PREVENTING METABOLIC DAMAGE: Creating an Efficient Machine with your Body

PREVENTING METABOLIC DAMAGE: Creating an Efficient Machine with Your Body
By: Wendy Fortino

Defining Metabolic Damage

There is a very severe condition that people face on a regular basis right now world-wide.  Unfortunately, there is a very concentrated population of people who experience an extreme version of this condition within the fitness industry: OUR INDUSTRY.  This condition is referred to as "Metabolic Damage".

As much as I would like to avoid this topic due to its highly controversial nature; I feel it is extremely important for someone like me (with the education) to address it so that people can understand it on a deep level moving forward; and potentially be helped.  It is also important, because in the business that my husband and I are in, this condition is beginning to occur more and more, and we want people to know that we do not subscribe to the thought of creating this horrible condition with the clients that we work with.  We aim to set people up for lifetime success before, during, and after they may potentially compete.

First of all, how would I define MD?  Well, I would define this condition as the result of a very inefficiently running machine that has been created with your body.  Essentially, it may seem as if nothing “works”, and that your body is working against itself.  Your thyroid is low, your adrenals are shot, and there may be damage to some of your other organs and systems as well.  The result is that your metabolism is slow, you have extreme water retention, high fat retention, and your body does not respond at all to training or restrictive dieting.  In addition, no matter how much you decrease your calories, your body fat does not decrease.  A decrease in calories actually compounds the problem.

This is a terrible place to be, and solving this condition is much more difficult than preventing it.  I will follow-up with an article aimed at addressing the "solution", that will include supplement choices, as well as diet and training ideas to get you to reverse this problem (if you are already "there").  Once this condition has taken over your body, there is no choice; it must be solved. 

Before addressing a solution, my focus here will be on preventing MD from happening in the first place.  I understand that this topic can be sensitive for a lot of people.  So, if this is something that you have or are suffering from, please do not get angry at my “prevention” approach.  I also understand that different people come from different places, and no one wants to feel a "blame finger" pointed at them.  I get that completely - please do not take this that way.  Being in that place is very frustrating and completely annoying.  I have written this article with the intention of helping people become healthy, the “healthy” way.  By first understanding how to prevent this from happening, you may discover things that you didn't realize along the way, and may be able to prevent it from happening AGAIN.

Why do we hear so much about Metabolic Damage right now?

I believe that we are hearing so much about this condition because there are so many people right now who not only want a “quick fix” with weight loss; but more people want to go the extra mile now due to being inundated with images of ultra-fit individuals.  More people want the EXTREME version of fitness, and they want it NOW. 

One fast track to achieving the EXTREME version of fitness that tends to motivate people, is training for a bikini, figure, or bodybuilding competition.  I know what you’re thinking – “but Wendy, HELLO!  You compete too!”…  I would have to say, yes, I do compete in figure competition.  However, believe it or not, I do not believe in an extreme approach to dieting and training.  I do believe in achieving a high level of fitness, but If I train hard, it is because I am fit and ready to do so.  If I am not at a high level of fitness, I slowly build my fitness to get there.  I believe in being strong and fit ALL of the time, with ebbs and flows to challenge my body and give it rest when needed.  I achieve a high level of fitness without having to go to to extremes to get there because I am always close to my competition conditioning.  It is not "easy", but I never have to suffer.

Many times, people make the decision to compete in a show that will get them to the extreme version of fitness that they desire; however, some people who decide that they want to compete may need to initially lose weight, create a healthy relationship with food, and find a common ground with their mind, body, and spirit (again, NOT pointing fingers or placing blame - this is completely normal and understandable; nothing to be ashamed of).  Making a regular lifestyle out of eating clean foods, getting fit, and training consistently are things that need to be established before even thinking of competing.  However, with a deadline approaching, what often happens is that calories need to be cut too low, cardiovascular activity and weight training need to be drastically higher than what the body is ready for, and potentially the use of prescription medication is in play to increase the body’s natural mechanisms for burning fat and increasing muscle (I cannot avoid mentioning this; it is a terrible reality).

What is the result from all of this?  Instant physical gratification; but with a HUGE price to pay.  The body has, believe it or not, essentially morphed into an extremely inefficiently running machine.  [SHIT!]...  Yes, and now it must be fixed.  But in a state of extreme vulnerability, you may become depressed and ashamed; causing you to eat, not want to show up to the gym (which means little to no working out), and the downward spiral has begun. 

