Interview with Andrew Rogers
Bodybuilding Twins Feature - Twin #1 - April 2010
Interviewed by: Angie Courduff
WP: Andrew, it's not everyday we get to feature bodybuilding twins. So, it's such an honor. Let's begin with you telling our readers more about you.
AR: My name is Andrew Rogers and I am from Manchester, England. I am 26 years old and have a twin brother, Anthony Rogers. We have been into fitness and training now for about ten years, starting at the age of 16 in the gym. We got hooked on it. After looking up to our childhood heroes, Jean Claude Van Damme and Hulk Hogan, we were always fascinated by their strength and power, and decided that someday we wanted to be just like those guys on TV. So, we hit the gym training 7 days a week and going to our limits every day. As time passed and we grew up, we started to notice changes in our bodies, and realized being twins and in shape was not so common. So now, we are looking to achieve some great things together and try to give back as much as what we have gained in our life from the gym. We are hoping to compete in a natural bodybuilding competition in the next 6 months, should everything go to plan.
I am a qualified fitness instructor and feel that this profession is the one that suits me the best. Not only do I feel at my best in this, but it feels good to know you can help people in ways that can change their lives forever, just as the gym changed my life forever; and I wouldn’t change a single thing.
Being twins has given us a great opportunity to do great things in life, but also to have someone there who is always supportive of you and to help you through anything, we are very close and always will be, even if now and again we do have our disagreements, we both have the same common goal, and that’s to make it BIG!
WP: As long as I have known you, I didn't know you were certified! How interesting! How long have you been lifting?
AR: I started lifting weights on my 16th birthday, 29th of October 2000; so 10 and a half years now.
WP: You started out young. Since you are certified to answer this question, do you have any suggestions or tips for our readers that could help them gain mass and maybe get cut?
AR: From my own experiences, I’d say to build mass, it’s important to go heavy and hard in the gym, aiming for reps between 6 and 10 and going to your limit. Also to gain mass, I would train less often; say 4 days per week and try to train each body part just once a week. For mass, it’s important to change your diet to, so lots more carbs, such as brown rice, brown pasta, etc., along with your proteins such as chicken and fish. I would still do cardio, but not so often; maybe 3 times per week for 45 minutes, just so no fat is gained whilst putting on the mass.
To get more cut, I would cut down on carbs. I would aim to eat small meals every 3 hours and mostly protein based meals. I would train 5 days per week and try to work each body part up to twice in that week, changing the reps in each set to between 12 and 20. Also, more cardio would help burn excess fat, so 4 or 5 times per week. I would aim to do an hour cardio upon awakening and on an empty stomach.
WP: What do you eat in a normal day?
AR: 7am - Porridge, protein shake (40g protein) 1 multi-vitamin and 3 amino acid tablets.
9.30am - Protein shake with an apple or banana.
12pm - Brown rice w/chicken or tuna and 3 amino acid tablets.
3pm - Protein shake (40g) with a banana.
5:30 pm - Brown rice and pasta with chicken.
6:30 pm - Large coffee.
7pm - Gym.
8.30pm - (immediately after gym) 1 protein shake, 2 scoops carb powder, 1 banana, and 3 amino acid tablets.
10pm - 5 egg whites.
WP: Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
AR: Yes, every so often, usually on a Sunday if I feel the urge, usually a huge pizza. Ha-ha!
WP: Don't forget to mention the Pringles I know you eat, too! Ha-ha! What supplements do you take?
AR: Protein - 3 times per day, no specific brand as I like to change them around, so I don’t get fed up of one taste.
Multivitamin - 1 with breakfast.
Cell Tech - After training, when wanting to put on weight.
Amino acid tablets - 3 with ever meal.
ZMA - Before bed.
WP: Now, let's switch it up a bit and let's talk about the part where you have a twin. How has it been like to have a twin? Who’s the oldest?
AR: Being a twin is awesome. We are so close and we help each other through any tough times we may come across. Though we do tend to argue as most brothers do, we have such a close bond. I am 8 minutes older than Anthony, though I am the quiet one of the 2. We are very competitive with one another and this helps us keep on pushing for improvement, otherwise one twin will blow the other one away.
WP: I have twin sons that not too much younger then you two are. I think that is what made you and I hit it off so well. Which one of you is freakier in the gym?
AR: We both have our different ways in the gym. I tend to be quieter. Anthony is the growler of the 2 most; definitely. I work more calm whereas Anthony powers through it, though when we train together instead of training the other guys in the gym, it’s like a battle, and we are both as freaky as each other.
WP: You, quite? Ha-ha! R-E-A-L-L-Y, now?! Which one of you can lift the heaviest?
AR: We are both around the same weight, though we do go through stages. Currently we are both just over 210 pounds and 5 ft 7, though now we are planning on gaining more weight and mass.
WP: Are you both trying to market yourself in this industry as twins or as separate individuals?
AR: We feel we both have what it takes to make it individually, however, we have come to realize that there are not so many twins in this industry, so want to focus on this more and give ourselves the best chance possible. Should it work out that only one of us would make it in the future, we have agreed to be supportive of each other no matter what happens.
WP: That is so awesome! What would you like to do in this industry if given a chance?
AR: We want to give something back to the industry that has changed our lives. We want to help motivate people all over and prove that naturally, you can achieve great things; all it takes is hard work and determination. We always say, the difference between dreams and accomplishments is purely desire, and we have the desire right here.
