For bodybuilder Juan Diesel, the love affair with bodybuilding began the minute he picked up his first copy of ‘Flex'. Leafing through the pages, he paused at the contest coverage section, and 
gazed in amazement at the condition achieved by the featured athletes. However, his mind swiftly went from a state of awe to one of total inspiration. After all, if those guys could totally transform their bodies there was nothing stopping him from obtaining similar results. He may have opened that magazine as an average guy but he closed it as an aspiring bodybuilder!
Zipping forward to the present day, Juan is currently training for the NPC Junior Nationals in Chicago(June 19 -20) and took some time out of his busy schedule as a personal trainer to talk to me about his life as a bodybuilder....
So Juan, what were those early workouts like back when you first became best buds with your local gym?
"Wow, things were SO different back then! I worked out my legs by just doing leg extensions and leg curls. I was afraid of squats since I didn't want to hurt my back. Now I can't stay away from squats, I love them. I would also weight train during the day and then do calisthenics at night. I did a lot of jogging, used bad form and was pretty much always overtraining. The list just goes on and on!"
So I guess the biggest mistake you made was one that we all make...overtraining!
"Oh yes, I over trained my whole body and I always felt like I got run over by a train."
One thing that not a lot of people know about you is that you did in fact spend some time in prison back in those early days. That must have made things difficult diet wise?
"My diet wasn't really a problem since I was always pretty good at counting calories and listening to my body. The hardest part was that, being in prison, I had to make every penny I spent count. I ate tuna, mackerel, chicken, rice and always tried to consume the right amount of protein and carbs. I didn't have extra cash for junk food...which turned out to be a good thing!"
Turning the focus on your first show, how did it feel getting up on stage for the first time?
"Well, my first competition was a competition being held in the prison where I was incarcerated. It was weird the first 5 - 10 minutes because the audience was made up of the population of the prison and male and female staff officers. I soon became comfortable though."
So how did you become involved with the legendary Dave Palumbo?
"I sent him a letter with pictures of the competition I had won in prison with a little bio. He printed my photo and bio on MD and I was very thrilled and excited. When I was released from prison I went on line, googled his name, got the link to his web site and sent him an e mail re-introducing myself. He answered my e-mail and we have been friends ever since. He also decided to add me to his team of sponsored athletes at Species Nutrition."
So how has working with Dave impacted your training and your physique?
"Wow! Where do I start? I have gained about 30lbs of muscle and my condition on stage is constantly improving. Working with Dave has been a great experience and I plan on working with him for my entire career. I have learned a lot from Dave and I am very grateful for that. Dave's work speaks for itself, he knows what he is doing...if you listen to him you will be the best that you can be. He gives me tips on training when I ask him and I respect everything he says, he knows his stuff.
"My diet has also changed a whole lot. I eat more fats in my diet now and I have gained a greater knowledge of nutrition while working with Dave. I love the diet he has me on now. People say that Dave doesn't try new things or just sticks to the same diet, but that is not true. He has me consuming carbs with 5 of my meals everyday with a cheat meal once a week. I am 3 ½ weeks out and I still have my carbs.
"I am also hooked on all the Species products. I have been using them for two years now and the products have made a big difference when it comes to improving my physique."
So what is the hardest part about contest preparation for you?
"I actually love the whole thing but the most difficult part for me is right at the very end when I have to deplete. I get so hungry that it drives me crazy and another thing is not being able to eat my cheeseburgers, pizzas and ice cream!"
As the nationals are fast approaching what are you focusing on most in terms of your training?
"I just want to keep focusing on my leg size. Things are going well so far, my legs are still big and in condition. Let's see how they look in 3 ½ weeks..."
Changing the subject entirely, how does being in such a demanding sport affect your personal relationships?
"It affects them a lot towards the last eight weeks when things start to get more serious and mood swings start to come about. I guess it is hard at times to understand what we do and what we put our bodies through. Usually when you are in your last stages you can't dedicate as much time to your partner and things start going sour."
As a personal trainer, do you find it more difficult to fill the demands placed on you by your clients during contest prep?
"No training others is something I love. I love to see my clients making improvements and achieving their goals, and in turn they gain inspiration from watching me get ready for a show."
So, in terms of your future, what do you want your life to be like, both in and out of the sport, 5 years from now?
"I plan on being a top pro athlete within 5 years and I believe I have the drive to do what it takes to get there. Out of the sport I hope to have a beautiful family, own my own business, and be able to provide for my parents who have been there for me for my entire life. They have never given up on me and always showed me lots of support, and I appreciate that with all of my heart..."
Juan Diesel is certainly a man on fire and a man with mission...see him execute that mission with utmost perfection at the NPC Junior Nationals in Chicago and get ready to hear a LOT more about him in the years that lie ahead!
Find out more about Juan by visiting his website at www.juanjdiesel.com
