How did you get started?
I got started with bodybuilding in High school. We had a tiny weight lifting room that a lot of my friends liked to use after school hours. I remember looking at them and saying how much of a waste of time I thought that was, as I was going to my basketball practice, volleyball practice, soccer practice, etc. How ironic, huh? Our gym teacher at the time decided to use that little gym and develop a weight lifting class. Students in grade 11 now had a choice between the regular gym class or a weight lifting class. Since I was a very skinny kid and the sports I loved became more and more competitive to the point where size started to matter, I decided to take the class and make it my new challenge.
I immediately fell in love and my competitive side is what helped me push myself to lift heavier and heavier and begin my journey into bodybuilding.
What gets you motivated?
I get motivated from the thought that someone else out there is more consistent than I am, lifting heavier than I am and has better conditioning than me. I also get motivated from reading fitness magazines and seeing pictures of the all times greatest bodybuilders and their amazing physiques. My best workouts and heavier lifts are usually when painful events and struggles occur in my life. I lost my older sister a couple of years before my first competition and still had a lot of anger in me that made me train hard as if I was doing it for her. I’m a very calm person and rarely show when I’m angry, because I let it all out in the gym.
With that being said, I don’t always have angry workouts, but a little anger once in a while helps increase the intensity of my workouts.
What workout routine has worked best for you?
I enjoy doing drop sets, they are quick, powerful and give me the pump I look for every single time. I also like to include in my workouts heavy drop sets, negatives, plyo and isometric holds, targeting different muscle fibers in the same workout. At the end of the day, if you aren’t pushing yourself and giving it your 100% in every session then you are wasting your time.
Sample Routine
Monday: Chest
- DB flies 4 drop sets to failure
- DB pullover 4 drop sets to failure
- BB bench press 4 drop sets to failure
- DB incline bench press 4 drop sets to failure + 2 negatives at the end
- 100 clapping push ups
- 1 minute isometric push up hold
Tuesday: Back
- Lat Pull Down 4 drop sets to failure
- BB Rows 4 drop sets to failure
- Chinups 4 drop sets to failure
- Deadlifts 4 drop sets to failure
Thursday: Legs
- Squats 4 drop sets to failure
- Leg press 4 drop sets to failure
- Romanian deadlifts 4 drop sets to failure
- Leg curls 4 drop sets to failure
Friday: Shoulders/Calves
- Military Press 4 drop sets to failure
- Upright Rows 4 drop sets to failure
- Bent Over Lateral Raises 4 drop sets to failure
- Barbell Shrugs (front & back) 4 drop sets to failure
- Standing Calve Raises 4 drop sets to failure
- Seated Calve Raises 4 drop sets to failure
Saturday: Biceps/Triceps
- Standing BB curl (close and wide grip) 4 drop sets to failure
- Seated BB half curls (close and wide grip) 4 drop sets to failure
- DB hammer curls 4 drop sets to failure
- Close grip bench press 4 drop sets to failure
- BB skull crusher 4 drop sets to failure
- Tricep pushdown 4 drop sets to failure
Stay consistent and persistent until you reach your goal. Learn from your failures and make sure to keep coming back stronger.
What is your diet like?
I’m on a carb cycling diet right now but was on a very low carbs/high fat diet for a while. My body responds well to it and i lean out quickly that way. My body processes fats (good ones) very well, so i don’t crash and can actually train pretty hard on such a day. As u can see, i like to be creative with my meals so i don’t get bored.
Sample Diet
- Meal 1: 7 Egg whites, turkey bacon, spinach omelet with avocado.
- Meal 2: 7 Egg whites protein crepes with peanut butter
- Meal 3: Chicken and spinach
- Meal 4: Protein shake with greens and peanut butter (always the natural kind)
- Meal 5: Tilapia and broccoli
- Meal 6: Salmon and asparagus
I like to change my spices and discover different low calorie condiment. The trick is to vary the way you cook your meals and present them. Just make it fun and interesting.
When trying to cut down do you prefer to use HIIT or just normal cardio?
When cutting down I like to use both HIIT and long (medium paced) cardio. I’m a firm believer in varying your workout, diet and cardio. I constantly try to shock my body in order to stimulate different muscle fibers to change and improve my physique in every single phase of my training. That’s the difference between athletes who maintain the same type of physique year after year and the ones who keep on reaching a higher level of fitness.
With that being said we always have a preference although I hate doing an hour of cardio, or even high intensity sprints, however it needs to be done, to get to where I want to be!
Favorite Quote?
“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character” ~ T. Alan Armstrong
Bodyspace: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Noreality/
