When we added Jim Hoskinson to the staff, the collective resolve and determination of Team EliteFTS increased dramatically. This is because resolve and determination are what Jim is about – so much so that he’s been making a noticeable difference on our Q&A since the very first day he was added to it.

Several years ago, while performing various feats of strength for a Christian power team, Jim horrifically tore both quadriceps muscles and ruptured his patella tendons. Since this injury took place in rural Alabama, the nearest hospital was a two hour ride away. Jim sat in the hospital for more than thirteen hours with no pain medication, and he wouldn’t enter surgery until over twenty-eight hours after he was hurt.

Following surgery, doctors gave Jim little chance to walk again. Lifting, they said, would be completely out of the question.

Today, Jim has totaled over 2,500 pounds in the 308 lb. class, is both an APF Senior National and WPC World Champion, and has competed in the WPO. Jim’s message to all is very simple: If there is a will, there’s a way, and it can be done. Jim is the owner of Ironworks Gym, Stand Strong Training and Strength Equipment, and Huge Iron Distributing.

Update

Let me break down what’s been going on in my life over the past few months. So much has happened, is happening and will happen. In business, I’ve totally renovated and updated the free weight and powerlifting portions of the gym. I have also put in extra cardio equipment to keep the women happy, and I’ve completed a fenced-in athletic and strongman compound in the back. We have between 25-30 members pulling the sled every day. I’m incorporating sandbags and kettlebells into the sports teams I’m working with, and the gym has never been busier.

I’m also kicking off a mobile training branch of my already thriving personal training business. I’m very excited about the potential of this concept. As for my distribution business, it’s being kept at a steady level due to the uncontrollable aspects of the market, like fuel prices and other expenses.

As far as powerlifting competitions go, I recently bombed out of the Masters Nationals. I’d rather not get into anything about this meet other than saying that it’s over, I’ve learned from it, and I’m intensely focused on my next competition, which will take place in August.

Marc Bartley has gained my full trust and support with my new program. I’m a few weeks into it, and I’m already hitting PR’s in the gym. I’m very excited about this. I could talk about Marc all day. He’s that knowledgeable, and he’s a great teacher. I’ve been incorporating a lot more functional training into my program – kettlebells, sandbags, Prowler sprints, et al. With my diet, I’ve sought the help of Shelby Starnes from Troponin Nutrition. I’m trying to get my fat percentage as low as I can while maintaining a strength level that will give me PR lifts in competition.

If for no other reason, I’m doing this to see what my body and mind are capable of at this stage of my powerlifting journey. I’m documenting everything I do in hopes that, if I’m successful, I can use everything I’ve done and learned to help people. Shelby is very knowledgeable and cooperative, and so far everything he’s shared with me has helped.

Everything with my family is going well, too. I officially signed my son Cale up for Pop Warner football for the first time this week. He turned five on Tuesday. My wife started a new job in downtown Jacksonville, and it’s going very well.

As you can see, I’m very fortunate and thankful to have the opportunities I’ve been given. These blessings and the success of my businesses, powerlifting and family are a tribute to the people surrounding me. I’m nothing without my friends and family, and I’m motivated daily by their belief in me. I’d also like to say that Dave Tate and the people at Elite Fitness Systems have treated me beyond what I feel I deserve, and I’m very honored to represent them in any way I can.

“A True Warrior is only at peace in the heat of battle.” – Unknown

Stand Strong

Jim Hoskinson  

Q&A

You’ve said before that you’ve faced adversity and been able to overcome it. How do you deal with frustration?

I’m sitting here late at night reading your question, and I want to answer it because after reading it I think I can understand that place you’re in. I want to be very respectful, but I also want to be very truthful.

Strength is measured in many different ways. It’s not, in my opinion, strong to show no emotion, and there are times in life when you’re going to feel out of control or that you’re the victim of unfair circumstances. You have to look inside yourself and see yourself for who you really are – the good and the bad – and just like with powerlifting, you need to train your mind to address what you feel are your weak points. It could be discipline, irresponsibility, integrity, and so on. I believe that every man has a destiny. You can’t fulfill it if you allow yourself to be controlled by your emotions. Emotions are one of the many tools in your toolbox that you use to build the man you are. It’s okay to be angry sometimes if you’re in control of it.

