My training is nothing special. I just follow a
basic bodybuilding routine hitting every muscle group once a week, maybe
twice in 10 days. I am constantly changing up my exercises, so that no two
workouts are the same in a row. I train intuitively and don’t have anything
set in stone. I do not worry too much about numbers, but my intensity is
always high. I am constantly trying to get stronger and lift heavier in
order to build new muscle. Usually I’m training in the 8-12 rep range, but
lifting as heavy as I can. On the big three (bench, squats, deadlifts) I
will usually get some heavy sets in for reps of 5 or less.
The biggest thing I’ve learned over the years is to
have a mind-muscle connection when lifting. You need to be able to stimulate
the muscle you are working and not just simply move the weight. This is when
I started seeing the best results. It may mean dropping the weight a little
at first, but the muscular development is worth it.
My Split:
Simple. 8-12 rep range. Heavy, now and then, for 4-6
reps. Like to pyramid up. Always switching exercises and workouts to keep my
body guessing and hit all muscle fiber types.
Mon: Chest/Bis
Tues: Quads/Hams
Wed: Shoulders/Tris
Thurs: Off
Fri: Back
Sat: Start cycle over
Sun: Off
Abs and...
CARDIO
I mainly prefer steady state cardio but I will
incorporate HIIT every now and then to switch things up. I usually do my
cardio after weight training. I save my glycogen for the weights, then once
I get over to the cardio, my body will dig into fat stores more readily for
fuel. My favorite piece of cardio equipment is the stair master. I live on
that thing when prepping for a show.
It just feels so good after finishing up a 30min
cardio session knowing that I just stripped away some fat and not to mention
improved my cardiovascular health.
Normally I do 20min of cardio 3 days a week
throughout the year, but when getting ready for a show or a photo shoot, I
will increase that to ~30min 4-5x a week, depending on how my diet and fat
loss is going. I don’t believe in overdoing the cardio though.
NUTRITION & DIET
This is where the body is built. I cannot emphasize
the importance of nutrition enough. The old saying ‘you are what you eat’
could not be more true when it comes to building your ultimate physique.
The day that I learned to eat right, is the day that
I finally started making real gains in the gym. You can take all the
supplements you want and train till you pass out, but you will never grow
without proper nutrition (unless you’re some genetic freak).
I usually eat 6 meals per day and drink at least 1
gallon of water daily. My protein intake is 1.5g/lb of bodyweight, so for me
that’s about 300g daily. My fats are usually on the low side at around
50-60g. My carbohydrates are the main variables in my diet. If I am trying
to gain or maintain I usually take in around 300g or more per day. When I am
leaning out I cycle the carbs. I will do 3-4 days lower carbs (~150g) and
one day of reefed at 300g or so. If I’m not prepping for a show, I will have
1-2 cheat meals a week in order to keep my sanity and also help spike the
metabolism.
What are your favorite meals and
foods?
* Protein: Chicken Breast, Lean Steak, Fish, Eggs,
and protein powder.
* Carbs: Oats, Ezekiel bread, rice, whole grain
cereal, some fruits and veggies.
* Fats: Peanut Butter, mixed nuts, olive oil.
Favorite cheat food?
Pizza, all the way. When I start cutting, this is
the first thing that I start craving. Oh and cheesecake.
What supplements do you use that
give you great results? How do you use them?
My number one favorite supplement is Allmax Isoflex
Protein. I actually consider this as part of my nutrition and not so much a
supplement. The quality and taste of this protein cannot be matched by
anything else on the market, in my opinion. I also take a multi vitamin,
fish oil and either creatine or a pre-workout product containing creatine
and stims to help get me through those grueling workouts. I also love taking
BCAA’s or just straight L-Leucine as well. There is some good science behind
it showing it to increase protein synthesis and I really feel it helps with
recovery, especially when dieting. Every now and then I may take a test
booster like Allmax TestoFx to help increase strength and get that extra
edge.