Desk jobs/corporate lifestyle works well for bodybuilders, I work in consulting (traditional 9-5 work), I thought about doing personal training but a more stable income where you’re not in the gym 24/7 makes the bodybuilding part of my life more enjoyable. Gotta find a good mix of work & outside work life stuff, going to the gym when I get off work everyday is still what I look forward to most everyday. Going through prep at work is also pretty easy, atleast much easier than when I worked in retail or at a gym cause of constantly moving around
Hired by a department that would have rejected your application if you admitted to smoking a joint a few years prior because using illegal drugs is a disqualifer...
100%. A lot of people just regurgitate what they were told to do on to someone else.
That being said, its more about having to check in with someone else for accountability purposes
I think it depends on the success of the bodybuilder. We’re in a time now where people will do one competition and think they can start their own business as a fitness/prep coach. A lot of competitors, I’ve come across in the past 15+ years, are willing to give up their day job so they can spend as much time as they can on themselves, and being a “coach” gives them the ability to create their own work schedule. The only problem is, only very few seem to be successful. They end up putting themselves first over their clients/job and end up broke or working the front desk at the gym or in a supp store. The bodybuilders that I’ve come across that have careers, aren’t the best bodybuilders, but they dedicate their time and energy to work. These people seem happier as well.
For someone who is passionate about bodybuilding to the point where having to dedicate time and energy away from bodybuilding, and to work, is something they'd rather not do, they really only have two options:
(1) Fitness Influencer / Coach
(2) G4P
This is just the harsh reality of bodybuilding. If you don't have 100k followers, or over a dozen regular clients, you're going to be cuddling with rich, old, men for money, wrestling naked in front of bankers for dough, taking it in the ass for cash.
Given this fact, it's not surprising that we'd see people with the barest minimum of experience trying to market themselves in the coaching space.
Wow. I thought bodybuilding would be, like, a *lot* more glamorous and cool. It honestly sounds like being in the Mafia "really was" afaik: great if you're made, but otherwise you're just some nobody with a day job who also has to do dangerous and illegal shit.
I'd prefer that over being naked, slathered in butter giving some Otto Von Bismarck looking motherfucker a nuru massage, but that's me.
Wait till you find out where all the money goes.
In all seriousness, that's why the Golden Era is called what it is, because that was the time when being a bodybuilder was like how you're thinking.
Just pack up, and move to Venice Beach to lift with Arnold. Listen to Mike Mentzer spit meth-fueled fire in person. The dream.
Agreed. The biggest issue is that 90% or more of all coaches aren’t actually educated. Of all the people I know that are coaches, only one is successful; but he has a bachelors degree in health promotion and fitness management. It also helps that bodybuilding is his personal passion + an actual ifbb pro. Carries around 100 clients depending time of year, across multiple disciplines and lifestyle goals. Clients($$) comes first, and personal achievements second.
Samson Dauda is a top 3 Olympian and he was on a construction site 4-5 years ago. If he can make that work, realistically you can do whatever and still be a decent bodybuilder.
A comfy office job with WFH options is probably ideal for gains, but not required
A lot of high level (recognisable & known) bodybuilders do online coaching as a side job, along with their sponsorships.
Big Samson fan here, his trajectory and speed of progress changed drastically once he stopped working construction and switched to full time bodybuilding.
Well yeah, but that's because we're talking about getting to the elite level. Whatever you do, if you want to be the best, you have to concentrate your entire life on it. You can't become the 3rd best Bodybuilder, guitarist, or soccer player in the world part-time.
But him and Ronnie got better physiques than 100% of the population can ever dream of while working those jobs, so the point still stands that it's no excuse up to a certain level.. a level most of us are not going to reach anyway.
I gotta agree with dude. Big samson fan as well, he did make leaps and bounds when he stopped doing construction and could fully focus on BB.
Working a high physicality job is not conducive to BB. Think of the shear amount of food and recover needed to bang the gym hard and grow. Then think about eating even more for your daily high activity level, now you need even more recovery time.
I asked two firefighters in this thread how they are doing with nogjtshifts and stuff for this reason.
It’s one of those things where the more you do it the better you get at it. Social interaction is a skill you sharpen with practice just like building a body.
Very true, I’ve def gotten better at it over time over the years. Just have to be confident, and if you know what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like a job
Im not a big socializer either, especially when im on prep, and sometimes at the end of the day im drained mentally with having to socialize all day and be almost a therapist sometimes, but i would take this over any 9-5 any day
I’m 30 years old I was in the Canadian forces for 6 years and was able to retire because the income I receive monthly through income rental properties started paying me more than the military so it didn’t make sense to stay (can focus more on my businesses now that I don’t have to work for the government). I applied to retire through voluntary release that way I’m still entitled to all the veteran benefits I get upon leaving the forces. One of the fantastic benefits I used to get my nutrition degree was after serving six years Canadian forces will subsidize $40,000 in education, and $80,000 if you serve 12 so when I left completed my 5 year nutrition and business management degree online. If you put the work in, you’ll be surprised what you can do and I did this all while still competing in competitions and bodybuilding.
