Q: Describe your life before the Body-for-LIFE Challenge?

Mainly just going to school and out all night with friends, then come home and go to bed. Wake up in the morning and see my parents for a couple minutes before they go to work and start all over.  Really wasn’t doing much of anything.

Q: What made you finally decide to take that first step and enter the Challenge? 
           
There are a few reason’s, 1.) Baseball tryouts and racquetball nationals were coming up in June and I just tore my AC in my shoulder. I needed to find something to motivate me to stick with a program to repair me. 2.) I have wanted to do the competition since I was about 9 years old, and due to the circumstances, this was the best time. 3.) My dad complained he never saw me so I decided to use this as a way for me and my dad to spend time together. 4.) I know it works.
      
Q: What were your very first impressions of the program? Did you struggle or was it liberating?
           
The hard part would have to be planning my meal times, because I was fairly skinny so I needed to put on a lot of mass. In order to do that I needed to eat a lot of balanced meals with the right amount of protein, carbs, and fats, Food=Mass. For working out, I personally love the pump I get in the gym, it seems the bigger you get the greater the pump.

Q: Talk about the moment you first began to see changes in your body
and/or outlook?
           
Just around 2 weeks approximately, my chest puffed out and arms begin to develop definition, especially for my triceps since I had never had one at all.  I seemed to think quicker for racquetball, my reaction time was faster.

Q: How did you feel on the very last day of your Challenge?
           
Accomplished, I had completed one of the tasks I wanted to do in my life. I was kind of bummed that the challenge was over, but it didn’t mean working out and eating right was over. I set new goals for myself, I guess like an inner challenge that I must complete, so really it’s not over for me. BFL just got me started.

Q: What was the reaction of your friends and family to the amazing changes you made?
           
My close friend Clint and his family were amazed out the weight I was putting on. They felt like they should be doing something themselves to live healthier lives and now they have someone there to help, me.  Josh, another friend who is really skinny keeps asking me to train him so he can get about my size. Roger wants me to train him, also a good friend. At racquetball, they are always saying they are going to test me for steroids ha ha, they call me muscle beach now.

Q: Do you still follow the Body-for-LIFE program?
           
Mainly yes, I still use the pyramid method rep range for my workout. I changed it up rather than doing upper, lower; I stick muscles to there own day other than arms, which I do together. I do this so I can hit every area of a specific muscle in a reasonable time and get the blood flow directed to a specific area for growth during the night. I also eat a little more than recommended to pack on size, but still try and maintain a healthy body fat.

Q: If someone were to ask your advice about starting—and finishing—the Challenge, what would you tell them?
           
I would ask them what do they have to lose? Nobody has to know, or you can tell everybody, it is completely up to him or her. It is 3 months that is it, what is 3 months out of your life? Nothing! When you finish, looking back at the first pictures that were hidden away for so long, you get some good laughs!  Mostly start them off in that track because I know for a fact that once they get going, they will like what they see and it will turn into more than 3 months, it will become part of there schedule.

Q: How has your life changed since doing the Challenge?
           
I am getting much better at planning and preparing for my day. I bring my food with me everywhere I go in a cooler with ice in the car. My energy levels are way higher; I don’t get worn out doing certain activities like racquetball or running in the snow (in flagstaff, my friends couldn’t keep up). I think I have become more outspoken, depends on the situation I guess.  I have met some pretty cool people at the gym that share the same interests.

Q: Where do you think you’d be if you had never done the Challenge?
           
I really don’t know, probably just staying up late, going to school, and getting weaker and more out of shape. Wouldn’t have developed a stronger relationship with my parents because wouldn’t have been home much. I wouldn’t know how to cook either, since I am the chef around here now, poor them.

Q: What have you been up to since first joining BFL?
           
Going to school, coming home and working out with my dad, on weekends hanging out with friends and work out. Lately I have been training at the gym at school or the gym by school and when I get home I spot my dad for his workout. I will also do abs between sets.

Q: After going through the 12 weeks, how was your mindset different than
it was before? Were you able to face challenges in your life with more confidence?

I know anything is possible, set your sights on it and attack it until you finish it, then set new sights to continue growing physically and mentally. I haven’t had to face any serious challenges yet since the challenge has finished but if I do I am sure I will be able to handle it.

Q: What is your favorite free day meal?
           
Me personally, I don’t work well on the free day, it makes me feel sick, so that’s not much fun for me. Plus I eat all day long, a lot of food so never have a craving for anything.   If I had to choose, then rocky road ice cream.

Q: How have you spread the word of Body-for-LIFE to other folks?
           
I tell everyone that I had done the Challenge and it works. Now finishing it, I can’t stop and still I am continuing to improve. Everyone has time to fit it in his or her schedule, just think about what you do all day and write it out to see where any free time would be.

Q Being that you won the challenge in 2007. How have you continued to live this Lifestyle? And what has been the most difficult part? If anything.
           
I still continue to eat a lot and eat right, with proper sleep. I train everyday, sometimes I’ll take a day off, but I love working out. I enjoy helping people with what to do or eat if they are unsure or just don’t have a clue. It really is not that difficult for me anymore, its part of my schedule.

Q: Current goals:

I would like to keep packing on at least 10-20 pounds of muscle a year because I want to get into bodybuilding and eventually get into the IFBB. I would also like to become a trainer on the side because it is exciting for me to see people develop and get the results they want. To work for some sort of nutritional based company.

Q: Quotes that Inspire:
    
Obsession is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.

Q: Define Success:
To complete goals you set and to continue to build upon them.