Name: Sam Gonzales

Email: spursfan01@hotmail.com

Bodyspace: grindinhard

I began wanting to lift weights to put on some muscle to gain playing time for my basketball team. I never really saw myself as being fat, but I wanted to gain muscle to improve my game, and initially for girls.

As I began my journey, I learned that cardiac failure was the leading cause of death in America, and didn't want to become a statistic.

I was skeptical to ask my parents to buy me a bench press because of the ridicule of my peers. I finally got a bench and had some old dumbbells laying around.

Around the same time, my mom got me a membership to a gym, and from the first day I was hooked. I began looking up new exercises, and learning how the body functions. Later, I realized the importance of diet, and really buckled down on my eating habits to gain muscle and lose fat.

Ultimately, it is my parent's support that has gotten me this far.

• Optimum Nutrition Whey: 1 scoop
• Optimum Nutrition Opti-Men: 1 serving
• Calcium: 1 cap

• Optimum Nutrition Whey: 1 scoop

• Optimum Nutrition 100% Casein: 1 scoop

I keep my carbs high if I want to gain size, and cut if I feel I'm getting too heavy. My protein is high year round, and I keep my EFA's moderate.

My diet usually looks something like this:

Meal 1:

• 4 whole eggs
• 3 pieces wheat toast
• 1 scoop Optimum Nutrition Whey in water

Meal 2:

• 3 pieces wheat toast
• 3 tbsp natural peanut butter

Meal 3:

• 2 grilled chicken breasts
• 1 cup brown rice

Meal 4:

• 12 oz steak
• 1 cup white rice
• Salad

Meal 5: Post Workout

• 2 scoops Optimum Nutrition Whey
• 12 oz skim milk
• 1 banana

Meal 6:

• 2 rice cakes
• 4 tbsp natural peanut butter

Meal 7:

• 1 scoop Optimum Nutrition 100% Casein
• 10 oz skim milk

So many people will doubt you throughout the entire process. You must maintain a positive attitude, and keep the vision of what you want to look like, alive.

It's easy to give in when your friends want to hang out on a Friday, or when you don't feel like training that day, but the overall benefits are worth it.

Be patient, anything you want bad enough is worth the fight and wait. "You can't out train a bad diet." Lifting the weights is the easy part, but keeping your diet clean is what makes a champion.

• I came in 2nd in Earl Warren High School's "Mr. Muscle" competition.

Thank you to my parents George Gonzales and Diana Cox-Gonzales, and my sisters Stefanie and Jessica Gonzales. They have supported me both financially and morally in my journey.

My lifelong friend Deondrae Arrington for giving me unconditional support, and being there with me through all my grueling workouts.

Also to my new training partner Chris Barrett. I would not be where I am without you all!

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