Ben Black

Background


Before I started lifting, I was fat and out of shape. Throughout most of high school I was constantly teased and berated for my enormous size. At 5'7 and 230lbs, who could blame them? I had played high-school soccer and rugby, but was never any good because of the extra weight I had to carry around. I ended up sitting on the bench most of the time trying to catch my breath. To make matters worse, I knew nothing about nutrition.

I knew there had to be a way out of this vicious cycle, but I couldn't find it. Because of my size, I was on medication for high blood pressure and hypertension. Not only was I hurting myself, but also the ones that love me the most, my parents. I went out of state to attend college because I wanted to escape from my past and somehow start afresh.

While at college I decided to give up my old lifestyle for good and transform my physique. I remembered how a friend had once commented that I would make a good bodybuilder because of my large frame. In the past I had dabbled in weight training, running and swimming with little results, largely because of poor diet and ignorance.

My success has not come easily. It took me about a year to change my physique and rid myself of bad eating habits and training methods. Along the way I have been fortunate to be able to pick up tips from friends, Internet websites like BodyBuilding.com and even the college strength coach. I'm currently 185lbs and 8-10% body fat all year round. I still continue to educate myself by researching as much as I can on nutrition, supplements, and new bodybuilding methods.

Favorite Body Parts: Back, Delts
Favorite Exercise: Bent-Over Barbell Rows
Favorite Supplements: Biotest Tribex-500
Hobbies: Basketball, Reading Muscle Mags, playing the guitar.
Favorite Bodybuilders: Shawn Ray, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane
Age: 20
Height: 5"7
Weight: 185

Articles

  • Fat-Burners: Miracle Pill Or Cheap Dud!

    Thermogenics are also commonly referred to as Fat-Burners or E/C/A Stacks (The letters stand for Ephedrine, Caffeine, and Aspirin, although Aspirin is rarely used today).

  • Intelligent Abdominal Training For Athletes And Bodybuilders!

    Whether you are a bodybuilder or football player, a thought out, well-planned routine is the best way to approach ab training. Find out how to get perfect abs!

  • Low Carb Dieting: How To Strive and Survive

    I've put together a little survival guide to help those who dare venture into the Sahara of bodybuilding, low-carb dieting!

  • Superman Arms: Supersets For Super Guns!

    If you wanna build huge arms, you need the arm-blasting routine worthy of a man of steel. The Superman Arms routine is just that. No nonsense.

  • Cardio Circuit Training!

    The wonder of CCT is that you can perform as many exercises as you want in limitless combinations in the convenience of your own room. Now that you don't have any excuses, it's time to get some cardio in!

  • The Fundamentals Of Fat Loss!

    This fat loss plan is merely a first aid kit that contains helpful fundamentals to get you started on that shredded six-pack.

  • Want Huge Gains? Squat!

    Too many bodybuilders find excuses NOT to squat instead of giving it a try. Maybe you've heard of top pros that have great leg development that swear by the leg press, hack squat etc.

  • Balancing Act!

    For many of us bodybuilders, developing our physiques is a constant juggling act. We are perpetually compelled to stare into a mirror and see if our bodies are in perfect symmetry.

  • A Modern Day Hercules!

    A total body workout, performed three times per week (Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday) is efficient because it places an emphasis on working the entire body in one session.