Stop the problem before it starts…

Now, let’s talk about how to create an “efficient machine” with your body; because essentially, THAT is how we prevent MD. 

First of all, your body has a ton of mechanisms that it carries out daily to keep everything on an “even keel” so to speak.  Considering how terribly we (as a whole) treat our bodies, it is amazing that we are even able to function in some cases.  We feed our bodies with processed foods that we are not designed to break down properly, we douse poisonous alcohol in our bodies (think, “fermentation”), we do not get enough sleep, etc. etc. etc…  We are pretty naturally efficient if you ask me!  Our bodies are naturally so resilient to so many things.  Which means, if you enjoy yourself once in a while - there is no need to fret!  Your body will regulate just fine if it is not done all the time.

For example, something we can all relate to…  When you eat a huge serving of sugar in one sitting (like a slice of cake), your body has taken up way more sugar (energy) than it can process at once.  Sugar elicits a huge spike in insulin from your pancreas, which in turn causes a HUGE drop in your blood sugar.  What happens next?  A craving for more sugar, and hunger pains – believe it or not!  Because now, your blood sugar is too low!  Crazy, right?  That is why you cannot stop.  Your body is trying to regulate itself, but you are fighting it every step of the way. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, when you eat a meal with slow-digesting carbs; such as rice, oatmeal, or sweet potatoes, with protein and veggies, your blood sugar does not explode, your insulin does not spike, and your body continues to use its natural mechanisms to regulate your blood sugar naturally.  Over time, eating like this consistently aids in creating a healthy, efficient pancreas. 

FOR EVERY ACTION, THERE IS AN EQUAL BUT OPPOSITE REACTION

Every single system that your body has operates this way.  We are super adaptive, and naturally efficient (it is amazing!)  

Remember this forever: “For every action, there is an EQUAL but OPPOSITE reaction".  So, high sugar= drop in blood sugar; tons of weight loss in a short period of time=tons of weight gain in a short period of time; taking medication to increase your thyroid=massive destruction to your natural thyroid production; too much caffeine=shot adrenals…  The list goes on and on.  Name a system that your body carries out, and I will tell you how you can royally destroy that system by going overboard with trying to enhance it, or in some cases, de-enhance it (of course, some people never diet and exercise at all and have created an inefficient machine that way).

When your body has achieved a low body fat percentage through extreme dieting and training, the natural follow-up usually includes a brief period of immediately stopping your exercise program, and consuming a lot of high calorie foods that your body has been so deprived of for so long. The result?... The pounds will pour on FAST.  Because this happens immediately after achieving something so amazing with your physique, the natural desire is to get it back immediately.  Competition after competition, the extreme up and down simply wears out every single system in your body, and your machine is not ONLY inefficient; but it will literally SHUT OFF.  The result is that your body will not utilize your fuel properly; it will become tired and any exercise that you do will only start to break you down.  ALL BAD.  Let’s reverse to square one and keep that from happening in the first place.  I have a bad feeling that with more and more people delving into this sport, we are going to hear of many more cases of this happening, and if I can potentially save you, then let’s go!...

Time to create your machine

Now that I have helped you to understand how MD works, let’s talk about how to create an efficient machine with your body.

My definition of an efficient machine:

An efficient machine is one in which every system that your body carries out will be in complete harmony.  Your skin will be clear and tight with a slight, healthy “glow”.  Your body will be fit and trim with minimal, evenly distributed body fat.  Your muscles will be pliable and resilient.  You will be free of lower back and neck pain, joint problems, muscle spasms, or other “mystery” injuries that correlate to everyday wear and tear.  You will feel rejuvenated every time that you eat a meal, and everything that you put in your body will work for you, as if to put fuel in your car tank to make it go.  Your digestive system will metabolize your fuel seamlessly, and you will be completely regular with normal bowel movements and proper nutrient absorption.  You will fall asleep easily, and your body will know when to wake up without the use of an alarm clock.  You will never feel anxious, stressed, or tired.  You will be completely healthy in every sense of the word.  Longevity will be in your future with quality until the end.  This is the definition of an efficiently running machine.

