Interview With Chris Mahon
Competitor of the Month - June 2010
Interviewed by: Mike Hall
Chris Mahon has been a competitor for about six years; he has only been training for about ten years. He is an artist by trade, and has three degrees while attending the University of Central Missouri from 1991 to 1998, which are: MA in Art, BFA in Commercial Art and a BA in Anthropology.
He is a huge animal lover, and has four dogs and a cat. They are the best stress relief a person could ask for. In addition, he has been a partner in a restaurant for ten years, and recently left the business to follow my dreams of competing on the national level and personal training. He started his own personal training business, Cerberus Training Systems, which can be found at cerberusstrong.com.
He is also involved in a clothing line for athletes call, Donkey Punch. To top it all off, he is still painting and selling artwork as a professional, also.
“My biggest competition is with myself. I take the brutally honest approach, and strive to improve each show. By now, I know if I've done what I needed to do or not.”
(WP): What has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?
The biggest stepping stone for me has been meeting IFBB pro Don Long. Over the past several years Don has become my trainer, friend and big brother to me. I didn't even know what bodybuilding was about until I met Don. He took me under his wing, took me traveling with him, and trained with me six days a week for five years. You get to learn a lot being immersed in the lifestyle that way. From the beginning he showed me what a professional is, and how to be one. Treating people with respect and being humble. He helped me learn more about myself and what I can do than any other person.
(WP): Don is like an icon in the industry. What has it been like to maintain your physique?
Well, I'm always looking to improve areas in my physique, and constantly adapt my training routine around that. The basics are the same, but typically I add in another exercise at the end of my daily training, for example, I added four sets of push-ups every day for about three months and added an inch on my chest that way. Currently, I'm working my abs to trim down and sculpt my waistline, as I tend to build a thicker waist than I want.
(WP): Where do you reside now?
Currently I reside in Warrensburg, MO, just outside of Kansas City. I've been considering a move, but it depends on what opportunity presents itself.
(WP): So, I hear you kick butt in competition? Tell me about it.
My first competition was in 2006, where I took third place in the Men's Open Heavyweight class at the Caveman Classic in St. Louis, MO. Since then I've competed four more times, winning the Men's Open Heavyweight and Overall title at the Kansas State Bodybuilding Championships, and most recently placed 13th in the Men's Light Heavyweight class at the Junior Nationals in Chicago.
(WP): Are you planning to compete again in the future?
Most definitely! I love the competition! Most of that competition comes not against the other competitors; they have all worked their butts off to be there on stage. My biggest competition is with myself. I take the brutally honest approach, and strive to improve each show. By now, I know if I've done what I needed to do or not.
(WP): You are into MMA. What other sports or activities did or do you enjoy?
Yes, I love MMA and the training you have to put into it. It is exciting to watch a sport where on any given day, someone can beat someone else if they've trained hard and long enough. That's even where my partner, John Granfors and I got our idea for our Donkey Punch clothing line.
I also enjoy working with my dogs. Walking and playing with them is the best mental stress relief you can ask for. Maybe if we all lived like dogs do, in the moment, we'd have a lot less to worry about.
Other than that, I love to travel and experience new cultures. Their lifestyles, food, everything is wonderful. We can be so different around the world and still be so similar!
(WP): Tell me about your family.
I've been dating the same wonderful person for over a year now. My girlfriend, Dani, has been one of the best things that have happened to me! A stable home life has made the stress of dieting so much easier!
I grew up with a strong sense of family, and have two brothers and a sister. My mother has been the biggest supporter of me, and has taught me a lot about not giving up in the face of adversity. I've lost a lot of family in recent years, but the importance of them only gets stronger. I always look back and think, "Am I doing something that would make them proud?"
(WP): You sound like a blessed man with such a great family. What has competitions taught you thus far?
It has taught me respect. I have a lot of respect for all of us who decide to get on stage at any age. It takes a certain dedication to do what we do. Not everyone can do it. The year-round training, the diet, the time, most people don't understand. Bodybuilders are not average. We are above average and hold ourselves to a higher standard.
(WP): What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when you first started?
Wow, everything was hard. Don treated me from day one like a professional, and that took a lot of getting used to. It was almost as if I went from being a boy to a man. The diet, training, either I did it or not. He wasn't cutting me any slack. And it took me a while. After a few arguments, a few hard lessons, and a whole lot of soul searching, I think I finally got it. He was just being honest with me, and I had to learn to be honest to myself.