I’m not trying to preach to you, but I’d like to finish my answer with this. A man of faith is taught to be meek, but being meek does not mean being weak. Meek is a term used a long time ago by people who tamed wild horses. When you can break or tame a wild horse, they refer to it as making the horse meek. When a horse is tame, it’s doesn’t mean he’s lost his power – it only means he’s under control.

A man of faith is just that – a powerful man under control. So, my answer to you is to find faith in something higher than yourself. Then you can have faith in yourself and allow yourself to fulfill the destiny you have and truly become meek. You are already powerful. You will become even more powerful when you can control your emotions, and that will only happen with faith. Good luck to you, my friend. I wish you peace.

Nutritional Plan For My Goal:

I want to thank the readers of my training log for their constant support and words of interest and encouragement. I received several requests in the Q&A to post and explain my diet plan, so I’m gladly doing so. If you have additional questions after reading this, please post them and I’ll answer them as quickly as I can. This eating plan is designed with the help of a few of my competitive bodybuilding friends. I’d like to give praise to one whom I’ve known for several years, and whose friendship means to world to me. His name is Mike Ferguson of Powerstation Gym. Mike is as real as they come.

I came up with this goal for several reasons. My history has been in endurance sports, and I’ve always believed that a person can be lean and strong. Since my accident, learning about powerlifting at this level and instituting the Westside template, my body has gone from 260 to 310. Over the past year I decided not to let my bodyweight get over 308, which leads me into the second reason for taking on this goal.

I make my living training people to be healthy and fit. I get them in shape by incorporating weight training, nutrition and stretching for their goals. It doesn’t matter how strong I am – if I’m unhealthy and one-dimensional in my quality of life and sloppy, I can’t earn the respect of the people who want me to help them. I wouldn’t be leading by example, and I couldn’t ethically charge these people to train them. In other words, if I talk the talk, I’d better walk the walk – or go find another career.

My specific goal

Right now I’m 43 years old, 6'1", 308 pounds, and I’m just a little over 9% body fat. My goal is to increase muscle volume with more protein and be between 295 to 300 pounds at 6% body fat while increasing my strength to hit PR's at my next meet in August. The following is my diet that me and my aforementioned friends came up with to achieve this goal taking into account my lifestyle, likes and dislikes with food and health.


Daily

BCAA: 2X’S Daily In Shake

1 Gallon Water

1 Diet Coke / Crystal Light

Flaxseed Oil

Liquid Multi Vitamin

1000 mg Glutamine (Post Workout)

Ethel Ester Creatine 3X's Daily

ECA Stack (Pre Workout)


NON WORKOUT DAYS

4:30AM - NO CARB PROTEIN SHAKE W/FLAXSEED OIL

6:30AM OATMEAL W/PROTEIN POWDER

9:00AM - FAT FREE COTTAGE CHEESE W/FRUIT

11:30AM - 2 CHICKEN BREASTS AND GREEN BEANS

1:30PM - NO CARB PROTEIN SHAKE

4:00PM - SALAD WITH TUNA

6:00PM - OMLETE (8 EGG WHITES) W/FAT FREE CHEESE AND PEPPERS

8:30PM - GARDEN SALAD W/2 CHICKEN BREASTS VINEGAR DRESSING (NO OIL)

10:00PM - NO CARB PROTEIN SHAKE


WORKOUT DAYS

4:30AM - PROTEIN SHAKE W/FLAXSEED OIL, BANANA AND PEANUT BUTTER

5 - 6AM - CONDITIONING WORKOUT

6:30AM - OATMEAL W/PROTEIN POWDER

8:30AM - FAT FREE COTTAGE CHEESE W/FRUIT

11:00AM - EGGS (8), GRITS AND FAT FREE CHEESE

1:00PM - SPINACH PASTA W/TUNA AND ITALIAN DRESSING

1:30 TO 4:00pm - WORKOUT

4:30PM - PROTEIN SHAKE, BANANA

6:30PM - STEAK OR FISH, GREEN BEANS AND POTATO

8:30PM - GARDEN SALAD W/TURKEY OR 2 CHICKEN BREASTS

10:30 - 11:00PM - PROTEIN SHAKE

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