THIS is what we are after, right? - Everything working optimally.  Well, maybe it is not realistic to be exactly this way, but at least as close to it as possible.  To get to this place, the goal must be to create a “set point” with your body.  To do this, your exercise and nutrition must be at a place that is maintainable forever (yes, FOREVER) in order to achieve your desired weight.  Consistency, effective training, clean eating, and adequate sleep are essential to establish long-term (not just for a competition).  It is not impossible; it is very do-able (I understand that some people suffer from various health conditions, so there may be more to the equation if this is the case for you)

Your Machine and FOOD:

People often think of “clean eating” and “dieting” as a horrible chore, because it is usually associated with a short-term, extreme drop in weight and body fat for a competition, a wedding, or even a cruise.  Basically, it is something that we suffer through to get what we want really fast.  My question is, why on earth does “clean food” have to be this way?  Have you ever tasted a bowl of oatmeal?  Enjoyed a cup of fresh blueberries?  Bit into a fresh, crisp apple? Devoured a spoonful of peanut butter?  How about a barbecued chicken breast, or fresh grilled tilapia?  Or a spinach salad with dried cranberries and walnuts?!  Come on, you cannot tell me these things are not delicious!  They completely are!  If you are not trying to shave a bunch of weight in a short period of time, these things can be enjoyed in moderate amounts without even thinking about it. 

The problem is that because these things are used in restricted amounts during extreme dieting, we grow bitter towards them.  We scorn at the thought of eating them.  “I can eat a slice of pizza!  My contest is over!”  Then, the downward spiral begins…

Your Machine and EXERCISE:

When it comes to exercise, the right mind-set is also critical in order to achieve long-term results.  If you have never exercised regularly before, or it has been a long, long time, then it is likely not realistic to imagine yourself performing 1-2 hours of cardio a day to get in shape for something extreme.  Fitness must be established.  Gaining fitness and efficiency with your cardiovascular system is a process.  Yes, 1-2 hours of cardio will burn calories, but how on earth can someone begin a plan like this when they cannot efficiently deliver oxygen to their muscles for 20 minutes straight?  When we are unfit, we take longer to recover; and when we workout while the body is recovering, our bodies will go into a state of shock and STOP producing results.  Continuing on this path leads to little to no results; followed by frustration.

 

With that said, it is imperative that we start small.  If you do not currently do cardio consistently (at least 4-5 days per week), then starting with 4-5 days of light cardio (such as walking, jogging, elliptical) for about 30 minutes at a time is a great place to start.  As a matter of fact, do not be tempted to hammer through interval, high-intensity training until this “base level” of cardiovascular fitness has been established for at least one full month.  Again, slow progress means that you will be able to maintain what you gain at the pace that your body needs to.

Leap forward with success

I would just like to conclude by making it clear that everything is a process.  Think about your goal with your weight.  Will you simply be satisfied once you have reached this goal?  

It is much more than what you fantasize about achieving.  You should want to enjoy your life, and be happy without struggling.  And you certainly do not want to create any damage to your organs and functions of your bodily systems. 

If you are thinking of doing a competition, or you have already done a competition, I challenge you to change your mindset.  Think of your competition as the “cherry-on-top” of all your hard work (no pun intended!).  Yes, you will likely need to become a little stricter in order to achieve an extreme version of fitness for the stage; but be sure to establish a healthy lifestyle and healthy weight before considering putting yourself through a preparation for a contest.

I promise that when you do it this way, you will be setting yourself up for success.  At the end of the day, your “end result” is never the end.  It never ends, so create a program that you can (and want) to maintain forever!

Again, I will follow-up with this article by providing you with a blueprint for solving the condition of Metabolic Damage.  Good luck, and please remember - you are living in the ONLY body you will EVER get.  Nourish it, train it, and help it carry out its systems to the best of your ability.

Sincerely,

Wendy Fortino, M.S.

Finding the Motivation to Embrace Fitness

Finding the Motivation to Embrace Fitness

Well, the Olympia (the “Olympics” of the fitness industry!) is the event of the weekend, and a great time to find the motivation to continue to work hard toward your fitness goals, or kick-start a new plan! 

Someone asked me a question today that was actually a major “aha” moment.  The question was, “Wendy, I have gotten to the point where I am not happy with my weight, and the way that I look, but feel that I am caring less and less about it.  It worries me, because I used to care so much if I gained weight.  How do I change that?”

