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How did you get started with bodybuilding?

Like many other stories of people who get serious in bodybuilding, I was always the smaller kid in highschool. I never worked out in highschool until senior year when my physical education teacher, also the schools varsity football coach, Mr Williquete forced all of us to lift weights twice a week. The varieties of programs and rep schemes he had us doing and how fast my body seemed to get stronger and show results got me hooked. Unfortunately midway through the year I was skiing and separated my AC joint in my shoulder and that ended my serious lifting for the year. Shortly after I graduated the journey began. I will also say i was exposed to the lifting lifestyle at a pretty young age. When i was younger my parents would always bring me to the YMCA and I would pretty much just go there to shoot hoops or swim but sometimes I’d end up in the free weights room, trying to be like dad.

So what is your training routine like?

I’ve always tried to write all my own workouts dialed in to fit my strengths and weaknesses, I can’t say I like to follow other peoples plans. I started logging a training journal on my bodyspace page so I can look back to all the crazy workouts I have created. I wish I would have kept track of all my workouts along the way, but some generics- pyramid for chest seems to be a great start, followed by 5×5 then into 4x4s. Being consistent really is the key, who ever puts in the gym time, eats right and tries to aid recovery for the longer period of time, is usually the one who wants it more and gets the results they are after.

When trying to cut down do you prefer to use HIIT or just normal cardio?

Both, with my body type HIIT is usually just as effective as cardio, but I find cutting lies mainly in my diet. However, for cardio I have to say, uphill walking is where its at for me. Crank the treadmills incline to the max and walk at a speed that’s barely comfortable, not to fast but just right. You’d be surprised the effectiveness of that exercise. 20 minutes is roughly 1 mile uphill and 225-250 calories.

What is your Diet like?

I try to follow the basic guidelines for growth as much as possible. 1.5 grams of protein per lb of bodyweight, 3-4 carbs per lb bw, and low 20s for calories per lb bw. I really try to get like 8 meals in a day, not huge massive 3 course meals but a well balanced snack covering my needs is what i consider a meal. Breakfast, Post workout and before bed seem to be my most important meals, breakfast the body is starving after sleep which I like to think of as 8 hours without eating. Get down some fast absorbing whey and some fruit right off the bat. Post Workout your body can take in and use more nutrients then any other time of the day. And before bed, need to get in your slow releasing proteins and I like to down a scoop or two of peanut butter as well. Peanut butter is a must, just eat a few tbsp here and there throughout the day to get your healthy fats. Most people don’t get enough fat when they are trying to cut. YOUR BODY IS SMART. If your not bringing fat in, its going to try to hold onto the fat it has. Rather then doing what everyone does and goes fat free with everything go with 1%. Fat is the number ONE source of energy, I think people are just scared by the word FAT!. ARE YOU FAT! SHES FAT! HES FAT! Whatever, fat isn’t a bad word….you need it. Almonds are good too. Eggs are important in my diet as well, good stuff but lots of cholesterol in the yolks. for every whole egg i eat, i eat one egg white without the yolk. I sometimes drink green tea or season food with cayenne pepper in effort to speed metabolic rate. As for fruits, oranges and bananas are my choices. Oranges are a high source of l arginine, my favorite amino acid. My vegetable choice is spinach, lots of natural glutamine in there. I try to eat 3lbs a week. A kind of weird but effective thing I also do, baby food sweet potatoes. Cheap, good and easy to down postworkout.

What is your supplementation like?

I take whey protein in the morning and maybe one other time during the day. Preworkout currently I am using jack3d from USP and post workout Universal torrent. I also supplement my diet with Universals Uni-Liver and Generic fish oil pills. Before bed I take I use ZMA which i find really helps me sleep fall asleep faster and wake up feeling better. To me supplements are what they are, dietary supplements. You need to try to get what your body needs from food mainly and your multi vitamin. Too many people take too many shakes and don’t bring in enough protein from whole foods, if your a bodybuilder you need to like to eat.

Plans for the future?

Right now I’ve been just going day by day, I’m not sure what the future holds. I may step into competition sometime soon, but we will just have to see what happens… ; )

Favourite Quote?

No one kicks my ass better then myself.
Bodyspace: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Ryhatz8

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