World Physique

Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'

WP: Jason is currently serving out the last 1 1/2 years on active duty in the Army. He will retire from the Army in July of 2011. He has traveled the world and has been in many conflicts worldwide since Desert Storm. He was deployed to Bosnia for 1 year in 1995. His most recent deployment was the Iraq war in 2004-2005.

Jason lost his wife due to brain cancer shortly after being married and this caused Jason to stop working out all together for over 8 years. It was not until 2002 when Jason became serious about lifting once again. He came back strong and now he is a ‘Masters Pro level Bodybuilder’. Jason has been through many ups and downs in his life yet, he remains focused on training and staying fit.

Hey Jason, it’s great to have you here. I understand you are in the Army. How long have your been in?

JS: I have been in the Army for 14 years. I was not always Army though, I was a Marine first. I went to Marine Boot camp 3 days after graduating High School. I went to Desert storm with the Marine Corps in 1990.

WP: What is your job in the Army?

JS: I manage aircraft maintenance and production control for the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for the NJ Army National Guard. My current rank is Sergeant First Class (E-7).

WP: I bet that can get exciting at times! You should be retiring pretty soon, correct?

JS: Yes I am, but who is counting? The unofficial date is July 15th 2011. I can’t wait to begin the next chapter of my life. I already have my next career lined up.

WP: The most recent conflict you were in was The Iraq war in 2004-2005. Can you tell me a little more of what life has been like since you have been in the Army?

JS: Wow, that can be a long answer but I will do the best I can to be brief! As a marine I worked on the electronic systems on KC-130 aircraft. I was all over the Far East. I went to Desert Storm in 90-91 with the Marine Corps. I really enjoyed working on the large multi engine aircraft. In the Army I was stationed in Germany for 3 years. During my time in Germany I deployed to Bosnia in 95-96. I worked as a Tank Mechanic for 7 years.

I went back to aviation and began working on Apache Attack aircraft in 2001. It was not too long after I was off to another deployment to Iraq in 04-05. That time was the hardest leaving my family, as a single father. I Returned to NJ, remarried and now have an even larger family. We have 4 kids total between us. Now only three are living at home since my oldest daughter is joining the Air Force.

WP: Let’s switch up the interview a bit and let’s talking about your lifting. We’ll go back to talking about the Army in just a bit. Even though you are in the Army, you are able to remain working out. But, there was once a time that you had stopped working out for 8 years. Can you tell me what happened to caused this?

JS: After being married to my late wife for about 2 1/2 years, she was diagnosed with brain cancer. That was in 1993. After many years of battling the brain tumors, with all modern technology had to offer, she passed away in 2001 all of that time she never gave up. She always got back to normal life as soon as she healed from a surgery or a treatment. She had to, we had 2 young children and she wanted to see them grow up.

WP: That had to be devastating! I am so sorry. How old were the children?

JS: We were very sad. I lost my wife and my children lost their mother. My daughter was 9 and son was only 2 1/2.

WP: Once you were able to get back to working out, it was around 2002. While deployed to Iraq, you competed in and won a bodybuilding contest on your camp. Was this your first competition? Can you tell me more about that?

JS: Actually, it was not my first contest. I competed way back in 1990 at the Marine base I was stationed on in North Carolina. It was an NPC sanctioned show. I won the lightweight class. After that I took time off to be with my wife. I started to feel the desire to compete again after I lost her. In 2002 I started training slowly and the gains came fairly quick. This made me want to compete again for sure. I saw a sign for a competition in the gym, while I was deployed to FOB Speicher in Iraq. I trained like crazy for that show and did the best I could with my diet and actually was very pleased with the results. The show had some pretty good athletes in it. The evening show was in an old soccer stadium on the base that had been bombed. It was over 100 degrees so water loss was pretty easy. I won the middle weight class and got second in the overall.

WP: Since then, you have achieved the status of Masters Pro level bodybuilder. What constitutes a competitor to achieve such a level?

JS: In the United States Bodybuilding Federation they have two pro divisions. The Open Pro class and the Masters Pro Class. If you are an Open Pro and are over 35 you can compete in the Masters Pro class. If you only qualify for Masters Pro, you cannot compete in the Open Pro class, so the Masters Pro class can be very competitive. I won my age class in Aug 2007 to qualify for the Masters Pro Class.

WP: That is outstanding! How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking.

JS: Of course, I don’t mind you asking! I am 40.

WP: So, you’re telling me you reached the Masters Pro Level after turning 40?

JS: I was 38 years old.

