ffdrebin’s BodyBlog

No stopping for pizza when you’re at the mall? Grabbing lunch from a drive-thru window is out of the question? Uh-Oh! You’re eating out with a true bodybuilder.  A true bodybuilder plans his days around food, thinking about what there is available to eat, and looking forward to the next time he can eat again.  Grabbing a quick bite for lunch is not so simple. Having the right kind of food to eat at work or at school takes planning and prep time. Going out with friends or having a dinner date means being flexible on location.  The bodybuilder in your life isn’t trying to be difficult and doesn’t really want to stick out from the crowd (maybe when showing off his physique, but not about what he’s eating.) Rather than be a recluse, the true bodybuilder plans ahead to accommodate his food needs while he is away from home. Most of the time, his friends "get it." New people are usually in awe of the self-discipline it takes to pack and eat special food, rather than eating whatever happens to be around.  Whether he’s trying to lose bodyfat or gain lean mass, you will see a bodybuilder eating frequently throughout the day. Disposable plastic containers and resealable food bags holding everything from boiled eggs, to protein bread, and skinless, boneless chicken breast may appear every few hours.  Food needs to travel well, and often must be consumed at room temperature, so you may even see a cooler in the trunk, next to the ever-present gym bag. That cooler might even get carried into a fast food restaurant, if the rest of the group is having cheeseburgers and shakes. The bodybuilder wants to be part of the fun, just not part of the "fat."  The bodybuilder needs to feed on an average of every two to three hours, which doesn’t always jive with normal "lunch break" schedules while working or taking classes. So the guy in the back row may be munching one of a dozen turkey burgers he cooked up on his outdoor grill yesterday. A co-worker might be microwaving an egg-white omelet he made at home that morning, when everyone else is reaching for donuts and coffee. And at three o’clock, when you’re finishing chips and a soda, he might be snacking on unsalted roasted almonds and low-sodium tomato juice.  You may witness interesting food combinations at other times, and might come to enjoy them, too. Try a smidge of sugar-free jelly on an egg-white omelet, to add flavor without extra calories. Order your salad without dressing - or try it with barbecue sauce on the side. Why barbecue sauce on salad? Because a tablespoon of typical salad dressing is about 100 calories of mostly fat. But a tablespoon of regular barbecue sauce is around 45 calories and fat-free. Try barbecue sauce on fat-free cottage cheese, too!  Albacore tuna packed in water is a huge favorite with bodybuilders, but tough on classmates and co-workers, due to the smell. So in consideration, it usually stays at home. However, if that’s the only thing the bodybuilder has available that day, he might duck out into a hallway to eat it, instead of missing a meal. (Eating "out" in more ways than one!) Try mixing tuna with low-sodium peach salsa instead of the usual, fat-laden mayo. Or try adding a dab of pickle relish to plain tuna for tasty, low-calorie, low-fat eating.  What happens when it’s time to have dinner out at a nice restaurant? We know the bodybuilder wants to avoid fats, sugars, and calorie-rich sauces, which mostly rules out Mexican and Chinese food. He’ll probably be the first to suggest going out for sushi! But mostly he’ll go along with the group and get cooperation from the server to figure out what he CAN eat. Even in a Mexican restaurant, it’s possible to get a skinless chicken breast without butter or salt, and sauce on the side. Some black pinto beans and a little rice, and the plate looks nearly like everyone else’s at the table.  The nice thing about having understanding friends and family to eat out with is that they are open to suggestions and will consider what the bodybuilder can eat when they choose a restaurant. Even for special occasions like birthdays and holidays, the bodybuilder may not indulge in a special treat because of an upcoming competition or special event, but he doesn’t need to be stuck at home.  So tell the waiter to leave the dessert tray in the kitchen, and put that tempting bread basket on the other side of the table. You’re helping someone get lean and muscular, by making smart food choices when eating out.

