“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” – Author Unknown

James Porcell, a former Crescenta Valley High School graduate whose passion and dedication led him to become the team captain for his high school water polo and swim team in 2013, had dreams of someday reaching his full physical potential. He accepted this challenge and pushed himself physically, mentally and emotionally for his first natural bodybuilding competition.

Porcell’s passion for bodybuilding began during his senior year of high school but it was not until his third year attending California State University, Northridge when he became more motivated and determined to one day compete. During his last two undergraduate years, Porcell maintained a well-balanced lifestyle. He majored in kinesiology and maintained a 3.9 overall GPA while training hard in the gym daily, working at the Student Recreation Center, interning under an occupational therapist at Olive View Medical Center, and continuing to spend time with his loved ones. Porcell went on to graduate magna cum laude from CSUN with hopes to make a positive impact on others’ lives as an occupational therapist.

In 2018, Porcell was accepted into the master’s of occupational therapy program at Loma Linda University. One year into the program, he decided to take his passion for bodybuilding further and compete in his first natural bodybuilding competition.

The INBF/WNBF is an all natural, drug tested federation that has been around for 30 years, making it the most respected, drug free federation in the world. There are many levels of competition ranging from novice to professional bodybuilding. The bodybuilding divisions are judged through a series of poses that will allow the judges to evaluate not only individual body parts, but also the whole package.

Athletes are judged in two rounds. In the first round, judges are focused on symmetry. This combines overall balance and conditioning of the body as well as muscularity. In the second round, judges look for mass, definition, and proportion.

On Oct. 12, the INBF Battle of the Bay competition was held in San Jose. Porcell won the men’s novice bodybuilding category against eight amazing competitors. Years of strict training and dieting had apparently paid off. When Porcell stepped off the stage, emotions filled his heart as he greeted his family.

Later that night, after letting his victory soak in, Porcell said: “After the hardest five months of prep consisting of intense training and strict dieting … I won! It was an honor sharing and competing on that stage with the other competitors. I can’t thank my love and my family enough for their endless love and support.

“This was not about winning to me. Winning this is just the cherry on top. The journey and the people who have been there for me are what matter to me the most. Above all else I am grateful to have such a supportive family and to have the physical capability to engage in something that I am passionate about.”