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| AGE 22 HEIGHT 6'0" WEIGHT 154 lbs BODY FAT 12% |
AGE 26 HEIGHT 6'0" WEIGHT 207 lbs BODY FAT 11% |
Why I Got Started
I was a student in Holland, living the European student life, with a limited amount of cash to spend monthly and no facilities such as a car, pool, gym, or tennis court; unlike what I had back at home in Dubai. I realized that when I was back in Dubai I didn't even use any of those things (pool, gym) that were right in my home.
At one point, I decided to go back and I told myself and my girlfriend at the time that I would hit the gym once I was back and get in shape, although I was always just lean, never overweight. She just giggled at that statement saying, "Yeah, right."
So I made a bet with her that I would follow through and get results. This was the initiator. I got to the gym, started training, and months later as the results started to come in I got hooked.
Ruslan pushed his chips all in and won decisively.
How I Did It
I guess I just fell in love with the sport and with everything that comes along with it. That is what helped me stay on track and not quit. I had the time, access to a gym, and was able to buy supplements. There were no obstacles in my way, plus I was enjoying it.
However, at one point I had to have back surgery (not related to my training). This caused me to stop training for around 6-8 months. Obviously, after I was healed there was no visible trace of me ever going to the gym. This was a great demotivator, and it took a lot of willpower to get myself back in there. But I went back to the gym and started training again.
Bodybuilding.com really helped me too. I did not know anyone else who was into weightlifting and or had experience, so I had no one to learn from or even ask for advice.
Bodybuilding.com was my number one source! I was reading articles and info on nutrition, exercises, training programs, and spent time on the Forum asking people for advice.
To be honest, now I realize that the first two years were kind of a waste. If I knew what I know now, I would have reached these results much quicker, but I'm glad I had to learn everything on my own and not just pay some trainer and follow what he said.
It took me a long time to understand and realize that the most important thing in this sport is the nutrition.
I would eat when I wanted, and what I wanted, and thought all that mattered was that I was training.
Then I joined another gym that had experienced guys training in it and then drilled it into my head that I need to EAT. So I started to eat 5-6 times per day, a high-protein based diet, and I just blew up. I started seeing completely different results, which opened my eyes on the importance of nutrition.
Every time people come up to me and ask what I did to get this big, I always tell them it's all about the food. I say, "Bodybuilding is not about the one and a half hours you spend in the gym, it's about the other twenty-two and half hours in your day."
So, how I did it? Persistence, motivation and knowledge.
Suggestions For Others
Eat clean, train mean, and stay lean!