Interview with Anthony Rogers
Bodybuilding Twins Feature - Twin # 2 - April 2010
Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'
WP: Let’s begin with you telling us a little about yourself.
AR: I am Anthony Rogers from Manchester, England. I am 26 years old and my motivation in life is to be the best I can be, both mentally and physically. I have been training in the gym for the past ten years and I enjoy it more than anything there is. I also have a twin brother called Andrew and he is virtually the same as me and we do most days train together. I also enjoy going out with my friends and having a great time. At the moment, I am currently working a 9-5 office job. My future goals are to have my own gym, help people get in the best shape possible, and to feel fit and healthy both physically and mentally.
WP: What was it that made you know without a doubt that you wanted to go into bodybuilding?
AR: When I was younger, I always idolized Van Damme and Hulk Hogan, much like my brother. I grew up watching the action films and wrestling. His is what motivated me as I new to be like the guys who are my hero’s it would only be right for me to get in shape just as they are. I never knew that bodybuilding could have such an impact on my life and now I do think it makes the quality of your life better.
WP: How long have you been lifting?
AR: I have been training for just over 10 years now so I feel I have a great knowledge of what does and doesn’t work its great.
WP: Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and/or more cut?
AR: I think for people to build more mass the main advice I give for thickness basically means training as heavy as possible and with no more reps than 8. Also to assist the mass building it’s important to eat whole foods and plenty of carbs so the body stays nice and full, meaning there is more power to push these heavy weights.
Alternatively, if I was to give advice on cutting up the muscles, I would recommend maybe reps of 1-15 even up to 20, on warm up sets even up to 30, so that the muscle becomes very tight and a maximum pump is obtained. In regards to eating, I would suggest high protein, low fat and low carb diet, so the body only gets the fuel to feed the muscle and no extra fat can be added.
WP: Great advice! What do you eat in a normal day?
AR: In a normal day, I would start with eating porridge for my breakfast with a coffee to wake me up. About an hour or two later, I would have a protein drink with a banana. 3 hours later, for lunch, would be either chicken/tuna with rice. Again, 2-hour later, I’d be having my protein drink and then for my evening meal would be chicken/potatoes/rice/fish. Basically, I always make sure I get a lot of protein in my diet and when I’m training for power, I get lots of carbs to keep my energy levels up.
WP: Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
AR: Yes, this would be done on a Sunday when I allow myself to eat anything I like, even including take-a-ways and McDonalds. I think the fats can actually help in giving the body a bit of a boost.
AR: My favorites are Muscle Tech Nitro Tech for the protein and I do love to have the Cell-Tech for my Creatine and energy boost. These two supplements together do work brilliant together.
WP: I'm sitting here paying very close attention to how alike you two really are! It's like I'm talking to the same person I just held an interview with, your brother, Andrew! How has it been like to have a twin?
AR: I think I am very lucky to have a twin and it does give me constant competition in the gym. We try very hard to beat each other, which usually mean we both train so hard we actually can’t beat each other if we want to. Being a twin is very unique and it does attract us a lot of good attention as we get noticed by lots of people. We try to use this to our advantage as best as we can.
WP: Which one of you can lift the heaviest?
AR: I think, overall, we are exactly the same. It’s very strange, but I guess we are twins, so would be expected. We do fluctuate from month to month, mostly depending on whom gets more sleep and has eaten a bit more he day before.
WP: I can understand that. It makes sense. Which one of you is freakier in the gym?
AR: I am the crazy one in the gym! Ha-ha! I tend to make myself get angry and I scream out before my set has even begun. Andrew is more reserved, but when he does his sets; he just focuses and goes for it. On my set, I just go crazy like a madman.
WP: That is so awesome! I knew I'd find one of you more freakier then the other. What would you like to do in this industry if given a chance?
AR: I would like to do some natural bodybuilding competitions and I do think both Andrew and me have great genetics to do very well on the big stage. Also, because the gym has been an interest for so long, I would like to one day have my own gym and give young people advice on how to make a great body, I do enjoy helping people and sharing my knowledge.
WP: Could you tell me a story of how you have gotten where you are today?
