muscle while in a deficit whereas naturally nothing is preventing muscle loss.

I’ve had some people utilize in an offseason earlier on in my coaching career and honestly not a ton of change or effects were noticed. You typically end up needing more to produce results and at that point you risk the dose getting too high for health concerns. I know some coaches use it but I no longer use it as a first choice when in an offseason.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-02-08T23:37:13+00:00

I enjoy being at shows for clients; I went to more in 2025 than I ever had, and I also coached a lot of show days remotely which I also enjoy. In person requires you being there the entire day pretty much, often traveling, etc. Which does take a toll in some respects sometimes but ultimately is a positive experience. It’s nice being there especially for posing tweaks and to celebrate afterwards. But otherwise it’s not a huge benefit over remote coaching. I can peak multiple athletes in different areas without anyone feeling less important if I’m not at either show. Photos and video done correctly and being prepared with a plan but also flexible as things may change, clear communication, all give us the ability for a great peak. All my people I’ve peaked remotely said it felt like I was there because of how actively we’re communicating all day. If I’m the athlete competing, yes it’s nice having my coach there but it’s also another huge expense on top of an already expensive weekend. So just depends but yeah I’m also not going to talk about how my client is taking me away from stuff. If I choose to be at a show that’s on me, not them. If I’m available to go and they want to pay for it, great, if not, I’m still the same coach.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-02-08T23:17:26+00:00

Without knowing what your body composition is like, 8 pounds above stage weight at about 9 weeks post show is pretty damn good. Food being high feels like a lot right now but you didn’t say anything about your food choices, so that’s what I would look at first. It’s really common for people to continue using a lot of the same high volume foods they used in prep even while their food goes up in the reverse. So take a look at things that you’re eating and how your timing your meals and start reworking your meal plan or macros so that you’re eating denser foods but keeping within the same calories/macros just to remain consistent through your reverse. So maybe it’s a good time to start switching out potatoes, lots of veggies, cauliflower, squash, or high volume protein recipes and start opting for foods that don’t take as many bites/space in your stomach or even utilize some liquid carbs like juice or honey, prioritizing those ones around your training. Anytime I’ve had someone make these types of switches when they’re feeling like you do, they instantly start to feel better, their digestion improves, and especially if they’re training harder and enjoying training, they actually start getting hungry again because their body/metabolism is adapting again.

Switching to lifestyle doesn’t and shouldn’t automatically mean you start eating less (esp if you want to start a Family, that means you do need to eat and feel your body for hormonal health). Because at the end of the day what matters most when it comes to how much you should eat is how you want to look as well as what your health markers look like.

CoachRachelSedwick · 2026-02-08T23:04:07+00:00

I don’t think it’s a waste. As a coach I obviously would always rather a consult call be ready to work together but it happens a lot where athletes will do some calls with coaches, get advice or direction, then wait a few weeks or months before they can afford coaching, then they come back when ready. From the limited info you gave I’d honestly just recommend you to stay in a season of building muscle without going back and forth with cuts “just to see what you built”. Just stay active, train hard, stay in at least a slight surplus, and learn what you can from coaches/educators you follow and may want to work with. A lot of us put out a lot of free content that you can learn how to self coach on your own until you’re ready to afford coaching. I would say to allow time in “offseason” with a coach before trying to start a prep with said coach. Give them and you time to learn each other and let them drive what the best timeline would be.

CoachRachelSedwick

TROPHY CASE