WP: That is just amazing! Tell me more about federation you compete in?

JS: Currently, I compete in the United States Bodybuilding Federation. It is a drug tested organization. I have competed in this organization for 3 years now. I will be switching to the NPC for a while to give it a try.

WP: Can you give me some of your competition accomplishments to date?

JS: 1990 1st open light wt. NPC MCAS Cherry Point Bodybuilding Championships.

2004 1st open middle wt. and 2nd overall. FOB Speicher Iraq Bodybuilding Championships.

2007 1st masters over 35 and 2nd middle wt. USBF NJ Natural Classic.

2007 2nd masters over 35 USBF Baltimore Pro AM bodybuilding Championship.

2008 3rd open middle wt USBF Battle of York, PA Bodybuilding Championships.

2009 2nd place welter wt. USBF Jersey Shore Natural classic 3.

WP: You are sponsored by the company Cellucor and you also are a sales rep for them. Can you tell me more about this company and what made you believe in them to the point you wanted to sale for them.

JS: I, just like most guys, have tried pretty much all the hyped up supplements. Cellucor is not like all of the other companies out there trying to make a buck or that quick sale. Their products actually work! I made huge gains in strength and visible changes after just 6 weeks using their muscle building line. I liked it so much I called and asked if I could help market the product. Jason Duran, Senior VP of sales and marketing liked what I had to offer and gave me the chance. Since then I have been handling the state of NJ as the promotional manager and sales rep. I have recruited some top notch sales reps and recently brought our first IFBB pro to our team. As I said before Cellucor is a great company that prides itself on customer service and product quality. Not many national brands will allow customers to speak directly with the product formulator. Some people have concerns about taking supplements and Cellucor’s staff is always available to answer your most detailed questions.

WP: You also are a Personal Trainer? How long have you been certified?

JS: I have been certified by the ISSA since 2007. As a leader in the Army, I have been advising my soldiers on their fitness for many years.

WP: I heard from a little birdie that you had one client lose 100 pounds. Can you tell me about that?

JS: Well, I can’t take all of the credit from her. She is amazing. She had already lost around 80 lbs. on her own. Now, together, we have pushed that number to 116 last we checked. She wants the last 20 to be off by next summer. I am sure we can do it.

WP: Where do you train your clients at? At home, at a gym, online?

JS: I have a couple local gyms that allow me to be an independent contractor. The gym I workout in, Pure Focus Sports Club, Brick, NJ and Anytime Fitness in Point Pleasant, NJ.

WP: What are your personal bests?

JS: My personal bests are: 1300 lb. leg press 13 reps, 395 lb. bent over barbell row 12 reps, 465 dead lift for 12 reps, 110 lb. dumbbell lunges, 130 lb. incline Dumbbell press.

WP: That's impressive! Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and more cut?

JS: Ah, the million dollar question! My general rule for a lean bulk diet would be high protein, at least 2 grams per lb. body weight. Moderate carb intake and low fats. Keep your work outs to no more than 1 hour and 5 days or less per week. You have to recover to grow. You must allow your body to repair itself before you tear it down again.

WP: Great advice! What do you eat in a normal day?

JS: During off-season, I eat a pretty wide open diet, but I still get all of my good foods in.

Pre-contest is a different world. During pre-contest, I eat 6 times a day. I keep my protein constant around 270 grams per day and my carbs at around 150-170 till the last few weeks I adjust the carbs and fats to get the last little bit of fat off. I do eat a lot of chicken, beef, eggs, oatmeal, yams, broccoli, brown rice and drink enough water to make Lake Meade drop a few inches.

WP: Do you allow yourself a cheat day?

JS: I don’t have a set cheat day, but if I see that I am doing well with the diet or that I am ahead of schedule, I will have a few cheat days in there. But, I usually don't with in 2 weeks of the contest.

WP: What supplements do you take?

JS: I use the Muscle building line and fat loss line by Cellucor. I love their new Protein ISO Lean. It has 26 grams of time released isolated whey protein per serving. The flavors are great. The M5 pre workout is great for an intense workout and awesome pump. I have a favorite product that is pretty low key, it is called R3. R3 is for recovery and when you are 40 and train hard like I do you need all of the help with tissue repair, joint inflammation, immune system boosting It even helps reduce inflammation in your blood vessels. Lastly the fat loss line is incredible for pre contest. I get lean so fast using the combination of T7, D4 and WS1. It is like nothing you have ever tried. To finish off the contest prep and get that unwanted water off I use L2 for water loss.

