I’ve seen it a thousand times – realizing his error, he screams to me from the stage as I sit in the stands  “Help me!” It’s the new bodybuilder on stage in his swimming trunks. Granted – far less disturbing than the fat man on the beach in his G-String – but an error nonetheless.

So the debate ensues:  Before you try to pass off a swimsuit as your gear for the day, hold on. While similar in structure and style, there are a few differences you need to know about. And while the thought of wearing such a skimpy piece of clothing on stage may seem embarrassing, losing to the guy who did wear one is even more embarrassing, don’t you think?

Remember that the reason that you are in competition is to show off the work you have been doing on your musculature. A posing suit is cut to show off as much of your leg sweep and help narrow your waist as possible, within current standards of modesty. Sure, there are those who jokingly call them “Daisy Cutters” or “Banana Hammocks” – but these puppies are the necessary tools of the trade. It is not designed for speed in the water like a standard swim trunk would be. While this will go against all logic for most of us, the key feature you are looking for in a suit is exposure. However I cannot stress the following enough! There are limits – and while posing suits are small – anything resembling dental floss is just plain wrong! While some European contests are open to thongs, North America still frowns on “Whale Tails.” And for that, we here at NxLabs are thankful.

Much like a crowd around the urinal in the men’s washroom, stage fright is the last thing you need to worry about during competition. My advice is to practice posing at home – in your posing trunks. The key to this is wearing it a few times before competition to not only help you get the most flattering fit, but also get used to an otherwise humbling experience. A great tip is to buy two suits; one that fits and one that is two sizes smaller. Some competitors can drop over 15 pounds in their last week of contest prep. There is nothing less flattering than a posing suit that has lost its shape.