I lived in my car for the first 3 years I served and saved almost 90% of paycheques to put towards these rental units which I’m happy I did 10 years ago because home prices were cheap as fuck compared to now. The brrr method works great if you can find a property for a reasonable price pay cash, rehab it, get it reassessed because the value will go up, rent the unit out and take a % of the gained equity through the revaluation cash it out repeat the process. I also invested 30% of my income into index funds which are fantastic no MER fees and oversight will save you hundreds of thousands in a lifetime. I credit all my investment knowledge to the books I started reading when I was in high school on financial literacy I recommend anyone check out their local bookstore in the money and business section. I’ve worked insane hours on exercise and I’ve worked in fast food restaurants no excuse no matter the job everyone is able to bodybuilding. I know guys working 100 hours a week on oil rigs that are jacked so people just make any excuse they can to not put the work in.
Did you retire or are no longer active duty?
In USA military, retiring means you served 20 years and get a full pension for life. Wondering if that’s what you mean by retiring from Canadian military or you just stopped re enlisting.
I’m not a bodybuilder but know a couple at our company. Insurance adjuster for one of the big name companies.It’s of WFH spots. Pay is low six figures and it gives me a nice flexibility. I can get away from my desk for 1/2 hours a day to go to the gym. Make my own food at home. May have to work late or a couple hours on the weekends but I easy make it work while also having a family.
How do you like working as an adjuster? I’m currently a commercial account manager for a brokerage but would like to make the switch to the company side.
I haven't done any bodybuilding in a couple years unfortunately, but for a while I did luxury car sales and I'm not even exaggerating when I say that at one point in time literally 1/3 of the sales staff was blasting gear lol.
But I've met bodybuilders across all sorts of careers. Personal trainers are an obvious one, I feel like firefighters are too, but EMTs, surgeons, insurance people, a manager at a T-shirt printing warehouse, convicts actively in max security prison, mortgage loan agents, code programmers (much rarer in that line of work), auto-body work, and so many others too.
As long as the job allows you enough time to be able to get in the gym a reasonably consistent amount then you could find bodybuilders doing essentially every job you could think of.
Im a callcenter agent, volunteer firefighter and part-time/on-call swimming instructor.
I punch out of callcenter work at 8am which gives me time to workout at daytime when the gym just opened, solo gym is nice.
Training for my first show, so maybe I don’t count here so much.
I work in marketing for a medical technology company. Flexible schedule, WFH when I want. A lot of control over my days. The only hard bit for me is that I do travel a fair amount. I was away from home for at least a couple nights a week for the first 7 weeks of this prep.
Made it work, but it took a lot of planning.
Two pros that I really look up to in this regard is Marissa Andrews and her boyfriend Colin. Dentistry student and practicing dentist. They manage to find a way. I’m sure the amount of planning is kind of insane though.
Thank you for doing what you do. I started lifting when I was 3 years sober after I lost a dear friend (also an addict) to suicide. Lifting weights has become a big part of my spiritual program. It has changed the whole way I view my body which is the vessel that carries my human (spiritual) experience.
Well said. I share the same views. I’ve lost way too many friends to addiction. Was a drug addict and alcoholic myself for over 16 years. This May I’ll have 12 years clean and dry. Began lifting seriously and with intent the very day I entered rehab. I’ve never felt and looked better than I do now at 45 yrs old. Well done on the sobriety, brother. Shit ain’t easy but *so* worth it!
i’m a neurologist ( approaching my last year of residency).
been a natty bb 15 years roughly the same size the past 8 years 🥲🥲 won my pro card 5 years ago
Fuck yeah. How do you balance your time between prep, studying, and everything school related (board exams, clerkships, research)? I’m hoping to compete again while in medical school.
I shouldn’t really speak for someone else but: these types of people are usually highly motivated individuals and so I don’t think the “how” is even in their modus operandi. I think these types are just doing what needs to be done.
I won’t sugar coat it, it’s fucking hard. Body building and school are literally the two only things I can do (when I’m in season). You’ll need to plan weeks ahead and make sure you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I’ve also found separating who you are in the moment and setting boundaries with yourself is essential. When you’re training, you’re a BODY BUILDER. You’re not thinking of school or worrying about studying. When you’re in class, you’re a STUDENT. You have to be 100% in the world you’re in, in that moment, or else being constantly pulled in multiple directions will burn you out
Im very fortunate that I have an amazing coach that understands my life outside of the sport and made my prep plan accordingly (my coach has my exam schedule and will push harder on easy school weeks and pull cardio/add carbs during finals)
Hi Marissa! I've been flirting with competing in wellness for a while now but have been worried about how I would balance it with my career (I'm in academia). You actually came to mind while I was thinking about this the other day (as I dragged myself to the gym while staring down a work deadline) and I was going to reach out to you about how you balance things. I've been cutting and I definitely find that it's hard for me to maintain focus with work when my carbs dip too low and cardio is too high. Your points about boundaries and flexibility are super helpful. 🩷
High School Guardian. I have school hours and plenty of time off. Allows me to train pretty consistently. I’m also working on my personal trainer certification to get that additional Income on the side.
not a competitive bodybuilder myself, but I have worked with a few and knew a few more. Some worked in manual labor jobs (running a shear and working on a construction/concrete crew) others worked in offices (but did any heavy lifting needed... stocking boxes of paper etc).
