I was born and raised in Idaho, I’m a United States Marine Corps veteran and athlete. I played both baseball and basketball growing up, continuing my athletic career through college and into the professional European league. After baseball, I entered the world of men’s physique bodybuilding where I competed for 5 years. This eventually led to a career in fitness & lifestyle modelling. Additionally, I’m a certified ACE personal trainer, which makes me highly desirable for my knowledge and professionalism.
Age:
37
Occupation?
Fitness Trainer/Fitness Model.
Is weight loss more of a fitness issue or a health issue in your opinion and why?
I think they both play a very important role. However, I always say that you can never out-train a bad diet. For me and my clients, diet comes first. If you don’t have that in order you’re going to just be treading water and not going anywhere. I think fitness issues like strength, conditioning, and physique aesthetics has to come after you are in a basic healthy lifestyle routine.
If you have 100 tokens in total and you could apply them to the following categories, how many would you apply to each?
- Fitness level: 30 tokens
- Health level: 70 tokens
Thoughts on HIIT, Powerlifting, TRX, Yoga, bodybuilding, others?
HIIT is the best form of exercise to get the most out of your body in a limited amount of time. I love training clients as well as myself with HITT routines. Explosive jumps and dynamic movements keep the heart rate up as well as builds muscle from the plyometrics. I think HITT is the best tool to use when elevating your fitness as well as maintaining your fitness level when you are hurting for time. You can also use HITT at home or in a park with limited or no equipment.
Powerlifting is great for the individual that wants to dedicate to that craft. The technique is very important to develop strength and refrain from injury. I’m all about competing at any craft that you love and can appreciate one dedication to it.
I love TRX suspension training. Invented by US Navy Seals, it is one of the best forms of training for body control and core strength. TRX will expose weaknesses in the body that other methods of training don’t specifically target. I take my TRX straps when I travel as well as through them into various workouts for myself and clients.
Yoga is beneficial in creating flexibility, balance, and mental focus and clarity. I throw in a yoga class for myself a few times a month just to keep myself in the practice. I recommend yoga to clients that are tight in the hips or need extra help with balance and breathing techniques. The mental focus it takes to during yoga helps with all components of life, including stress relief and relaxation which I’m sure everyone can use.
Bodybuilding is the genesis of how I started my fitness journey. I loved moving iron in the gym when I was in junior high and I never looked back. It’s important to have a solid basis and understanding of bodybuilding, how muscles contract and angles or movements. I love switching up tension angles with the positioning of the body to hit a muscle just a little differently. The science behind bodybuilding is fascinating to me. I try and teach my clients “why” we are doing certain exercises and what it’s doing to the anatomy and muscle.
“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa
Share your unique training/coaching methods?
I’m a huge advocate for supersets. Keeping constant tension on the muscle you are focused on triggers the muscle to grow. Not only do supersets demand the muscle to grow, but they also develop strength and muscular endurance. Throw in some HITT training in-between some supersets and that is my unique training method. The combination of the two is ideal for muscle growth and fat burning in my opinion. However, everyone is different in how their body responds to exercise. I’m a big believer that each person much conduct trial and error to see how their body responds to different exercise techniques and methods of training. This also goes alongside diet and nutrition. My coaching methods include teaching and encouragement. I don’t yell at clients or overly motivate them. Motivation only lasts so long, discipline and a set vision will be the ultimate adherence to reaching your fitness goals. I focus closely on form and proper technique over high energy motivation.
Trainer philosophy:
My trainer philosophy is pretty much the same as my training and coaching methods. Time under tension and supersets with various HITT training is what I focus on. Keeping the muscle under stress while the heart rate is elevated from explosive movements is my philosophy for the most ideal training results.
Training Plan:
My training plan is to mix it up every 6 weeks. For example, if you are focused on HITT training for 6 weeks, mix it up to more of a bodybuilding split. Then 6 weeks after that go into a circuit style training with TRX suspension training and some battle ropes. Keep it interesting, fun, and motivating with new challenges for the body and mind.
Nutritional Plan:
I eat about 80% clean. This means I can have a few cheat meals a week or snacks that contribute to the 20% not so clean. I find this ratio is perfect for me to enjoy some good food while staying under 10% fat year around. My body works well on high protein and healthy fat, low carb. Again, this is from trial and error to see how my body responds to certain macros. An example of my split would be 40% protein, 40% fat, and 20% carb.
Supplement Plan:
I keep it pretty simple. Creatine, protein powder, BCAA’s, and a multivitamin. There are plenty of other supplements to take, but I like to keep it basic and stick to healthy nutritional choices.
Do you prefer to take and recommend all-natural (no sugar, no artificial colours/flavours/sweeteners) supplements or supplements with artificial flavours and sweeteners? And Why?
It’s all about balance. I think artificial sweeteners are ok in moderation. Sometimes it’s impossible to dodge all artificial colours, flavours, and sweeteners, so I would say to try and balance it out and have a good amount of all-natural options.
