How did you get started with bodybuilding?
Well, honestly, I had no intentions of actually competing until a few years back. I started lifting shortly after I joined the Marines. I was always in decent shape, but I was pretty weak. Coming out of bootcamp I was a bag of bones sitting at 150 lbs. I was a cardio monster, but couldn’t even lift my own bodyweight. Slowly throughout 2003 I started gaining small amounts of weight, not from lifting, but from the military training and eating a lot. I managed to get to around 165lbs by 2004 but was still far from strong. Thats when I moved in with a different roommate in our barracks. His named Joe “shoop” Schultz. He was considered the gym rat in our platoon. Always hitting the weights after we got off duty and always keeping his nutrition spot on. I pretty much just observed him for a month or 2 and spoke with him about it. He really inspired me to start lifting and get into the gym. At this point I really had no idea what I was doing. I picked up a bunch of magazines, including Arny’s encyclopedia of bodybuilding, and pretty much just followed what they said. The fitness director at our base gym, Chase, was a good friend of mine and she eventually talked me into competing for the first time. I laughed at her proposal at first, but after thinking about it, I decided why not. I began training and dieting for the competition, but unfortunately, about 6 weeks into it, I had to stop due to my work schedule conflicting with my training. In 2006 I decided to try again, this time training under Carry Hodge. I then started the diet and training and 12 weeks later was on stage. It was an awesome experience and from that moment on I was hooked!
Where does your motivation come from?
I would say from within me. I believe if you put your motivation on an outside source that is out of your control, there is always that chance for it to fall. When training for a show, I tell myself, ” There is probably someone out there, training JUST as hard as you, if not harder, so you need to step it up, you need to raise the bar!” This works well for me. I feel that finding the motivation within myself and keeping that fire burning is the key to me not “slacking” off or becoming complacent with my training or nutrition.
So what is the bodybuilding training routine that you use to achieve that killer physique?
Well, honestly I do really keep the same routine. Im constantly changing things and making adjustments to my routine. When I first started lifting I stuck to the exact same workouts for over a year. It worked ok for a while, and I still had really good noob gains, but after a while I noticed my progression was slowing down. I thought to myself, “Just lift more weight” which also helped for a short period of time, but still ended up hitting that plateau. I tried everything I knew or read about, but I found that me changing the majority of my lifts and split around ever 6-8 weeks worked WONDERS for me. Before my injury I was doing a Pyramid split with a burnout set after each exercise. For example it would look something like this
BB Chest Press
225×18
275×10
315×8
315×6
225 to exhaustion
I would do that with each workout and each exercise. It really broke me off and I loved it. Im looking forward to getting back on that routine as soon as my leg heals up!
When trying to cut down do you prefer to use HIIT or just normal cardio?
Actually neither. When I’m dieting down for a show I prefer LISS cardio 90% of the time. I usually either do the stair mill @ 75 SPM or walk up hill on a treadmill set at 3.5mph @ 9-12% grade. Depending on how much weight I have to drop in the amount of time given for a show, usually I do fasted cardio in the AM for 30 minutes for the first 4 weeks. At the 4 week mark I through in some afternoon cardio post workout for 30 min. Then depending on the level of my conditioning I will usally bump it up to 45 min in the morning and at night at the 8 week mark if needed. I will throw sprints into the mix at the half way point to help bring out my legs, but usually only a few times a week. This has worked wonders for me and alot of my clients so far.
What is your Diet like?
Right now, with the injury, im not eating to much. my appetite has went out the window, but im trying to eat to keep as much muscle on my body right now. As far as when training, when I’m pre-contest and bringing myself down for a show I really favor a carb cycle. I have found this works out GREAT for me. I usually keep my protein at around 185-200g, and cycle my fats/carbs around depending on the day. I eat around my training, and have found this to really work. I see alot of bodybuilders who stick to a Monday-Sunday diet, and at a point I did this as well. I tried eating around my training a couple years back and wow, the difference it makes. Its no longer: Monday- Low carb, Tues -high carb, Wed-Moderate carbs etc… Its now Training legs – High carb, Training arms – low carbs etc….. I don’t really have a set outline I use for myself when dieting down for a show. I’m constantly changing my nutrition where its needed and eating around how I’m training and the amount of physical output for that day. As far as my off-season nutrition. I eat the same foods I do while pre-contest, but just in larger quantities. Also, I throw in cheat meals when ever I so desire. Most of the time I eat clean 80% of the time. My significant other wouldn’t be to happy if she never had me taking her out to dinner now.
What is your supplementation like?
I keep supplements to a minimum. I feel like a lot of bodybuilders today rely on supplements to much. I feel a supplement is just their to supplement your diet, and treat them as such. The few supplements I take would be a good multi-vitamin, some joint support, waxy maize, BCAA’s and glutamine. I feel that your nutrition is the key here and keep that priority over all. I have tried pre and post work out supplements, pre-sleeping supplements, stuff you take right when you wake up etc…. I keep it simple. My pre work out is some carbs and a little fat and some protein. My Post work out is some waxy maize and a solid meal 30 min later. Joint support is taken as needed, the BCAA’s throughout the day with 4 of my meals and glutamine 3x a day.
Plans for the future?
Honestly I’m not to sure. I was training for my first MMA fight when I was Injured at work Jan 2nd and now I am out of the game for a while. I wont be back in the gym for months and right now I am just focusing on my recovery and hoping I come out of this with 100% use of my leg/ankle. I would still like to fight, but who knows. I will cross that road when I get there, but I do know that I will be competing one way or another, be it bodybuilding again or MMA.
Favourite Bodybuilders?
Oh man, I have so many… If I had to narrow it down I would say Zane, Corney, Arny and Columbo from the old school era. My favorite current bodybuilder would have to be Phil Heath though. Guy is a monster and its only a matter of time before he brings home a Sandow.
Frank Zane’s Legendary Physique + Posing
Favorite Quote?
Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret! We must train from the inside out. Using our strengths to attack and nullify any weaknesses. It’s not about denying a weakness may exist but about denying its right to persist.
Bodyspace: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Matheoperez/
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