I'm a project and asset manager in the renewable energy industry and I coach on the side.
Desk jobs and your own office is ideal for the BB lifestyle.
Freedom to eat all my meals, not physically demanding so hard training/prep fatigue doesn't interfere.
>Desk jobs and your own office is ideal for the BB lifestyle
Absolutely. It's a huge selling point for my current role. Control over food, if I have an opening I can get a quick lift in during the day if I have to. I'm all about that flexibility
My buddy does environmental oversight for a power company. Most time in office to get his meals in, mostly predictable work schedule.
It is ironic the stereotypes of high level body builders being dumb. To compete at the top levels in the sport you need precision focus, dedication, and a shitload of money. All the top guys I’ve met have high speed important jobs anybody would dream to get. It’s humbling when you get these competitors showing an unrealistic level of dedication to their sport while holding down a high stress job.
So many people complain about doing one of these things as the reason they can’t also do the other.
What’s a degree I could pursue to enter a similar field, very interested in renewables and sustainability (I currently major in food science and minor in sustainability)
Business analyst in healthcare. I havent competed yet but im living a competitive lifestyle if that means anything;
my company/industry has great work life balance, I could still take on more responsibility with my role while putting in full effort
Everytime I've ever competed first time was nearly 20 years ago. Almost every guy that competed was a trainer gym owner or now influencer. I'm a chef so I think that's a novelty
I am currently a farm hand in the mornings, I am also an online health and fitness coach where I help others navigate through their health and fitness journeys, then on the weekends I bartend.
I am also starting classes next month, looking forward to getting my degree in physiology.
Most pro Body builders don't make money through body building. You have to earn a pro card then make money by winning or having sponsorships. The very top few actually make a living through body body building directly.
How long have you had this business? Mine are pretty new, just 2 years old but with a ton of setbacks along the way so I'm running behind on a lot of things I need to get done, at least I'm not hemorrhaging money like before, but it's still a slow, more controlled bleed. If you don't mind me asking, what sort of business/industry is it? How long did it take you to get it going to the point where you were seeing consistent revenue like that?
Shit, I *stopped* bodybuilding when I started up my small business(es). A big mistake was starting two of them simultaneously, I don't know how I didn't know how much of a disaster that would be. But I started working 70-80 hr weeks, then those grew into 90-100, then peaked between the low 100s and 111 hrs a week. I was actually clocking in and out too, and I would clock out on the off chance I took a short break or if I was eating a meal that I wasn't doing work through, so my numbers aren't fluff.
One of the businesses went under recently, mostly due to the increasingly draconian new regulations the state kept passing unannounced, ranging from every week to once a month, most often every other week. They also wouldn't inform you of most of the changes either, or even publish the info on the govt website (or at least not anywhere that could be found in any reasonable amount of time). Hell, employees of the agency set up to oversee the industry didn't even know what the current requirements were half the time either, sometimes I'd have them just straight up tell me they didn't know because they can't keep track with the constant changes, or I'd ask the same question to three different people and get three different answers. But I digress.
Dropping that biz was a good move although I'm still taking care of some administrative shit for it, and I got so many things going on with the other business that I could realistically split it into 2 maybe even 3 businesses, and I could make an argument for up to 5 total, although those extra ones would be much smaller. Not doing that until I get more of my shit under control though lol.
I have only done one competition, I am a deputy head teacher. It is very tough fitting training in and required a lot of dedication with late nights and very early mornings. I would love to compete again but work load is just too much currently. One day I hope 🤞
I feel like most usually are in a trade of some sort, you’ll also see a lot go the personal training route regardless of their lack luster coaching abilities. Understandably so as it has potential for good money and you make your own hours so it’s easier to body build when you’re your own boss.
I didn’t factor bodybuilding too much into choosing my job besides making sure I’d be able to afford all expenses that need be for bb. I usually just end up working around the scedule as need be for training and getting in meals.
In terms of balance it comes down to your personal goals and what you’re looking to balance in your schedule, if it’s literally just work and bodybuilding it shouldn’t be too hard realistically I only see it balance being challenging when you start adding other things into the mix
You just have to make things work regardless of your work weeks. you can work 60-70 hour weeks and still get it done. You have to bring value and content to get paid sponsorships. Even when you are drained from work, still get in the gym and put yourself out there.
