Fit Employee Spotlight - Levi Bettwieser!

Name: Levi Bettwieser Email: levi.bettwieser@bodybuilding.com Age: 25 Height: 6'2" Weight: 175 lbs BodySpace: levibett

Tell us a little about yourself. What is your position at Bodybuilding.com? How long have you worked here?

I've worked at Bodybuilding.com for around a year and a half now. I'm the video production supervisor. I help coordinate the video production process from concept to release with all members of the web content team.

I also help shoot and edit the kick-ass videos and pictures that you see come out of the digital publishing group.

What was your workout/fitness/nutrition level before working at Bodybuilding.com?

The first time I'd ever stepped into a gym was probably about four months before I started working at Bodybuilding.com, and even then all I did was cardio, no weights at all. I was trying to burn every calorie I consumed.

I didn't really play sports in junior high, high school, or college. I did a decent amount of hiking, but I had no fitness goals.

When I was younger, I was always the 'chubby kid.' In high school I quickly found out that if I didn't eat, I lost weight. So that's what I did. I fought with anorexia throughout high school, and college. I justified not eating more than 300 calories by telling myself I just couldn't afford it.

When I started making a little more money, my calorie intake improved, but not my nutrient intake. I knew nothing about nutrition. I, like many people these days, just thought about calories in, calories out. I didn't think about nutrients. I would literally eat an entire bag of chips, and say 'well there's my two thousand calories' and not eat anything else all day. Add on top of that a lot of alcohol consumption, and that was my diet for a long time.

When I started at Bodybuilding.com I was 6' 2" and weighed only around 150lbs. I was malnourished and had no idea.

What does your workout routine consist of now?

Now I weight train 5-6 days a week, with cardio adjusting to my goals at that moment. My rep ranges also vary. But I like to mix it up.

I'll go heavy with low reps, then superset with a high rep lower weight exercise to hit both the rapid and slow twitch muscle fibers. I never do more than 25 minutes of cardio at a time. I hate cardio.

What does your diet consist of now?

I eat 6-8 meals a day.

What supplements have helped you reach your goals?

What is it like working at Bodybuilding.com? Does it create a helpful fitness environment?

I kind of feel like I have a cheat sheet working for Bodybuilding.com's Digital Publishing group. I have access to all the latest workout techniques, expert/celebrity content, IFBB pro routines, and everything else you see on the Supersite, before anyone else sees it.

I get the opportunity to interview top fitness industry experts and newcomers, and then pick and choose how I want to use the knowledge to improve my own fitness. My entire bulking program was based on the Dorian Yates' Blood and Guts 6-Week Trainer. I wouldn't have my 8-pack if it wasn't for celebrity trainer Ashley Conrad.

When I'm not out filming, I'm back in the office, surrounded by fitness fanatics. I work with amateur and pro bodybuilders, CrossFit nuts, strongmen, powerlifters, and nutrition experts. If you can't get in shape while working at Bodybuilding.com, you can't get in shape anywhere.

Two years ago I knew absolutely nothing about fitness or nutrition. Now I feel like I could make a great living as a personal trainer or nutritionist just from what I've learned while working here.

What are your co-workers like?

My co-workers kick ass. You can't work in the Digital Publishing Group and not at least have a good handle on nearly everything that has to do with nutrition and fitness. There's no faking it over here because we create the content that teaches our users how to achieve their fitness goals.

But on top of that, everyone I work with directly is passionate. Not only about the quality of their own work, but the quality of the content they're providing to our users. No one here has an ego and supports group interaction and criticism to help create the best user experience for anyone coming to our site.

Not to mention we're the largest exclusive fitness video production company ever, anywhere. No one else does what we do, or does it to the capacity or quality that we do.

Did someone from Bodybuilding.com inspire you to reach your goals?

I have to say I'm inspired every time I hear someone talk about how they beat this goal, or they're getting ready for this challenge or show or race. But one person stands out in my mind, and I'm sure this is no shock to anyone who knows me. Kris Gethin is the most bad-ass motivator I've ever known.

At times he can be the most intimidating person you'll ever meet, and then he'll pull a 180 and be the most supportive, compassionate person you've ever met. My diet while bulking, and my entire training and nutrition diet plan was designed by him. I wouldn't be where I am without him.

Have you inspired others with your new look and attitude?

Since I've completed my diet, I've had friends, family, and co-workers asking me for advice and tips. I've had people messaging me on BodySpace, and adding me as an "inspirational member."

I love helping people and feel humbled that people feel like I can help them and I'll do anything I can to get them to their fitness goals.

What is your favorite feature on the Bodybuilding.com website?

The videos! Our videos are one of the most unique and exclusive things about our site. And on top of that, they're free. We provide exclusive content that our users would never ever be able to see or know without our videos.

Not only do you get full workouts from some really famous and fit people, but you get to see how they perform their workouts in real time. It's a small detail that makes a huge difference.

How does Bodybuilding.com help to motivate/support you?

Well on top of how Bodybuilding.com supports my fitness efforts monetarily (gym reimbursement, free supplements, etc) they really promote a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle.

Of course they care that you show up to work and work hard, but they want you to leave work and have a life as well as enjoy being active outside work, and take time off to recharge so that you're more productive when you get back.

Does practicing the bodybuilding lifestyle improve the productivity of Bodybuilding.com? If so, how?

If you can start, and stick, to a fitness lifestyle, you can do anything. Everything about bodybuilding is about structure, and timing, and science, and consistency. And those are all traits that can be applied to every other part of your life and your career.

What are your future goals? Do you think working for Bodybuilding.com will help you reach them?

I don't have set goals as far as my fitness goes. I just keep telling myself that I'll know it when I get there.

As for my goals with Bodybuilding.com, I don't see any reason why I'd ever want to do anything but continue to grow within the company and as with everything else I do, I'm sure I'll always be supported by Bodybuilding.com.

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