6 years ago I was obese (BMI 32.35) and unhealthy. 5 years ago I was skinny and unhealthy. 4 years ago I started living a healthier lifestyle. 3 years ago I became interested in bodybuilding and lifting weights. 2 years ago I got serious about bodybuilding. 1 year ago I decided I wanted to do a bodybuilding competition. About 1 week ago, I stepped on a stage in a posing suit.

It’s been a long journey that is far from over, and it’s fun to look back on other aspects of my life and see how they’ve evolved as well.  6 years ago, when I was obese, smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, and drank heavily, had you told me I would eventually become intensely passionate about health & fitness, and would change career paths to help people realize their health & fitness goals, I likely would have laughed.  And lit up a cigarette to spite.

. . .  But that evolution is a part of the journey.  Everyone is obsessed with the quick fix, or how fast they can get something done, but I’m here to tell you that life is not about the destination!  At the risk of getting too heavy for a blog post, if you look at all of our lives as a book, the first chapter starts in the same way, and the last chapter ends in the same way; what differs are the pages in between.

There are many bodybuilders that never step up on stage, instead opting to do “mock preps” so they can talk about preparing for a show without ever being judged.  They’re too scared to not win; they’re too scared they won’t step out on that stage as the winner they see in themselves, and they can’t handle the thought of failure.

. . .  But failure is where you learn from; and where’s the fun in that!?  With no knowledge of competing in bodybuilding, and without ever having seen a show, I decided to get on that stage, because life is about doing, and it’s about the journey.  It’s about what you learn along the way, whether it’s what foods work well for you while dieting, or how your body responds to dieting, or simply that you’re not very good at posing and you need to practice if you ever want to win a competition.

I didn’t win my first show, but that is perfectly okay!  Rather than talk about a goal I had set for myself, I went out and did it; sure, I may not have won, but I went the distance!  I had a blast, I learned a lot, and I can now call myself a natural bodybuilder.

When you’re on the path toward your goals, it’s important to keep your eyes on the goal, but it’s also crucial that you enjoy the ride while you’re getting there.  While my goal is to get my “pro card” as a natural bodybuilder, what’s the point if I don’t enjoy the journey (that could take years) along the way?  Even if your goals will only take a few months to achieve, what do they mean if you’re not enjoying yourself?

That’s why I advocate flexible dieting; that’s why I advocate taking risks; that’s why I advocate living the dream–  It’s important to enjoy the journey!

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by Gabriel DeVine
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No long post today, just a few pointers for the start to 2013 regarding New Year Resolutions.

Seriously. Brace Yourselves.

If you’re a regular gym goer, be patient.  Every year, the month of January turns the gym into a mad house;  What’s especially frustrating is watching people take up equipment and knowing that you’ll only see them during the month of January.  If you’re an impatient person, now is the time to hone your skills and become patient, especially if you have a training day scheduled for the first of the year.  (As we do. . .  I try to plan maintenance weeks around the beginning of the year, but this year it didn’t line up.)

If you’re one of the “New Year Resolution Gym Members,” don’t be.  A healthy lifestyle is just that–  A lifestyle.  Resolving to go the gym all year “as my next year resolution” won’t cut it, nor will creating a resolution simply from pressure by others;  The desire to change has to be present, otherwise you’ll only ever know the gym during January.

If you are making health, fitness, nutrition, or all of the above a part of your new year resolutions, be realistic.  I’ve read countless articles about the reason resolutions fail, and in most cases, it’s because unrealistic resolutions were decided on.  Start small, and allow your goals to evolve as you reach certain benchmarks, or stick with it long enough.  Everything in life can be looked at as a staircase;  You can try to jump from the floor to the sixth step, but failure is very likely. . .  It’s best to look at the path ahead and take it one step at a time.  (Even if your resolutions have nothing to with health or fitness, that still applies!)

Regarding my health / fitness goals, I only really have two, and both are within my grasp since I’ve been working toward them for some time:  The first is to finally deadlift four plates (405 lbs. 1 X 5);  I’ve been working on this for over a year and am at 395 lbs. currently.  My second goal is to continue on the path I’m on and compete in a natural physique competition this summer.

We just survived the “Apocalypse,” so let’s make 2013 a great year!

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by DeVinePhysiques
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We’ve done a few vlogs before, but this is our first joint vlog.  Enjoy!  (And be sure to watch it all the way through!)

Remember, treat people how you would love to be treated in return, and respect lifestyle choices!

And on a technical note, we’re sorry about the lighting.  We swear we really are semi-professional filmmakers!

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by DeVinePhysiques
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I have hit another plateau:(  When this happens I tend to get really depressed and think I will never get to my goal.  I know that I stalled my progress by getting far too comfortable with my diet and having a cheat day every week.  I am now in the process of changing this.

I was wearing some shorts the other day that I had taken pictures in about a year ago.  When I realized this I had to compare how I currently look in them to those pics…and guess what?  The difference is unbelievable.  The shorts are so loose now and they used to be so tight.  I wanted to share the pic with you!