AR: Well, it all began ten years ago in the gym and for a long time we had no aim or direction, it was basically training hard just for the feeling and the fun of it. The last 2 years things have changed for us and we have realized almost unconsciously we have created these two bodies’ that can be used if planned correctly, very well. We have been in a manhunt calendar this year and now do have a few projects that are beginning to grow. I think 2010 will be the big year for us and I feel there is no stopping us now; there are no limits to what we can achieve with the right mindset.
WP: Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?
AR: I think my family and friends, as they have always accepted that I love the gym, and they do give me motivation to keep going, and all of the great people at the gym who have always been there for me. They are almost like family now. I have a great training partner named Chris and I think he has helped me lots. I trained him up in the gym with all of the knowledge that I have, now if I have a bad day I know he can take the lead, so all I have to do is follow. It’s great as we push each other to our limits and I am grateful to have a friend like that.
WP: It does make a difference! Tell me about your modeling.
AR: This has picked up a lot in 2010 and now we do get many requests for calendars and photo shoots, and we do enjoy being in the spotlight. Also, it gives us something to train for so we look the best we can.
WP: Where do you want to be in 5 years?
AR: In 5 years, I hope to be in even better shape, with lots more good experience behind me and would be great to have my own gym and be helping people. And to have won many competitions would be great.
WP: What has it been like to maintain your mass?
AR: I do find this very easy, as I love food and always like to train heavy all year; even when I like to cut up a bit I still lift very heavy, but at the same time, I do high reps so my body is always forced to stay nice and full.
WP: Are you married, dating, or do you have kids?
AR: At the moment I am free and single, and looking for love. Ha-ha. I do have a daughter from my ex-girlfriend. I see my daughter most weekends and she is the very best thing in my life. Maybe in a few years I will have her pumping iron in the gym with me, who knows?
WP: That would be so darling! What is your workout regimen?
AR: I like to train 5-6 days a week. The order is:
Monday - Back and biceps and abs.
Tuesday -Chest and triceps.
Wednesday - Legs (all) and abs.
Thursday - Shoulders.
Friday - Arms and abs.
Saturday - Day off.
Sunday -Day off.
WP: Have you played in sports before?
AR: When I was younger, I loved to play football and lots of athletics. I used to love sprinting, doing the 100-200 meter races. Now, my sole sport consists of the gym and more gym.
WP: Anything you would like to see change in the bodybuilding world?
AR: I would like to see more people trying to train without the use of steroids. I think the body has no limits if used correctly and would be a much more even playing field if everybody was to use the body naturally; as this is how we are created to be.
WP: Any shout outs?
AR: Yes, just a holla to my training partner, Chris Mcguinness. You are the man, brother!
WP: What is the funniest story that has happened to you while working out?
AR: Well, the craziest thing was when the cable crossover machine actually fell and landed on my head, maybe that day I was going a little too heavy and the machine itself fell forward and almost chopped my head off. At the time it was not so funny, but now I look back, I realize maybe I am just too strong for the gym.
WP: Now, that's getting freaky with it when you have accidents like that! Ha-ha! Glad you didn't get hurt! What is the proudest moment of your life?
AR This has to be 5 years ago when my daughter, Stephanie, was born. Nothing will ever match that I don’t think unless I have any more kids when I meet the woman of my dreams.
WP: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
AR: I would like to be a little taller, as I am only 5’7 tall, however, I do try make up for this by making my arms bigger. This tends to change the focus.
WP: Is there anything else you would like to add before the interview closes?
AR: I am a very motivated person and I feel in this life we all have choices, and we all must make the choices that serve us best for now and the future; for ourselves, our friends and family. I wish everybody luck in creating what they want to achieve in this one precious life we have been given. It must be treated as a gift and now is the time to all do what we are here to do. Find the purpose and then nothing can ever go wrong. To all the people wanting to be the best you can be, just remember in life we do have choices; we can both step backwards into fear or forward into faith and power, and choose the power, it’s the best option.
WP: Thank you, Anthony! You two really have great heads on your shoulders! I am really proud of you guys! It has been a great pleasure to interview you!
