Interview With Ryan Weber

Featured Athlete - November 2010





Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'
Photos by: BBPics.com


Ryan Weber is from Cleveland, OH. He is currently working as a firefighter/paramedic for two different departments. He has an associate degree in Criminal Justice and recently decided to work on a Bachelor in Health Science.

Weber first took an interest in fitness after viewing one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's films. His father was an athlete as well, so the transition was simple. Growing up, he was always referred to as the skinny kid. An easy target for jokes and criticism. Weber grew tired of being singled out and decided he was going to do something about it.

Fitness has now made a huge difference in his personal life and professional career. Weber said, "It was one of the best decisions I ever made. People know that you didn't get into shape over night. It takes a lot of heart and commitment to realize your potential, and it's something you can continually build on."

"...Life is supposed to be challenging. If it wasn't, we would all be the same, and wouldn't want to do anything. You may suffer some defeat before you taste victory but in the end you earn what you work for. So come on life, bring it on!"


WP: What was it that made you know without a doubt that you wanted to go into bodybuilding?

I can remember this clearly. A good friend of mine in high school made a comment to me at the lunch table in front a bunch of our friends. The same buddy and I also had a math class together. That day we had a test that was rather difficult. So, at the table he asked me, "Hey Ryan, we had a math test today, where were you"? I replied with a laugh and said, "I was sitting right next to you, what are you talking about"? He said back to me, "Oh that’s right, you must have been hiding behind your pencil!" Everybody started to laugh except me. That comment cut through me like a knife and I just walked away. He felt bad when he realized I didn't think it was funny. He lit a fire inside of me that is burning strong to this moment! Right now, I can't stop laughing but, at the time, I was upset. He and I are still very good friends and I am glad he said that to me. It's a great conversation piece and it really inspired me to improve myself.

WP: Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and/or more cut?

Absolutely! The most important thing I can stress for building mass or cutting is your mind set. You need to develop a clear goal and see yourself achieving that goal before you even start. What you mind believes your body will follow. You can never become something you have not been without doing something different first. Sure, I can sit here and tell what exercises you should do, what to eat, when to eat and how to do it, but none of that is going to make a difference unless you are truly committed to making your goal a reality. I sometimes catch people off guard with advice like that but, all the people I know who have made great changes in their life did it by believing in themselves first!

WP: Give me a break down of your diet.

I start the day off right with a solid breakfast. Usually, I will have one cup of oatmeal with 6 oz. of skim milk and a little water, four egg whites with one whole egg, a tablespoon of natural or organic peanut butter, some strawberries or blue berries and a cup of green tea.

For a snack, I will have a handful of almonds or drink a protein shake with a banana. It just depends on how hungry I am at the moment.

Lunch time is one can of very low sodium albacore with olive oil, mayo and fresh red peppers mixed in. I use spinach flat bread and some lettuce to make a sandwich wrap. I also will have some natural yogurt or a handful of carrots with the meal as well. I will eat an apple with some peanut butter or have another cup of oatmeal with water for a snack before I workout.

Then, for dinner, it is usually fair game to eat whatever I want. I make sure it is still pretty healthy and has a good ratio of protein, carbs, good fats and vegetables. So far, that has been working pretty well for me. I, also, make sure to stay away from high fructose corn syrup as much as possible.

WP: Do you allow yourself a cheat day? If so, what is it that you usually eat when you do?

Ha-ha. I definitely allow myself a cheat day. I will usually eat the same breakfast so I don't feel so bad about the rest of the day. I still want to start off right. I will eat pizza, burgers and fries, any and all kinds of Italian cuisine, cookies and I absolutely love eating Chinese food. I get the egg roll with white rice and some kind of chicken. I think I might be addicted to it. I even got my family and friends eating Chinese food now. It’s kind of funny.

WP: What supplements do you take?

I do use supplements. I try to stick with the basics meaning; protein, amino acids and vitamins. I do like to supplement with some herbs like Milk Thistle and different antioxidants. I am real big on paying attention to the body's PH balance. I try to stay more on the alkaline side of things due to the fact that a lot of the food we eat tends to put us more on the acidic side. The high amounts of protein and carbs is considered to be more acidic. So, I definitely want to stay balanced. Wheat grass and aloe are great alkaline supplements.

The last thing I like to take is a pre-workout called H-blocker. The stuff works awesome for me! Plus, it doesn't have a long laundry list of ingredients so, I feel more comfortable using it.

WP: Can you tell me a story of how you got where you are?

I have been fortunate to have awesome family and friends. They have been supportive and always let me talk and act out my dreams as long as they felt I was being realistic. They have been concerned at times but, I usually end up doing well. The support and positive mindset have definitely become a large part of who I am. I really try and lead by example rather than just talking about it. It’s hard to pinpoint one story that can encompass all of what I would want to show about my experiences so far. I can say that I have learned from several mistakes I have made and it has developed me into a stronger person. I can clearly recall the look I would get form my parents when I was on the verge of making a big decision. It was as if they were saying to me without speaking, "Now do you really think that is smart"? Whether it was smart or not I would usually do it. I obviously survived and it made me stronger.

