Q. So, I hear you have a new
DVD out. Tell us about it and about what we
should expect to see.
Okay, it's basically a motivational-type training DVD - not an instructional
one. There are a million DVD’s you can rent that tell you “how to do an
exercise” or “how to design a program.” This is not one of them. My goal
is for people to watch this and then want to rush to the gym and attack the
weights. I hope it motivates them not only on a daily basis, but also long-term
to help them reach their individual goals.
There are two training versions on the DVD. The first one is with a complete
voiceover of me explaining what I'm doing and why. It touches on things like my
PR on a certain exercise, or what I feel are the key aspects to focus on while
performing the movement. The second training version is put to music.
Q. You said it was more of a motivational DVD and not for training
purposes? Why did you choose to do it that way?
I believe that’s what people expect and want from me. When lifters contact
me, they often comment that the main reason they follow my training is because
it inspires them. They can relate to the difficult challenges I’ve faced and
overcome…so I decided to make it more about motivation. Like I said earlier, I
hope the second they get done watching the DVD they run out to the gym and do
weights. While it does have some teaching points, this is not a DVD for a novice
looking for training advice.
Q. What is your favorite clip or moment in the DVD?
All of the really heavy stuff, the dumbbell rows because I got 300 x 12 –
it’s still my PR and it was cool that we caught it on film. There is also some
footage where I work up to a 775 pound deadlift. And of course I got a kick out
of doing my “nail trick” for the camera. When I did that, both the cameraman and
his assistant said they got nauseous.
Q. How long were you in the process of making it?
Unfortunately, way too long! It was a long and frustrating task to get the
footage. At first, we actually had way too much of it, but we couldn't use any
because all the music I used while training was copyrighted. We could have tried
to put music over it, but then you wouldn't be able to hear the cool stuff like
the chains or grunting. It ended up being completely useless and we had to start
all over again.
I think the video editor was ready to strangle me. He gave me six final
edits, but there was always something I wanted changed, whether it was editing
something differently or giving the menu a different look.
Admittedly I’m a perfectionist when it comes to these things, and I realized
no matter what, I was never going to be 100 percent happy with it. There’s
always room for improvement. I just wanted everyone who purchased the DVD to
feel like they got their money’s worth. I’m sure there will still be haters, but
I feel satisfied with the final product. Plus, I learned a ton throughout this
process that will help me make my next DVD even better.
The footage you’ll see in the video was shot in March and April, and we
finished shooting in the fall. There’s lots of footage of me just going over
training in the garage.
The training is broken up into all of my individual training days. These
include: arms, bench, squat, deadlift, upper back and shoulders. It contains
what I do on a routine basis, but also some of my best training days. So, you’ll
see me dumbbell rowing 300 x 12, deadlifting 775 pounds in the gym, doing bench
dips with 200 pounds, benching 750 pounds off a 1-board and others.
There's also lots of other hardcore stuff like my 40-rep drop set of squats,
my quad tearing on my last rep of raw squatting 545 x 10, a severe nosebleed
while benching, and of course sticking a nail into my arm as a demonstration of
how I’ve increased my pain tolerance.
I explain things I get a lot of questions about and there are a few of the
most popular clips from my YouTube page, but the majority of the footage is
brand new and has never been seen.
I discuss what supplements I use and why, and offer my diet and tips on
gaining weight for hard gainers. I show everyone what I put into my "fat guy
shake" that has over 100 grams of protein and 1000 calories. It’s delicious by
the way. Off the top of my head, I think that pretty much covers it.
Q. Tell me about this fat guy shake that you say is amazingly good.
It’s a high calorie shake loaded with ice cream, milk, whey, peanut butter
and other good stuff.
Q. I don’t think you’ll be able to have that for quite a while because I
heard that you’re training for a bodybuilding show. How is that coming along?
It’s going well. I’m working with Shelby Starnes, who is doing my
pre-competition diet. Right now I’m about 12 weeks out. The diet is definitely
paying off and I’ve lost about 25 pounds so far. However, it stinks to keep
getting smaller and weaker. In my clothes, I feel tiny already.
Q. What made you decide to compete in a bodybuilding show?
I’ve been tossing the idea around for a while now.
Mostly because it’s a good challenge for me and I love any type of challenge.
I finally made the decision to commit to it. Plus, I feel it will be conducive
to my current powerlifting goals. Now that I have the all time total record at
220, my next goal is to break the 242 pound record. The rebound I’ll get after
the show should really help me to push my weight up to around 270 pounds, where
I feel I need to be to do my best lifting as a 242-pounder.
Coming from a powerlifting background, I feel that I’ll bring a thickness and
density, especially in my chest and back that most guys lack at this level.
There’s no doubt that all my years of heavy lifting will give me an advantage.
I’m competing in the NPC Michigan State Championships. It’s an NPC national
qualifier. It’s one of the most competitive state level shows, so it’s not going
to be a walk-in-the park and I’m not taking this lightly. I’ve researched all of
the previous winners over the past decade and I feel I’ll stack up well against
those guys. I’m not really focusing on any particular body weight - just
whatever I look best at. Shelby thinks that I will come in around 220 pounds,
but it’s my conditioning that will be our top priority. I’ll look much bigger on
stage at a shredded 210 than a soft 230 pounds.
I’ll test the waters and see where I'm at, but I want to try to get my IFBB
pro card in 2 or 3 years.
Q. You competed 14 years ago in a bodybuilding show. Which one do you like
better, powerlifting or bodybuilding?
My first show was when I just got out of the Marine Corps. It was an April
show, the Grand Rapid National…I got hosed! I enjoyed it though.
Powerlifting just felt more rewarding. And you don’t have to feel all
uncomfortable standing on stage in a bikini bottom. Plus, lifting is more
objective and bodybuilding is subjective.
I hope to go to this show in such great condition that it’ll be over right
when I strip down at the weigh-in room. But, you never know, someone may come in
looking like Ronnie Coleman. Although they are at two polar opposite ends,
bodybuilding and powerlifting have many commonalities. I don’t care what you
say, every powerlifter wants to look better and every bodybuilder wants to be
stronger.
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