Josh “The Beast” Halladay Talks With Simplyshredded.com

How did you get started with bodybuilding?

I started lifting weights in 7th grade to train for football. As soon as I started to lift I noticed changes in my body immediately.

That was 9 years ago and I have not stopped training since; I have only switched my training style from football oriented to bodybuilding oriented.

Where does your motivation come from?

My motivation comes from a few different places. One thing that is motivation for me is to be able to watch myself alter my body in the way that I want to. To see the body change is an amazing thing, and it enables me to “want more” and to stay hungry. Another motivation for me is different bodybuilding magazines, and websites.

These sources feature the best of the best, and it shows me how much more work I have to put in to be where I want to be in this sport.

What workout routine has worked best for you?

The workout routine that has worked best for me is:
Chest

Flat Bench
Incline Bench
Incline Dumbbell Flys
Cable Crossovers
Decline Bench
Hammer Strength Machine

Back

Weighted Pull Ups
Wide Grip Lat Pull Downs
Dumbbell Rows
Cable Rows (wide and close grip)
Back Extensions

Legs

Squat
Leg press
Lunges
Leg Extensions
Leg Curls
Stiff Leg Deadlift
Front Squat

Shoulders

Military Press
Arnold Press
Front Shrugs
Side Laterals
Upright Row
Front Raises
Reverse Pec Dec
Bent Over Lateral Raises (rear delts)
Side Shrugs

Arms

Close Grip
Dumbbell Curls
Rope Push downs
Triangle Push downs
Crazy 8’s
Seated Isolation Curls
Preacher Curls
Weighted Dips
Sloth Grip Curls
Kick backs

If you have to pick only 3 exercises, what would they be and why?

Bench Press, Squat, and Lat Pull downs. I would chose bench press because you can hit all different parts of your chest by changing your grip around, and can also hit your triceps. Squat because legs are essential, and I believe this is the best all around leg workout. Lat pull downs because I am trying to work on the width of my back, and this workout will also hit biceps.

Training Chest

What is your diet like?

The amount of food that I eat is constantly changing depending if I am trying to put on weight, maintain weight, or cut; but no matter what I am doing my diet always consists of oats, yams, brown rice for carbs. Chicken, lean red meats, tuna, and tilapia, and shakes for protein.

Meal 1- 8 eggs (3 yolk 5 whites), 1.5 cups oats, 1 scoop protein
Meal 2 – 8-12oz chicken or 95% lean meat, 1 cup brown rice, or 2 sweet potatoes
Meal 3 – 2 scoop protein, 1 cup oats
Workout
Meal 4 – 2 Scoop protein 1 tblsp peanut butter
Meal 5 – 8-12 oz chicken or 95% lean meat, 1 cup of brown rice or 2 sweet potatoes

Although my diet is constantly changing this is what it is at now

They say that the pre and post-workout meals are the most vital meals for the day, what do yours consist of?

Pre-workout – Chicken and brown rice 2 hours before my workout, and protein shake with oats 1 hour pre-workout
Post-workout – Protein shake with oats, and peanut butter and then a meal 1 hour later.

Training Shoulders

When trying to cut down do you prefer to use HIIT or just normal cardio?

I prefer using HIIT cardio. If I am working out I want to be sweating and get my heart rate up. Walking on the treadmill does not do anything for me, and my brain tells me that that is not working out. I have always been an athlete, and I like to train like an athlete.