In this episode I’m joined by IFBB Pro Maria Vegas for a deep dive into the realities of prep, athlete responsibility, emotional eating, and the intelligent use of supplementation in bodybuilding. Maria gets incredibly candid about her current prep for the Tampa Pro, her journey with emotional eating, and how she’s optimized her physique without compromising her mental or physical health.

We talk coaching philosophy, the importance of playing the long game, why “doing whatever it takes” often backfires, and how to decode the metrics judges are really looking at. Maria also opens up about using GLP-1s like semaglutide and retatrutide, and breaks down exactly how she approaches supplementation with responsibility and research.

Timestamps:

- [00:00 – 00:56] - Overcoming illness mid-prep and why health comes first

- [00:56 – 02:54] - Navigating sickness and deciding to postpone a competition

- [02:54 – 05:50] - Pro athletes modeling recovery-first approaches for longevity

- [05:50 – 08:00] - Working with Paul Revelia: Health-first coaching and long-game strategy

- [08:00 – 15:31] - Why most coaches neglect mental health & the cost of chasing leanness

- [15:31 – 25:53] - Data-driven prep: Tracking waist-to-hip ratios, Dexa scans & judge criteria

- [25:53 – 27:40] - The skill of interpreting data vs. blindly mimicking physiques

- [27:40 – 31:15] - Leanness isn’t what wins: Misconceptions about judging criteria

- [31:15 – 38:34] - Core engagement vs. core growth: The science of pelvic stability

- [38:34 – 44:00] - Athlete responsibility: Stop blaming your coach, take control

- [44:00 – 46:16] - Supplements are not candy: Stop blindly trusting marketing

- [46:16 – 51:00] - Understanding over-the-counter vs. performance drugs & expected outcomes

- [51:00 – 52:00] - Coaches pushing sponsored supplements: Red flag warning

- [52:00 – 58:10] - What is Retatrutide? Maria’s experience and why it’s not a cheat code

- [58:10 – 01:06:00] - GLP-1s & Semaglutide: The misunderstood tools with legacy effects

- [01:06:00 – 01:07:08] - Final thoughts: Prepping with purpose and never compromising health

Links & Resources:

Follow Maria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themariavegas/?hl=en

Pose With Maria: https://tr.ee/UeJdeHgq1h

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