This past August, Mike Van Wyck entered his first Canadian National Contest and, to the surprise of all the experts, he emerged victorious with a brand new IFBB Pro Card in hand. In fact, 
in this history-making win, he defeated two heavy "favorites" in the super heavyweight class proving, once again, that sometimes the "darkhorse" competitor can be the most dangerous. Find out who this mystery man is, where he came from, and what you can expect from him in the upcoming 2010 season.
RX: Mike, to start off, tell the Rx Muscle community where you're from?
Mike: I'm originally from Toronto, Canada. However, I lived in Rhode Island for about six years when I attended school at the University of Rhode Island. A couple of years after I graduated, I moved back to Canada to be closer to my family.
RX: How old are you?
Mike: I just turned 29.
RX: When is your birthday?
Mike: December 6th.
RX: How long have you been competing?
Mike: I did my first show in 2005.
RX: What was your first show?
Mike: I did the New England Bodybuilding Championships.
RX: And how'd you do?
Mike: Uhhh....really bad. I didn't really know what I was doing. I think I placed like 9th? (laughs)
RX: What weight class did you compete in?
Mike: I was a Heavyweight.
RX: How did you first get started in bodybuilding?
Mike: In High School I played football and other sports and I was lifting then. I always knew I wanted to try bodybuilding. I used to look at bodybuilding magazines all the time. Dorian Yates was a huge inspiration to me. So after playing football in college, I decided to give it a try.
RX: Let's get your stats. How tall are you?
Mike: 6'0"
RX: What is your weight on stage?
Mike: This year it was 260 lbs.
RX: And what is your current off season weight?
Mike: Right now I'm about 308 lbs.
RX: What is your diet like?
Mike: Right now? In the off season? I eat pretty clean most of the time, but I'm not afraid to eat something if I want it. Like if I go out to eat and I want something that isn't normally in my diet, I'll eat it.
RX: How about your contest prep diet?
Mike: It's a pretty standard bodybuilding diet. We'll tweak things throughout the prep, but we mainly just watch my protein and fat intake. Toward the end we'll start cycling the carbs, doing low days and then high 
or medium days. I've never done the no carb thing.
RX: How many calories do you take in?
Mike: I don't know - I don't count.
RX: How long do you diet before a show?
Mike: Well, this last time, I dieted for about 16 weeks, but that was too long. I'll probably do 12 the next time. I'll start cleaning it up a couple weeks before the actual contest prep starts, then I'll start the contest diet about 12 weeks out.
RX: Do you design your own diet and training routines?
Mike: No, my buddy, Darren Oliver, does it all for me. He's been helping me ever since I moved back to Canada.
RX: What is your training split and does it change as you get closer to a show?
Mike: My training is pretty much always the same. I'm not one of those guys who increases the reps and lightens the weight as I get closer to the show. I'll lighten it up a little to prevent injury, but not that much.
My split is 5 - 6 days/week:
Monday - Back
Tuesday - Chest
Wednesday - off
Thursday - Legs
Friday - Shoulders
Saturday - Arms
Sunday - Abs and then break up legs, maybe some hamstrings...
RX: What about cardio?
Mike: This is actually the first off season that I've done cardio. Since amy show until a few weeks ago, I was doing about a 1/2 hour every day. Now I'm doing 30 - 45 minutes 2-3 times a week.
RX: Let's talk about your achievements at the Canadian National Championships. You won the overall and took home your pro card that day. What were your expectations going in to the show?
Mike: I'm definitely my own worst critic. I had never been to Nationals before, so I didn't really know what was going to happen. I knew that there was another guy there who had been there before and was favored to win. And I knew that if I brought my best package, I could beat him. I didn't know if I was going to have to "pay my dues" and that other guy was going to win just because he was a favorite. I wasn't sure if there were any politics involved.
But. at weigh ins, I always look around and see how good other people look, or how much bigger they are than me. I don't ever see myself the way I really am, so I always think the other guys are bigger or possibly, better. I'm not like some of those guys, though, that you see backstage at a show who are freaking out that they don't look good enough. I'm happy with my hard work, I just don't see myself the way other people see me. I guess that a lot of people are like that.
RX: Apparently, the best man won - no political agendas. What do you consider your strongest or best body part?
Mike: My back.
RX: And your weakest?
Mike: My Quads.
RX: Have you gotten any sponsorship offers or contracts since turning pro?
Mike: I signed a contract with MuscleTech for a specific product in May, prior to getting my pro card. Since I've turned pro, they're actually paying me money now.
RX: Any plans to compete in 2010?
Mike: I am planning on doing the New York Pro in May. I've been working on bringing up my quads and arms. I just want to make a big freaky impression. I'd like to be a shock factor, because that show is kind of known for being a good show for the bigger guys.
RX: What do you do for a living?
Mike: I'm a Personal Trainer. Big surprise, right?.
RX: Are you married? Single?
Mike: I am single.
RX: I've seen several places where people have commented on your tattoos. Some say they are distracting, while others really like them. How many do you have?
Mike: I can't really say how many, because they run together. My right arm is half-sleeved and I have a dragon and some other stuff on my left chest and back. It goes over my shoulder.
RX: Why a dragon?
Mike: I don't know - I just like dragons, I'm not one of those people who have deep meanings behind my tattoos. I just get stuff that I like.
RX: Any plans to get more?
Mike: Yeah...I just don't know when. I've heard the comments and a lot of people tell me not to get any more. I think I'm going to wait and see how it all goes with bodybuilding.
RX: Tell me something about yourself that people don't know or they would be surprised to know.
Mike: I think that most people don't know I'm a huge movie nerd.
RX: Favorite movie?
MIke: I don't have a favorite, I like all movies. I even watch the 3-D cartoons. I like comedy, horrors, anything.
RX: Do you quote movie lines?
Mike: Oh yeah - all the time. No favorites, they just come off the top of my head during conversations.
RX: Do you have a website?
Mike: Yeah, but it's under construction. I'm looking for some sponsorship for it. I can be found on Facebook and MySpace, though. Just look up my name.
RX: And how abut any advice for those guys coming up in the ranks with hopes of a pro card?
Mike: There are no secrets - just hard work and dedication. A lot of guys get caught up in the size game, comparing themselves to other people - it's not like that. Focus on you and being the best you can be. Let all the little stuff, like fights with your girlfriend, go. It's a very selfish sport - and it's okay. It's about making yourself better.
