In this episode, I speak with Hannah Vertal, a plant based bodybuilder based out of Cleveland, Ohio, who recently did her first bikini competition on a fully plant based diet. Hannah and I discuss how this contest prep differed compared to previous preps in terms of diet in particular, her training, what got her into bodybuilding, her reasons for going vegan, her experience with transitioning diet and lifestyle habits, her time in art school, PED’s in bodybuilding and so much more. Hannah provides a very interesting perspective on all of these subjects and I found myself relating to a lot of her opinions and experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and I hope you find this episode as insightful and entertaining as I did!
You can find Hannah at @hanvertalnpc on Instagram.
If you’d rather listen on a different platform, check the show out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, PocketCasts, PlayerFM, RadioPublic or PineCast!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Intro to Aethix Approach Episode
01:18 – Intro with Hannah
2:45 – How COVID effected last year of school and going to art school
4:40 – How did you transition from art major to social worker?
5:55 – How did you get into fitness?
8:15 – Being into fitness in art school
10:45 – Partying at Christian/art school
16:45 – What drew you to bodybuilding and competing? Difference between bodybuilding divisions
19:40 – How did your training progress over the years?
22:00 – Pressure to always look good and stay lean in bodybuilding and PED use
25:30 – Cringey social media posts for fitness influencers/bodybuilders
27:15 – How being extremely lean effects you mentally and physically
32:45 – Why people enjoy getting super lean
33:45 – Body dysmorphia and bodybuilding
36:20 – Did you notice any differences going fully plant based?
39:20 – Any differences with hitting macros on plant based diet? Protein?
41:20 – Hitting macros during prep on plant based diet?
45:55 – Average day of eating for you right now?
49:30 – Normal training for you?
52:30 – Differences in training during prep and off-season?
55:30 – Would you do a powerlifting meet?
57:15 – Bodybuilding competitions are expensive
1:00:20 – Tattoos and bodybuilding
1:03:00 – Body dysmorphia and bodybuilding (continued)
1:05:00 – Where can people find you on social media?
1:06:00 – Wrap up
