Ball State University will host an in-house bodybuilding competition on Saturday 7 p.m. April 19. Students will compete for the titles of Mr. and Ms. Ball State.

The competition will feature three divisions of women and men’s tall height and men’s medium height.

Senior and Exercise Science major Josh Kuechler said diet will be his key to preparation. He told BallState Daily he eats:

“Twelve egg whites, 8 ounces of chicken, 8 ounces of brown sirloin, 16 ounces of tilapia, 8 ounces of sweet potato and 3 cups of broccoli are what make up the six meals a day.”

“The best part of being on stage is proving you deserve to be on stage. It is really euphoric, it is surreal to be up there. This has taught me so much about my own body and what I needed to fix.”

David Pearson, event coordinator and associate professor of Exercise Science said 13 men and nine women are set to compete.

“The competition is is an individual attempt. You are in competition against yourself. If you don’t do well, you have nobody to blame but yourself. It goes a lot deeper than how you look in the mirror. It is very, very hard to get yourself ready to compete for the contest.”

Junior Exercise Science major and prospective competitor Megan Brineman said her bodybuilding pursuits yield more than just a pleasing physique.

”I am happier and healthier and enjoying what I look like. Losing weight, you find the you that you feel like. My family members have lost a lot of weight and changed their dieting and eating styles to being healthier because they realized they let themselves go.”

She is also preparing to be a trainer, and says that personal competition experience offers her a wider perspective.

“It reminds me of the feeling I get when coaching others. I enjoy seeing others get something or make progress toward their goals. Their excitement and enthusiasm about it inspires me and motivates me more.”

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