Vital Stats
Name: Randy Sandberg
Email: randallsandberg@...
BodySpace: bulldogflx
Location: Norman, OK
Age: 54
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 180 lbs
Years Bodybuilding: 40
How did your fitness journey begin?
I played football, basketball, and ran track as a boy. My love for bodybuilding happened by chance at age 15 when I was browsing books and magazines at a local bookstore and came across the book "Pumping Iron." I was immediately fascinated with the lifestyle. Coming from a small town (population 670), I had never seen anything like it. I saved every nickel and dime I could until I was able to buy the book. I spent hours engrossed in the book and dreamed of becoming a bodybuilder.
There wasn't a gym in my town, so my father bought me a beginner weight set and built a bench. My first gym was the basement of our home. It remained the only place for me to work out until I went to college and had access to a real facility.
so all my knowledge came
from magazines."
There wasn't Internet when I started my fitness journey, so all my knowledge came from magazines. I read every word of "Muscle & Fitness," "Iron Man," "Muscular Development," and "Muscle Builder/Power." I read them cover to cover and anxiously awaited new issues.
After moving from Minnesota to Oklahoma in 1982, I immediately joined a gym and engrained myself in the local bodybuilding community. After 10 years of going to local contests and competing 12 times, I decided to promote a fitness contest.
My first endeavor was a Fitness American event in 1993. In 1994, I added a NPC contest and found my passion. I continued to promote both events until the NPC added a fitness category and I felt a conflict of interest. I dropped Fitness America and promoted the NPC solely. My history with the NPC includes 17 years promoting a national qualifier, 15 years as a judge, and 8 years as the state chairman.
I became a father in 2010 and stepped away from promoting to concentrate on my son. Eventually, I missed being a promoter and jumped back into it in 2012 with the WBFF. Now, two years later, I decided to go full circle and promote with Fitness American and Muscle Mania again. I look forward to promoting with a drug free organization. Look for Fitness Oklahoma and Muscle Mania Oklahoma in July 2014.
How did your passion for fitness emerge?
As I got smarter about training and nutrition, the results fueled my fire. I'm driven by the challenge to improve my physique. My goals have changed over the years. Now that I'm 54 years old, I no longer want to be the biggest. I just want to just be the best me I can be.
Promoting fitness and bodybuilding events puts me contact with other passion-fueled athletes and motivates me to look the part. Everything about the sport fascinates me.
What/Who motivated you?
My main source of motivation are the athletes who compete in my contests. The stories, commitment, and drive they have to step onstage in top condition motivates me to push just as hard. I consider every athlete who steps onstage a winner. It takes courage to do that and I applaud each and every one of them.
Where did you go for inspiration?
Every morning upon awakening, I grab a cup of coffee and go to Bodybuilding.com and Facebook. It's like a family. When I feel tired or uninspired, all I have to do is get online and see how hard everyone else is working to put me in a positive state of mind.
What are your future fitness plans?
My future plans include bringing Fitness America and Muscle Mania back to Oklahoma in July 2014. I look forward to developing and promoting a new show and bringing a different organization back to my home state.
I'm working to get in the best shape of my life. I want to prove that an over-50 athlete can be lean and muscular regardless of age.
I own and operate a personal training business called Fit Physique and hope to expand and reach athletes young and old throughout the world with the use of my online training. I wish to share the knowledge that my years of experience gave me and help others to reach their fitness goals.
What is the most important fitness tip?
Make fitness a lifestyle. Training, diet, and everyday life need to be in sync if you want to accomplish your dreams and goals. It's more than an 8-, 12-, or 16-week program. It's a complete lifestyle that helps you reach the pinnacle.
Who is your favorite bodybuilder/fitness athlete?
Monica Brant is my favorite woman and Frank Zane is the best man in the sport. They portray the look that best represents what the sport should stand for. Monica's complete package and longevity put her atop my list and Frank's symmetry and size are ideal.
How did Bodybuilding.com help you reach your goals?
Bodybuilding.com has proven to be an invaluable source of knowledge and inspiration. I used several of the programs featured on this site including Kris Gethin's DTP and Jim Stoppani's Shortcut to Shred.
Randy's Top 5 Gym Tracks
- "Fallout" by Queensryche
- "God Is Dead" by Black Sabbath
- "In Due Time" by Killswitch
- "Unspoken" by Kylesa
- "Hollow" by Alice In Chains