Welcome to The Aethix Approach Podcast, Season 3, Episode 6!

In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome a guest who represents a prime example of dedication, discipline, and purpose in fitness: Joe Vijay. As a natural vegan bodybuilder, Joe’s journey is an incredible testament to the power of commitment—not only to his sport but also to his values. 🌱💪

In this episode, Joe shares his inspiring story of his pursuit of achieving a pro card as a vegan natural bodybuilder. We’ll dive into his athletic beginnings, his evolution as a lifter, and the pivotal moment that led him to pursue bodybuilding seriously. Joe also breaks down his training methodologies and how they’ve developed over the years, offering invaluable insights into what it takes to excel as a natural athlete.
We’ll explore Joe’s competition history and hear firsthand about the physical and psychological challenges of staying contest-lean over an extended period. Plus, he shares his perspective on his particular style of training, the influences that have shaped his journey, and how he’s using his physique to advocate for veganism within the fitness world.

Looking ahead, Joe opens up about his future goals—not just in bodybuilding but also in his personal projects and business endeavors. For anyone looking to transition to a plant-based diet while staying strong and competitive in fitness, Joe’s advice is an absolute must-hear. 🌎
Throughout our conversation, we cover a wide range of topics, including the importance of rest and recovery, the power of genetics and trends in the bodybuilding world. Whether you’re a seasoned lifter, someone new to the gym, or just looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways and motivational moments.

Without further ado, let’s get into it with the incredible Joe Vijay! 🎙️

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 : Episode teaser
00:00:30 : Intro to Aethix Approach Podcast
00:00:45 : Episode overview
00:02:30 : Intro to Joe
00:04:45 : What led Joe to lifting? Did he have an athletic background beforehand?
00:09:00 : Traits that fitness develops
00:12:00 : Starting lifting regularly can be hard and intimidating
00:14:15 : Joe's early days of lifting
00:18:30 : Joe's main inspiration to get into lifting and his first training split
00:25:00 : The importance of rest and managing fatigue
00:27:30 : Skewed strength standards, leverages and genetics
00:30:30 : RDL's, stiff leg deadlifts and sumos for hypertrophy
00:34:00 : Having a big booty as a guy
00:37:00 : High intensity training trends in the UK and UK bodybuilders
00:41:00 : Having to push hard as an advanced natural lifter and the correlation between strength and progressive overload and increased hypertrophy
00:47:00 : Rest and deloads
00:50:00 : Joe's competition history
01:02:00 : Why Joe stopped his bodybuilding competition run early and the side effects of staying contest lean for an extended time
01:08:30 : Bodybuilding for vegan activism
01:11:30 : Joe's goals for the future
01:15:30 : Joe's recommendations for bodybuilders who want to go vegan
01:16:45 : Where can Joe be found on social media?
01:19:00 : Podcast outro

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