I thought about this for a moment, because I have learned from myself and from our clients that staying in shape is a full-time job in itself.  You can’t “take time off” so to speak from caring about your fitness.  You can’t get in the shape you’ve always dreamed of, and then maintain it without continuing to work on it.  But that draws a bit of frustration for people, because then when do we get a break?  Why does it have to be so hard?  At times, it is almost frustrating to witness the bliss of the fitness ignorant – the people who don’t care, and have never cared about being in shape or healthy.

 

I’m not going to lie, you DO need to think about it always, but it can be very fun and super rewarding.  For example, think about how such a little can go a long way.  If you wake up earlier, and go for a 30 minute jog, skip the latte and opt for a regular coffee, choose an apple instead of a muffin, and eat a chicken breast with rice and veggies instead of a sandwich with ham and cheese…  You can STILL majorly enjoy your life, and you get to enjoy the body you live in.  Extra bonus! 

We had a client one time tell us, “I am so jealous of my friend.  She goes out and drinks when she wants, she eats whatever she wants, and she skips exercise if she wants.  She just does whatever she wants without the strain of thinking about being fit and healthy all the time.  I just feel like I have to think about it constantly, and it is so tiring!”  Do you know what we told her?... We said, “Yes, well it LOOKS like you care, and it LOOKS like your friend doesn’t.”  Just that alone was a reality check for her.  “yes, I guess you’re right!”  See, if you focus on the things you do get to enjoy with a healthy lifestyle, instead of focusing on the things that you must give up to be healthy, you will be so happy!  You get to live in a house – your body – that you cannot step out of!

It is good, in my opinion, to look at the extreme version of fitness to dig for motivation to continue with your fitness program.  This is why I say that following the top athletes at the Olympia this weekend is a great way to get this motivation.  Instead of viewing the extreme as “ridiculous, unhealthy, unattainable, not desirable”, think about where those thoughts stem from.  Are you mentally forcing yourself to remove this level of fitness from your mind as something you want, so that you don’t have to be so strained with thoughts of achieving it?  Many people do this, it is okay!  Heck, I’ve done it before, and then realized that it was because I didn’t want to push myself to get there!  Instead, I think, “How on earth did she get her butt to look like that?” – or – “What do I need to add in my program to achieve that level of conditioning in my legs?”  And NO, this is not shallow.  We decide that it is shallow to desire looking the best we can, because it is hard to do. 

I will tell you that I live fitness every day.  I maintain it every day.  When I was younger, it was easy for people to say, “You are still young, and your metabolism is fast, just wait until you’re older!  It will eventually catch up to you!”  What will catch up to me?  I’m about to turn 31 years old, and I refuse to let it “catch up” to me.  My husband, Matt, is 36 years old – and he refuses to let it catch up to him.  We just made up our minds to stay healthy and fit. 

You can put yourself first on the priority list, and decide to be the best version of yourself TODAY.  No more excuses or reasons to not do this.  At the beginning, you will have more bad days than good days.  But when it becomes your lifestyle, you will have more good days than bad days.  I am telling you it is okay to fight through the bad days – you NEED to fight through those bad days, even if you or someone else tells you that you need to give it a rest and let loose.  Yes, let loose, but the only way to do it in style is by achieving and maintaining the best “you” possible!

Launch!

It has been a wonderfully long road for me and my husband to get to this point, in which we are finally launching our official website!  We plan to offer so many great things for people who are in need of professional guidance with their nutrition, exercise plan, and competition preparation.

A lot of people have wondered, and many have asked why we have not launched something like this much sooner; since we have been training successful competitors and clients for several years now.  It has taken us up to now to finally make this happen because we believe that if you want to do something well, you have to do it right the very first time.  This past year has been a rollercoaster of accomplishment, struggle, learning about business success, and learning about ourselves individually and as a team.  I will first go over my experience in my rookie season as a professional figure competitor, and explain some of the struggles that Matt and I faced throughout the year with regards to my competitions and the launching of our new business.

Almost one year ago, I achieved an amazing accomplishment; that was winning the Overall Figure title at the NPC USA Figure Championships; which is where I earned my IFBB Professional status.  It was an amazing experience, but I was surely humbled as I made my way into the pro ranks with a very rocky start.  You see, I have not exactly had the “pro debut” that dreams are made of.  I have definitely struggled in my initial year as a pro.  I can’t make excuses since I feel that each time that I make my way on the stage to compete, I am bringing my very best package with no exceptions to this rule.  Not to mention the fact that I am not fond of when girls talk about how frustrated they are with how they placed, etc.; as if to say that they thought they were better than all of the girls who beat them.  For me, I look at my results independently from the other competitors.  For example, I don’t think, “I am so mad that I took (x) place because I should have beaten all of those girls!”…  I think, “Man, I believe that I was good enough that day to be a top finisher in any lineup because of the package I brought.”  And if that doesn’t happen, then I am bummed that it didn’t.  Make sense?

