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Interview With The Musclehead
Q. Can you give us some background about yourself?
A. Sure, I'm 23 from Australia and I've been into bodybuilding since I was about 16. I've got no formal qualifications when it comes to fitness, but what I do have is a lot of experience. I've experimented with a lot of things myself and I've also trained lots of people at the gym. It wasn't until a few years ago that I really became serious and sort out the truth about bodybuilding and how it all works.
Q. What got you started with bodybuilding?
A. Unlike a lot of people, I never had trouble gaining weight. My problem was actually the opposite, I find it too easy to gain fat. So being the chubby guy at school, I always wanted to change myself, but I never really knew how to. So one day after looking at myself in a mirror I just decided that I needed to change it for good. And I haven't looked back since.
Q. What is it about bodybuilding that you love so much?
A. I guess it's that it really can change your life. If you are held back by your body, then getting into tip top shape will have a huge effect on your life. You'll become more confident, more outgoing and these are things that overlap into other areas of your life. This is something that not too many sports can do, so I guess thats why bodybuilding is great.
Q. What adversities have you had to overcome?
A. I suppose the biggest adversity has been my genetics. Gaining muscle isn't too hard for me, but I really have trouble staying lean. If I stray just a little from eating well and training hard, I can almost see my waist expanding. But this is something everyone has to deal with to some extent. The key is to just forget about them and do what you can. There's no reason you can't build muscle just because it's hard. Sure, you might have to work harder than everyone else, but that's going to lead to an even bigger sense of achievement when it's all done, so it's not always a bad thing.
Apart from that, I've been pretty lucky. There was one period where I was working very weird hours and this made it very hard for me to keep my diet and training regimes consistent, but I managed to do it with a bit of creative thinking.
Q. What are your favorite and least favorite exercises?
A. I guess the squat is both my favorite and least favorite exercise! It's physically taxing and is the only exercise I've done that's made me throw up. But at the same time I know that it's going to build more muscle on me than anything else and that it really is a good thing.
I like performing all the big compound exercises. Bicep curls and crunches just don't do much for me. There's not the element of challenge like with really tough exercises.
Q. What has been your favorite bodybuilding moment so far?
A. My favorite moment... well I have a couple. The first was the first time I went to the beach after getting myself into shape. I went with a group of friends and they were shocked. They were often making fun of me for eating tuna all the time etc, but when I took my shirt off they began to take notice of what I was saying.
The second was when I was at the doctors for a cold and he asked me how long I'd been using steroids. I've never touched a bodybuilding drug in my life so I found this to be both funny and a compliment.
Q. What are your tips for the beginner, intermediate and advanced bodybuilders?
A. For the beginners, just focus on the basics. Learn how to lift, learn how to eat and then get your ass to the gym. It's as simple as that. For the intermediate guys, it's all about refining what you're already doing. You've started to build the right habits, now you just need to continue to improve.
And for the advanced guys, my advice is to learn. If you want to truly be the best you can be, you're gonna need to have the knowledge to get you there. Read all the articles you can, buy all the books you can and just immerse yourself in it. Thats the best way to reach your peak.
Q. Where do you stand on the use of steroids and supplements?
A. I think steroids do have a place in bodybuilding. People go to bodybuilding shows to see the freaks. I'm of the opinion that if bodybuilding is your life, then using steroids responsibly is ok. I've never used them myself and I don't see myself using them either, but I think in the right hands they're ok.
It's just when you get stupid kids who think they can pop some Dbol and instantly have muscle when you get problems. If you aren't already at your natural limits, I don't think you should be even thinking about steroids.
And for supplements, I think the basic protein powders, creatine, multi vitamins and fish oil are handy. They make my life easier, that's it. It's not like taking drugs. Stay away from all the "steroid like" supplements and you'll save yourself a heap of cash.
Q. What are your future goals?
A. My goal initially was just to look good naked. And I've done that, although you'll have to take my word for it :P
I'm happy just maintaining my current physique, I don't want to be a muscular freak at all. I really do want to make a difference in other guys lives though. Which is one of the main reasons I wrote my own book. I really get a kick out of seeing other guys transform themselves like I once did.
Q. What is the toughest part about bodybuilding for you?
A. I think the toughest part is consistency. When your friends are partying and eating junk food, it can be tough to sit there with your tin of tuna and not get steered off track. Getting up each morning and doing just that bit extra can be hard too. Sometimes you just don't feel like it, but it's that ability that will help you reach your goals.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to say?
A. My final words are just to learn and apply what you learn. If there's one thing I've noticed with the guys who manage to succeed and the guys who don't, it's that the successful guys manage to learn something then apply it right away.
I have a heap of free tips over at my website: The Musclehead's Guide to a Godlike Physique. I give away a diet plan, a workout routine plus a few other surprises. I've basically broken my course up into 10 parts and I'll send a lesson out each day. It's free, so head on over and sign up. I don't send spam or anything like that and if you ever get sick of hearing from me, you can just click a link and you'll be off the list for good.