World Physique

Interviewed by: Leesa Paul

Strong Bear is a Powerlifting competitor, a trainer, a healer and a friend. He has taken me under his wing (or paw). He creates an environment that welcomes anyone and everyone. When talking to Strong Bear, he will take the time to explain any questions you have and share his vast knowledge.

WP: What is your daytime occupation? At night, I know you turn into “The Bear” power lifter.

SB: By day I am a healer. I own a natural healing clinic where I work with those that have health challenges. By night I train as a bodybuilder and power lifter so my Iron warrior training programs gives me a bodybuilder aka power lifter look. I have a great work out partner(s) Killer "B" helps me at all my power meets with wraps, handing off, and all the paper work. It takes allot of stress off me so I can focus on the lifts at hand.

WP: Tell me about your family?

SB: This sport is my family. This includes: bodybuilders, fitness people, natural healers, bikers, and power lifters.

WP: When did you first get introduced to weight training? What made you decide to take it to next level and do power lifting?

SB: Well, I was into the martial arts for many years internal system, I used it for healing. At the age of 40 I started weight training just to stay fit and to stay stronger, at that time I was a doorman (bouncer) now semi-retired. It all started as a fitness thing and now has become a competitive game. Power lifting is something that will make you or break you, because you push your mind, body, and soul to the edge of no return and to me that is the ultimate high. That’s why the Bear power lifts!

WP: Where do you draw your strength from?

SB: Ohhh, now you are asking scary questions! I draw my strength from the internal and from the Great YHWH. I am very spiritual and believe that one must be connected to the source whether in everyday life or in the gym under a ton of weight.

WP: You take a more non-traditional look at training and diet. Tell me about that.

SB: Yes! Are you sure you want me to? Ok here goes. My look at training and diet is from my years of study in the martial arts and through my healing. My training is proper stance, proper balance and using only muscles that is needed for the lift at hand. Chi masters in the martial arts use internal strength by strengthening the internal organs first. This is what’s lacking in the bodybuilding and power lifting world today. And as you know a weak foundation leads to health issues and injuries. Now about diet as you know some people can burn coal and some can only burn wood, so I use their astrology sign to try and find out what they can and can not burn as fuel...And yes it's non-traditional and you probably would not be reading about it in any of the muscle magazines.

WP: What does a typical week of training and diet look like?

SB: My training is abbreviated training I train 4 days a week with just heavy compound moves no dumbbells just bar training. My diet is eating every 3 hours high protein and fat diet, low carbohydrates.

WP: How do you de-stress?

SB: Training helps me de-stress a lot. Meditation also helps. I always meditate before I train and after.

WP: What would you tell someone who is thinking of getting into power lifting?

SB: Don't! Ok if you are really set to be a power lifter then get proper training, and be willing to change your life. This sport is not for the weak at heart. You need the heart of a lion or (Bear) if you are going to be a great athlete in this sport. It is not for everyone, but I urge you to give it a try and see if it's your game.

WP: I have seen some guys in the gym that wear something similar to jackets. What is the difference between them and what you wear?

SB: Those are bench shirts, or gear its called in the game. I compete Raw, meaning I use only wrist wraps and a belt.

WP: Tell me about some of your wins and accomplishments.

SB: I compete in NASA and have a state record and a national record as of may 9th this year. I have won arm wrestling events, strongman local events just to name a few. To me, whether I win or not, I love the game and love to compete.

WP: What are your thoughts and/or what is going through your mind when you compete?

SB: Well, at a power meet I am like an animal. I go into an alpha state of hypnosis. I can see and hear but it all is like at a distance. After each lift my training partner sets up the next lift with the judges. My focus is on the next lift at hand. If you ever watch power lifting you will see these warriors using different things to try and get in the zone some scream, slap, sniff ammonia, and so on. I use my internal power. That is the most powerful and it is always there when I need it.

WP: Who do you admire and why?

