The cost of living crisis and its impact on Bodybuilding and Powerlifting

The cost of living crisis has caused everything to get considerably more expensive. People's access to fitness and willingness to spend the extra money have also been affected.

According to the Office of National Statistics, around 64% of adults spend less on non-essentials. YouGov research in September 2022 found that 8% of the British public said they had been forced to make cutbacks to spend on gym memberships due to the crisis.

21-year-old Sohlan Aslan from Sheffield (left) and 20-year-old Becky Jones from Surrey (right) competed in powerlifting and bodybuilding this year. They have both seen different effects on their sport due to the cost of living.

Sohlan said, "It does not affect me as much now because I live with my parents and don't have to pay for food. But when I was at university, I really noticed it. I don't really like drinking protein shakes and prefer to get my protein from meat and natural foods. But due to the rise in meat prices, I had to cut down on them and use more protein powder."

Becky said, “There was no way to eat healthily cheaply” due to the costs of meat and the amount of food a competitor consumes.

Sohlan also mentioned that regulation powerlifting equipment has significantly gone up in price, such as the SBD brand lifting belt going up by around £50. outside of living with her parents, she finds easy ways to save money whilst training, such as walking to the gym instead of taking public transport.

Bodybuilders like Becky explained how expensive bodybuilding is in general for women due to hair and makeup. She also said, “My competition bikini for last year cost me close to £300, that's a cost men don't have to the same extent .”

Bodybuilding and powerlifting are the two sports that require the most time in the gym and dedication to a strict lifestyle, even at the novice or beginner level.

When asked what she would suggest to people looking to compete or take the gym more seriously, Sohlan recommends making sure to be in a good place mentally and financially. She said, "If you cannot be in the zone for a long period and pay for your gym membership, it can really affect how you train".

Becky found herself cutting considerably on her social life to meet the demands of her sport. She recommends that anyone interested in competing in women's bodybuilding take their time and focus on growing. She said, “Don't compete the first year when You first think about it. Save up, get a coach and stay in a reasonable bulk so you are constantly growing throughout the first year. Once you have the money and the coach next year, you are ready to go and will spend less time paying for a coach.”

As for the powerlifting competition itself, Sohlan found preparation for the competition stressful as she needed to figure out what to expect. However, she is very competitive and sees the actual competition as a day she "will remember for the rest of her life" due to the environment.

Becky found her first bodybuilding competition to be “scary” as she felt that she could have done so much better and felt a level of imposter syndrome on stage. She said, “It felt like I almost did not belong there”. She went on to explain that you don't eat much until you are carb loading to make the muscles appear fuller on stage, and when you are there “, you are hot, dehydrated, and cramping whilst holding the same poses. Becky “felt like she shouldn't be here” when she looked at the other competitors on stage.

Despite very different experiences, the two women are determined to keep going. Sohlan feels far more focused and locked in as she trains with her new program blocks after the competition. After Becky's first bodybuilding show, she received her feedback and performed better than expected. She is currently training for a competition later this year.