Our goals are to be featured in fitness magazines all over the world and a front cover would be a nice thing too. Just too finally say that we have made it, and all the hard work was worth it. Most importantly, we want to enjoy the experience, as no matter what happens we will stay grounded, and we will be happy.
WP: Could you tell me a story of how you have gotten where you are today?
AR: I started training ten years ago with my twin just for a hobby, just wanting to look and feel the best we could when we grew up. After I left school, I began working in gyms, as this was my main hobby, so I figured this is what I was made to do. From the age of 16 to present, I have been working in gyms and helping people reach their goals.
About 5 years ago, I started to get the muscle comments of people saying how I look in great shape, so why don’t I start putting it to use. This got me thinking. I arranged for a photo shoot with my brother to be done, as we had nothing to loose and wanted to see for ourselves what we had achieved. We did the photo shoot and they photos turned out great, so with these I joined some agencies, a twin agency, online modeling agencies, etc. and used these pictures.
Then last year, I saw a competition called the Galaxy Manhunt Competition. It was a calendar where the general public vote for the best 12 guys to feature, out of thousands of entrants. I figured we had nothing to lose, so I sent a twin photo; even thought it was an individual competition. A few days later I received a call saying we had made it into the final 20 and were entered into the public vote. We got voted on to the last 12, as the only twins to ever be on the Galaxy Manhunt Calendar, and now we are Mr. and Mr. June for this year’s calendar.
We have reached some of our goals, but have a long way to go before we get where we really want to be. Good things are happening now and we are determined in this year, or the next, we are going to make it.
WP: Tell me about your modeling. Looking through your pictures, it looks like you have done quite a bit.
AR: I have had a number of photo shoots with Anthony and a couple of individual photo shoots, too. I have set up profiles on modelmayhem.com and purestorm.com and I’m always looking for good opportunities to create some great images. The modeling has always been something we have done alongside our main careers. Though, should we be successful who knows, we would even consider doing it full time. It would have to be the perfect situation, though.
WP: Where do you want to be in 5 years?
AR: In 5 years, I would love to be living in USA, have been featured in many fitness magazines and on covers, and won some natural bodybuilding competitions. It’s a lot to aim for, but I am determined to make it.
WP: What has it been like to maintain your mass?
AR: I love to be bulky and feel strong. There is no better feeling that hitting the gym while being heavy and hard, to be able to throw the weights around like they are twigs, is an awesome feeling! Ha-ha. Hopefully there will be even more mass to come soon.
WP: Tell me about your future projects. Have any in sight?
AR: Anthony and I are currently trying to work something out with you guys, regarding being featured in the magazine and even appearing on the cover, as we know this would be huge publicity for us and so much could come from this. We have some other offers, such as a twins dating show in London, a charity calendar, and things of that nature. Though we will be looking through the offers and choosing the ones that we feel we are capable of doing better than anyone else and also anything that will help others; that’s our priority.
WP: Are you married, dating, or do you have kids?
AR: I am not married, not dating nor have kids just yet. Ha-ha! I would love children one day, as all my brothers and sister and have children, and I am close to them all. I’m just waiting to meet the right girl first.
WP: Who had the most impact on you growing up?
AR: My parents were who I looked up to most. My dad was a very quiet man, but a good man. He didn’t swear, didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, etc. He was the one who when he spoke everyone listened and new he was right. I lost my dad 4 years ago, but owe so much to him. He was the best inspiration I could have ever wished for in life.
WP: What is your work-out regimen?
AR: Monday: Back and biceps;
Tuesday: Chest and triceps;
Wednesday: Legs, calves, and lower back;
Thursday: Rest;
Friday: Shoulders and traps;
Saturday: Arms;
Sunday: Rest.
WP: Have you played in sports before?
AR: From the age of 12 to 16, I used to sprint for the local athletics team, as well as, play for a few football teams. With the speed I had I was good at most sports, and won many trophies.
WP: Anything you would like to see change in the bodybuilding world?
AR: I would like the natural bodybuilders to be as recognized as the non-natural ones, as they work just as hard and take their bodies to their limits, it seems its all about size these days and who is the biggest. Though, naturally, some of these guys are far more impressive and should be noticed for their hard work and dedication to make the best of what they have with no use of steroids or such.
WP: Any shout outs?
AR: Hello to the Higher Lever Fitness in Manchester, England. The greatest gym of all time and my second home for the last 10 years.
WP: What is your greatest achievement in bodybuilding?
AR To have gained the respect from all those who train at my gym, as now I am the one who the younger guys come to for advice and help. It’s a great feeling. I plan on winning some competitions in the future, but this will always be what makes it all worthwhile.
WP: Wow! That is great! What is the proudest moment of your life?
AR: When I first became an uncle was the proudest moment of my life. Every time I become an uncle; over and over again.
WP: You big teddy bear! What are your interests outside of bodybuilding?
AR: I love going out with friends and family. I enjoy spending time with my dog, having long walks, and meeting new and interesting people.
WP: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
AR: I would be bigger than I am, but I am working on changing that, by training as hard as I can every day in the gym. I will get there someday.
WP: Is there anything else you would like to add? Now is the time!
AR: Just want to say thank you to all who have supported me and my twin brother, and those who have never stopped believing in us. We are grateful and aware of who and what we are, and are grateful of this life we have been given. We are going to give it the best shot we can. Thank you!
WP: You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors!
AR: Thank you for the opportunities. It’s been a pleasure.