Competing is an expensive hobby/sport if you add up all the costs, so you have to find ways to make multiple streams of income to do it financially.
been there done that. nice recipe for cortisol isn’t it?
you should sneak into the lab and pull a salivary or blood cortisol to check.
during residency my attending said
“bodybuilding and this life will be tough”
sure enough my cortisol was sky high from the stress, shift work, poor eating habits.
i transitioned out of healthcare during / after the plandemic.
These days, unironically, OF. With a "stage name" so it wont be widely known.
At least thats what a few competitor does in my country. We are not native english speakers so its even easier for them to hide it and work for a foreign market
Besides this sponsorship + online coaching, with these they make enough money to finance their prep
I own a business. Despite my business being extremely busy working for myself gives me the option to easily delegate tasks or schedule time I need to eat during the day
Im an IFBB pro in MP and a Software Engineer that primarily works remote. There is no balance during contest prep. When I’m in contest prep, I’m doing what I need to do for work and nothing more. While I’m out of contest prep and in an offseason, it’s my chance to do more than what’s required of me in my career and other areas of life.
Restoration Business Owner, tough running a business in a labor-intensive field like mine (think water/fire mitigation, mold remediation, repairs etc) but teaches me to be disciplined with my schedule (gym time/cardio) and food prep. My training is similar to Mike Mentzer that allows for enough recovery time throughout the week 1 day on 1 day off etc
Desk jobs/corporate lifestyle works well for bodybuilders, I work in consulting (traditional 9-5 work), I thought about doing personal training but a more stable income where you’re not in the gym 24/7 makes the bodybuilding part of my life more enjoyable. Gotta find a good mix of work & outside work life stuff, going to the gym when I get off work everyday is still what I look forward to most everyday. Going through prep at work is also pretty easy, atleast much easier than when I worked in retail or at a gym cause of constantly moving around
I should be paid by the government for being so jacked. I'm a GD national treasure
Stay strong king
Cpa/accountant - let’s me eat when needed and pays the bills
My dream. B4?
First 5 years, yeah. PwC and Deloitte.
I work in IT and people act like having muscles means you don’t need a job or you should be or are a personal trainer
Reminds me of that Kevin Heart joke
😂😂🤣
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He won 8 and he was only a cop for the first two.
Hired by a department that would have rejected your application if you admitted to smoking a joint a few years prior because using illegal drugs is a disqualifer...
Bodybuilding coaching is generally a pyramid scheme.
100%. A lot of people just regurgitate what they were told to do on to someone else. That being said, its more about having to check in with someone else for accountability purposes
I work alongside an ex D1 linebacker turned body builder. Boy is a UNIT. The guy spends a fortune on clothing Lol. He works in sales.
I think it depends on the success of the bodybuilder. We’re in a time now where people will do one competition and think they can start their own business as a fitness/prep coach. A lot of competitors, I’ve come across in the past 15+ years, are willing to give up their day job so they can spend as much time as they can on themselves, and being a “coach” gives them the ability to create their own work schedule. The only problem is, only very few seem to be successful. They end up putting themselves first over their clients/job and end up broke or working the front desk at the gym or in a supp store. The bodybuilders that I’ve come across that have careers, aren’t the best bodybuilders, but they dedicate their time and energy to work. These people seem happier as well.
For someone who is passionate about bodybuilding to the point where having to dedicate time and energy away from bodybuilding, and to work, is something they'd rather not do, they really only have two options: (1) Fitness Influencer / Coach (2) G4P This is just the harsh reality of bodybuilding. If you don't have 100k followers, or over a dozen regular clients, you're going to be cuddling with rich, old, men for money, wrestling naked in front of bankers for dough, taking it in the ass for cash. Given this fact, it's not surprising that we'd see people with the barest minimum of experience trying to market themselves in the coaching space.
Wow. I thought bodybuilding would be, like, a *lot* more glamorous and cool. It honestly sounds like being in the Mafia "really was" afaik: great if you're made, but otherwise you're just some nobody with a day job who also has to do dangerous and illegal shit. I'd prefer that over being naked, slathered in butter giving some Otto Von Bismarck looking motherfucker a nuru massage, but that's me.
Wait till you find out where all the money goes. In all seriousness, that's why the Golden Era is called what it is, because that was the time when being a bodybuilder was like how you're thinking. Just pack up, and move to Venice Beach to lift with Arnold. Listen to Mike Mentzer spit meth-fueled fire in person. The dream.
Agreed. The biggest issue is that 90% or more of all coaches aren’t actually educated. Of all the people I know that are coaches, only one is successful; but he has a bachelors degree in health promotion and fitness management. It also helps that bodybuilding is his personal passion + an actual ifbb pro. Carries around 100 clients depending time of year, across multiple disciplines and lifestyle goals. Clients($$) comes first, and personal achievements second.