No stopping for pizza when you’re at the mall? Grabbing lunch from a drive-thru window is out of the question? Uh-Oh! You’re eating out with a true bodybuilder.  A true bodybuilder plans his days around food, thinking about what there is available to eat, and looking forward to the next time he can eat again.  Grabbing a quick bite for lunch is not so simple. Having the right kind of food to eat at work or at school takes planning and prep time. Going out with friends or having a dinner date means being flexible on location.  The bodybuilder in your life isn’t trying to be difficult and doesn’t really want to stick out from the crowd (maybe when showing off his physique, but not about what he’s eating.) Rather than be a recluse, the true bodybuilder plans ahead to accommodate his food needs while he is away from home. Most of the time, his friends "get it." New people are usually in awe of the self-discipline it takes to pack and eat special food, rather than eating whatever happens to be around.  Whether he’s trying to lose bodyfat or gain lean mass, you will see a bodybuilder eating frequently throughout the day. Disposable plastic containers and resealable food bags holding everything from boiled eggs, to protein bread, and skinless, boneless chicken breast may appear every few hours.  Food needs to travel well, and often must be consumed at room temperature, so you may even see a cooler in the trunk, next to the ever-present gym bag. That cooler might even get carried into a fast food restaurant, if the rest of the group is having cheeseburgers and shakes. The bodybuilder wants to be part of the fun, just not part of the "fat."  The bodybuilder needs to feed on an average of every two to three hours, which doesn’t always jive with normal "lunch break" schedules while working or taking classes. So the guy in the back row may be munching one of a dozen turkey burgers he cooked up on his outdoor grill yesterday. A co-worker might be microwaving an egg-white omelet he made at home that morning, when everyone else is reaching for donuts and coffee. And at three o’clock, when you’re finishing chips and a soda, he might be snacking on unsalted roasted almonds and low-sodium tomato juice.  You may witness interesting food combinations at other times, and might come to enjoy them, too. Try a smidge of sugar-free jelly on an egg-white omelet, to add flavor without extra calories. Order your salad without dressing - or try it with barbecue sauce on the side. Why barbecue sauce on salad? Because a tablespoon of typical salad dressing is about 100 calories of mostly fat. But a tablespoon of regular barbecue sauce is around 45 calories and fat-free. Try barbecue sauce on fat-free cottage cheese, too!  Albacore tuna packed in water is a huge favorite with bodybuilders, but tough on classmates and co-workers, due to the smell. So in consideration, it usually stays at home. However, if that’s the only thing the bodybuilder has available that day, he might duck out into a hallway to eat it, instead of missing a meal. (Eating "out" in more ways than one!) Try mixing tuna with low-sodium peach salsa instead of the usual, fat-laden mayo. Or try adding a dab of pickle relish to plain tuna for tasty, low-calorie, low-fat eating.  What happens when it’s time to have dinner out at a nice restaurant? We know the bodybuilder wants to avoid fats, sugars, and calorie-rich sauces, which mostly rules out Mexican and Chinese food. He’ll probably be the first to suggest going out for sushi! But mostly he’ll go along with the group and get cooperation from the server to figure out what he CAN eat. Even in a Mexican restaurant, it’s possible to get a skinless chicken breast without butter or salt, and sauce on the side. Some black pinto beans and a little rice, and the plate looks nearly like everyone else’s at the table.  The nice thing about having understanding friends and family to eat out with is that they are open to suggestions and will consider what the bodybuilder can eat when they choose a restaurant. Even for special occasions like birthdays and holidays, the bodybuilder may not indulge in a special treat because of an upcoming competition or special event, but he doesn’t need to be stuck at home.  So tell the waiter to leave the dessert tray in the kitchen, and put that tempting bread basket on the other side of the table. You’re helping someone get lean and muscular, by making smart food choices when eating out.

You don’t need to be muscle-bound to get along with a bodybuilder; you just need to learn what their life is all about. Male and female bodybuilders are watching for people who look like they take care of themselves. Fitness is first priority in a bodybuilder’s life, so it’s important to have family, friends and partners who understand and support their goals and activities.  One example of this is NGA & IFPA natural pro bodybuilder Layne Norton’s fianc©. She goes to all his contests and wears a tee shirt emblazoned “Layne’s #1 Fan. Another good example is the wife of Mr. Olympia, top IFBB pro, Jay Cutler. He has publicly acknowledged how he appreciates her support. She works out with him, cooks for him, runs his business, and travels around the world with him. Neither women are bodybuilders but they appreciate and endorse the lifestyle. Then there is Monica Brant, considered one of the most important figures in the women’s fitness movement. Her husband looks after her, making sure she gets proper rest and nutrition before competition, traveling with her and helping coordinate her schedule. He is not actively competing but certainly shares her lifestyle.  Some women are intimidated by the idea of dating a bodybuilder and think they will be “judged on what they eat and drink when he’s around. (Not a good way to start a relationship!)  Or they see a handsome, muscular guy approaching,and think to themselves, “Gee … I hope he’s not DUMB! Let go of that stereotype: Layne is finishing his Doctoral thesis!  If you think that muscular guy across the room walks with a certain kind of strut, it’s because he has worked hard to look the way he does and he is proud of his body. He’ll be attracted to you if your posture is good, your skin is clear, and you look like the healthy girl-next-door. What do you say if he stops to talk to you? You might ask him questions about what got him started on a quest to conquer body fat and build muscle. There is nothing more engaging to a true bodybuilder than to talk about fitness and nutrition; you’ll see a spark in his eyes and passion in his voice, as he shares what he knows and practices every day.  A female who competes in figure or fitness competition has an even tougher time finding someone to date, because the average guy doesn’t understand her need to become lean and sculpted, and most men won’t want to keep up with her rigorous diet and training. If you’re interested in a woman who is especially fit and you’re not, what better way to open a conversation than asking for advice or suggestions? Anyone who is going to be a part of a bodybuilder’s life needs to share at least a few of their interests. In this lifestyle, it’s not about “opposites attract. You may bike, jog, dance, or just walk your dog, but - male or female - you certainly don’t sit and watch TV all night, eating a bag of chips. You must have some sense of a healthy lifestyle if you hope to get past the first date.  Bodybuilders don’t want to apologize for their dedication to nutrition or make excuses for missing social events because they are working out. It’s no different than if they held a very demanding job that deprived them of the company of family or friends. Men and women who diet and train strenuously every week are “self-contained packages … not part of a team, not a player who gets “up to bat once in a while, but a solitary athlete, secure enough in themselves to be determined and disciplined to follow their personal goals. You can’t eat for them or train for them but you might go to the gym together and enjoy tanning, or a sauna or swim together. It comes down to priorities; find something that will make both of you happy. Be secure in yourself and have your own interests as well, and don’t be clingy or jealous of the time they spend away from you training.  Most bodybuilders will be upfront about their priorities if it looks like the relationship is warming up. They have a lot to explain; about their need for special foods, about the water bottle they carry constantly, about the importance of daily workouts, and other idiosyncrasies.  Just realize this is not a fad, so don’t think they will change later. If you care … you’ll understand and support him or her.  What’s most important in the life of a bodybuilder? Having familiar food available at all times, getting a good night’s sleep and maintaining a regular schedule every day are critical. It is vital for them to schedule workout sessions, and incorporate their meals around their work or school schedules.  Most bodybuilders won’t want to start a long-term relationship if it poses a risk to their regular routine. To him or her, it’s just not worth taking a chance of scuttling the progress they’ve made … as much as they would like to add someone special to their life.  If you’re not bothered by a pile of sweaty gym clothes and the constant smell of broccoli in the kitchen, then you might be ready to date a bodybuilder. Just make room in the fridge for five dozen eggs, and a five pound bag of chicken breasts. Hide the cookies and ice cream.  Like taking turns using a piece of equipment at the gym, if they can “work in with you and still keep the commitment they made to themselves, it will work out fine.

