Getting Shredded

Bodybuilders are perfectionists. They’re fastidious on internet forums, economical in their IRL conversations, and at the gym they wear ‘No excuses’ singlets. As kids they may have been the ones insisting on only eating orange food, or completing a Rubik’s Cube in 15 seconds.This episode, we're looking at shredding, the art of getting jacked – be that for bodybuilding, gymfluencer photo shoots, athletes who need to drop a weight class, actors who need to look buff, or just because.Jenny recounts her lead up to competing in bodybuilding (a once-only venture), when she transformed into a human Cadbury's Curly-Wurly and brought home gold and bronze medals, but at a cost to her health. This is a rare fish-out-of-water insight into the surreal world of bodybuilding, part sport, part spectacle, which comes laden with risks and rewards. What draws people to it? Who excels at it? What gets spoken of and what doesn't? And more pressingly, what did Frank think about the dramatically changing body of his girlfriend?Our guests this week are Paul Jayilian, Jenny’s trainer and a world champion, who goes deep into the alchemy of ‘peak week’. Also, Jenny’s posing coach, Nat Kitney, who aims to be a soft place to land for her clients, in a sport that’s all about being hard on yourself.LINKSPaul Jayilian’s Empire FitnessPosing Coach Nat KitneySpirit Levels on InstagramSpirit Levels on TikTokGet our free newsletter!This episode was mixed by Ally Kallis. Episode released 14/11/23 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.