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Bodybuilding Success
Bodybuilding Success Story
Q. Can you give us some background about yourself?
I am a 10 year lifter. I started at 125 pounds, had ten inch biceps…flexed, and my one rep max on bench was 95 lbs. Now 10 years later, I am 230 pounds, I was 265 at my heaviest, I can bench 405, and my PR is 425. I have 17 inch biceps, and I am an author for bodybuilding.com as well as IronPinoy Magazine, I have trained over 300 people as a trainer at a YMCA a few years ago and helped 200 more as a sales associate at a supplement store. I lead two bodygroups and contribute to five others, and I hope to be a positive contribution to trulyhuge.com This was my first online newsletter I subscribed to back in 1999.
Q. What got you started in bodybuilding?
I was your typical small kid story. I was picked on by the football players and the popular kids in high school, was told I would be nothing but a busboy at a steakhouse, which was my job back then, and I was dumped on my 18th birthday by my then girlfriend because she wanted to date someone bigger. My doctor said I couldn’t gain any muscle and I was destined to be skinny. The PE teacher in school wouldn’t let me in the weight room because I was too frail. From there I was fired up to do this. I had to walk a mile to the gym and back even on leg day, but I knew it would be worth it in the long run.
Q. What are your favorite and least favorite exercises?
My favorites are the basics, bench, squat, bent over rows, and barbell curls. I like deadlifts, but I suck at them. LOL. I actually enjoy training legs because I had leg problems as a kid and most of my adult life. You never know how good it truly is to train legs until you can’t. I don’t like too many fancy exercises and I hate aerobic classes with a passion. Give me a chance to run or play sports for cardio any day.
Q. What are some tips you can give for the beginner, intermediate and advanced?
For beginners, you have to want it and know it won’t be easy. One step at a time and be patient. Good things come to those who wait. For intermediates, be patient through the plateaus and do not quit when it gets rough. For advanced lifters, pass it on and know someone is watching you for the first time every day. You are their example, be a positive one.
Q. Where do you stand on the use of steroids and supplements?
I like supplements, but don’t like the steroids. I never tried them and never could afford them even if I wanted to. Whether you believe in them or not, they are illegal, period. I think supplements are good if they are taken properly, but it must be understood that they SUPPLEMENT your diet and training. If the training and diet isn’t there, you are wasting your money.
Q. What are your future goals?
I want to inspire as many people as I can to get involved in this sport and to get into fitness modeling. This sport has changed my life on every possible level: physical, mental, and spiritual. This is truly the greatest sport to be a part of and I am honored and humbled to be a small part of it. I am also going for my certification as a personal trainer and I should be certified by the end of 2009.
Q. What is the toughest part about bodybuilding for you?
Temptation to cheat is all around. I love burgers, pizza, and soda so it is hard to stick to the diet 24/7. My mom and my fiancée are magnificent cooks and they both love feeding me. I do give myself a free day every once in a while, but it is still hard. This is also a sport that if you don’t commit 100%, then you won’t succeed, so getting out of bed and going to do the cardio is rough at first every now and then, but I realize that I want to succeed more and I do it.
Q. Anything else you'd like to add about your bodybuilding success?
Thanks to Paul Becker and Truly Huge. I am honored to be interviewed and to someday contribute.
Check me out at bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/rock23
I have a 12 week series that I am using on YouTube. You can check it out at youtube.com/rocklockridge
And if you want to email me, you can do so at rock23@bodybuilders.com
Roger "ROCK" Lockridge
Author, bodybuilding.com
BodySpace: rock23