By Ron Harris
Powerlifting and physique competitors are two totally totally different endeavors. One athlete trains purely to be as robust as potential, the opposite makes use of weights as a software to sculpt a superbly developed and proportionate physique. MuscleMeds athlete Julia Di Pompeo is without doubt one of the few who has achieved success in each sports activities concurrently, and definitely one of many solely ladies to have ever executed so. Her achievements thus far fly within the face of myths that might have us imagine {that a} Determine competitor must keep away from very heavy coaching with the fundamental lifts. Let’s get to know this distinctive younger lady from Illinois.
Tennis and Marathons
“I used to be taking part in tennis from the time I might maintain a racket,” Julia tells us. She performed during highschool earlier than following in her father’s footsteps and taking over working. She finally accomplished two full marathons together with a number of half marathons and 10Ks, and Di Pompeo confirmed my suspicions about her weight loss plan on the time. “It was 90 % carbs,” she laughs. Ultimately her dad grew involved that the extreme working would result in damage and took her to the fitness center to indicate her the fundamentals of weight coaching.
Two New Sports activities to Compete In
To her shock, Julia took a liking to the iron immediately. “It appeared cooler so as to add 5 kilos to a carry than it was to shave two seconds off my mile time,” she tells us. Trying up and printing up exercises on-line, she quickly discovered herself gravitating towards the massive three lifts as her principal focus. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than her physique improved so quickly in form and muscularity that folks on the fitness center started asking her if she competed. “I didn’t even know what they meant, compete in what?” she recollects. As she seemed into it, Julia contemplated which division she would match into greatest. “Bikini was a very fashionable selection, however that look wasn’t for me,” she explains. “I beloved the look of Girls’s Physique, however I used to be too intimidated to attempt that as a result of they simply appeared so huge to me on the time. Determine appeared like the proper center floor, with the extent of growth and the presentation side.”
Her first coach advised Julia she would most likely develop out of the Determine division finally, however thus far, her growth stays effectively inside its parameters. She does word that if Wellness had existed eight years in the past when she was beginning out, it might need been a viable choice as her decrease physique has all the time grown sooner than her higher physique. “However on the identical time, I wouldn’t wish to practice legs two or 3 times per week like all of them do in Wellness,” she provides. 4 years in the past, Di Pompeo made her first try at a professional card on the NPC Junior Nationals close by in Chicago and received each her class and the Total title towards 5 different class winners. She was additionally starting to compete in powerlifting meets within the APF [American Powerlifting Federation] and UPA [United Powerlifting Association] organizations doing effectively sufficient to grow to be state champion.
It Figures
Whereas Julia has executed effectively in powerlifting, IFBB Professional League Determine is the place she has really shined. She took fourth place on the Orlando Professional, then second on the Chicago Professional in 2021 earlier than profitable it in 2022. “The win was additional particular as a result of I used to be in a position to have not less than 30 family and friends within the viewers, plus tons of assist simply from being recognized across the Chicago-area gyms.” That win earned her a spot within the 2022 Olympia, the biggest athlete turnout within the historical past of the Olympia. Julia admits it was a bit overwhelming.
“It was surreal to be sitting within the athlete’s assembly with all these ladies I had adopted and seemed as much as in Determine; like Cydney Gillon, Jessica Reyes Padilla, Natalia Soltero, Wendy Fortino, and Bojana Vasiljevic. I used to be making an attempt to course of that now I used to be at that stage too.”
It additionally took Di Pompeo a short while to get accustomed to being a job mannequin to aspiring Determine champions. “At first, I used to be like, why are you following me, why are you interested by what I do? Then it hit me that they have been wanting as much as me the identical manner I had seemed as much as these different ladies. Now it retains me going and motivated to know that I’m inspiring and motivating different ladies.”
The MuscleMeds Connection
It’s all the time refreshing to listen to that an athlete was utilizing an organization’s merchandise lengthy earlier than they entered into any sort of sponsorship association. “MuscleMeds Carnivor was the primary protein powder I ever purchased, and that was over 10 years in the past,” Julia informs us. Two years in the past, she joined the athlete workforce and expanded her vary. “I like the Carnivor RTDs, as a result of they style nice, I can take them wherever, and there’s no shaker bottle to scrub out!” She additionally depends on Carnivor Lean Meal when she needs a fast 40 grams every of protein and carbohydrates. “It’s a clear meal alternative created from beef and potatoes,” she provides. Earlier than coaching, Julia turns to Amino Decanate Power as her pre-workout which supplies EAAs, glutamine, caffeine and different energizing components. “I take the Stemtropin product each night time earlier than mattress, and it helps tremendously with high quality sleep and restoration.”
What Comes Subsequent?
It’s wanting like 2023 will likely be targeted extra on powerlifting than Determine competitors for Julia. She was set to compete in a meet simply weeks after we spoke in late June, and he or she was invited to knowledgeable meet in October. “The universe appears to be pointing me towards powerlifting for the time being,” she jokes. She’s grateful to have the choice of two numerous sports activities to channel her vitality and a focus into. “It’s great to arrange for a Determine present and peak your physique completely for that someday, however when it’s over, it may be laborious for some ladies to mentally transition again into an low season mode,” she factors out. “In my case, I can goal a powerlifting meet that could be a few months away, and instantly I’ve one thing new and difficult to deal with.”
Julia additionally encourages different feminine rivals to offer heavier coaching an opportunity. “First off, it’s enjoyable and empowering to coach heavy and get stronger,” she says. “However the actual advantages will present in your physique. Heavier coaching builds that muscle density that may make you stand out on stage from others who simply have the form and construction.”
So, whereas we’re going to have to attend a short while to see Julia Di Pompeo on stage once more in professional Determine, within the meantime she will likely be working laborious to make sure that subsequent look will show marked enhancements in an already beautiful bundle. And for individuals who insist that lifts just like the squat and deadlift will result in a “boxy waist” or blocky physique, Julia is proof which you could practice like a beast and nonetheless appear like a magnificence.
Ron Harris received his begin within the bodybuilding business in the course of the eight years he labored in Los Angeles as Affiliate Producer for ESPN’s “American Muscle Journal” present within the Nineties. Since 1992 he has revealed practically 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and health magazines, making him essentially the most prolific bodybuilding author ever. Ron has been coaching for the reason that age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives along with his spouse and two kids within the Boston space. Fb Instagram
Bench Press: 235
Squat: 440
Deadlift: 435
2019 NPC Junior Nationals – Total Champion
2021 Orlando Professional – Fourth Place
2021 Chicago Professional – Second Place
2022 Chicago Professional – Winner
2022 Determine Olympia – Didn’t place
CARNIVOR™
Rocket Pop taste
CARNIVOR LEAN MEAL™
As a meal alternative* (any taste).
CARNIVOR™ SHRED
To burn fats, construct muscle, enhance vitality.
CARNIVOR™ RTD
Meal alternative (Vanilla taste).
AMINO DECANATE ENERGY
Pre-workout
CREATINE DECANATE
To extend muscle measurement and energy.
STEMTROPIN
Earlier than mattress
*Julia switches to Carnivor Shred when getting ready for a Determine competitors
For extra data, go to musclemedsrx.com