SB: I admire the weak, those with handicaps and those with challenges in their lives. They are the champions in my book. They don't let their handicap keep them down.

WP: I know what you like to do for fun, let’s talk Harleys! You have a Harley named Black Thunder. How did you come up with the name?

SB: I know that you ride, as well. Black Thunder is my war pony he came to me in a dream and I created him from Iron. I bought him in 06 and took him apart piece by piece and powder coated him to look just like I saw in the dream. All my biker friends said I was crazy... I said I know! But I have a dream. And now I ride!

WP: What else do you like to do for fun?

SB: Let’s see playing pool, hiking and riding my hog. A few more things but can't talk about them right now! Ha-ha!

WP: Ha! Tell me about kettle balls. Why do you use those instead of or with weights?

SB: Kettle bells are great for core strength and help with joint and ligament issues. I urge anyone that is a power lifter or that just wants to get into shape to give kettle bells a try.

WP: I know you are a strong believer in herbal remedies and holistic ways of healing ailments. Do you ever use over the counter medications or herbs?

SB: I have been into natural healing for over 15 years. I am a master herbalist and a master healer so I use herbs in my clinic and I use herbs in my training program. I have not been to a medical doctor in over 20 years. Modern medicine has only been around a little over 100 years and herbal medicine has been around over 3000 years. You can not drug your body into health. It takes proper nutrition and exercise along with the proper herbs to bring the body back into balance.

WP: What are your thoughts on the Keto diet and low carbohydrate diets?

SB: I don't get into diets all that much unless I am working with someone for a show. Diets don't work for the average person. Diets to most mean starving, books, TV, magazines. The media has people brain washed about how to eat and get healthy. Everyone has a new fad diet! When I work with someone I try and find what foods burns the hottest for them. As I have said, some people can burn coal and some can only burn wood meaning different foods. Some can just eat an apple and get terrible heart burn. So, for bodybuilders and power lifters, I try and get results fast.

WP: What would be your favorite cheat meal? How many calories do you eat in a day?

SB: I am a Sagittarius and my digestive system burns hot so I can eat just about anything I wish and it burns as fuel. My eating is pretty clean. Through the week, until Sunday and then it’s anything that I want to eat pizza, ice cream, but my favorite is gravy and biscuits nothing like granny’s cooking. Now for calories, I never count them but I am sure they are very high. If you ever eat with a power lifter, you would not believe the amount of food they eat and still stay in the shape they do, but when you train hard you need plenty of fuel.

WP: What type of client trains with you? Would it be someone wanting to compete or the average person looking to get into shape?

SB: I want to work with power lifters, bodybuilders, and fitness models, those that have set goals. These are the people I like to train because they most likely will stay with the training. I have had many average people come and want to train with me and they do for about a week or two...Most can't handle the heavy weight and the hard core training. Right now I have a new partner from the KSP he’s been training with me and Killer "B" for 3 months and has already put on over one inch on every body part, and went from 180 lb body weight to 213 lb body weight. All I can say is "Come Train with the Bear".

WP: You post a lot of blogs and bulletins on my space. Do people respond and what are the overall reactions to such a different way of training, dieting and seeing oneself in the overall training?

SB: Most are afraid to! But yes, some do. I have a great bunch of friends on MySpace. Most people are afraid to try anything different. Most people think it is another gimmick. But yet they all fall for gimmicks seen in the latest muscle magazine on how to put 6 inches on your chest in 15 days, or the latest new science muscle pill guaranteed to put 20 pounds of muscle on in 30 days. My program is about hard work and hard core results.

WP: Any final or closing thoughts?

SB: I want to thank you for doing this interview and thank Tammy at WP for putting out a great magazine. Thank all my friends on MySpace and if I can be of help to anyone feel free to write me. And as always, "Train Like A Warrior"!

WP: Thank you for taking the time, out of your busy schedule to answer all my questions. I wish you continued success in your competitions and in your business.