Natural bodybuilders prepare for Ben Weider competition in South Korea

Domestic natural bodybuilders gathered at a fitness facility hosted by Kim Jong-kook to share condition management strategies two weeks before the Ben Weider competition. Athletes discussed adjusting training volumes and strict dietary controls to ensure they reach peak physical condition for the upcoming event.

With only two weeks remaining until the Ben Weider competition, which is regarded as the pinnacle of natural bodybuilding in South Korea, domestic natural bodybuilders preparing for the event gathered together. This meeting, hosted by singer Kim Jong-kook, served as a platform for athletes to share methods for managing physical condition and body states immediately prior to competition, based on the data and experience they have accumulated.

"Condition on Competition Day is Everything"... Balancing Diet and Recovery

The most critical topic for athletes facing the upcoming competition was "condition management." To avoid muscle pain or poor physical condition on the day of the event, many athletes have entered a stage of adjusting their training volume and intensity. One athlete explained, "When I was an amateur, I would try to lose even a little more until the very end, but now is the period where I reduce cardio and training volume to create the best possible condition for the competition day." This strategy focuses on body recovery while maintaining intensity rather than increasing the volume of exercise.

Diet and sleep are also under strict control. One athlete shared a lifestyle pattern of going to bed early, such as at 7 p.m. or 9 p.m., to ensure sufficient sleep, stating, "I focus everything on sleep, exercise, and eating." Conversely, some athletes focus on training while their day and night are reversed due to jet lag or personal lifestyle patterns. One athlete reported, "I wake up at 7 p.m. and start activities at 11 a.m.," noting that the changed lifestyle pattern actually helped them focus on exercise.

Concerns regarding the intensity of dieting were also discussed. One athlete revealed the difficulty of dietary management, noting, "Because I skip meals, [my weight] disappeared," while another mentioned weight changes caused by changes in living environments, such as marriage, stating, "I think my weight has increased by about 1kg compared to before." To show their best condition on stage, these athletes are continuing their final preparations in various ways, such as performing high-intensity cardio or, conversely, reducing cardio to manage their condition.

"100 Million Won for 1kg of Muscle"... Athletes Reveal Intense Preparation Process

The effort to build their bodies extended beyond simple exercise into the psychological realm. One athlete gained sympathy from those present by revealing a mindset used to overcome past losses from stock investments, stating, "I approached it with the mindset that every time my muscle mass increases by 1kg, it is worth 100 million won." This is interpreted as a unique mental management method used by athletes to endure the extreme dieting process.

The athletes gathered at the scene revealed diverse backgrounds, including serving as ambassadors for supplement brands, working as fitness entertainers, exercise physiologists, or even serving as university professors. The serious attitude toward natural bodybuilding was evident through cases such as a former martial arts athlete who immersed himself in weight training and transformed into a bodybuilding athlete. In particular, one athlete expressed passion for bodybuilding by explaining the motivation for intensely committing to weight training after quitting martial arts.

Toward the Ben Weider Competition, the Pinnacle of Natural Bodybuilding

This gathering took a character similar to a send-off ceremony for representative South Korean athletes participating in the Ben Weider competition, including those aiming to qualify for the Olympia for the first time as natural athletes. To prepare for this competition, athletes are making a final sprint to create "the most expensive muscle" through various methods, such as adjusting weight, skipping meals to increase muscle definition, or performing high-intensity cardio.

Kim Jong-kook spent time asking about the athletes' preparation processes and individual tips while offering encouragement, confirming their passion for natural bodybuilding beyond simple exercise information. The main point of interest for this competition is expected to be the physical condition in which the athletes appear on the stage in two weeks.

Source: original video (YouTube)