Ep.79: Sarah Priestley (née Moore): From Scared Beginner to Pro Bikini Competitor: My Bodybuilding Journey

Today’s episode is a little different.If you’ve listened to The Comp Closet Podcast before, you’ll know that I usually sit down with other competitors to share their journeys.But over the past year I’ve had a lot of people ask me the same question:“Sarah, what’s your story?”So in this episode I’m sharing my full journey - from being someone who was terrified of the gym, to stepping on stage for the first time, to eventually earning my pro card and competing internationally.This conversation goes deeper than just bodybuilding. I talk about the hardest period of my life, the lessons this sport has taught me about resilience, patience and delayed gratification, and why I believe nobody starts as a bodybuilder - it’s something you build over time.• Life before fitness - university, health struggles and losing my dad in a car accident• The moment I realised something in my life needed to change• Walking into the gym for the first time and hiring my first coach• My first bodybuilding prep (and having shows cancelled during COVID)• Finally stepping on stage and placing 5th in my first competition• The moment I realised I might actually be able to go pro• Selling my car to afford flights to Texas to chase my pro card• The long build phase that followed and why build phases are the hardest part of bodybuilding• My pro debut and competing internationally in Dubai• The reality of bodybuilding - financially, physically and mentally• Why I started The Comp Closet• Advice for first-time competitors• What I wish I knew about recovery and sleep earlier in my career• Bikini competitions• Natural bodybuilding• Comp prep and stage life• The real journey behind competing• Or building discipline and resilience through fitnessThis episode will give you an honest look at what the sport actually involves.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sarah Moore (Host) Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sleep Aid - Emrald Labs (DC: SARAH15)⁠⁠⁠⁠Social Media Coaching, Management & Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Comp Closet Cost Planner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Comp Closet Marketplace - Buy & Sell Stage Wear⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Community for Competitors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Comp Closet Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