CRAIG PRODUCTIONS LLC

Some of my favorite (?!) questions that people ask me on a regular basis is “How long did it take you to look like that?” "Is there some kind of pill I can take to get muscles like that?” “How do I get like that in 6 weeks?” These questions come from men and women both. Typically the men want the “magic formula” that will have them looking like some Greek Adonis in a matter of weeks. Women ask for more information, maybe wanting to work and streamline a specific area, or they just want a firmer, toned body. I’ve been asked some of these questions so many times, I’m beginning to think of creative ways to answer them – like “2 weeks, and lots of Flintstones chewables!” All kidding aside, I always try to give people good, honest information when they ask for advice, and some of the answers I find myself consistently providing are stick with the “basics.” Good nutrition, a good basic weight training program, some type of cardiovascular exercise and adequate rest. I also tell them that there is no “magic” when it comes to achieving a muscular physique. No amount of supplements with glossy labels, a sparkling ad campaign, and a muscular pro is going to produce the “magic” results that people want over night. No amount of “talk” about how you want to look like that, or how you used to be 200 pounds and able to bench 350 (while you’re standing there – all of a buck twenty-five, soaking wet), and no amount of wishful thinking is going to get you there. It takes hard work, discipline, blood, sweat, and tears – and the basics. It takes quality workouts – not quantity i.e. “I work out for 3 hours a day and do a full body workout each time!” Honest answers are hard for a lot of people to hear – when they’re seeking the quick and easy answers.

I myself like to stick with the basics – free weights, basic movements, and my personal choice is to go “heavy and hard”. While that doesn’t work for everyone, and some people’s bodies respond quite well to lighter weights, high reps, or lots of machine work, for me it’s the tried-and-true approach. I am also a stickler for using good form – thus the “quality not quantity” mindset. It isn’t the amount of time you spend in each workout, but the quality of the workout itself. I truly believe that if you use proper form, the quantity (or increase in poundage) comes with time. When I got my start in this sport over 16 years ago, I was fortunate enough to start out with a good trainer who not only constantly corrected my form, but also practiced what he preached. He set a good example in the gym when doing his own workouts, and I learned a great deal just by watching him. I’ve always tried hard to convey that message to my clients, and also teach by “setting the example.” I follow a relatively simple training program – working each body part only once a week. This way, I get maximum recovery, and can continue to push myself with heavy weights and at high intensity. I find working one body part once a week keeps me looking forward to each workout as well. I also work three or four sessions of cardiovascular exercise in each week – usually 40 minutes in duration. This adds to the calorie burn that carrying a lot of muscle mass already creates, and keeps my respiratory system healthy. Pre contest, the cardio sessions usually increase – sometimes up to two hours per day, six days a week.

As for the rest of my plan, I also stick by good basic nutrition – year around. I keep my protein intake high, the carbohydrates moderate, and the fat low, supplementing my diet with adequate vitamins and nutrients, and lots of water. While I allow some fat gain in the off-season, my gains are typically minimal in the fat department, and greater in the lean department with this type of nutrition. Sure, I eat “goodies” in the off-season – life would be pretty boring without some treats. But my rule is I have to eat the good quality food first, and then if I still think I need a treat – I can have one. The quality of the fuel you put into your body is reflective in your skin, your muscle quality, and your overall health in general. You have to make your eating regimen a lifestyle, and for many it is a major lifestyle change and not easy to do. We live in a society of “fast” everything. We thrive on the convenience of easy access to fast food, and don’t take enough time to put quality fuel into our bodies. I once heard someone say, “Most people take better care of their cars, then their own bodies. They put premium fuel in the gas tank, to get optimum performance from their car, but put junk in their bodies.” If you think of your body as a high performance machine, doesn’t it make sense to put quality fuel in the tank to feed the machine? Not only will your gains be better, but also you’ll find you have increased energy and better health in general.

The other part of the basic formula required is heart. By heart, I mean passion. Passion for the sport, passion for the training, passion for the lifestyle that accompanies bodybuilding and achieving the muscular physique. I always tell clients that when it comes to training and competing, I can only give them the tools they need to help build the body and achieve their goals. I can’t reach inside of them and put the passion there. I can motivate and inspire them, but only they can want it so bad that they’re willing to do what it takes to get there. That kind of passion comes from within and it grows with each new change in the body, with each time you lift a little heavier, with each workout you finish satisfactorily. It comes from discipline and dedication, from getting yourself out of bed at 4:45 am to do an hour of cardio, from bypassing that dessert, and having an extra helping of steamed vegetables instead, from going to the gym on Friday night, instead of going to the bar for a beer with the gang. And it comes from those who come up and ask, “How can I look like you?” When you hear that, you know that all the hard work, the discipline, the passion, and sticking to the basics – pays off. When it comes to bodybuilding and weight training, I don’t think there are any “magic” formulas. The magic is in the hard work and following your heart.

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