Nick Orton, the founder of British fitness company BodyPower, which conducts the annual bodybuilding talent show FitFactor, is a happy man. After all, the auditions for the upcoming India edition of Fit Factor (next January) has attracted over 1,000 registrations.
Compared to the first edition in 2014, the response is much better this time. He credits the change to inspiration. “A bodybuilder shouldn’t just think about himself. He/she should inspire and encourage others too,” he says, citing the rise in the number of female bodybuilders (from six to 60 in three years), who have icons like World Championship medallist Shweta Rathore to look up to, as an example.
Currently in the country to oversee Fit Factor’s auditions in nine cities along with 12 other international judges, Orton says he is pleased with the techniques adopted by bodybuilders here. “The problem lies in their diets, which is mostly carb-heavy and needs to be balanced with more proteins.
Supplements are safe, unlike what rumours say,” he assures, adding that he is happy to see more skinny amateurs taking up the sport. “But legs remain a weakness,” he chuckles. Auditions end on October 11 in Mumbai, with the finals from January 8-10.
Details: bodypowerexpo.in/india-tour