Interview With The Ripped Shaun aka Babolimp

How did you get started with bodybuilding?

My buddy from high school kept bugging me to join the gym, but in the beginning at least, I did not care either way. I remember going out one night with him and his brother (both had been working out for a while) and they were getting all these compliments on their muscles. I would try to step into the conversation, but my “good for not working out” build no longer cut it. I don’t know if my buddy just wanted a “project” or if he genuinely wanted me to reap the benefits like he was starting to, but I was soon on track and haven’t looked back.

So what is the bodybuilding training routine that you use to achieve that killer physique?

To be honest, it is nothing special. I try to hit every body part (bar abs and forearms) and have done so since the beginning. I would advise others to do the same. Targeting certain areas so they will look big is a mistake in my opinion. Once you overcompensate in an area, it will grow out of proportion and those muscles will take over when you’re trying to work other muscles. A well proportioned body looks far better than one with obvious strengths and weaknesses.

Anyway, here’s my current routine (3 sets per exercise, 4 if it’s working you hard):

Monday: Chest (8-10 reps per set)
• Incline bench
• Flat bench
• Incline flies
• Dips

Tuesday: Legs (8-10 reps) + Calves (15-20 reps)
• Squats
• Leg extensions superset with invisible chair on the wall
• Hamstring curls
• Lunges
• Standing calf raises on smith machine superset with standing calf raises
• Leg press calf raises superset with standing calf raises

Wednesday: Arms (8-12 reps)
• Incline easy bar curls
• Hammer curls
• Standing curls on cables
• Skull crushers superset with close grip bench
• Triceps pull downs
• Overhead triceps extensions with a dumbbell

Thursday: Shoulders (6-10 reps)
• Shoulder press
• Clean and press superset with dumbbell side delt raises
• Front raises
• Rear delt cable crossovers

Friday: Back (4-10 reps on dead lifts, 8-12 reps on the rest)
• Dead lifts
• Bent over rows
• Pull ups with weighted belt
• Seated upper back rows on smith machine

Change things up every few months to shock your muscles.

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

I don’t use either. I once did a cut that involved cardio and I lost muscle as well as fat, which really put me off. I’ve found that I need to be sensitive when cutting or bulking. For me, carb manipulation works far better to cut fat while maintaining lean muscle. You really need to pay attention to your body while trying different methods and just do what works for you.

Where does your motivation come from?

A lot of people look at my body and say to me “that must take a lot of dedication.” It doesn’t. Going to the gym has become as much a part of my life as anything else. It was never really a chore and that’s probably why I’ve stuck to it. I go with my friends, I catch up with people at the gym and I try to push myself for fun as well as for a bit of friendly rivalry. My motivation lies in the gym being a positive environment for me. Another thing I should say is that whenever I look at old pictures now I am almost embarrassed as to how I looked. My body now has become my norm. It would be hard to go back on that to be honest.

What is your Diet like?

95% of the time, it is very relaxed. I am lazy when it comes to cooking and eating, so the biggest thing for me is actually scheduling time to eat and sticking to it. I’ve also found that if I eat regularly, I won’t get cravings for sugary or fatty foods. I am lucky in that I only need 3 or 4 meals a day to maintain my size. During a cut, I stick to low carb, high protein foods like kangaroo meat, chicken, tuna salad, eggs and protein shakes. Very limited in choice I know, but that type of diet is short term and results come lightning fast.

What is your supplementation like?

I take whey protein and that is it; 2 Shakes a day. I have tried creatine that a friend gave to me, but stopped once it ran out because you don’t keep any gains after stopping.

The big question many will ask is have I touched steroids?

The answer is no. I am 100% natural and very proud of it. No prohormone use either. My late grandpa used to be Mr. Mauritius so I can thank him for some good genetics.

Plans for the future? Future Competitions?

I have yet to compete so that is something I am looking forward to. Last year I considered entering ANB, but the membership fees put me off as I had no job. I work full time now though, so that is no longer a concern. I only have a few parts of my body that need attention and so I think I will strike while the iron is hot – ANB starts around May.