We met Heath on MySpace.com last month and offered to feature him in our new Amateur Bodybuilding Spotlight after speaking to him a couple times. Heath has only been bodybuilding for a short time but has already taken home 3rd place in his last contest. Not bad for only his 3rd contest. Heath has some pretty good genetics and he is only going to get better in the years to come. Heath is also one of our biggest fans and supporters. So sit back and read what this up and coming amateur has to say when he went one-on-one with The Bald Man.
Heath, Thanks for taking the time to talk with us at OSXFitness.com
TBM: Why don’t you take a minute and introduce yourself to everyone.
Heath: I am Heath Ellenberger 22 year student/aspiring bodybuilder. I will be graduating this September in personal training and nutrition, also thinking about attending massage school so I can be well rounded in the spectrum of the fitness world.
TBM: How long have you been bodybuilding?
Heath: I have been lifting for about 3 years. But when we talk about BODYBUILDING I have only been doing this kind of lifting for about 1 year. When I talk about bodybuilding lifting I mean lifting for a purpose and not just to get big. Also applying proper nutrition to the training since nutrition plays a major roll.
TBM: You stated that you competed for the first time and finished 3rd. That’s a nice placing for a first timer. What made you want to compete?
Heath: What made me want to compete was the simple fact that I didn't feel I was a bodybuilder until I got on stage! When people would ask what I did I would always tell them I was a bodybuilder. After a while I thought to myself I have no credit in the bodybuilding world I haven't even done what it takes to become a bodybuilder. Once I finally got over wanting to be big and decided it was time to start the “real” bodybuilding journey there was no looking back!
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TBM: Once you decided to compete how did your training change?
Heath: Once I got it in my mind to compete it was hardcore ball out training! I am talking about going in the gym with one purpose on my mind, Pure focus and intensity every workout. I knew someone was working harder than me and that drove me to work twice as hard. Knowing that I was going to be standing on stage and have 7 people analyzing my physique and they will be the ones to tell me if I did enough work in the past 23 weeks to walk away victorious. Even though they are sitting there and didn't go through the strife and hard times cutting down like I did, I was going to make sure they had a hard time finding a flaw with me! And that is what I set out to do day in and day out 5 A.M. to 10 P.M. every waking moment was geared toward that one day! What other sport can say that!
TBM: Did you work with a personal trainer and nutritionist when you were
preparing for the contest?
Heath:Yes, I used a guy named Mike Elias who I worked with for my whole pre-contest prep.
TBM: Did placing 3rd the first time out change anything about your goals in
bodybuilding?
Heath: Oh yeah. Even though 3rd isn’t bad its not 1st! I know I can do better and that what I intend to do. Before this show I was just going to do this show and take off the rest of the year and put on more mass. BUT after that show there was a new fire that had been light under me! There were some redwoods that got thrown on to the fire and they are blazing! This is why I decided to do another show this year!
TBM: Do you have plans to compete in 2007?
Heath: I will be making a return to the bodybuilding stage one more time this year yes! This was not in my original plan but since I caught the fever I felt the need to get one more in before the year was over. Also I felt this was enough time off that I could make the necessary changes to my physique to get back on the stage and bring in better conditioning and more mass than the last show!
TBM: What show will you be competing in?
Heath: NPC Natural Northern Ohio October 6th!! This is a national qualifier which I intend to do!
TBM: What workout plan works best for you?
Heath: In the past I have pretty much stuck to blood volume training. But for this off-season I have switched things around and in my quest to add mass fast, I hit each body part twice a week every 3 weeks, for example week one chest Monday and Friday week 2 back Monday and Friday and week 3 legs Monday and Friday. One day is low rep exercises sticking between 3-6 reps, the other day I am implementing the idea of rest pause style of lifting. So far so good I am getting plenty of rest and recovery to promote growth in the areas I need to build up!
TBM: What nutrition plan works best for you when bulking and when cutting?