It is to serve as a reminder to you, and to me, about remembering how far you have come.  It is also about remembering to appreciate the hard work you have already put into your goal, and to keep going!

Same shorts...

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by DeVinePhysiques
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Alissa:  Hello!  I realize that we posted progress pictures only about a month and a half ago, but the progress we have seen in that time with carb cycling and the ketogenic diet have been so remarkable that we wanted to share new pics with you.

December 2010 - January 1st, 2012 - February 12th, 2012

At first I was concerned that this diet would be difficult to follow, or that it would cause all sorts of strange side effects.  After doing it though for a month and a half I can happily say that I have not had a hard time at all.  I actually really enjoy my low carb days.

I have tried a lot of things over the years to lose fat and this has by far been the most successful thing I have done.  My original goal was to get to 138 pounds and 18% body fat.  I am successfully at 138.8 pounds currently but still have about 2% body fat to lose to get to my goal.  This will most likely put me around 136 pounds.  I am very pleased with my results thus far and look forward to reaching a goal I wasn’t ever should I would!

Gabriel: And now for my pictures. . .  Which are both depressing, and inspiring.  The first photo is from when I was obsessed with long duration cardio / endurance training, so while I was very thin, my body fat was higher than I wanted. . .  Around 8.5 – 9%.  Before getting started in bodybuilding, I was down to a lean 7%, but had so little muscle mass that I looked silly.

And then we got to where we were in the last post, when I was part way through cutting the fat off so that I could see the muscle that I built. . .  I was cutting the traditional way, with additional cardio and just eating less than my TDEE.  I was seeing results, but not the way I wanted–  I was losing a touch of muscle along the way, and the results were not that fast.  Enter carb cycling, and now I have leaned out immensely. . .

December 2010 - January 1st, 2012 - February 12th, 2012

But now I can see where I’m lacking muscle the most.  In my quest, I’ve gained 14 pounds of muscle, and I think only 1/2 a pound went to my chest, which is an area that I work constantly, have seen tremendous strength gains, but not the size gains to go with it. . .  It makes no sense.  Outside of that, I’m decently happy with the progress I’ve made–  I’ve added 5 inches to my shoulders, an inch and a half to my arms, 2 inches to my thighs, and have seen plenty of progress elsewhere–  I’m currently at 10.2% body fat, and once I get down to the 7% I’m looking for, I’m going to do another bulking cycle to get my chest up to speed–  I may abandon my belief in full body workouts in favor of a day of mostly chest. . .  We’ll see.  It’s also worth noting that carb cycling is my friend–  Since I’ve started carb cycling, I’ve lost 3.5 lbs. of fat while gaining one pound of muscle.

I’m also on my way toward my goal of a “Four plate Dead Lift.”  (405 lbs.)  Right now I’m rocking 350 lbs., and expect to add more soon.

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by DeVinePhysiques
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(Note:  For the New Year, we’re posting progress pictures!)

Alissa: Happy New Year everyone!  We thought it would be nice to post a blog about our progress over the last year and to tell you a bit about what we plan to accomplish in 2012.

The year 2011 was a challenging year in many ways for me, but one of those was in my pursuit to lose weight/fat.  I started the year at 153 pounds, I had just started to recover from hernia repair surgery.  I was barely starting get back into any type of fitness routine since before the surgery in October.

Around April Gabe and I decided to really hunker down and get the bodies we wanted.  My goal was to get down to 138 and Gabe wanted to bulk muscle (not sure how much, but I think he will tell you!).

The first few months went by pretty well, but then I hit a plateau (which was an ever recurring theme this year.)  Over the next 4 months I managed to get down to 142 and I was extremely happy with my progress. However, since October I have hit another plateau, which brings me to this years goals.

I have had some people ask me in the past few months why I even bother to lose more, since they think I already look great.  I still don’t look how I want to.  I also set a goal for myself and I won’t stop till I get there.  So I still have 4 pounds to lose and about 2-3% body fat.

I have chosen to be really excited about starting a new nutrition plan for the new year instead of getting discouraged.  I have faith that all of our research will yield results!

Gabriel:  Greetings, and Happy New Year!  I definitely agree with Alissa in that 2011 was a challenging year for us and our goals.  While I was decently happy with my body at a very slender 167 lbs. and about 8% body fat, I knew something was wrong, and decided to get into natural bodybuilding.  In that time, I’ve gained about 14 pounds of muscle, and in addition to all of that muscle, I’ve got between 8 and 9 pounds of fat, too.  When I started, I was going about it. . .  Let’s just say, it wasn’t the best way possible.  My carb intake was through the roof, and I wasn’t eating enough protein.  I then did a quick cutting cycle that was marred by a case of sciatica.

When all is said and done, I didn’t start seeing incredible results (That is, muscle gain with very minimal fat gain) until the end of my bulk.  It’s okay, though. . .  In that time, I worked my way up to a 315 lb. dead lift, 235 lb. bench press, 365 lb. squat, and gained the aforementioned 14 lbs. of muscle.