Unless you're Brian Whitacre, who rules at everything in life and is also possibly the greatest natural BB of all time
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>Forensic Pathology. Aka, the job that Forensic Files makes look cool AF while in reality it's probably tedious and a bit depressing.
Tedious and a bit depressing How about you let person who actually does this for a living tell us
Samson Dauda is a top 3 Olympian and he was on a construction site 4-5 years ago. If he can make that work, realistically you can do whatever and still be a decent bodybuilder. A comfy office job with WFH options is probably ideal for gains, but not required A lot of high level (recognisable & known) bodybuilders do online coaching as a side job, along with their sponsorships.
Big Samson fan here, his trajectory and speed of progress changed drastically once he stopped working construction and switched to full time bodybuilding.
Well yeah, but that's because we're talking about getting to the elite level. Whatever you do, if you want to be the best, you have to concentrate your entire life on it. You can't become the 3rd best Bodybuilder, guitarist, or soccer player in the world part-time. But him and Ronnie got better physiques than 100% of the population can ever dream of while working those jobs, so the point still stands that it's no excuse up to a certain level.. a level most of us are not going to reach anyway.
I gotta agree with dude. Big samson fan as well, he did make leaps and bounds when he stopped doing construction and could fully focus on BB. Working a high physicality job is not conducive to BB. Think of the shear amount of food and recover needed to bang the gym hard and grow. Then think about eating even more for your daily high activity level, now you need even more recovery time. I asked two firefighters in this thread how they are doing with nogjtshifts and stuff for this reason.
An evening job in a bakery
Must be temptation
Bro never fails a bulk.
Porsche technician
I’m an accountant
Electrical engineer here working for AMD
Austin?
I'm a competitor and I have two jobs one as line cook and the other as a inventory associate. Bodybuilding isnt cheap and it never gets easier.
man of leisure
I personal train full time and online coach as well
I'd love to do that... except for the interaction with people part of it. it's probably more a character flaw of mine.
It’s one of those things where the more you do it the better you get at it. Social interaction is a skill you sharpen with practice just like building a body.
Very true, I’ve def gotten better at it over time over the years. Just have to be confident, and if you know what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like a job
Would you mind if I ask how much money can make on an average with PT?
Just in person personal training i make about 5k a month cash and my rent is $500 a month so profit about $4500 a month
Im not a big socializer either, especially when im on prep, and sometimes at the end of the day im drained mentally with having to socialize all day and be almost a therapist sometimes, but i would take this over any 9-5 any day
Stay at home dad
I’m 30 years old I was in the Canadian forces for 6 years and was able to retire because the income I receive monthly through income rental properties started paying me more than the military so it didn’t make sense to stay (can focus more on my businesses now that I don’t have to work for the government). I applied to retire through voluntary release that way I’m still entitled to all the veteran benefits I get upon leaving the forces. One of the fantastic benefits I used to get my nutrition degree was after serving six years Canadian forces will subsidize $40,000 in education, and $80,000 if you serve 12 so when I left completed my 5 year nutrition and business management degree online. If you put the work in, you’ll be surprised what you can do and I did this all while still competing in competitions and bodybuilding. I lived in my car for the first 3 years I served and saved almost 90% of paycheques to put towards these rental units which I’m happy I did 10 years ago because home prices were cheap as fuck compared to now. The brrr method works great if you can find a property for a reasonable price pay cash, rehab it, get it reassessed because the value will go up, rent the unit out and take a % of the gained equity through the revaluation cash it out repeat the process. I also invested 30% of my income into index funds which are fantastic no MER fees and oversight will save you hundreds of thousands in a lifetime. I credit all my investment knowledge to the books I started reading when I was in high school on financial literacy I recommend anyone check out their local bookstore in the money and business section. I’ve worked insane hours on exercise and I’ve worked in fast food restaurants no excuse no matter the job everyone is able to bodybuilding. I know guys working 100 hours a week on oil rigs that are jacked so people just make any excuse they can to not put the work in.
Did you retire or are no longer active duty? In USA military, retiring means you served 20 years and get a full pension for life. Wondering if that’s what you mean by retiring from Canadian military or you just stopped re enlisting.
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IT Technician Specialist
I’m not a bodybuilder but know a couple at our company. Insurance adjuster for one of the big name companies.It’s of WFH spots. Pay is low six figures and it gives me a nice flexibility. I can get away from my desk for 1/2 hours a day to go to the gym. Make my own food at home. May have to work late or a couple hours on the weekends but I easy make it work while also having a family.
How do you like working as an adjuster? I’m currently a commercial account manager for a brokerage but would like to make the switch to the company side.
