2009 Capital City Open Light Heavy Weight Champion

What got you started in bodybuilding?

I first started working out after playing football my freshman year in high school.  I was the second smallest kid on the team and needed help if I planned to actually play.  Working out in the high school gym, I met a guy named Harold Chery who got me interested in the sport of bodybuilding. When it came time to play football my sophomore year, I was no longer interested in anything other than building muscle. I competed in a contest in 1986.  Shortly after that, I was expecting my first child which forced me to reorganize my priorities.  At the age of 19, I gave up the sport and the gym membership in order to support my family. I told my wife that I would return to the stage as a Masters competitor after our kids were grown.  At the time, that was just a dream.  In Feb 2006, my wife and I joined a gym and the dream was put in motion.

Describe your training and nutrition (on/off season)

Offseason, I train Mon-Fri with a modified push/pull routine.  I like to work in the 5-10 rep range, and I always push heavy. Occasionally I will throw in some higher rep days, but not very often. Form is key, wait let me say it again, FORM IS KEY. Lifting with strict, proper form keeps me from injuries which will destroy my progress.  My workouts range from 1 1/2 to 2 hours and fifteen minutes depending on which muscles I am working. I do not generally track my nutrition in the offseason, but I am always aware of what I am eating.

Contest season, I use the same plan as offseason, continue lifting heavy, and I add in cardio. I think that should be a four letter word, but, oh well!  I will do cardio 5-7 days a week for 25-45 min per day.  I tend to gravitate to the recumbent bike as my cardio of choice. 

In pre-contest mode, I track my macronutrients, and usually eat the same things day after day. I have learned that if I keep it simple and prepare ahead of time, I will stick to it.  Honestly, my pre-contest diet changed drastically this past year after going to a Dr. Joe Klemczewski camp, and attending Bob and Tina’s posing classes. These two events caused me to rethink my hobby, and take my dream to a new level.

What are your bodybuilding contest highlights (titles/experiences)?

1986 Mr. Northern California Teenage placed 4^th

2007 WBFA Marysville BB&F Men’s Open Heavyweight 1^st

2008 Cap City Naturals Men’s Open Heavyweight 3^rd

2009 Cap City Naturals Men’s Open Light Heavyweight 1^st

Competing in the overall at the 2009 Cap City…..Priceless

What is the most important thing you’ve learned/gained through bodybuilding?

Patience, trust and hard work.  As a bodybuilder, I guess you are never really satisfied with your physique, so patience is learned over time as you carve out your mental image of perfection. There are ways to get there faster, but the risks are too high and it will not bring Glory to God. You also must trust others in order to learn more and to improve, but you must be careful who your friends are.  Most of the info you hear in the gym is geared toward a drug world, and will send you in the wrong direction.  Pick your friends wisely, and when you find good friends, hold on to them.  Hard work, well that’s obvious.  If it were easy, a caveman could do it.

Future aspirations?

I would be blessed and honored to someday win a pro card as a Natural Bodybuilder.  I am working on becoming a personal trainer in order to someday be able to give back to the sport. I have a desire to help the youth, and I would like to educate and inspire them to live healthy and drug free.  I would love to develop a non-profit summer camp to teach the youth about exercise and nutrition and help them to achieve a healthy future.  I will always strive to glorify God in all that I do, for he is my Rock.