Meron Pack is becoming pretty good at what he does.

The up-and-coming bodybuilder showcased months of hard work and dedication to stay committed by winning the NZIFBB Natural Regionals and the NZIFBB Natural Nationals under-23 junior class, held at Kristin School in Auckland recently.

“I was pleased with how I performed as I didn’t expect to even place, let alone win. The level of the competition was competitive, this was under NZIFBB, the toughest and most competitive bodybuilding organisation in the world.”

It’s not an easy sport and one small slip up can prove incredibly costly, so Pack, who started the “cut” about 16 weeks out, knew he had to stay focused.

“That is when the competition preparation began to get serious.”

His performance has capped off what has been a big year for the bodybuilder.

“At the regional show I won the men’s classic physique and the men’s physique (u23) classes. At the natural nationals show the week after, I won classic physique again and placed third in men’s physique (u23 classes again).”

Pack said it can be a physically challenging and mentally tough sport at times.

“I enjoy the challenge that the sport gives me. It can’t be cheated or bought and requires a lot of hard work and discipline. I also enjoy the calmness I gain from the moment I enter the gym, put the headphones on and lock into my workout.

“I feel like it has not only built my physique but also helped build my character, too.

“It has helped me to be more patient and disciplined as a person through the workouts at the gym and the diet I have to maintain to acquire the look I have acquired today.”

He had always been athletic when younger and was introduced to the gym by his older brother.

“I’ve always been very athletic as a kid, however, due to my slender build I was carrying in my teenage years, I needed to pack on some muscle and size to be better at the sport I was doing when I was in high school (karate).

“I didn’t stick with it at first, lost motivation and quit. My older brother at the time was really into the gym and was the main influence as to why I started to lift weights again.”

He said a real highlight was looking back to when he first started and to what he’s now achieved.

“I never thought I could acquire such a muscular build, let alone be the best in the country for my division.

“Seeing all that work pay off is definitely satisfying. Believe it or not, to have gained the physique that I have to step on stage took about a year’s worth of prep.”

Pack, who has been doing the sport for five years, had an off-season from October until June, the bulk season.

“I needed to build some muscle and in order to do that I bulked up till June and competition prep started 16 weeks out of competition where I started the “cut” and trained six days a week and did an hour of cardio every day leading up to the competition.”

Pack said the training was challenging at times.

“This training focused on keeping as much size as possible that I had obtained from the bulk, while trimming down the fat in order for the muscle to pop.”

An injured knuckle seven weeks out from competition threatened to derail his chances as it meant a few weeks on the sidelines, but it proved just a minor setback for the 23-year-old.

“I thought about pulling out as I wasn’t following my diet, nor was I training and started to lose motivation and doubt myself.

“I couldn’t carry any weight on my hand as I had a bruised bone. This took three weeks to recover, and it set me back, but I still decided to do what I can with the time that I had left.

“So, to come out and win with a setback like that was incredibly satisfying and all the work I put in paid off.”

His hopes are to one day represent New Zealand on the world stage.

“My goal in bodybuilding is to be a natural IFBB classic physique pro. This would mean I would have rights to compete internationally and hopefully to make New Zealand proud and to display to the world what kind of natural bodybuilders are being produced in New Zealand.”

It’s a sport he loves and competing naturally is his aim and focus moving forward.

“This bodybuilding organisation is the most competitive bodybuilding organisation that could currently exist so if you would like to place well it takes a lot of effort to even win a class.

“This was a natural show, so it was against other natural competitors, meaning the competitors were not enhanced. Enhanced meaning under the use of PEDs.”