WP: Could you tell me a story of how you have gotten where you are today?

JS: I don’t have a specific story. I will have to say that I get my work ethic and never give up attitude from my dad. He always had my brothers and me pulling our weight around the house and helping with the family business. It did not matter what the weather was or how tired you were. If dad said you have to help fixing something you got out there and did it. That has taken me a long way in life so far. It can be applied to all things that you do in life. Hard work and a good positive attitude can get you many places and bridge a lot of gaps.

WP: Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?

JS: I would like to thank my wife, Tammy, for putting up with my crazy diets and my hours of talking about bodybuilding. She does get tired of hearing about it! But, she has a great eye when it comes to competition day. She can always call the winner and also calls exactly where I will place. Maybe she should be a judge.

WP: Your wives name is Tammy, too? That is such a great name! Ha-ha! Where do you see yourself after retiring from the Army?

JS: As of right now, if things go as planned I will be working for Cellucor. I will work for them full time as a sales rep for the north east region. I hope to have a team of sales reps that I can manage.

WP: How do you create balance in your life with being in the Army and having kids?

JS: I always put my family first. I may be duty bound to support the military, but my family will be what is there for me. I make sure to work as little on weekends as possible and do things with my family. We take a few vacations a year as a family and my wife and I get ours in there too.

WP: Being a Masters Pro level bodybuilder, what one piece of advice you can share with us on how to gain the most muscle mass?

JS: As I said before you must rest and recover. Training is also very important. You must find that balance where you are not doing too much training and get set back from injuries, but you must challenge yourself every time you step foot in the gym. For me that hour I am in the gym is all about me. It is time to concentrate on training with the most intensity that you can. I try to not talk too much because I want to get down to business and get out of the gym. Gaining mass is only going to happen if you get enough calories. Trying to stay too lean and gaining mass is going to be a long road. So, eat quality food and get in your good quality supplements.

WP: Anything you would like to see change in the bodybuilding world?

JS: I would like to see more TV coverage of the big events, like the Olympia and the Arnold Classic.

WP: Any shout outs?

JS: I can never leave out my best friend, Fred Paskell. Fred taught me how to get under heavy weight and just squat! He also taught me a lot of patience; I was his platoon Sergeant in Iraq. We have had a lot of good times. He always meets me in Vegas for the Olympia weekend.

WP: What is the funniest story that has happened to you while working out?

JS: While deployed to Iraq, Fred Paskell and I were doing one heck of a leg work out in the base gym. We hear an explosion and had to run out to a bunker for cover. It looks funny when you have 2 Army guys in their workout gear, trying to grab their weapons and gym bags, while their legs can hardly bend from all the squats. We looked foolish trying to run with our legs all pumped. After the rockets and mortars stopped, we went in and finished the workout like any other day.

WP: I have this very vivid visual of that! Ha-ha! What is the proudest moment of your life?

JS: I would have to say being able to be there when my children were born.

WP: What are your interests outside of bodybuilding?

JS: I like to spend time with my family and a few close friends. We like to go jet skiing, water skiing, snow skiing and family vacations to the beach. My wife and I enjoy going out west to hike in the mountains of Nevada, California, and this year we went to Utah for the first time.

WP: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

JS: I wished I would have put my education at a higher priority. I have always wished I had a degree.

WP: If you can complete and pass a ISSA certification test, which I know is hard, you can always finish your degree! It's never too late! Just a few more questions and we will close the interview. You were in another National Magazine several times for something. Can you tell me what that was?

JS: I would be happy to brag a little...! I was in the 2008 and 2009 military features in Flex magazine. More recently, in July of this year I was selected as the Military Bodybuilder of the month on Bodybuilding.com.

WP: How does it feel to represent such an age group?

JS: Hey, that sounds a little rough! Just kidding. I enjoy being 40 and being in better shape than most 18 to 30 year olds. You would not believe how many younger training partners I have gone through. I plan to keep doing this till my skin gets to wrinkled up!

WP: Rough, huh? What's rough is I'm 2 years older then you! Ha-ha! Time is running out, Jason. Is there anything else you would like to add? Now is the time!

JS: I want to thank to everyone at World Physique for giving me the chance to talk with the readers a little. I also want to leave the younger people that are starting out a little advice. You are never to young, or old, to care about your health. Start now, start today! You will always look back later on in life and be able to say that you did something for yourself and your family that will have a positive impact on the rest of your lives.

WP: That is so right, Jason! Today is the time to start! You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors!

JS: Thank you very much.