A 14-YEAR-OLD bodybuilder says he’s “addicted” to the gym, having been on strict diets and weight routines for YEARS.
George Holland was the youngest entrant at his first competition in the summer, just three weeks after his birthday – but cake was an absolute no no amid his preparation.
The teen is at school by day but pumps iron in the gym at night[/caption]
George after he was awarded third place at the NABBA British finals in May, despite his young age[/caption]
The teen finished third at the National Amateur Body-Building Association (NABBA) British Finals in May – and he and mum Vicki say they ignore the trolls who tell them it’s unhealthy at his age.
Vicki, 39, said she was proud of George’s determination ahead of the competition and when he finally made it to the stage “he was just in his element”.
The schoolboy began regularly working out aged 11.
He was too young for a regular gym so his dad Andrew, 40, took him to the local leisure centre near their home in Teesside.
Initially, George was interested in boxing – until he moved to a more bodybuilding-focused gym.
He told The Sun: “I started taking training more seriously and wanted to get bigger.”
Boxing soon faded away – it was hard to find opponents as a 65 kilogram 11 year-old, with George’s dedication to growing muscle rising alongside his social media presence.
Three years later and “every aspect of our life from morning to night is focused around bodybuilding”, says Vicki.
George now has over 60,000 followers on both Instagram and TikTok as fans watch him document his gym journey.
The Holland family life revolves around bodybuilding. It is on TV in the mornings and the family of three will attend local bodybuilding events on the weekend.
“I could see just watching him, he was itching, he wanted to be up there,” Vicki said about a recent event they attended as spectators.
George admits that fitness has become an addiction for him.
Despite comments saying he is “too big” for his age or that weight lifting has stunted his growth, George believes there isn’t such a thing as too big.
“It just depends on how big you want to get. I don’t think anyone can be too big if they don’t think they are,” he adds.
Whilst it might be an addiction, George does not feel chained to the gym and he has a simple ethos of: “If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it.”
“I just think going to the gym and smashing a muscle group is really really fun,” he adds.
His favourite workout is squats.
When he reaches a personal best George said it’s always exciting and he feels “a lot of adrenaline and just an amazing feeling because you know you’re getting stronger”.
George with his mum Vicki around the time he first started going to the gym[/caption]
The boy has made some serious gains since he was 11[/caption]
He has been following a strict gym routine and diet for years[/caption]
On his competition debut, George said nerves didn’t really hinder him.
He said: “I was just more excited because I was quite confident as I just knew I’d tried my best.”
He placed third in the teen category – and was the youngest competitor by a couple of years.
He only started to think he might place when the judges started reading names out and he didn’t hear his own.
As to whether he feels strange posing on stage in front of strangers in blue speedos, he says: “It’s the sport at the end of the day.
“It’s what people are there to watch, it’s not that weird if you don’t make it weird.”
He does not see his dedication to bodybuilding as a barrier to being a typical teenager.
He still hangs out with his friends and only feels conflicted heading into competition season.
Vicki adds that George will still go but with a few compromises: “He would go out for a pizza and he would take his chicken and rice.”
Despite a big social media presence and with it a growing number of people commenting on his body, George never feels body dysmorphia.
He said: “Some people do, that’s not me”.
George lives on a diet of chicken and rice[/caption]
His body is a far cry from those of his school peers[/caption]
George first started going to the gym with his dad Andrew[/caption]
Mum Vicki admits she works hard behind the scenes to keep social media a safe place for her son.
“Showing his physique at his age, it does attract some unwanted attention, and I try and steer him away from either not seeing it in the first place or not even opening those messages.”
Vicki praises how laid back her son is and she adds that “he’s never mentioned anything about not looking great or not looking good enough or having to push himself, he just takes it day by day”.
The other area of concern is how lifting such heavy weights can impact George’s body.
The teen says he’s never had a major injury, but mentions his back has been a recurring issue since he hurt it last year dead lifting.
Vicki adds: “He’s got friends who are breaking collarbones and arms in rugby.
“He’s had none of those day-to-day injuries that you would get through a sport.”
Professor Hannah Campbell, lecturer in Applied Physiology at the University of Leeds, warns against extreme bodybuilding as a adolescent as it can be a “slippery slope’”.
“Bodybuilding in general isn’t brilliant for your health but particularly when developing such a singular focus,” she says.
The professor says: “muscle building and weight training is beneficial for adolescents, however, extreme bodybuilding is not something that I would prescribe or suggest to a 14 year-old.”
She explains that under 18s haven’t developed physiologically or neurologically and the use of “simple single muscle focused exercises” aren’t beneficial for growth and development.
One area of concern is what comes alongside bodybuilding such as taking unregulated supplements.
She adds, “bodybuilding is a precursor to dieting and a precursor to steroid use, it is a slippery slope.”
Vicki confesses that the relationship between bodybuilding and steroids is in the back of her mind, but she says that’s hopefully further down the line when George is out of his teens.
She adds that her son has some of the top people in the industry warning him about the effects of dosing so she isn’t concerned at the moment.
For now, George hopes to enter more competitions in the summer after this year’s success, so he will likely be giving Easter eggs a miss again.
A typical day for George
George aims for 3,500 – 4,000 calories per day
7am: Wake up and breakfast – 4/5 eggs scrambled and Cornflakes
9am: George heads to school
Mid morning snack – a protein bar and rice cakes
12pm: Lunch – Chicken and rice
Mid afternoon snack pre-gym of a banana, and Rice Krispies Square bar
After the gym – protein bar and Rice Krispies
Evening meal – Chicken or steak with rice and vegetables
Before bed – a protein shake and sometimes an extra bagel with peanut butter
George has two cheat meals a week, his favourite is a burger from a place down the road.
Vicki is a big supporter of George’s dedication to fitness[/caption]
George is hoping to enter more competitions this summer after his initial success[/caption]
