The dreaded diet.

Greetings All,

Do you know what diet is?  It’s die with a “t” on the end.  It is now time to start that wonderful process of cutting out fats, sugars, and all things that make food great.  The things we do….  Well this year I have enlisted the aid of an IFPA pro bodybuilder to help me out with dieting.  His name is Master Gunnery Sergeant Garry Engle.  He was nice enough to answer a few questions for the quest:

 1.) What first inspired you to get into bodybuilding? What were some things you expected and what were some of the surprises?

I started lifting weights for high school football. I kept it up when I joined the Marines and I started putting on some muscle after I learned how to eat. The progress kept coming so I thought I'd give bodybuilding a try. I won my first contest and was hooked from there.

 

I knew it would be hard work but was surprised to find how much long-term diet affects your body composition.

2.) What helps you stay motivated (both immediate and long term)?

Looking good, feeling good, being physically capable, competition, and vigor and mobility into my old age!

3.) Since turning pro, has the pressure of training and competing increased significantly or would you say that it's "the same dance, just a different tune"?

The competition is much stiffer as a pro. If you want to be competitive as a pro, it has to be a lifestyle commitment.

4.) What are some of your "pet-peevs" when it comes training, dieting, gym etiquette, etc.?

I try not to be too critical of people in the gym. At least they are in there!

Leaving a full load of weights on a bar or station is pretty rude. It's pretty funny when guys get an over-appreciation for their physique and think it equates to being tough or being a fighter.

5.) Have you ever met any unconventional people in the world of bodybuilding? People that might not fit the usual stereotype. I myself have come across other Muscle-Nerds, Muscle-Goths, Muscle-Thrashers, even Muscle-Steampunks (actually, I think he was more of a Dieselpunk).

People would be surprised to find the variety of types of folks in bodybuilding, figure, and bikini. Lots of college grads, professionals, students, military, accountants, doctors, all kinds of people. I have known a few who like to get costumed at times.

Am now for the nerdly questions:

6.) Who is your favorite comicbook/cartoon character?

I have two! Daredevil and Snakeyes.

7.) Do you have any geeky or nerdly interests (comicbooks, gaming, computers, sci-fi, et al)

I'm on a computer all day for my job and I am pretty well known for my computer nerd skills.

8.) Who are 3 people in history (alive or dead) that you would most like to talk with?

Hmm.. Adam, JC, and Abraham Lincoln

9.) What are people most surprised about when they first meet you?

That I've been a Marine for 20 years.

10.) Any favorite quotations?

"A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read." Mark Twain

Here is one of his video clips:

 

Maybe one day I’ll get to his level.  A man’s gotta have a dream, right?

 

More to come,

Super-Jerry