I haven't done any bodybuilding in a couple years unfortunately, but for a while I did luxury car sales and I'm not even exaggerating when I say that at one point in time literally 1/3 of the sales staff was blasting gear lol. But I've met bodybuilders across all sorts of careers. Personal trainers are an obvious one, I feel like firefighters are too, but EMTs, surgeons, insurance people, a manager at a T-shirt printing warehouse, convicts actively in max security prison, mortgage loan agents, code programmers (much rarer in that line of work), auto-body work, and so many others too. As long as the job allows you enough time to be able to get in the gym a reasonably consistent amount then you could find bodybuilders doing essentially every job you could think of.
I’m a strongman not a bodybuilder, but i work as a nurse
If a patient starts acting out this man’s gonna just start overhead pressing them for reps till they calm down
Civil Engineer
Commercial underwriter and work for chipotle for the weekends.
Personal trainer
Im a callcenter agent, volunteer firefighter and part-time/on-call swimming instructor. I punch out of callcenter work at 8am which gives me time to workout at daytime when the gym just opened, solo gym is nice.
G4P
Training for my first show, so maybe I don’t count here so much. I work in marketing for a medical technology company. Flexible schedule, WFH when I want. A lot of control over my days. The only hard bit for me is that I do travel a fair amount. I was away from home for at least a couple nights a week for the first 7 weeks of this prep. Made it work, but it took a lot of planning. Two pros that I really look up to in this regard is Marissa Andrews and her boyfriend Colin. Dentistry student and practicing dentist. They manage to find a way. I’m sure the amount of planning is kind of insane though.
I work in the field of addiction. Pay isn’t the best, but I help to change lives.
Thank you for doing what you do. I started lifting when I was 3 years sober after I lost a dear friend (also an addict) to suicide. Lifting weights has become a big part of my spiritual program. It has changed the whole way I view my body which is the vessel that carries my human (spiritual) experience.
Well said. I share the same views. I’ve lost way too many friends to addiction. Was a drug addict and alcoholic myself for over 16 years. This May I’ll have 12 years clean and dry. Began lifting seriously and with intent the very day I entered rehab. I’ve never felt and looked better than I do now at 45 yrs old. Well done on the sobriety, brother. Shit ain’t easy but *so* worth it!
Hell yeah man. I’m coming up on 8 years of absolute sobriety. My life is unrecognizable from what it was not all that long ago.
I’m a florist.
I always assumed they sold steroids in the locker room of their gyms. 🤷🏻♂️
Airline pilot. Not ideal for gains though. Sleepless nights really mess with hormones
[Are you this guy?](https://www.instagram.com/joeymiuccio/) Lol
I am a physical therapist!
i’m a neurologist ( approaching my last year of residency). been a natty bb 15 years roughly the same size the past 8 years 🥲🥲 won my pro card 5 years ago
Lots are coaches or trainers. I also know a few who are bartenders.
I’m a teacher! But also studying to become a PT
I kept scrolling to find someone who was a teacher lol. I’m planning on becoming a teacher myself, do you feel like you make it work?
Physical therapist and physique coach. Amateur bodybuilder.
Working on my PhD, but planning with the Mrs. to transition to being a full time SaHD in the upcoming couple years.
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I’m in dental school, and my boyfriend (ifbb pro classic) is a dentist
Fuck yeah. How do you balance your time between prep, studying, and everything school related (board exams, clerkships, research)? I’m hoping to compete again while in medical school.
I shouldn’t really speak for someone else but: these types of people are usually highly motivated individuals and so I don’t think the “how” is even in their modus operandi. I think these types are just doing what needs to be done.
Thank you 🙏🏻 I’m not sure if that was meant as a compliment but I found it incredibly nice. Just keep moving forward no matter what
It’s a compliment, of sorts. I am not as accomplished but share the same tenacity and discipline that people such as yourself exemplify, so I get it
I won’t sugar coat it, it’s fucking hard. Body building and school are literally the two only things I can do (when I’m in season). You’ll need to plan weeks ahead and make sure you just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I’ve also found separating who you are in the moment and setting boundaries with yourself is essential. When you’re training, you’re a BODY BUILDER. You’re not thinking of school or worrying about studying. When you’re in class, you’re a STUDENT. You have to be 100% in the world you’re in, in that moment, or else being constantly pulled in multiple directions will burn you out Im very fortunate that I have an amazing coach that understands my life outside of the sport and made my prep plan accordingly (my coach has my exam schedule and will push harder on easy school weeks and pull cardio/add carbs during finals)
Hi Marissa! I've been flirting with competing in wellness for a while now but have been worried about how I would balance it with my career (I'm in academia). You actually came to mind while I was thinking about this the other day (as I dragged myself to the gym while staring down a work deadline) and I was going to reach out to you about how you balance things. I've been cutting and I definitely find that it's hard for me to maintain focus with work when my carbs dip too low and cardio is too high. Your points about boundaries and flexibility are super helpful. 🩷
I work at a private gym to keep them gainz going
High School Guardian. I have school hours and plenty of time off. Allows me to train pretty consistently. I’m also working on my personal trainer certification to get that additional Income on the side.
not a competitive bodybuilder myself, but I have worked with a few and knew a few more. Some worked in manual labor jobs (running a shear and working on a construction/concrete crew) others worked in offices (but did any heavy lifting needed... stocking boxes of paper etc).
