HE'S only been competing for a couple of months, but already Jarrah Martin has tasted success in his bodybuilding career.
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The Coffs Harbour based personal trainer recently placed in all three of his events – first in Mr Physique first timers; second in Mr Physique novice and third in Mr Physique Opens – at the INBA NSW Coffs Coast Classic competition … his first ever body building competition.
It’s an impressive feat considering that some of Jarrah’s competition would have been bodybuilding for much longer.
Jarrah was understandably chuffed with his podium finishes.
“It was one of the best and most satisfying feelings I have ever felt,” Jarrah told the Guardian. “I feel awesome now that I have done it.
“Every time I look back on photos and think about it, it gives me goosebumps … was such a good experience.”
But by no means was the road to bodybuilding success an easy one.
“Its one of the toughest things i have ever been through. I thought I knew what I was in for, but until you actually do it, it’s in-explainable,” he said.
“I was sooo drained and low on energy and very short fused.
“I hit it hard as it was 12 weeks out from the competition and the prep involved counting calories, which meant weighing and counting everything I ate.
“Along with that included the training which was fasted cardio every single morning and then weights training every single afternoon.
“A lot of bodybuilders get a coach which makes sure everything is done right and to plan, but I wanted to test myself and using the experience I had I coached myself.
“That was probably the hardest part as I never knew if I was on track as I had nothing to compare it to.
“It was a whole new experience for me.
“If you had asked me a week before the comp if I would ever do it again, I would have said a big ‘hell no’.
“But that feeling of victory and the satisfaction it gave me being on that stage was next level – I can’t wait to improve a few things and do it again.
“Now it’s been done once i will be a lot more relaxed next time around as I know what to expect and how my body reacts to certain things and what’s best.”
He first became interested in bodybuilding at a younger age, where he liked the physique, symmetry and proportions associated with sculpting a body.
“I have been gymming it for the last eight years and I wanted to test myself and give myself a goal and something to work towards,” he said.
“All my idols in the industry are bodybuilding competitors so I’m just chasing a dream.”
For Jarrah now it has been just “getting back to enjoying food and life again”.
“… way too much,” he joked. “The first thing a did afterwards was eat.
“I ate 11,500 calories that day – which for people that know much about calories, is a shitload of food.
“I never even thought was possible to eat that amount in one day.
“The first thing i ate was half a kilo of Nutella and that was within about half hour while I was still at the comp watching others.
“That was followed by burgers, donuts, 1.5kilos of Yogurtland and copious amounts of chocolate and ice cream.
“It sounds unbelievable, and a lot of my mates I was with didn’t think it was possible either, but it happened.”
He plans to compete again in April.
“Between now and then it’s time to improve on a few things and I’ll be back with a bigger and better package next year,” he said.