Heath: Nutrition THE KEY TO UNLOCKING GROWTH! For me right now I am in off-season mode or bulking mode. I am keeping my diet still SUPER Clean, this will help me once its time to start pre-contest again. Being that I am eating so clean I will have put on pretty much all good weight and will have kept fat gain to a minimum, there for staying harder and leaner will help bring me in that much better this time around! Right now my diet consists of a training day diet and an off day diet. Training days protein is at 273 grams which is 1.3 times my body weight. Carbs on training days 345 grams, these are pretty spread out and coming from all sources of carbs, starch, fruit, veggie have all the basses covered. And my fats I have increased this time to see if this has any different effects on me they are right around 100 grams of course coming from natural sources such as flax oil, nuts, a little dairy is thrown in to the mix as well.
For my off day diet it’s a little lower than training day. Protein is 252 grams, carbs are 270 grams which the majority are all in before 1:00 in the afternoon, after 1:00 its fruit and veggie carbs. And fats are 90 grams.
So far this diet has me sitting at 205 almost 30 pounds heavier than at my show. And still holding on to my midsection fairly well! This is working perfect for me!
As far as cutting goes I have tried many many different tactics to try and lose that unwanted Bodyfat! And the best thing for me was to carb cycle. Which I was on 5 low carb days and 2 high carb days. This sucks but it worked very well for me. Just and example low carb day would have me eating 50 grams of complex carbs and then 60 grams coming from greens. High day I had 100 grams of complex and 60 grams of greens. Protein was pretty much .8 grams per body weight. Fats we lower than they should have been but it’s a learning process.
You have to find out how your body works!
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TBM: What supplements work best for you?
Heath: Whey protein I use many different brands as long as its 100% Whey protein! All diferent flavors! I try to stick with MRM, Optimum 100% Whey
Applied Neutriceuticals-
IGF-2
NeoVar
Lipo Pm
RPM-most innovative product to come out in a long time!! Coming out beginning of May!
Palo Alto Labs-
Incarnate
Leviathan
Pure Vitargo
Scivation Xtend
That’s pretty much it!
TBM: OK, now lets step back a little and let our readers learn a little bit
more about you.
TBM: Where are you from?
Heath: Originally I was born in Portsmouth VA! Lived in Bedford MI for 8 years. Then I moved to Pittsburgh Pa for 4 years.
TBM: Where do you reside now?
Heath: I live in Punxsutawney, PA. Go to college in Canton Ohio, and I am moving to Orland Fl to continue study over the summer.
TBM: Did you play sports in high school?
Heath: I played Football
TBM: At what age did you decide that fitness and bodybuilding were for you,
and how long after that did you begin to compete?
Heath: HMMM… Well I think the first time I ever contemplated bodybuilding I was probably 19. That was the year I attended my first Arnold Classic and I was jut blow away. After that its been my focus to become a bodybuilder I am 22 now so 3 years after I decided I wanted to be a bodybuilder I competed for the first time!
TBM: What people in your life have been inspirational and supportive of your
career?
Heath: There are many people in my life that I have to thank! First and foremost God! If it wasn’t for his many blessings to me and my bodybuilding career I wouldn’t be where I am today! This is the path he has chosen for me to lead and I am going to run down that path and never look back! Next my parents! Both of my parents are really supportive of the bodybuilding lifestyle that I live day in and day out! I feel this is very important to the success that I have had so far! Having a firm support system is vital! Next my training partner Caleb! This kid is an up and coming teen bodybuilder who will be debuting next spring and will become a force right off the bat. Anyways he has been there since day 1 of my bodybuilding journey, through all the exhausting workouts the intense leg days everything! Next on the list comes a man who helped me become a perfect poser but more than that a true brother of mine connected only by the iron Aaron smith of bodybydesigninc.com and alphamusclesports.com. I cannot say enough about his guy he is a great bodybuilder and business man but more than that an awesome brother and posing coach. I have to thank my man Peter “PUMP” Putnam who has been a great friend to me the past few months! Not only keeping me mentally on track but also spiritually uplifting! Peter and Jess have been great friends and good inspirations in my life! The next person I call the motivator, his name is Rob “SULTAN”. I took him in under my wing probably 2 years ago and he has been nothing but motivating to me watching him grow not only in a physical sense but also gaining more and more knowledge about this great lifestyle. And he always has some motivational words to keep me going even in my last few weeks of hard dieting he managed to keep the motivation flowing and keep me rolling! I must move on to ALL MY GUYS down at Applied Neutriceuticals best supplements I have used thus far not to mention the innovation and science backing each and everyone of there products! Don, Dirk, Tanya, Jeff You guys are awesome! Also my girl Lana from Lanas Egg Whites she has brought me on board making me an official Team Lana Egg White Athlete! Lastly paramount-supplements.com best online site out there for supplemental needs they have everything!!