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

First of all, I am grateful for my health and believe a higher power supports and guides me. I would definitely like to thank my mother and father for all of their support. They have given me every fighting chance to be successful and the support just keeps coming. My sister is also a great support and can make me laugh at myself often. All my family and friends are awesome and supportive. Thank you all so much!

WP: Tell me about your modeling.

When I was younger I started to do some modeling for some sporting good stores and bridal shows. I wanted to continue but, they told me I had to lose weight. I was expected to maintain a weight that in my opinion was not even healthy. At that point I decided against it. When I was asked to do some fitness modeling I was real excited. I had good experiences in the past and want to continue. Now, I have been given a new opportunity and I am excited to see how far I can go. I believe I can always improve and learn more and I strive to make myself better each day!

WP: 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?

Thank you. Fitness is really a huge part of my life. Whether professional or pleasure, I am always focused on my health. Genetics plays a part but, there is a lot of time and planning that goes into my day to stay in shape. I workout six days a week, play sports and eat healthy food. It really goes back to staying motivated and believing in me. I have strong reasons for doing what I do. The most difficult thing I face is my work schedule. Being a firefighter and trying to get the right amount of uninterrupted sleep is tough. Couple that with an irregular eating schedule and that can mess with you a little bit. Regardless, I keep pushing forward and stay focused.

WP: Tell me about your future projects. Have any in sight?

I definitely plan on doing more. I have some magazine work coming up in the future and want to do some more work with John Mitchell. I would really like to keep going and challenging myself to do some bigger projects and even some acting. I want to see how far I can go.

WP: You worked with John at bbpics.com. What was it like working with him?

John was great! I met John at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH this past year. He was very professional in his approach and you can tell he really cares about what he is doing. He is committed to making the experience the best it can be and it really was a pleasure to work with. He is a low stress and professional photographer who has a knack for getting and doing great work! I am very glad met him.

WP: How did he go over and beyond for you?

John was very thorough in his approach. He made sure everything was planned well ahead of time so things would go smooth. John was very prepared and you could tell he was experienced. He offered several suggestions to help make the photo shoots work better and look better. When I had a question John was very considerate to drop what he was doing to make sure I had a satisfactory answer. It was very impressive to see how John was able to manipulate the camera to make our work and hard effort the best it could be. Everything was done with natural lighting so depending on rain, clouds or sun we had to make it happen. John was ready and prepared to make it work. That takes some talent, skill and a lot of patience. The thing that was most pleasurable about working with John was the fact that he was able to give direction and feedback to get good pictures. His creativity mixed with his fun personality made for a great experience. He truly has an eye and passion for photography. I consider john a friend and look forward to working with him again.

WP: Are you married, dating, or single?

I am currently dating at the time and I do not have any kids. Things are going well and I enjoy meeting new and interesting people. I do think one day I will settle down but for the moment, I am enjoying myself and making the best of whatever I do.

WP: Give me a sample of your workout.

I like to stick with basic exercises and try to use mostly free weights. I do some body parts twice a week. I am a big believer of mixing things up so my body doesn't get use to the same workouts. I keep my reps between 5 and 15 and my sets are anywhere from 2 to 7 for each exercise. I usually do between 2 and 5 exercises per body part, depending on how my body feels, and where I am in my workout phase. Some weeks I lift for straight reps, while other weeks I focus on building my strength. I like to time my rest periods anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. I am a big believer in cardio and conditioning and like to include some form of it in my workout about 3 times a week.

WP: What are your interests outside of bodybuilding?

I love to play sports including but not limited to football, volleyball, softball and basketball. I am a very physical person and like a challenge. I work as a Firefighter and Paramedic and am currently taking college courses for an undergrad in science. I enjoy Mixed Martial Arts and wrestling. I also like to read and write. I have learned a lot from books and like to write stories of my own. I have been fortunate to do a lot of traveling and would like to continue to see the world. You learn something new every day and I am always looking forward to the next adventure.

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

I don't believe there is anything I would change about myself. I know what my strengths and weakness are and I am open to constructive criticism. I look forward to setting new goals for myself and look to every day as a chance to learn something new. I am constantly building on my strengths and improving my weaknesses so they can become strengths. Life is supposed to be challenging. If it wasn't, we would all be the same, and wouldn't want to do anything. You may suffer some defeat before you taste victory but in the end you earn what you work for. So come on life, bring it on!

WP: Is there anything else you would like to add? Now is the time!

I would like to mention a friend of mine who was a great help when I first started working out. The first time I walked into the gym and saw all of the machines and big guys lifting them, I was overwhelmed. I can remember using the pull-down machine for a back workout when I heard footsteps directly behind me. When I turned around I had to look up and there was this big guy staring at me asking what I was doing. He was intimidating and I had no idea how to answer him. After a short awkward pause, he showed me how to correctly use the machine and ordered me to do it right. This guy was like a Drill Sergeant. It turned out for the next several years this guy would train with me almost every day. He showed me so much and never asked for anything in return. I am very grateful and appreciative. My friend unfortunately had some health problems and had to retire from the gym. Not only did he show me how to properly workout but, he gave me a lot of motivation to keep improving in this sport. Thank you very much Don Devito for spending so much time with myself and my father.

WP: You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future bodybuilding endeavors!

Thank you for your time and consideration. I really appreciate it!