What separates Status from other fitness magazines?
I see that Status has legit fitness information and people representing them. A lot of other fitness magazines might through a celebrity on the cover that doesn’t even look the part or live the lifestyle. Status has elite-level competitors that have been there and done that. They share their information and are passionate about helping others in fitness and health.
Describe your coaches and the impact they have on you?
I learned bodybuilding at a young age from old school bodybuilders. My passion and discipline in the craft grew and I have stuck to the original instruction from those coaches. They mean a lot to me knowing that the knowledge they gave me has shaped my life around fitness, and I love it. I always look forward to being that same influence on the clients I train hoping it impacts them.
If you could ask Status Fitness Magazine Editor in Chief Rodney Jang any industry question, what would that be?
I would ask Rodney what mindset does he practice in this industry when facing rejection. This industry is very competitive, you hear “no” a lot and can feel like you are not good enough. I would love to hear his mindset on pressing forward and not letting rejection discourage you from continuing to go after what you want in such a booming industry.
Status Fitness Magazine runs model searches across North America including the largest one at the Arnold Classic for the Status cover. As part of the Status family, you will receive a special participation invite. How excited are you for this opportunity?
It would be a dream come true to be on the cover of Status Fitness Magazine. I would like to think I’m a passionate example of health and fitness. To be able to showcase that on the cover and at the Arnold Classic would be amazing and mean a lot to be at such a high level.
Do you have a sponsor? List them and what they mean to you?
Lumberjacked Gear, support me with supplements and workout gear. They are a small company but I love building something from the ground up and show people what can be done from nothing. They are super supportive and easy to collaborate with. I also do a lot for PowerBlock Dumbbells. I’m not sponsored by them, but you can find me on their website in workout videos and on their social media sites. They really are the world’s greatest dumbbells.
Future fitness goals and plans?
Let’s start off with getting the cover of Status Fitness Magazine. Other than that, I want to continue to do fitness modelling for various fitness companies and brands. For 3 years, I would love to have my own gym as well. Start a fitness community that supports everyone’s fitness journey.
Life goal?
Inspire others to do what they are passionate about. I think people get stuck in what others tell them to do or should do. Get out and travel and experience the world!
5 things people don’t know about you?
I love 80’s action movies. I’m a huge New Orleans Saints football fan. I’m an introvert, I value my alone time to recharge even though I can seem extroverted in group settings. I love white shoes. I can’t hold a kiwi down to save my life.
5 lessons you have learned?
- You can’t out-train a bad diet. That’s my favourite quote as well, but it took a while to really understand that.
- I’ve learned not to be so hard on myself. Life is hard enough as it is, you shouldn’t add to the stress and hardship on yourself. You need to be your biggest fan!
- It’s ok to ask other people for help. I would tend to try and do everything myself. People want to help others. We are all in this thing together, let someone help you and return the generosity to another when the time comes.
- Enjoy food. I stay under 10% body for the year-round, but there was a time I would yo-yo my weight because I would be super strict with my diet and then fall off the wagon when I couldn’t keep it up. Enjoy a balance as I have mentioned before. An 80% clean diet has worked for me.
- Continue doing research on your craft. Information is constantly changing and getting more advanced. What worked the best now might not be the most optimal approach now. Continue reading, listening, and asking questions.
5 most important attributes you see in a person?
Honesty, communication, sense of humour connection, loyalty, and passion for their life.
If you could inspire one person, who would that be? And why?
It would be the person that looks down on themselves. That person with low self-esteem. Maybe a childhood or high school trauma lowered their sense of worth. I want to be the person that can inspire them, that they can rise up and pursue their passion and gain respect and a high sense of value and worth.
What sports do you like most/ or play when you have free time?
I played baseball and basketball my whole life. I’ll still shoot some hoops once in a while, but right now I love playing golf. I’m not any good, but I love working on the craft and blasting a few tee shots every now and again. I also love to paddleboard and hike the foothills around Boise.
Who inspires you? And why?
I find inspiration in anyone who is extremely passionate about their craft. I get pumped seeing other fitness models that are crushing their goals and physiques while inspiring others. That’s why it would mean so much to me to be one of those inspiring figures on the Status Fitness Magazine cover. It’s all about exposure where you can reach other people you may not have otherwise.
Your transformation story?
I started working out and became passionate about fitness at the age of 14 in my school’s gym. I was an athlete my whole life. However, my body composition didn’t really change until I started training for my first men’s physique bodybuilding competition. I was 29 years old at the time. I did extensive research on diets and how the body works to burn fat while keeping muscle. After some trial and error, I found how to cut down for competitions while maintaining sub 10% the rest of the year with my fitness and diet routine. I’ve continued it ever since while continually learning and exploring new ways to improve my physique and health.
Photographer: Taylor Cifuentes | Herzberg Photography
