The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH some people look at body building as a male dominated sport, associated with big muscles and heavy weight lifting, female body builder Jheaneale Bahadosingh said the sport is a testament to strength, discipline and determination.

“I think the sport is changing. Now that there is a bikini division, which is much soft and mainstream, lots of everyday women are admiring the bodies and gravitating to it. As my training partner says, ‘the man who made bikini a sport is an absolute genius.’ However, I love the muscles on a woman. Anyone who is intimidated by that might not be my friend anyway,” said Jheaneale.

Jheaneale said her most important job is the task of being a mother of a very active eight year old. The rest of her day consists of being a wellness consultant, massage therapist, personal trainer, and a competitor of body building.

“I was like most people having the perception of competing as a physical sport. You know, lift heavy things up and put them down. But as I progressed I found out it starts in the mind. The practice of meditation, visualization, and believing creates the body. Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish,” said Jheaneale.

What does a healthy bodybuilding lifestyle entail? Jheaneale said there is a thin line in competing between healthy manipulation and dangerous manipulation of the body.

“I think the most important thing is to find a nutritionist who you can trust and who listens to you. If you tell them you feel something is not working for you they should make it a priority to find what does work to make you function in a happy and safe way,” said Jheaneale.

Jheaneale has a  hormonal condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This can not only cause pain but also sometimes weight gain which makes it harder for her to compete in the sport. Her condition has not discouraged her; in fact it has made her work harder and learn as much as she can about healing through nutrition. Sharing her journey through social media, Jheaneale has created an organic fan base by doing nothing other than being relatable. 

Daily questions about fitness, nutrition and wellness on “Live Well with Ethan and J” on Island FM has been an honour for her to shine light on and encourage her fellow women.

“The most allowing person in my life is my 8 year old. Her patience while waiting for me at the gym through countless workouts shows me she understands what it takes in life to achieve the things you really want. Plus, she probably is building a tab for when it’s my turn to wait for her,” said Jheaneale.

She said her diet and training changes depending on the current stage of the programme she is on. “Right now I am lifting pretty heavy and eating a lot. The most constant thing is lean meat and vegetables. Closer to the show, to lean out my cardio is stepped up and my fats are cut down,” said Jheaneale.

Speaking on where she stands on the use of steroids and supplements, Jheaneale reiterated that there is a thin line between healthy manipulation and dangerous manipulation of the body.

“Supplements in your diet are exactly used for this: supplementing what might be missing in your diet. When following a restricted diet, it is sometimes hard get all the necessary vitamins, amino acids, protein and minerals to function properly. Supplementing through pills and powders can help with this. As for steroids, the misconception that any pill can create a body without putting in the work and proper diet is flawed,” said Jheaneale.

For Jheaneale, her ultimate goal in the sport of bodybuilding is to first get a pro card so that she can be able to compete on a professional level.

“My biggest adversity is having the belief that I can actually do it. Every day I practice more positive thoughts about love and self-acceptance and I am getting a little closer. There is nothing with the sport itself I would change but I think it is important to be aware of the physiological aspects both negative and positive that can happen with the athletes, especially with women. Continuously conditioning inside and out,” said Jheaneale.