It happens to the best of us: We see an Instagram picture of someone from high school, nearly naked and looking strong as hell, and pause. Thirty minutes later, we've scrolled months back on their page, engrossed in a world of meal-prep containers, gym workouts, and show days. Bodybuilding competitions are incredibly popular right now, with some 15,000 women competing in National Physique Committee competitions alone every year. (The NPC is the country's largest organization for amateur bodybuilders; competitors have to start there before moving onto the big leagues, known as the IFBB.) Chances are, you have at least one friend of a friend who competes.
