It’s not every day you come across someone balancing their dreams of sculpted deltoids with the soul-draining reality of college group projects, but Gianna Laumbach does just that. A senior at Seton Hall University, Gianna has cracked the code for making Type A overachievers everywhere feel slightly inadequate. She’s not just working toward a B.S. in Interprofessional Health Sciences with a concentration in Exercise Science; she’s also crushing it as an award-winning bodybuilder. And no, she doesn’t just mean “lifting some weights between classes.” She’s diving into the sport with the same level of commitment as your roommate who won’t shut up about CrossFit—except she’s actually winning things.
An Early Start: Or, How the Barbell Was Basically Her Baby Rattle
Growing up in Howell, New Jersey, Gianna had the sort of childhood that would make any aspiring overachiever salivate. Basketball? Check. Soccer? Check. Volleyball, track, and dance? Also check. Basically, if it involved a uniform and occasional applause, Gianna was there. But it wasn’t until college that she found her true calling: bodybuilding. Why? Because nothing screams “I’m better at time management than you” quite like balancing meal prep, macronutrients, and midterms.
Plus, the family influence was impossible to ignore. Her dad is a professional bodybuilder, and her brother competes as well. For Gianna, this wasn’t just a hobby — it was practically the family business. “Why not do something I’m already good at?” she shrugs. You know, the sort of breezy confidence most of us wish we could muster while struggling to not burn toast.
The Science of Swole: Academia Meets Abs
Gianna’s major in Interprofessional Health Sciences sounds like a mouthful, but it’s essentially the academic equivalent of a personal trainer’s dream toolkit. With courses like anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, she’s practically got a Ph.D. in “Knowing More About Your Body Than Your Doctor.”
“Bodybuilding isn’t just about lifting weights,” Gianna explains. “There’s a meticulous level of planning involved.” That planning, by the way, includes everything from optimizing her workouts for muscle failure (fun!) to understanding how to prevent injuries (less fun, but necessary).
While her classmates were cramming for exams with midnight Red Bull binges, Gianna was likely doing bicep curls with a textbook in one hand and a protein shake in the other. Let’s all take a moment to imagine the level of discipline that requires. Now let’s all collectively feel bad about skipping the gym this week.
Life of Sacrifice: Treadmills, Sororities, and 14,000 Steps
Balancing bodybuilding with college life wasn’t a walk in the park — unless you count the literal walking. Gianna’s training required her to hit 14,000 steps a day, a number that makes most of us clutch our Fitbits in horror. And if her Apple Watch tattled on her for missing that goal, you better believe she was on the treadmill, probably also studying for finals or answering sorority emails.
Let’s talk about sororities for a second. Because of course she’s involved in one. You think someone like Gianna wouldn’t also be managing Greek life responsibilities on top of meal prepping chicken and rice for the week? Please.
Oh, and let’s not forget her diet. Her meal plan was stricter than your mom’s no-dessert rule during Lent, consisting of precisely measured portions designed to fuel her training without sabotaging her results. Imagine the restraint it takes to not devour an entire pizza during finals week. Gianna deserves a medal just for that.
Showtime: The NPC Muscle Beach Championship
All that discipline paid off when Gianna entered her first bodybuilding competition, the NPC Muscle Beach Championship in 2024. Here’s where things get even more absurdly impressive: she placed in all three stacked bikini classes and earned third place in the women’s open class. Yes, her first competition. Some of us can’t even parallel park on the first try, but sure, go ahead and take home three medals, Gianna.
The physical demands of bodybuilding competitions are brutal. By the time competitors hit the stage, they’re often dehydrated, carb-depleted, and running on fumes. Gianna managed to keep her focus, executing her routines with the precision of a surgeon — a very shredded, spray-tanned surgeon.
The Future: From Fitness Competitions to Strength Coaching
Now that her first competition is behind her, Gianna is taking some time to focus on academics and map out her next steps. She’s currently prepping for certifications with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) programs. Basically, she’s lining herself up to become the type of personal trainer who could simultaneously coach you through deadlifts and explain why your hamstrings are rebelling against you.
Her plans don’t stop there. Gianna has an internship with Seton Hall’s strength and conditioning department and is considering further education in exercise physiology. She also hopes to continue competing in bodybuilding and eventually train others. Because obviously, she’s not busy enough.
Seton Hall’s Star Student: “She’s Not Human”
Interim Dean Vikram Dayalu of the Seton Hall School of Health and Medical Sciences had nothing but glowing praise for Gianna. “For students like Gianna, the dynamic B.S. in IPHS major provides solid preparation for a variety of career paths,” he says. Translation? Gianna’s the sort of overachiever who makes your entire academic catalog look like child’s play.
Seton Hall’s B.S. in IPHS program, by the way, was launched in 2022 and offers three concentrations: Exercise Science, Health Sciences Administration and Management, and Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences Marketing. It’s basically a one-stop shop for students who want to combine their love of fitness or health with a burning desire to make the rest of us look lazy.
The Takeaway: Should You Even Try to Keep Up?
So what can we mere mortals learn from Gianna Laumbach’s journey? For starters, that balancing academics and athletics isn’t just possible — it’s downright inspiring (if a bit infuriating). She’s living proof that you can hit the books, hit the gym, and hit the stage, all while maintaining a smile and a killer spray tan.
But let’s not kid ourselves. Most of us aren’t Gianna, and that’s okay. Some of us will never meet a 14,000-step goal in our lives, let alone while cramming for finals and planning our next career move. Still, her story is a reminder that discipline, focus, and a good support system can take you pretty far — even if your ultimate goal is just to survive Monday morning spin class.
As Gianna herself puts it: “I’d love to continue bodybuilding and possibly train others in the future. It’s a great experience that I want to stay involved in.” And honestly? We can’t wait to see what she does next. Whether she’s on stage, in the gym, or behind a training clipboard, one thing’s for sure: she’s raising the bar for all of us. Literally.
