Em Pianeda is out to prove that it’s never too late for women to achieve their goals.
Recently completing her second bodybuilding season, Em has achieved three pro cards, or professional athlete awards, and her journey has only just begun.
She entered her first bodybuilding season last year, after much consideration and a lifelong passion for sport, fitness and muscle.
“Last year I was turning 40, and I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to do it before I’m 40,’” she said.
“I always admired bodybuilding and I really do like muscle … because I know what it takes to get it.”
After receiving feedback from her first bodybuilding season, Em Pianeda went into an improvement period to grow her muscle and develop her posing.
Her goal was to finish her second season with a pro card.
“I learnt that I could do it and I could stick to the diet and the training,” she said.
In her second season, Em achieved three pro cards with natural federations I Compete Natural, Natural Bodybuilding Australia and Miss Fitness Australia.
“It blew my mind,” she said.
“I had three chances and got three from three, so I’m super excited for next year.”
Bodybuilding competitions are judged on aspects including figure, symmetry and muscle separation, which requires an intense preparation period and training regime.
Em allowed her body to recover between seasons before starting a growth season of strength training and structured eating.
“When you hit your prep season, that’s when you start to cut your calories and add your cardio and start to do the shred,” she said.
“You get yourself into good habits with eating and regular training and then just hit the ground running.”
Em trains five days a week and says this period can be strenuous on not only her body, but her personal life and the people around her.
“You don’t want to go out and catch up for drinks because you can’t drink and you’re hungry and you’re tired and you’re struggling, so you don’t want to be in those environments,” she said.
“You’ve got to stay on track.
“Coming out into recovery and improvement, not only do you have to recover and improve you and your body, but you need to do that with the relationships that you’ve put on the backburner.
“My family’s had to be on the ride too so now it’s about trying to put back into that part of your life.”
Em aspires to leave her mark on the Australian natural bodybuilding scene before taking on international competitions in future seasons.
“Once I’m done there, I wouldn’t mind doing the untested federations as a natural athlete and see where I stand against enhanced athletes,” she said.
“It gives you a goal; it gives you something to work towards.”
All the while, she hopes to inspire women to follow their dreams.
“If there’s something you want to do and you have goals and aspirations, it does not matter how old you are or how busy you are,” she said.
“If I can do it, anyone can do it.
“Get out there and make it happen; it’s so empowering when you do.”
