WNBF Pro Brad Loomis Talks With Simplyshredded.com

How did you get started with bodybuilding?

Bodybuilding for me was an evolution. I started working out at the very late age of 27 years old. I had messed with it a bit when I was younger, but nothing serious. I got serious inall 1998, but was inconsistent. I remember working out and specifically telling a friend that I could never be a bodybuilder. “I could not live that lifestyle” I told her. Never say never right. In 2000 I was diagnosed with a fairly serious spine abnormality that I was probably born with. Later I would find out I have a host of spine issues I was born with including a mild case of Spinae Bifida.

What really got me serious about training and working out though was a Grade II Spondylolisthesis or “Spondy”.

A Spondy is where one vertabrae slips forward on top of the other causing nerve impingement. In most cases, surgery is the only way to treat this condition. However at the age of 29, I did not want to go under the knife. I took my physical therapy very serious and began training very consistently. 5 – 6 days a week and have done so ever since. In late 2001 I entered the “AST 2001 World Championships” a program similiar to “Body for Life.” I got great results and had a physique I only dreamt of. In 2002 I purchased a struggling local gym and turned it around to what is “Healthy Bodies Fitness” today. Then in 2003 I took the plunge, stepped on stage, and won the Overall for the Novices in the ABA Northern Nevada Naturals. The rest is history.

Where does your motivation come from?

Mostly to fight off any problems that might arise from spine conditions. They are potentially drippling. However I believe the more sources of inspiration the better. My 7 year old son Xander is also a big source. When he was 3 he compared Super Man to me, no not the opposite I promise, so I have big shoes to keep filled up. I like to lead by example so each and every one of my clients at Healthy Bodies Fitness are also a big source of inspiration. I have big goals I want to achieve both with the WNBF and in power lifting so those also motivate me. Trust me the list goes on and on. However I believe that we are only getting older, every day, and we have to bust our butts just to maintain, much less make gains as Natural Bodybuilders.

Brad Loomis – Natural Pro

What is your training philosophy?

Heavy and Intense. It is what earned me the title “Naturally Intense” (3dmusclejourney.com) When I started training seriously in 1998 I took the FREE 12 week Maximum Overload Training series at www.ast-ss.com. I loved it and have used it every since. Skip LaCour and Jeff Willett were my coaches early on and I loved how heavy and intensely they trained. It was a perfect fit for me as ever since I was a kid I was always very expressive and intense in training and in sports.

If you have to pick only 3 exercises, what would they be and why?

Squat
Bench Press
Dead Lift

You can build and maintain an outstanding physique using those three exercises only. When I am a 90 year old man I will go to the gym and do those three exercises only. Squat one day, Bench Press the next, then take a day off, and on the third day, Dead lift.

Brad Loomis 9 Days Out

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

HIIT has always worked best for me. That is what I learned from Skip and Jeff way back in 2001 and is pretty much what I have used ever since. I like that it is short, I like that it works, and most of all, I like it because it’s INTENSE.

What is your philosophy on nutrition?

You have to put clean, pure food in your car if you expect it to run properly. Why treat your body any differently. Really you should treat it better as it’s the only one you get. You can get another car if it dies, but your body? Your car won’t run on crappy fuel, so don’t put crappy fuel in your body. Every day I eat a grapefruit, mushrooms, tomatoes, oatmeal, natural peanut butter, an egg, and multiple scoops of whey protein. Not as often, but very frequently I eat chicken, honey, brown rice, lean ground beef or steak, spinach and or lettuce, almonds and/or almond milk and pumpkin. I keep the “indulgences” to a minimum.

What are your favorite meals and foods?

My favs I eat every day. 1 cup of Oatmeal with 1 scoop of Vanilla VP2(whey) and 1 Tablespoon of Honey and Natural Peanut Butter. Grapefruit. A plain cheese pizza on mama murphys or trader joes crust stacked high with mushrooms. Some of my other, but less frequent, dished are brown rice with almond milk and vanilla VP2.(whey) Microwave Pumpkin cake I make with pumpkin, egg whites, one whole egg, baking powder and oatmeal.

Favorite cheat food?

Pizza and In and out Burger. Those 4×4′s at In and Out are simply out of this world. For desert, CHEESECAKE. Not the “SaraLee” junk either. The real baked kind with NO toppings. Why ruin cheese cake with some lemon or cherry topping.

What supplements do you use that give you great results? How do you use them?

Probably the best creatine on the market is AST’s micronized creatine. Each and every one of my clients that I have loaded on creatine instantly feel stronger the very next week. Specifically the get at least 3 more reps with the same weight they trained to failure with the week before. Additionally clients consistently have more endurance and better recovery when taking Micronized Creatine. Mile times are faster, they can snatch a kettlebell longer, and can recover faster between sets. I use Paul Cribbs, www.metabolicprecision.com loading deloading technique. 5g per day, 5 times a day for 4 days, then none for 3 days.

VP2 Whey protein isolate is in my opinion the best tasting protein on the market.

All four of the flavors are fantastic. Some of my pickiest clients have said they will never buy another whey protien. I take no less the 4 scoops per day, preferably 5. Dymetadrine Extreme is my morning cup of coffee. I don’t care how effective it is at burning fat. All I know is year after year, I get great energy and “kick” from Dymetadrine Extreme and that is all the reason I need to take it. Other than that, I only take amino acids or EFA’s if I can afford to. I mainly stick with these three though.

Favourite Bodybuilders?

I would have to say my buddies are my favorite Bodybuilders. Alberto Nunez, also featured on this site, Jeff Alberts, Eric Helms, Ken Stevenson, Ron Bowers, guys most people have never heard of. However I admire these guys a great deal. I am a big fan of WNBF Pro’s Brian Whitacre, and Robert Peacock. Both are outstanding bodybuilders and very humble, nice men. I guess if I had to pick some one “famous” I would have to say that Shawn Ray would be at the top of the list. I got to meet him at the 2002 Mr. Olympia and he is also a very nice guy.