Pradeep bala
Spring is around the corner and this month we are going to spring into the bodybuilding world. As the CPA bodybuilding championships are just around the corner we wanted to catch up with a local natural bodybuilding athlete, Pradeep Bala.
WD: Hi Pradeep. Thank you for taking the time to sit with us. So tell us a little bit about yourself, what got you to start with Bodybuilding?
PB: I fell in love with the process of seeing positive changes in my body while leading a healthy dietary and training protocol when I began my undergraduate degree in London, England. I grew a love to continually develop my physique by avidly learning and critically applying what I learned into my routine. My attitude of “I can be better. I can do better. I can eat healthier. I can learn more. I can seek mentors to advise me” helped start & propel me into the sport. I started intently bodybuilding because it was another area I could productively channel my competitive mindset beyond the demands of my university degree. I began weight lifting while residing in Nova Scotia and thus was born my love for bodybuilding.
WD: How long have you been competing?
PB: I’ve been competing since mid 2013. I’ve done 6 different drug tested competitions, which led to two national level shows with athletes across England. I’ve taken time off from late 2015 to develop my physique.
WD: What is one of the most challenging things you face when it comes to training?
PB: Constantly balancing proper execution and pushing my effort is the most challenging work for me. On the one hand I’m trying to use tempo to control movements to promote enough mechanical stress. On the other hand, I’m trying to push load while sacrificing the least from my execution.I’ve been very fortunate to have had training partners through the years who have helped me stay accountable. My current training partner, Evin Scharf, knows how to challenge and break my limits.
WD: What is the one thing that keeps you focussed when you are training for your competition?
PB: To be better than I was the last time I stepped on stage. To leave no stone unturned. To outwork the last version of myself. To not care about any competitor other than myself. My unconditional & relentless loyalty to seeing myself happy on stage keeps me focused to do the required work. There is such a high degree of emotion for me as I get closer to show day. Putting together a captivating posing routine with memorable choreography matters to me. I’m focused on letting emotion flow through the physique I’m presenting to the judges and audience.