Episode 271: From Dream to Reality: Shireen's Bodybuilding Journey

Shireen joins Ben and Giacomo to share her journey from going vegan for her health to discovering bodybuilding and eventually stepping onstage for her first competition. She talks about her lifelong interest in athletics, cosplay, and superheroes, and how building confidence through fitness eventually helped her believe she could pursue bodybuilding.Shireen and Giacomo discuss how their coaching relationship evolved from helping her understand training and nutrition to preparing for the bodybuilding stage. They dive into the realities of contest prep, including the physical and psychological challenges of getting extremely lean, the lessons Shireen learned about hormones and recovery, and why stage conditioning isn't a sustainable year-round state.Finally, Shireen reflects on the deeper impact bodybuilding has had on her confidence, discipline, gratitude, and perspective on life. She shares her experience competing, navigating post-show recovery, and why she's now embracing an improvement season before eventually stepping onstage again.🌱 Coaching ApplicationTake your fitness and nutrition goals to the next level with one-on-one coaching:http://www.veganproteins.com/personal-training 📖 Free 7-Day High-Protein Meal Plan:https://bit.ly/4kab1Ll💪 Muscles by Brussels Membership:Try it free for one month:https://www.veganproteins.com/muscles-by-brussels-membership-free-trial/ ✅ Membership Includes:4 live coaching calls per monthMonthly home or gym workouts200+ high-protein vegan recipesExclusive app featuresHabit challenges with cash prizesA supportive vegan athlete community🔗 Follow Us Online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganproteins/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeganProteinsWebsite: https://www.veganproteins.com/Apparel: Muscles by Brussels Tank TopsSCIENCE:MASS (Monthly Application In Strength Sport): MASS is one of our secret weapons and it continues to be an invaluable resource for us to keep up to date with the latest research. Don’t get swept up in fads or bogus info. Sign up and stay up to date with easy-to-consume journals and support the evidence-based fitness community.=================================