Well i have been in a push/pull struggle with this decission for a long time now. for those of you who are close to me you really can understand. with that said i have an Announcement to make….   Im gonna to do my first natural comp this summer in hollywood. more details to come as they present themselves.  i ask for help, motivation, encouragement and support in my quest.  Thank you so much  May health and happiness be with you all!!!!  Jeremy

"Most people, they live to eat. They enjoy food, the taste and all that shit. They eat out whenever they want. Yeah, what I wouldn’t give to eat what I wanted right about now… I like eating food too. Who doesn’t? But I gotta eat to live: I’m eating to achieve something. I can’t ****ing stand what I’m eating right now, but know what? There’s something comforting about it–the regularity, the consistency. If there’s one thing that’s ****ing regular in my life, it’s eating. It’s like clockwork. I follow a set time with each of my seven meals. For every meal, I know what I’m eating and how much. I’ve pretty much got the calories, protein, fat, and carbs down to the gram. What’s shitty is that variety is gone. I’m down to a couple of foods. That’s it. You want to hear something ****ed up? When I’m dieting, I crave foods I normally don’t like. That’s some weird shit. Anway, when I go food shopping every week, it’s a piece of cake. (Cake: Aw shit, there I go again, daydreaming:) Four aisles, four items. One thing about shopping–always go after a meal. Big ****ing mistake is to go when you’re hungry: So I go every week–same day, same time. Everyone knows me, from the manager all the way down to the cashiers. They know me so they don’t ask any questions. Yesterday, when I was there, a new cashier rang me up, a pretty girl. Never seen her before. Anyway, as I’m unloading seven dozen egg cartons, she looks up, smiles, and asks me, ‘Hey, you must like eggs, right?’ Here it goes again. In my mind, it all comes back up… I’m thinking about how much I ****ing hate eggs right now. Can’t ****ing stand ‘em. How can she know that I boil a dozen every morning, remove the yolks and toss the whites back? ‘Yeah,’ I tell her. ‘I love ‘em…’ and return the smile. Like I said, this is not living to eat: And it ****ing sucks."

I wieght myself once a week to make sure im on track with the diet. for the most part i use the mirror and strict judgement from my best friend Ward. anyways clocked in at 194lbs dry 1st thing this morning. right on goal. im feeling tight and working on lagging bodyparts. today is superbowl sunday, but more importantly to me its leg day. My legs have always kinda lagged behind how easily the rest of my body would grow. my hardest struggle with growth would be because i have osgood schlatters disease. This has really limited my leg workout early in my BB career. present day things are better for my patella and tendons, but my next hurdel is getting some deep cuts in my quads. Im very opitmistic and of the last 3 weeks or so my quads and hams have looked the best ever in my life. You can see separation in my hams bicep femoris and semitendonis. and frickin finally there is separation of my vastus medialis, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis. this being said im nursing a pulled ligament in my left groin basically. YAY! i was happy when the doc told me that. just kidding. so staying motivated on leg day is mental as well praying for my body to hold up under the wieght and stress i put on it.

Well this journey started back in 2003 without being aware of it. Its taken bout 4 years of hard work, and literally blood, sweat and tears to get where i am today. As for today, yep im making the decloration to all that i will be a fitness/muscle model within the next 5 years as a modest short term goal, but ultimately i will land a cover!