Jennifer Iritano has learned that confidence can get you anywhere. Iritano, a Tewksbury-resident, has in recent years discovered great success as an amateur competitive bodybuilder. On the competitive circuit, success has as much to do with attitude as fitness.
“You definitely need to have confidence,” Iritano said. “You need to have a positive, funny bright attitude when you come out on stage.”
This past week, Iritano and her mother traveled to Arkansas for the 2015 IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) Arkansas Pro Women’s Figure competition. It was the latest stop in what has become an ongoing passion for Iritano, a passion that requires dedicated attention and focus.
In the weeks and days leading up to such a competition, Iritano kicks the training into overdrive. Not only does she have a strict diet, but she will go to the gym twice a day and do exhaustive cardio exercises and weight-training.
“It’s all about what your baseline is, what you’re starting with,” Iritano said. “Everybody’s different. I’m a strong person in general, so I don’t need to lift a lot of weights right now.”
It can be difficult to find the time and resources to keep up with the other competitors. Iritano has a full-time job, and has had to spend the time and money to make sure that her suit, posing, and other performance considerations are all at their best.
Originally from Woburn, Iritano, 41, moved to Tewksbury where she works at Santander and as a personal trainer. Shortly after her move into the area, Iritano became involved in competitive bodybuilding, first cutting her teeth at the Jay Cutler Classic competition in Boston.
“A lot goes into competition,” Iritano said. “It’s hard standing out against competitors.”
After receiving positive notices for that first competition, Iritano was hooked. She continues to pursue bodybuilding competitions to this day.
It is a time-consuming and sometimes arduous process. But, having found her passion, Iritano is prepared to do whatever necessary to continue improving in the field.
Professional bodybuilding competitions require not just showing up on stage and flexing, but dedicated teams of hair and make-up professionals, custom-made suits that fit your body and personality. Judges often look for things like symmetry, body structure and muscle tone when weighing one competitor against another.
“You have a big learning curve when you are first starting out,” she said. “Over time, working as an amateur, you are learning the ropes and learning how to get things done.”
Supported by her parents John Iritano and Jean Tango, Iritano threw herself into the bodybuilding world. She has competed across the country, including recent showings at the Wings of Strength Tampa Pro and the Pittsburgh Masters Pro.
The Salem State graduate has found tremendous support not only from her family but from the local community at large. Co-workers and clients alike ask her about her competitions and trainings, and Iritano has found that even strangers at Market Basket are curious her training.
“The local community has been super-supportive,” Iritano said. “People support me and support what I do.”
Iritano believes that much of this is due to the fitness boom that Iritano has seen in the country in the last few years, with many young people engaging with fitness and health in a way that other generations did not. It is driving more and more people towards competitive bodybuilding, which is only inspiring Iritano to work harder.
“There’s a lot more competitors now, and you’ll see a lot more competitors at local gyms than you would even two years ago,” she said.
But for her own part, Iritano is happy to focus on her own training and competitions. She is in the hunt to qualify for the Olympia, the Olympics of bodybuilding. Until then, she is happy pursuing her passion and pushing herself to keep getting better and better.
Courtesy of: Tewksbury Town Crier