Making the Leap to Competitive Bodybuilding

On May 26, 2023, I made the decision to become a competitive bodybuilder. Less than a week later, I received instructions on what I needed to do to prepare for my first competition in September of that year. At that time, I was already training with my coach, Gaby, twice a week, and it didn’t take long for her to prepare my training schedule and nutrition plan.

When I first started training with Gaby, I was doing it for myself and myself alone. I had no desire to be a bodybuilder and no desire to compete. When I made the decision to enter the sport, I told only one person—Gaby. I didn’t tell anyone else, not even my parents, who I tell just about everything. For months, I felt like I was being secretive with everyone who really knew me. 

An Accidental Debut

Eventually, people learned that I would be competing—by mistake. How? I inadvertently shared the news about my plans on an Instagram story. 

During my first suit fitting, I thought I was sharing a pic with a group of close friends, but I ended up accidentally posting it for all to see. Shortly thereafter, someone who was not on that elite list of family and friends told me how great I looked. Realizing my mistake, and my heart racing, I viewed my IG story, and there I was—barely clothed in a competition suit. 

I was horrified. My first thought was, “What did I just do?” My next thought was, “You need to contact your brother immediately!” I didn’t want anyone telling him the news; I wanted the news to come from me, and I didn’t know what his reaction would be.

Thankfully, when I told him, his response was, “Yo, that’s dope!” before proceeding to ask questions and express how proud he was. Those three small words reassured me that the people who love and care about me, and whose opinions actually matter, are going to support my decision.

Defying Expectations

From the moment I started to openly acknowledge that I was training as a bodybuilder and would be competing, it seemed as though everything became real. Sadly, it was also very evident that not everyone was as excited for me as my brother was. There are people who I have known for years who would always reach out when it came to any goals I pursued. However, when these “friends” learned about this new stage in my life, they had nothing at all to say. In fact, to this day, these so-called friends have yet to even acknowledge that I am bodybuilding and all that I have accomplished in the sport.

Even though people may not be outwardly supportive of my bodybuilding career, I have come to learn that a lackluster response (or nonresponse) from people I know is not necessarily because they believe what I am doing is obscene, undignified, or wrong. It’s likely because my enhanced discipline may make others feel compelled to look at themselves and discover something they may not like. Just because someone is not clapping for you does not mean the person lacks an inward admiration. It’s not personal.

More Than Just Working Out

Fitness as a lifestyle requires discipline. Bodybuilding, on the other hand, takes the approach to a completely different level, a level most people will never attempt. I have explained to people that bodybuilding is so much more than working out and dietary restrictions. For me, bodybuilding (and competing) is peace, tranquility, and serenity. Preparing for a bodybuilding competition forces me to stay present and focus on the “now.” While putting my body through the stresses of a rigorous workout, I do not have space to think about things that happened in the past, or something that may happen in the future. Being in the moment gives me a sense of peace that I cannot explain. 

Also, since bodybuilding puts the body through stressors unlike anything that can be described, getting through each workout, and then seeing the results, causes you to develop a mental toughness that you didn’t know existed within you. Since I started bodybuilding, I have begun to believe that I can do anything I put my mind to. I used to say it, but I didn’t fully understand that it was true.

I can now say that I know the sky’s the limit for me and my goals—because I’m living it.