World Physique

Photos by: BBPics.com
Interviewed by: Tammy Renee

Q. WP: Let’s begin with you telling us a little about yourself.
I got into fitness at the age of 15 years old in High School because I was too small to play sports. I started going to the nearby gym for 2-3 hours a day and started to see great results with my physique. I then picked up fitness magazines every month following the fitness and bodybuilding world and I haven't stopped since.

I have been weight training, bodybuilding and following the fitness industry for over 10 years now. My first bodybuilding contest was when I was 21 yrs old and I have been competing since, now having done 7 competitions and placing 5 out of 7 shows.

Q. What was it that made you know without a doubt that you wanted to go into bodybuilding?
What made me want to get into bodybuilding was the results I was seeing and how good I am at what I do, naturally.

Q. How long have you been lifting?
I have been lifting and training about 11-13 years now, on and off.

Q. What competitions have you appeared in and what place did you win?
*2004 NPC IL-State: (N/A) Men’s Novice Lt. Heavyweight

*2005 NPC IL-State: 4th Men’s Novice Lt. Heavyweight

*2005 Indiana Indianapolis Championships: 4th Men’s Novice Lt. Heavyweight, 5th Men’s Open Lt. Heavyweight

Current placings:

*2008 NPC Natural Mid-States Muscle Classics XXI, IL-Rockford: 1st Men's Novice Middleweight, 3rd Men's Open Middleweight

*2009 NPC IL-State: 1st Men's Novice Lt. Heavyweight, 1st Overall Novice, 1st Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight

*2009 GNC- IN Anderson: 5th Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight

Q. What are your best lifts?
My best lifts are the Leg Presses, Dumbbell Rows, and Shoulder Presses.

Q. Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and more cut?
Yes, I do. Stick with a base plan and adjust things like foods, calories, training and supplement as you achieve your goal the best you can.

Listen to your body, feel what works for you and what doesn't. Keep a high protein diet with moderate daily carbs and low fats. Add 4-5 sessions of 30-45 minutes of low intensity cardio weekly to stay leaner and staying tighter.

Q. Great advice! What do you eat in a normal day?

The following is samples of what I normally eat:

* 30 grams Whey Shake w/BCAA+ 5g L-Glut with 30g Carbs from Oatmeal r Rice Cakes for meal substitutes.

* 1-2 cups of Turkey+ 1cup of white rice+ 1/2cup Broccoli for real meals.

Q. Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
Yes, Sometimes. Taco Bell is my favorite.

Q. What supplements do you take?
I take Nitric Oxide, Alpha Lipoic Acid, L-Carnatine, Amino Tabs, L-Glutamine, and Protein Powders.

Q. Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?
Yes! My good friend, Jay Kukla, for having faith in me and his encouragement, as well as helping me with all my progress and contest prep. Also, I’d like to mention my friend, Maleah Bataoel, for all her positive support and help.

Q. Tell me about your modeling.
I don’t have any real expertise in it yet, just a photo shoot with John Mitchell from BBPics. However, I would like to start doing some good modeling and get exposure with it.

Q. Where do you want to be in 5 years?
I would like to be working and networking with fitness and supplement companies, as well as, being an owner of my own business in the industry along with personal training.

Q. You look great! How do you keep the physique you have? What is the hardest thing for you to face when it comes to keeping your physique?
Thanks! Ha ha! I keep a clean, high nutritional diet and try to train my best with 100% effort or more each training day of the week along with adding cardio to keep a low body fat percentage year around. The hardest thing I face is trying to add quality muscle mass. It is a challenge for me because of the how I need to adjust my diet every few days to keep up with it.

Q. Tell me about your future projects. Have any in sight?
I am currently working on my own personal website that will have a lot of insight about myself and will be offering training and dieting advice for anyone who is interested in getting good honest advice. Also, I am looking to get sponsored and show my dedication and my effort to which ever company that would sign me up and have me on there team.

Q. What gets you up in the morning?
What gets me up in the morning is my will to keep going and succeed in my goals, as well as my family.

Q. How do you approach a challenge?
Depending on how big or important the challenge is. I plan out how to approach it in an effective, smart and proper way.

Q. How do you create balance in your life?
I create balance by planning ahead and using time effectively or working around things and others.

Q. I understand you worked with John at bbpics.com. What was it like working with him?
Flying out to Hartford CT. on Memorial weekend of 2009 for a photo shoot with John from BBPics was a lot of hard work and a great experience working with a professional, respectful, friendly photographer. Overall, it was a great pleasure working with John from BBPics even though we took a total of 770+ photos. Ha-ha! I had a great experience and would recommend him to anyone who is inspiring to become a serious athlete/ fitness model. John is a great motivation and encouragement throughout all the training and progress.

Q. How did he go over and beyond for you?
He would keep up with positive emails and text messages along with encouraging you to stay in shape.

Q. What one piece of advice you can share with me on how to gain the most muscle the fastest?
Take in 2-3 grams of protein a day from meats and protein shakes, 4 grams of clean carbs a day. Plus, take 30-40grams of L- Glutamine, 4-8grams of Amino Tabs and 3-6grams of a Nitric Oxide product. Plan out a solid weekly workout routine and train smart with 100% effort each time.

Q. Are you married, dating, or do you have kids?
No.

Q. Who had the most impact on you growing up?
Top fitness people and company owners, like Bill Phillips from EAS, had the most impact on me. Also, top professional bodybuilders.

Q. What is your work out regimen?

My workout regimen is as following:

Tuesday: Abs, Chest, (light back)

Wednesday: Quads, Hamstring, and Calves

Thursday: Abs, Traps, Back

Friday: Shoulders

Saturday: Abs, Arms, Hamstrings and Calves

Q. Have you played in sports before?
Yes. I was into Wresting and played some football in High School.

Q. Anything you would like to see change in the bodybuilding world?
More people working together in the sport rather being against each other.

Q. What is your greatest achievement in bodybuilding?

1. Being the featured Natural Bodybuilder on Prosource.net for their Razor Ripped Product.http://www.prosource.net/article-success-raffi-melkonian-razor-ripped.jsp

2. Making a come back as a natural bodybuilder at 2008 NPC Natural Mid-States Muscle Classics XXI, IL-Rockford and placing 1st Men's Novice Middleweight, 3rd Men's Open Middleweight

3. Winning one of the hardest show in Illinois, the 2009 NPC IL-State 1st Men's Novice Lt. Heavyweight, 1st Overall Novice, 1st Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight

4. Placing in the top 5 at the 2009 GNC- Indiana Anderson, 5th Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight with less then 5-7 hours of sleep in 3day or much food and stepping up in line up with National competitors.

Q. What is the proudest moment of your life?
Winning the Overall Novice class at the 2009 NPC IL-State Championships has to be my proudest moment in my life.

Q. I can see why! What are your interests outside of bodybuilding?
I enjoy hanging out with good friends, having dinner out, and going to outdoor events.

Q. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I would like to be a bit less stressed out on the little things in life.

Q. Do you use dumbbells, free weights, machine or all of the above?
All of the above.

Q. Explain why you use all of the above.
I believe that there are different exercises that hit different angles and work different muscle groups. That is where the variation of using dumbbells, free weights and machine in a workout has that advantage.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to add? Now is the time!
Thanks for giving me this opportunity and interview.

Q. You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors! We are very proud to have you as our newest Bodybuilder of the Month.