Follow the trend: Gain chest muscle

Interview With Courtney Dukes aka Musclez99

How did you get started in the world of bodybuilding?

Well to be honest I  picked up my first weights in 8th grade, why? Well because I was afraid I was going to get picked on and beat up in high school. I had seen so many movies and tv shows where the skinny kid gets picked on and hates highschool. I did not want that to be my future. However I really began to get serious in  1999 around my sophomore year in high school. I saw a few of my friends from the football team walk into the gym shirtless after school during open gym. I was shocked to see how much muscle they had and I immediately decided I would look like that some day. I talked with one of them and he invited me to start working out with him after school, and he pretty much taught me the basics of how to workout and preform a few core lifts. From that point on I tried to get my hands on as much information about health, fitness and bodybuilding as I could. I started reading FLEX magazine and working out 2-3 times a day on top of my basketball practices. I was definitely over training, but I had developed such a strong passion for weight lifting that I wanted to spend every minute of my time doing it. I would drink protein shakes in the middle of class and people would look at me like I was crazy, but  I didn’t care because I was on a mission to build muscle

What Training Routine Do You Use To Get That Quality Physique?

If only it was that simple, then we call use one simple routine and get in the best shapes of our lives. Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that, the routine that works for one person may be over training for another or might not be enough stress on the muscles to cause adaption for others. Its all about finding out what works for you and your body type, that’s the tricky part. You can try out others routines and techniques to get ideas of what to do , but in the end you have to develop something custom that fits your goals and needs to get the most progress. This is the exact reason why on my site http://www.time2transform.com I created a new section called the making of a gymrat. I decided to start posting my pictures, workout routines, diets and even video of my training from all the way back in 99 until present day. I believe that will help individuals out more by allowing them to see the entire journey that allowed me to create the physique I have today. I wouldn’t expect a beginner to pick up and start using my current routine and diet and expect to get the same results. Hoever they might get a lot of benefit using one of my routines or diets from the previous years when my training level was closer to theirs. Now they can look at a time line of my training routines and diets and find the one that most closely represents where they are currently at in their progress. Its still in the beginning stages, but just the other day I added a video of me from back in 2004 and I couldn’t believe the changes that had occured. I hope this section will help others to reach their goals and fitness dreams by providing them with the inspiration to see how you can change overtime if you stick with it.

What’s your diet like?

Right now I follow a pretty simple carb cycling diet. I alternate between medium and low carb menus through out the week days. Then on Saturday I do a high carb day and Sunday is practically a no carb day. I eat the same meals every week most of the time, every once in a while I will mix it up with a different protein source. My proteins of choice right now are; lean ground beef, eggs, egg whites, and  chicken. My slow digesting carbs come from; oatmeal, brown rice, yams and green vegetables. My fast digesting carbs of choice are; white rice, potato, and fruits.

What’s your motivation?

I have many sources for motivation. The people I inspire are actually my biggest form of motivation. Every time I hear somebody say that my transformation has helped them to believe that they can also make a change in their life. Just knowing that what I have done and what I am doing is giving others the motivation and courage to do it for them self is a huge motivator. My family and friends also motivate me, because they have supported me and stuck by my side from the very beginning when it looked like I was making no progress and would never change. Without them to help me get through the hard times I would not have made it to where I am today. Lastly, but certainly not the least important is the self motivation. I believe if you are going to make a huge change in your life, such as getting in shape or any other changes you must have self motivation or you will not succeed. When everyone else is going out to parties or to fast food places to eat you have the sole decision on whether you will participate or not.  No one else can make that decision for you, if your not making the changes for the right reason then when you approach the really big obstacles you will not have the necessary desire need to get past them and continue on in yoru quest for a better life.

If you could give once piece of advice about bodybuilding/fitness what would it be?

Well the two things that I always try to pass on to others are 1.)Don’t expect results over night,  it takes time and consistency to get the results you desire. The first two years on my training I made little to no visible changes, I had people making fun of me, because I was training so much and all I talked about was fitness, but yet they could see no real difference. I was made fun of and called muscles ( as an ironic nickname), but if I had given up because of that I would not have ever made it as far as I have. I now wear that name muscles as a badge of honor that I earned(hence my bodyspace nickname Musclez99) and the same people that never notice the changes now can’t believe what I look like. 2.) Train your muscles not your ego when your in the gym, Especially in the beginning don’t get so caught up in how much weight your lifting. I used to feel so uncomfortable in the high school weight room, becuase I was the weakest and smallest one in there. My football friends would be benching 225 and then take off the plates so I could barely do 135 with help. One day my friend noticed that I was starting to feel like I didn’t belong and he looked at me and said “look around, see everyone in this gym, they all had to start somewhere. They didn’t just wake up and magically they could bench 225.” That changed my whole outlook on things and I was no longer concerned with how much I was lifting, but rather was I working hard and performing the exercises with proper form to allow my muscles to get the greatest benefit. Don’t get so caught up in trying to impress people that you forget to actually workout.

Any plans for the future?

The future is unknown for me at the moment, I may do more competitions, modeling, or personal training. I’m not sure exactly what I will be doing, but I know that I will continue to inspire and help others reach their goals and I will be stronger and wiser than I am today. I will never stop trying to learn more about health and fitness and I will never know enough.

Favourite Bodybuilder?

Just one? I have many Arnold, Jim Cordova, Ronie Coleman, Jay Cuttler, Dorian Yates, Lee Priest, Branch Warren….and the list goes on…

Favorite Quote?

Well My all time #1 favorite quote is “The wolf on top of the hill is not as hungry, but when he wants the food its there” of course that’s Arnold-”Pumping Iron” My second quote is ”Why Put Off Until Tomorrow, What You Could BE Accomplishing Today” -ME

Bodyspace: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Musclez99

Website: http://time2transform.com/