Since then, I’ve been working on a cutting cycle to get rid of the fat I gained, but it hasn’t been as effective as I’d like.  That is why, starting in the new year, my immediate goal is to get down to 7% body fat, and I will achieve this with a “CKD–”  That stands for a “Cyclical Ketogenic Diet,” more commonly referred to as “Carb Cycling.”  In addition to that, I plan on gaining minimum of 5 more pounds of muscle, and plan to work toward a 405 pound dead lift.

Do you have any New Year Goals?  Let us know in the comments!

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by DeVinePhysiques
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This will be a short blog, but an important one none the less.  I want to remind everyone to encourage themselves and others in their environment.  It can be easy to give up or stop trying when we aren’t getting results as quickly as we might like, and that is why encouragement is so very important.  When you tell yourself you are beautiful and want to be healthy it helps to keep you motivated.  At the same time if you are encouraging others to maintain their diets/fitness programs it helps to keep you on track.  Also, if those around you are motivated they will in turn motivate and encourage you, it is an amazing circle of benefit!

So, my goal for you is to encourage yourself/someone every day, even if that means just simply smiling at yourself in the mirror in the morning and reminding yourself how amazing you are.

Keep going!! Success follows those who persevere.

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by DeVinePhysiques
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Born and raised in Utah, a state known for its plethora of outdoor activities and family dinners, you might expect me to have grown up with healthy habits;  You would be wrong.  The youngest of 4, and the only left at home, I grew up primarily eating fast food.  My family is heavy, and I have struggled with weight for many years.

I have always had the dream to pursue acting, and at the age of 15 decided if I wanted to make it far in that industry I would need to get in shape.  I started going to the gym, but had no clue what I needed to do to actually see progress.   My real journey to fitness and health started in college when I joined the cross-country team and started eating healthier.  My diet ranged from “normal” to vegan at some points.  I came to love being physically active and healthy.  I realized that the body is an instrument that we need to treat properly–  We only have this body for a limited time and with proper care we can be healthy for a long long time.

Now, almost 5 years out of college, with some ups and downs, I am back to my college weight.  Nice part is, I don’t have to run 5-7 miles a day to stay here.  With proper nutrition and activity I am able to stay in shape and not spend hours upon hours working out every day. Along the way, I tried so many different methods to lose weight to no avail.  At one point I was only eating 1200 calories, working out 2 hours daily and didn’t lose any weight. I tried almost every diet known to man, and it wasn’t until I really did some research that I figured out the right way for my body to slim down and tone up.  Gabe and I realized through our journey into health and fitness that a lot of the necessary information and resources to help ourselves and others reach their goals were not easily accessible.

That is where this blog comes in.  We want to help you to reach your goals too, in a healthy way.  We, having opposite goals (He wants to bulk while I want to lose weight) will be able to give advice in both areas, so no matter what you are looking for you should be able to find it here. We will be sharing our thoughts on fitness routines, diets, recipes, and many other areas to give you the tools for success.  You can be healthy and happy– Trust me. . .  It takes work, but is worth it in the end.

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by DeVinePhysiques
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A long time ago, in a city not so far away, I grew up a “healthy” individual.  By “healthy,” I mean I had a more than healthy appetite, and had some of the most unhealthy habits imaginable.  I would sometimes wonder why it was I was overweight, but this was usually pondered over a 2800 calorie meal with an alcoholic beverage on the side.

And then, I watched Rocky Balboa, and that changed everything–  I had decided that, if Sylvester Stallone could get into shape, I can too!  After getting in shape through a combination of extreme caloric restriction and exercise, I would eventually gain all of the weight back.  Uncomfortable at 6 feet tall, 235 pounds, and (at the time) recently unemployed, I decided to permanently change my life.  I began working out 6 days a week, and at this point in my life (2.25 years ago), had no idea about proper nutrition or training habits.  With no regard to my LBM (Lean Body Mass, a.k.a. Muscle), I began the unhealthy process of only eating 1500 calories a day while working out for more than an hour a day.  Through this less than healthy process, I was able to lose enough weight to get to a physique I was more comfortable with, and which I felt would do better for me in my future career in Hollywood.  Weighing a light 175, I eventually began an attempt at building muscle mass while still eating and training at a caloric deficit–  This was to no avail.  Over time, I amassed more knowledge and became healthier, but I was still far too slender.  While I will spare all of the minute details, we came to a point where I was 167 pounds, and only 8% body fat.  I was happy with the way I looked, but not happy enough. . .

And that is where bodybuilding entered the picture for me.  Currently at 180 and about to start my next bulk, I have studied health and fitness to the point of expertise, and would love to impart this knowledge on anyone wishing to learn.  I have come a long way, and will attain the statuesque physique that I have been chasing.

More information about me can be found on my website, as well.

Filed under: Body Building, Health, Motivation, Personal by DeVinePhysiques
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