In October 2023, on the last day of my cut, I weighed in at just under 70kg – a weight I hadn’t been since my late teens. And yet, 10 years on, I was fitter, stronger, more muscular and a whole lot leaner.
Now, I am not a competitive bodybuilder, and, for the time being, have no intention of stepping on stage – among other things, to be competitive, I’d need a lot more size on my frame.
And yet, I am fascinated by the human body and its capacity to grow and change – first, because that’s what it does and, secondly, because that’s what we can help it to do – as well as the act of bodybuilding and its history, both of which are not always savoury.
Did you know, for instance, that the Eugen[e] of Eugen Sandow (the man the Mr Olympia trophy is named after and modelled on) was inspired by if not the phrase then the idea of “eugenics”, what Genome.gov describes as “the scientifically erroneous and immoral theory of “racial improvement” and “planned breeding,” which gained popularity during the early 20th century”.
I love lifting weights. I love putting them down again. I really appreciate how my body feels in and after sessions, and that the aesthetic I’ve developed, which I’m a fan of, is a by-product of a training style that has few downsides for the way I want to live and move.
It took me until my thirties to enjoy my body. And what I’ve learnt from and about bodybuilding in that time has only made me a better person.
If you’re looking to learn more about bodybuilding, hit me up for further reading, and if you’re looking to see what your body’s capable of, email or message me @coachjackmann to learn how we could work together on building yours.
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