Anyone I missed I am sorry but I love you all! Lastly OSX Fitness for featuring me these guys are AWESOME!!
TBM: What advice would you give someone wanting to compete in bodybuilding?
Heath: I would advise anyone who wants to become a bodybuilder to do it! First I am going to save you a lot of hard time and wasted efforts Bodybuilding isn’t about how big you are! Sure everyone wants to be a freak but you cant get on stage at 17% body fat! Be Smart about it decide how far you want to take it. Set down a short term and long term goal and strive to reach those with out doing something you didn’t anticipate doing. Train eat and supplement safely! And take it at your own speed, every ones body is different you may not grow as fast as your training partner or best friend, but if you are doing everything correctly then you will just give it time. Be patient building a championship physique doesn’t happen over night, if it did then everyone would look like Mr. Olympia! Juts know this once you step on that stage for the first time it doesn’t matter if you place first or last if you did the best you could dieted with out cheating and doing everything it takes, you have joined an elite class of athletes!
TBM: What do you think that this industry has to do to become more
mainstreamer? Can it become more mainstreamer?
Heath: In my opinion I think it used to be more mainstream talking about media coverage. Used to be on ESPN and Pay Per View now we have to watch stuff online. I think we have gotten a bad rap with all this Steroid talk these days. It’s a shame really. That’s my opinion! Also I really don’t know if it would make it mainstream, I don’t think Most Americans care to look at guys on stage in posing trunks. That’s a good question though. I think the industry is making steps become mainstream again by endorsing pro wrestlers. I was at the Arnold Classic this year and Jon Cena was there along with Batista and they had some of the longest line out of anyone, because all those wrestling fans came out just to se those guys. BUT it brought them into a dominate bodybuilding atmosphere exposing them to our world and sport. So I think there are steps being taken. But I cant really answer if I think it will ever go mainstream. I don’t know if I would like it if it became mainstream that would eliminate the whole “underground” bodybuilding world!
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TBM: Where are we going to see you next?
Heath: Next you will see me on the stage of the NPC Natural Northern Ohio Stage! After that hopefully in 2009 you will see me in a national show after I take a year off to build!
Then Who knows!!
Heath,
Here are our 10/60 questions. Give it your best shot.
Favorite movie
HAHA Prob Elf HAHA I like Funny Christmas movies
Favorite movie star
Will Smith
Favorite cheat food
WOW CHEESECAKE
Favorite sport outside of the bodybuilding world
Football
Favorite sports team
Steelers whole LIFE BABY!
Favorite car
Toss up Mazda RX8 or Saturn Sky
Beach or Mountains?
Beach
Motorcycle or Car?
Car
Pizza or Ice Cream?
OH MAN UMMMM… Ice Cream
If you could have one super power for the rest of your life, what would
you choose?
The Ability to GET RIPPED ANYTIME I WANTED HAHA!
Thank You Heath for your time. How can our readers contact you?
You can email me at hbomb2007@hotmail.com or go to my myspace at http://www.myspace.com/Hbomb29
Thank you and OSX Fitness it was a great time! Awesome Site!!
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