In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Valliere for a deeply personal and brutally honest conversation around PED use, identity, bodybuilding culture, and the emotional cost of competing.

We talk about how easy it is to use prep as a distraction, especially when you’re going through something emotionally heavy. Melissa shares her own experience with that and what it took for her to step back, get curious, and reclaim her health and identity.

We also go deep on PED use in figure, how the culture has evolved, the virilization risks people don’t talk enough about, and why some coaches are crossing the line in pushing PEDs on athletes. Melissa drops real-world advice for women navigating decisions around enhancement, competing, and how to protect your mental and physical future.

Timestamps:

- [00:00 – 00:56] – Intro & what today’s episode is really about

- [00:56 – 08:50] – Melissa’s history with prep, identity, and emotional detachment

- [08:50 – 19:44] – Using prep to avoid emotions & the bandaid effect of competing

- [19:44 – 26:19] – The moment Melissa realized she had to dig herself out

- [26:19 – 28:34] – Why curiosity is the most powerful mindset for healing

- [28:34 – 31:50] – Has the figure division changed over time?

- [31:50 – 35:13] – PED culture in figure: Then vs. Now

- [35:13 – 40:14] – PED use across divisions: what’s normalized & what’s expected

- [40:14 – 42:16] – The under-discussed risks of virilization

- [42:16 – 45:49] – Coaches pushing PEDs: red flags & ethical concerns

- [45:49 – 52:45] – Making PED decisions: what you should actually consider

- [52:45 – 58:36] – Why it's okay to compete for reasons other than winning

Links & Resources:

Follow Melissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissabum/

https://coryfit.com/

⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min

⁠Consults: Book a Call⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultation

For more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/

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