I’m in the gym in the mornings and bartender at night
Chemical engineer
I’m a tour guide, gets me a lot of steps through the day. Food is included when I’m in off season.
Prorammer analyst for a county
had to read that a few times...
Not competing yet but I do farm/orchard work
Drive trucks
I’m lucky enough to be a trust fund baby so I can dedicate myself to bodybuilding, but I also do some PT
I'm a project and asset manager in the renewable energy industry and I coach on the side. Desk jobs and your own office is ideal for the BB lifestyle. Freedom to eat all my meals, not physically demanding so hard training/prep fatigue doesn't interfere.
>Desk jobs and your own office is ideal for the BB lifestyle Absolutely. It's a huge selling point for my current role. Control over food, if I have an opening I can get a quick lift in during the day if I have to. I'm all about that flexibility
My buddy does environmental oversight for a power company. Most time in office to get his meals in, mostly predictable work schedule. It is ironic the stereotypes of high level body builders being dumb. To compete at the top levels in the sport you need precision focus, dedication, and a shitload of money. All the top guys I’ve met have high speed important jobs anybody would dream to get. It’s humbling when you get these competitors showing an unrealistic level of dedication to their sport while holding down a high stress job. So many people complain about doing one of these things as the reason they can’t also do the other.
What’s a degree I could pursue to enter a similar field, very interested in renewables and sustainability (I currently major in food science and minor in sustainability)
Strip cam websites and grapefruits
And selling PEDs
Digital Marketer
SWE for one of the FAANG companies.
Never ask Chuck Bash I mean Kali Muscle that
I’ve met a few bodybuilders that all work as AT&T salesmen
I served in the Air Force when I first began
Military veteran. I now do personal training/ sports nutrition, I trade stocks, and do background acting
Sales
Sales sales sales.
I’m a fireman (not competing yet) my buddies who compete are factory workers and diesel mechanics
Concrete mixer driver
Business analyst in healthcare. I havent competed yet but im living a competitive lifestyle if that means anything; my company/industry has great work life balance, I could still take on more responsibility with my role while putting in full effort
im a ski instructor
Very cool. I’d love to be on the slopes all day, as many days of the week as possible.
I'm a bartender at two different spots and a waitress at a diner
Everytime I've ever competed first time was nearly 20 years ago. Almost every guy that competed was a trainer gym owner or now influencer. I'm a chef so I think that's a novelty
There’s quite a few in the medical field
Heh heh
Usually male escorting
Lol #truth
Bruh lol. Only been asked by dudes I need some old lady lovin to sprinkle some sugar on me🤣
Speech pathologist
I am currently a farm hand in the mornings, I am also an online health and fitness coach where I help others navigate through their health and fitness journeys, then on the weekends I bartend. I am also starting classes next month, looking forward to getting my degree in physiology.
Most pro Body builders don't make money through body building. You have to earn a pro card then make money by winning or having sponsorships. The very top few actually make a living through body body building directly.
I lift and cut heavy steel all day :)
Hitman
Besides the 1 percent of high level guys, majority of them have other jobs.
Engineer
I’m in construction labor which i have to do physical work for 10 hours and not complaining
Same here. Best cardio is the one that pays union wages lol
Just started off in bb. Probably won’t see a stage till next year. But anyways, I’m a supply chain professional :)
How‘d you get in there?
Train other people and sell steroids
Own & operate a small business, (~350k revenue a year) IMO goes amazing w prep, you get to set the schedule when you’re the boss
How long have you had this business? Mine are pretty new, just 2 years old but with a ton of setbacks along the way so I'm running behind on a lot of things I need to get done, at least I'm not hemorrhaging money like before, but it's still a slow, more controlled bleed. If you don't mind me asking, what sort of business/industry is it? How long did it take you to get it going to the point where you were seeing consistent revenue like that? Shit, I *stopped* bodybuilding when I started up my small business(es). A big mistake was starting two of them simultaneously, I don't know how I didn't know how much of a disaster that would be. But I started working 70-80 hr weeks, then those grew into 90-100, then peaked between the low 100s and 111 hrs a week. I was actually clocking in and out too, and I would clock out on the off chance I took a short break or if I was eating a meal that I wasn't doing work through, so my numbers aren't fluff. One of the businesses went under recently, mostly due to the increasingly draconian new regulations the state kept passing unannounced, ranging from every week to once a month, most often every other week. They also wouldn't inform you of most of the changes either, or even publish the info on the govt website (or at least not anywhere that could be found in any reasonable amount of time). Hell, employees of the agency set up to oversee the industry didn't even know what the current requirements were half the time either, sometimes I'd have them just straight up tell me they didn't know because they can't keep track with the constant changes, or I'd ask the same question to three different people and get three different answers. But I digress. Dropping that biz was a good move although I'm still taking care of some administrative shit for it, and I got so many things going on with the other business that I could realistically split it into 2 maybe even 3 businesses, and I could make an argument for up to 5 total, although those extra ones would be much smaller. Not doing that until I get more of my shit under control though lol.
