Health and bodybuilding have an interesting relationship.

Although proper diet and exercise are crucial to health, and an attractive physique is often an indicator of health, it would be difficult to say that elite competitors on stage look ‘healthy’ per se.

Leonie Leonard, a judge at the upcoming ANB South Pacific Bodybuilding Championships at Magpies Sporting Club, has said that she is looking for “guys and girls that look healthy. I don’t like to see people that have dieted themselves down to being malnourished.”

Ms Leonard was competitor herself, and upon retirement she capitalized on the growing demand for experience and information, telling Daily Mercury:

“We had people coming to us who had paid a lot of money for online coaches and were getting a lot of bad advice when it came to their diet and not getting the support.”

Ms. Leonard is the owner of Power Station gym, where she has been instructing competitors for the past 10 years. Two of her athletes will take the stage on April 7.

Overall Ms Leonard is happy with the way bodybuilding is run regionally, saying that the most recent South Pacific Championships in Mackay had a “beautiful feel” and were a great stepping stone for regional competitors.

“The crowd are really supportive, (the promoters) make the competitors feel really welcome and it’s not intimidating at all.”

Rhonda Barnes, promoter of the Australasian Natural Bodybuilding North Queensland said that the explosion of Australian gym culture has allowed her to offer two shows per year. Over 30 competitors will travel to compete in the all natural competition. Unfortunately not all competitors are drug tested due to the high cost.

“It’s a shame. There are competitions for people who want to do that. People here want to compete naturally, they want a level playing field.”

Regardless, they believe that drug free competition is key to maintaining a culture of health.

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