In my first pro competition, the 2012 IFBB Governor’s Cup Pro Figure Championships, I came down with a terrible flu just 2 weeks before the show.  But don’t feel too sorry for me; I was behind on my training and my diet (I know, I preach to clients all the time about how bad this is.  We are all human, what can I say?).  Well, the problem with being behind is that you don’t have any time to lose, and that is likely why I got sick.  I had to over-train and over-diet to try and get in shape on time for the show.  Ironically, I still had to take two precious weeks away from my training before the show due to catching the flu. 

To prevent obtaining a $5,000 fine for pulling out of the show, I decided to compete.  It was not the best experience for my pro debut, but I still placed 7^th in the end. 

 

Not sure my placing would have been much better either way, it is just that my experience would have been better if I felt great.  I also hid being sick from everyone.  I believe that is the right thing to do in this type of situation.  It definitely would have sounded like an excuse, and in no way did I want anyone to think I was trying to make an excuse in case I didn’t win.  Still, not a bad placing with all things considered.  But damn, I really wish I would have done it differently.  Oh well, you need to push to the future…

So, I had chance number 2 to make my comeback at the 2012 California State Pro Figure Championships; which was my 2^nd pro show, and the last one on my resume of shows.  As you may have guessed, I was more than determined to prove that I could come back looking like the winner that I knew I was.  I trained hard and dieted smarter.  On the day of the show, I was heads and tails above where I was when I won the esteemed title of Miss Figure USA in 2011.  I felt great, and looked my best.

 

I stood on the stage with such a sense of accomplishment.  However, while I was on the stage, everything seemed like such a blur.  I remember standing off to the side after performing my model turns while the callouts were being made.  The first callout was made, and I wasn’t called out.  “No biggie, Wendy.  Maybe you’ll make the second one.”…  The second callout was made…  I told myself, “Okay, Wendy, no worries.  They just don’t like your look.  It’s alright.  YOU like your look.  That is ALL that matters anyway, right?”…  The third, fourth, and finally fifth callouts were made.  I started to think that maybe I wasn’t really standing there.  Maybe it was all a dream; just my imagination that I was even on the stage.  No joke, I really thought that for a moment.  Then, when all of the callouts were over, the judges had their heads down tallying the scores.  I assumed we would all exit the stage and it was over.  I just didn’t get called out – this happens sometimes, right?  I mean, it was happening to me… Then, I was called out with 2 of the girls who were in the first callout. 

 

 

It was like the twilight zone!  I wasn't sure where that would place me, because I was pretty sure that the judging was over.  I was really hoping for a top 5 placing, but I thought that was a little hopeful.  No one was really paying attention as we made our quarter turns.  It was mostly a gesture to let me know that is where they would have placed me if they didn’t forget about me.  Well, I wish I could put that on my competition resume.  I wish I could say, “I took almost last in the end, but I was supposed to be closer to the top of the list…”  Don’t get me wrong, the ladies who placed deserved it; each and every one of them.  Just stinks for me, that’s all. 

I held my head high, and felt nothing but pride for how happy I was with what I physically accomplished.  My physical accomplishment was only tainted slightly by the placing which must go on my resume, but eh, say la vie.   The world keeps turning, right?

My main focus, anyway, has and will always be my business with my husband and the amazing clients we have the joy to work with.  For example, despite my experience in my pro debut, we had several clients who did very well in the amateur division in both bikini and figure.  Additionally, we had a bikini client win her class and almost win the overall in the amateur bikini division at the California State Championships.  Those were successful achievements for me and my husband for sure!

 

While training for my pro debut (likely why I was slacking on my diet and training for the show), my husband and I began working very hard to perform photo shoots, and we began the initial process of learning to create helpful products for people to utilize.  We attempted to work on business deals with various producers, photographers, web developers, etc. etc….  And through these experiences, we have come to decide that we choose to work solely with each other.  Neither of us has much savvy with computers, programming, or technology in general; but we must learn and make this a priority.  We’re pretty smart, so we think we can put our brains to the test.

