Bodybuilding is not only a sport. It is also a form of art and involves a lot of dedication and precision.
It may not be a sport of choice for many in Fiji yet, but for bodybuilding couple Jordan Pillay and Jamie-Lee Mitchell, it has become a way of life. Jordan, 28, was born and raised in Suva.
He attended Holy Trinity Anglican School, Gospel High School and Ratu Kadavulevu School. His push to become a personal fitness trainer stemmed from his love for training and fitness.
This is something he believes could help Fijians boost their health. Getting fit was not enough for him. This insatiable desire pushed him to get certified as a personal trainer.
He has learnt to teach a variety of classes which include functional weight training, strength and conditioning, boxfit, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) and contest preparation.
Bodybuilding came into the picture when he was struck down by a bad asthma attack which led to pneumonia. While he was admitted in the hospital for a week he decided that when he got discharged , he would give his health a chance and see how far it would take him in life.
“I did it because I had the mindset,” he said. “Bodybuilding is not easy, you must first have a strong mindset to set yourself apart from the rest.
“You can’t party too much, can’t under eat and everything must be on schedule.”
Life as a bodybuilder is very different. Jordan wakes up at 3.45 am to starting work at 5am and finishes up by 9pm. After a long day, he makes sure to get his training, nutrition, and rest.
He also ensures that he enjoys quality family time with his two ladies, Jamie and his daughter Allegra.
“Typically, I would train for an hour and a half depending on my nutrition plan and then rest,” he explained.
“ I follow a training plan for my body, specifically training each muscle group per day and weaker muscles get trained twice.” Jordon typically eats five to six meals per day doubled with supplements and fish oil tablets. Having done eight competitions in total, his goal is to get better each time and to reach the Mr Olympia competition one day.
“I have been Mr Suva men’s physique champion twice, Mr Fiji men’s physique champion three times, a silver medallist at the South Pacific bodybuilding competition, bronze medallist in the NZIFBB Auckland champs and received gold at the 2023 LA grand prix open class classic physique.”
He said like any rookie, his very first competition was one filled with nervousness. While standing up on stage in front of the large crowd, thoughts would run across his mind. he’d question whether he was fit enough but with each competition, his level of confidence increased.
“The biggest compliment I received was from my baby. She touched my shoulders and said, ‘nice shoulders,’ she was only two at the time, now she is four.”
So how did Jamie come into the bodybuilding picture? Born as Sofia Hassan, she was adopted at three months old.
She was given her current name by the Mitchell family whom she said provided her the “best love” she could ever get.
She first met Jordan on Facebook in 2014 and from then on they started dating till he left for school at RKS.
They reconnected after they completed high school and their love continues till today.
Her first motivation for bodybuilding was when she saw how Jordan had transformed from being bed ridden from his asthma attack and moving past all the negativity to change his lifestyle. But her actual journey started a year after she gave birth.
She competed in her first local bodybuilding show Mr & Miss Fiji and was placed first in the bikini category.
After taking a 12-month break due to the COVID pandemic, she competed in an international show at the Auckland championships and was place fifth in the bikini category.
She said it was challenge trying out a new sport. During high school she excelled in swimming, netball and athletics.
But bodybuilding wasn’t something she really knew much about or considered till she met Jordan whom she said “would always talk on the topic with vested interest”.
She remembered how he would show pictures of the competitors from the Olympia which included women and was amazed at their physique.
“All I remember thinking was fugring out how do I get that kind of body?” Jamie said.
Today, Jamie continues to be the best version of herself each day and strives to attain the body she desires. “I spend no more than 1.5 hours at the gym doing weights training and an additional 30 minutes cardio during the competition season.
“On the off season I train about five days a week for about the same time and not as much cardio, so that my muscles can get good recovery.”
Jamie consumes three meals per day with two healthy snacks in between to keep herself well sustained.
“I am on my off-season diet plan right now which consists of one or two cheat meals per week and the rest are all muscle building meals.”
She spends one hour per day in front of the mirror working on her pose and taking note of the developments she needs to make on certain muscle areas.
“Bodybuilding is one of the hardest and most expensive sports mentally, physically, and financially.
“This is one sport that has helped me progress in so many aspects of my life. It has taught me countless virtues.
“It is entirely about positivity and showing up at the gym on your worst day, knowing you will always come out satisfied and one step closer to your goals.”
Jamie said the sport required someone to have good financial support because training demanded having a good diet and taking supplements to assist in workouts and goals for the next competition.
He said he would take things including fish oil, multivitamin tablets, whey protein, amino acids, BCCAs and pre workouts.
“I need to take these daily along with my balanced high protein meals in between to be able to attain the physique I need to step into the division I choose to compete in.
To be on top of the sport, the couple relies on each other’s support.
“I support him and we make compromises so that we can both progress together, and because of this understanding we make sure to be one per cent better each time we train,” Jamie said