(WP): What was the hardest thing you had to deal with when it came to your diet?
Years of bad habits. I was an athlete in high school, but injuries kept me from playing college football. I kind of gave up on myself. Food became a crutch to feel good. I had to learn that food was just fuel for my body and my goals.
(WP): What are the key factors that dictate the way you train today?
Since I train year round, and plan to continue competing, that is the biggest factor. Everything is planned around making improvements over the year before. More mass in the right places, better conditioning and hardness.
(WP): Where do you see your career and life in 10 years from now?
The sky's the limit! I imagine that personal training will take over more of my time. I see the need to pass on the lessons and knowledge I've learned. That's why I named my company after Cerberus, the three-headed dog of the underworld in Greek mythology; the guardian of the gates of hell. I want to help people train and grow in mind, body and spirit. I grew and evolved as I trained, and I hope to help people do the same!
(WP): What supplements do you currently take?
Here's a list:
ISS Research Micellar Matrix Protein at night
ISS Pro M3 in the morning
Glutamine
ISS Rsearch Amino 2200
Gaspari Size On and Super Pump
ISS Research Super Vitamin Pack
CoQ 10
Vanadyl Sulfate
Beta-Alanine
Vit C
Digestive Enzymes
Omega 3, 6, and 9
LiverCare by Himalaya
Acetyl L-Carnitine
ALA
Acidolphilus
(WP): What are your pet peeves?
My pet peeves are dishonesty, not being loyal, and people who are cocky or lack respect. Be confident all you want, but you don't have to throw it in my face.
(WP): What do you consider to be important in life, and why?
Friends, family and what you can do to return the blessings you've been given. Life is short and precious, have fun with it and be happy! I even plan to teach art someday when I retire, just to do what some great people did for me. Motivate!
(WP): How have you changed over the past few years when it comes to thinking, actions, and life in general?
Be honest with yourself. How can you be honest with anyone else if you are not honest with yourself? Also, enjoying life to the fullest; making the most out of each day.
(WP): You sound like a dude with his head on straight! You have really impressed me with your interview so far! What are your stats?
Thank you! Right now, I'm 5'10' and 240 lbs. Honestly, I don't regularly take measurements. I look in the mirror, judge my proportions, look at pictures, etc.
(WP): Any shout outs?
Shout out to Don and Sarah Long and LONGLIFENUTRITION donelongnutrition.com. Ian Smith, my dedicated training partner.
Shout out to ISS Research and Gold's Gym; Lee's Summit. Tony Vinardi and Tony's Fitness Center, the place where it all began… and, to all my friends and family who have stood by me, supported me, and encouraged me!
(WP): Give me an example of your workout.
Basically we train one body part a day, six days a week. We break it down with Chest, Quads, Shoulders, BI's & Tri's, Hamstrings, Back. Usually we follow this formula: four exercises, four sets of 16, 12, 10, 8. Quads and Hams get reps of 20, 16, 12, 10; plus, any extras at the end. Here's an example:
15-20 Min Abs, shooting for four exercises, four sets
Shoulder Day:
Hammer Strength Military Press
Side Lateral Raises
Front Dumbell Raises
Bent-Over Lateral Raises
Push-Ups
20 minutes of cardio.
The whole goal is to do every rep with perfect form, heavy weight. All angles of the muscle groups are hit. The intensity is kept high, with 30-45 sec rest periods between sets. Usually the workout takes 45min, no more than an hour.
(WP): Give me an example of your diet.
Waking Up - 1/2 Cup Oat Meal (dry) mixed with 60g Protein Shake in Magic Bullet blender.
(Workout)
Post Workout Meal - 60g Protein (Fish or Chicken) with 1/2 Cup Brown Rice, 1 Cup Broccoli (Fibrous Carbs)
I eat every two hours, so meals 3, 4, and 5 consist of 60g Protein (Fish or Chicken) 1/4 Cup Brown Rice or 1 Cup Broccoli (Fibrous Carbs)
My last meal is strictly 60g Protein, usually from Micellar Matrix or Casin Blend Protein.
(WP): Could you tell me about your future projects?
Well, I plan to re-qualify for national competition at the Kansas City Muscle Mayhem next year, and go on to either do the Junior Nationals or the Junior USA's. Eventually this will lead up to the National's and an attempt to earn a Pro Card.
(WP): It has been a pleasure interviewing you! You really have a bright future ahead of you! I wish you all the best of luck!