 

You see, we are both a part of what I like to call the “hybrid generation”.  We grew up learning to type on a typewriter, graced through college with the use of a computer, and danced into graduate school with some web assistance.  And then, boom!  As soon as grad school was over, the internet generation emerged.  Great!  Just what we needed; more things to learn after all of that schooling!

Technology is now our priority.  We plan to utilize technology to produce our amazing products with which we will help hundreds of thousands of people world-wide.  We intend to help people make lifestyle transformations, and we also plan to provide tools for trainers to use with their own clients.  It will be a whole shop of goodies for the new, health-minded generation!  It will be a “CyberBodyShop”, and we can’t wait for you to see what we will have in store!

Another Summer to Remember

Summer has always been my favorite time of the year. Ever since I was a little kid, I would roll my eyes when my classmates were counting down the days until Christmas. While I never really felt the "Joy" of the holiday season; the fourth of July really got me excited.  I never believed in Santa Claus or flying reindeer but to me summer was truly magical.

The last three summers have been even more spectacular than the summers of my youth.  Lets start with the Summer of 2010:

On August 7th 2010 Wendy and I were married in an ultra casual ceremony in San Diego California.   Wendy had just finished 4th at the USA the week before. We had been so focused on Wendy's contest that we put almost no planning into our wedding. You might think that "winging" a wedding ceremony was a recipe for disaster; but it turned out perfectly.  Everything just seemed to come together perfectly and effortlessly. The day I married Wendy was the best day of my life.



Wendy showed up in Las Vegas in July 2011 ready to claim her pro card. 4th place the year before was a great accomplishment at the time but this year, anything less than a first place finish was a defeat.  After pre-judging it was clear that Wendy was going to take the A class and earn that elusive pro card......






As expected based on the call outs at pre-judging, Wendy took her class and earned her pro card.  She won her class, but could a little A class girl win the overall?  Leaving Vegas with a pro card would be a mission accomplished, but leaving Las Vegas as the overall winner: "Miss USA" would be a life long dream come true.



My heart dropped as they moved Wendy from the outside to the middle during the overall judging. For those who are not familiar with how figure is judged, this meant she was battling it out for the title.
As the judges put the girls through their quarter turns, Wendy came alive. She just projected.... Winner.

The judges handed their decision to the announcer, "And your overall winner is....... Wendy Fortino!"  She did it! It was the greatest accomplishment of her life. This accomplishment was made even more sweet by the fact that all of our friends and family were there in Las Vegas to share that moment.

This was also my greatest accomplishment as a trainer.  It was so sweet to have my first professional athlete be my wife.  Wow, two incredible summers in a row, how can we top this?


After having Wendy win the overall at the USA, I didn't know how we could possibly top that the next year.  The 2012 NPC San Jose was the kick off show for summer 2012:

Our clients basically cleaned house at the San Jose: Tasha Standrich won her bikini class. In her very first show Natalia Fermin won the figure overall title. Mark Beyers won the Masters, Super heavyweight and the overall Bodybuilding title. Mark had actually won the teen division of this show 23 years earlier. So, he accomplished his goal of winning as a teen, masters, and overall winner.  Mark is truly the ultimate "Mr. San Jose." Christine Chanda earned a fourth place finish in a very tough figure C class.




Mark Beyers had played in the NFL for the 49ers and the Detroit Lions. I think playing in the NFL is every young mans dream but Mark actually dreamed of becoming a Professional Bodybuilder.  Unfortunately, his time in the NFL led to injuries which required over 14 surgeries.  His doctor released him to start training only 16 weeks out from the Masters Nationals, a pro qualifier.  This was a really short period of time to produce a pro caliber physique. I put together a plan that would allow him to carefully recover from his surgery while building quality muscle.  Mark is a dedicated athlete and has phenomenal genetics but this was a very tall task.

 After snagging an overall victory one week prior, at the 2012 San Jose Bodybuilding Championships, he more than earned his qualifying standard to head to Pittsburgh and attempt a shot at earning his pro card. And that is exactly what he did! Mark took Pittsburgh by storm, winning the overall victory at Master’s Nationals, and his professional bodybuilding status!

Mark is the prime example of what can happen when a true talent and high level of dedication are combined in the sport of bodybuilding. Many people talk about their hopes and dreams, but Mark goes out and just does it. We are so proud of him, and everything that he stands for!  I don't know how we can top the last three summers but I can't wait to see what the future holds.