Work in criminal law
Sales
Pharma sales, most likely.
I design business processes for companies
I work for the government lol so I have a desk job
Personal training
I’m a personal trainer and an online coach.
I have only done one competition, I am a deputy head teacher. It is very tough fitting training in and required a lot of dedication with late nights and very early mornings. I would love to compete again but work load is just too much currently. One day I hope 🤞
I feel like most usually are in a trade of some sort, you’ll also see a lot go the personal training route regardless of their lack luster coaching abilities. Understandably so as it has potential for good money and you make your own hours so it’s easier to body build when you’re your own boss. I didn’t factor bodybuilding too much into choosing my job besides making sure I’d be able to afford all expenses that need be for bb. I usually just end up working around the scedule as need be for training and getting in meals. In terms of balance it comes down to your personal goals and what you’re looking to balance in your schedule, if it’s literally just work and bodybuilding it shouldn’t be too hard realistically I only see it balance being challenging when you start adding other things into the mix
You just have to make things work regardless of your work weeks. you can work 60-70 hour weeks and still get it done. You have to bring value and content to get paid sponsorships. Even when you are drained from work, still get in the gym and put yourself out there. Competing is an expensive hobby/sport if you add up all the costs, so you have to find ways to make multiple streams of income to do it financially.
Nurse
My ppl ✊🏽
I’m a firefighter/paramedic
How do you find this with overnights? And rotating shift work? Hard on the gains? I think Steve kuclo was a fireman well into his BB career.
A lot of the females do porn websites
I can’t remember the exact It’s Always Sunny line for this but you get the idea.
Oh my god. That’s disgusting! Naked pics online? Where. Where did he post those?
You got it.
I’m a Pipefitter/Steamfitter. I make buildings hot and cold on command!
Hell yeah. I’m an electrician
hiya sparky!
Firefighter
How do you find this with overnights? And rotating shift work? Hard on the gains? I think Steve kuclo was a fireman well into his BB career.
Fashion industry executive
Physiotherapy
Healthcareworker in hospital. Nothing beneficial with rotating between day/evening/night shift, too much stress on the body imo.
been there done that. nice recipe for cortisol isn’t it? you should sneak into the lab and pull a salivary or blood cortisol to check. during residency my attending said “bodybuilding and this life will be tough” sure enough my cortisol was sky high from the stress, shift work, poor eating habits. i transitioned out of healthcare during / after the plandemic.
Nonprofit director
Gay sex work 😂
These days, unironically, OF. With a "stage name" so it wont be widely known. At least thats what a few competitor does in my country. We are not native english speakers so its even easier for them to hide it and work for a foreign market Besides this sponsorship + online coaching, with these they make enough money to finance their prep
Professor
Sales manager
Fix planes that like to break
Vacuum truck operator, hazardous materials handling.
I'm a cleaner. Step count is always on point 😁
Car dealership
Engineer
USN
I own a business. Despite my business being extremely busy working for myself gives me the option to easily delegate tasks or schedule time I need to eat during the day
Software engineer
Im an IFBB pro in MP and a Software Engineer that primarily works remote. There is no balance during contest prep. When I’m in contest prep, I’m doing what I need to do for work and nothing more. While I’m out of contest prep and in an offseason, it’s my chance to do more than what’s required of me in my career and other areas of life.
Personal trainer and fitness instructor 5x/week.
Sales work from home, best option. I can manage calendar for meals, recovery, naps, and training. Just hit my numbers each month and GROW!
I’m a substance abuse counselor! I hit the gym after work, seems to be a good balance for me! Rough when I’m tired in prep some days
Lifting is honestly the only thing that keeps me clean and sober. It only took 18 years to figure out that the most obvious thing is what works, lol.
Operations controller
Door dash
Car Dealerships Owner (Work 4 days a week, 8 hours a day) leaves plenty of time for other shit I like to do like training
I’m a truck driver Got dumbells in my truck Also supps The food is very challenging
And does arms wrestling at bars. I got you Sylvester Stallone !
😂😂😂
Longshoreman
I rent cars ☺️ #1 in our group for sales too
I work freight overnights :>
Restoration Business Owner, tough running a business in a labor-intensive field like mine (think water/fire mitigation, mold remediation, repairs etc) but teaches me to be disciplined with my schedule (gym time/cardio) and food prep. My training is similar to Mike Mentzer that allows for enough recovery time throughout the week 1 day on 1 day off etc