Spring Break
Stinson builds his fitness career
By: Chris Russell
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 8/24/07 at 2:27 AM EST
Last update: 8/24/07 at 2:26 AM EST
Originally published: 8/24/07 at 2:27 AM EST
Last update: 8/24/07 at 2:26 AM EST
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Tom Stinson, a junior majoring in commerce and engineering, recently placed second in his first bodybuilding competition.
Stinson, now an avid fitness buff, initially became interested in the lifestyle during high school. He lifted weights for sports, but his interest peaked during his senior year. It was then he took a greater interest in his food intake and began drinking protein shakes, a staple in many bodybuilders' regimen, Stinson says.
After training seriously for three years, Stinson always toyed with the idea of entering a bodybuilding show. Thoughts of not being "big enough" or contest preparation being "too much work" put him off at first. After attending shows of friends and seeing other contestants, he became inspired enough to make the commitment.
"[I had to] lay it on the line at some point," he said regarding the decision to compete.
And so "Champion of Champions," organized by North Philadelphia gym Body Challenge Fitness Center and held at Drexel's Mandell theatre, presented a great opportunity.
Preparing for the competition was no walk through the park. Beginning seven weeks prior to the show, the ideal condition for male bodybuilders is three to five percent body fat, a characteristic known as "being conditioned".
"Dieting is rough," he said.
The objective of the contest preparation period is to lose as much body fat as possible while maintaining muscle mass. In order to achieve this, a nutritional balancing act is performed through the restriction of calories, increasing the consumption of protein, and utilizing carbohydrates to maintain energy levels. During this time, according to Stinson, many athletes will find that their workouts become tougher and they lose some strength due to the lack of calorie in their diets.
Bodybuilders are not just athletes; they are also showmen.
Posing routines enable the competitors to accentuate their strengths to the judges, and Stinson noted that he created his posing routine around this fact. He said he wanted poses that flowed together to give an entertaining routine that was well-rehearsed.
Stinson, now an avid fitness buff, initially became interested in the lifestyle during high school. He lifted weights for sports, but his interest peaked during his senior year. It was then he took a greater interest in his food intake and began drinking protein shakes, a staple in many bodybuilders' regimen, Stinson says.
After training seriously for three years, Stinson always toyed with the idea of entering a bodybuilding show. Thoughts of not being "big enough" or contest preparation being "too much work" put him off at first. After attending shows of friends and seeing other contestants, he became inspired enough to make the commitment.
"[I had to] lay it on the line at some point," he said regarding the decision to compete.
And so "Champion of Champions," organized by North Philadelphia gym Body Challenge Fitness Center and held at Drexel's Mandell theatre, presented a great opportunity.
Preparing for the competition was no walk through the park. Beginning seven weeks prior to the show, the ideal condition for male bodybuilders is three to five percent body fat, a characteristic known as "being conditioned".
"Dieting is rough," he said.
The objective of the contest preparation period is to lose as much body fat as possible while maintaining muscle mass. In order to achieve this, a nutritional balancing act is performed through the restriction of calories, increasing the consumption of protein, and utilizing carbohydrates to maintain energy levels. During this time, according to Stinson, many athletes will find that their workouts become tougher and they lose some strength due to the lack of calorie in their diets.
Bodybuilders are not just athletes; they are also showmen.
Posing routines enable the competitors to accentuate their strengths to the judges, and Stinson noted that he created his posing routine around this fact. He said he wanted poses that flowed together to give an entertaining routine that was well-rehearsed.
