We are here with John Lee, winner of the Tall Class MP
Division at the Europa in Dallas this past weekend. Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
This division is a God-send for those of us who have a specific belief in the ideal male physique. I admire the bodies of pro bodybuilders but never pursued bodybuilding seriously. I wanted to retain my athleticism and continue practicing martial arts. I valued form and function and did not want my body to exceed a certain weight limit. When this division came to existence I was immediately drawn to it.
Can you tell us a little about the Competition you just competed in?
The Europa Super Show in Dallas TX is a combination of IFBB Pro Show and NPC Shows. It is probably the top 2 or 3 biggest competition in the country after the Olympia and the Arnold in terms of industry attendance and drawing power. In the Men's Physique division there were over 50 competitors split into 2 groups. In my class (Class B 5'10” and Over), there were over 20 competitors. Being backstage was an awe-inspiring experience because of the caliber of the competitors who showed up in TX this weekend.
How did you feel after pre-judging?
Upbeat and encouraged. I knew I was in the first call-out, so I was pretty sure I'd be one of the top 6. However, my goal was to qualify for national competitions for the rights to earn my pro card, so I was determined to beat out one more competitor to finish in the top 5. I went home and water-depleted a little bit more. Came into the finals 3lbs lighter than the night before and was satisfied I did absolutely everything in my power.
How did you feel about the final results of the show?
I was ecstatic about coming in first in my class. There were some very impressive physiques on display so I felt both blessed and lucky to be the last one standing. I really had no idea there would be that many tall competitors in the first place! In the overall, I finished 2nd to one of the most impressive physiques I've ever seen, so no regrets there. I need to refine a few things and continue improving. I have a long way to go still.
What are your thoughts on the Men's Physique Division and what it may be able to do for your career?
I think it's the future of bodybuilding, creating a top tier class of men who can be promoted to the mainstream public and cross-over to man industries including music, tv, film, fashion, and other entertainment industries. It will define top trainers, coaches, and nutritional consultants and give them an edge on the competition. It will do wonders for marketing and promotion of the fitness industry as a whole and it's competitors. What this may do for my career is give me the stepping stones I needed to climb upwards. This opens up new doors for me onto roads that I never knew existed. I look forward to the expansion of this division as the future holds many promising surprises.
Age: 30
Hometown: Houston, TX
Current city: Dallas, TX
Years training: 15
Education: University of Texas at Austin.
Occupation: Personal training Assistant Department Head.
Favorite type of training: I like fast-paced training that incorporates core and functional training along with basic building block exercises like bench press and military presses. Typically I train 2 bodyparts at the same time and go back and forth between exercises and finish in around an hour. I also stretch about 20 minutes each day for martial arts and play a variety of sports. My favorites are MMA, table tennis, racketball, and basketball.
Favorite body part to train: Probably shoulders. I love the idea of wide shoulders and tiny tiny waist. It creates the illusion of width and in my mind represents the ideal male physique.
Favorite exercise: DB Lateral raises. I go heavy, up to 55lb Dbs. Just a matter of grab and go. Drop sets, supersets, partial reps, I do it all. Nothing feels better than pumped shoulders.
Rep range: 6-12, but I may go all the way up to 25 reps for some days for shock treatment. For the preparation of Europa, my workout partner and I went in the gym one day and did 1 set on each machine for 25 reps. It was our cardio session and we did it back to back to back until we finished. I think we did over 30 machines and darn near passed out afterwards.
Number of sets: typically 9-12 sets per bodypart, although I have gone as high as 20 sets on some days for shock treatment.
Typical workout duration: 1 hour for resistance training. Stretching takes longer because of my martial arts involvement.
Training split: Shoulders/legs, biceps/back, triceps/chest. I tend to do calves 4 times a week and abs 2 times a week. On bicep and tricep days, I do those first before I do chest and back.
Typical daily eating plan: I typically stay low-carb, moderate fat, moderate protein on a consistent basis. 1 day a week I'll have a couple of cheat meals. In the off season I have 2 cheat days a week. On a normal day, I'll eat 5 times of the following: 6-8 ounces of chicken breast, 1 low-carb pita, a scoop of peanut butter, spinach and mushrooms. Lately I've started to drink BCAA drinks and incorporating more protein bars and protein shakes for convenience. On cheat days, all bets are off. Scare grocery store clerks and keep the wait staff busy. Probably shut-down a few all-you-can-eat places in my days!
Favorite supplement: I love ON proteins and Athletic Edge Nutrition intra-workout drinks. Just the basics for me, and covers up a little of minor mistakes here and there with my diet.
What peaked your interest in training? The mental discipline required to push yourself past the previously perceived limits has proven to be a daily challenge. It has made my life better as a whole and introduced me to the real meaning of work ethic and determination.
Who influences/influenced your training? Arnold Schwarzenegger peaked my interest in the beginning. Now my clients gives me the inspiration and the motivation to continue pushing myself. Their continued support is the reason I have been able to be successful in my pursuits. Watching my clients train gives me goosebumps sometimes.
Sports: Mixed Martial Arts, Basketball, Table Tennis, Racketball, etc.
Special interests: I love reading gadget blogs. I'm probably a closet nerd. I'm always reading up on the next Android device or the rumors of the next Iphone specs. I also love cooking shows and real estate. I think outside of ESPN and the NFL Network, the Food Network and HGTV are the two most watched channels on my TV.
Physique, fitness, bodybuilding competition history:
7th place finish at the 2011 Lone Star Classic Men's Physique division.
1st place finish at the 2011 Europa Super Show Men's Physique Division Class B (Tall Class 5'10” and over)
Next planned competition:
2011 NPC Nationals in South Beach, FL this November. I plan to compete against the best of the best from across the country.
What keeps you on track towards reaching your goals?
The drive for personal success, with the full understanding that life's purpose has to be more than the march towards death. Fitness is so inter-woven into my life that it is as much a part of my daily routine as brushing teeth twice a day. I cannot imagine a life without training, just as I cannot imagine a life without discipline.
Interesting fact or something you would like our readers to know about you:
I was born in Beijing, China, and moved here when I was almost 11 years old. Speak fluent Mandarin. Grew up as the only child. 99% of my family outside of my parents still live in China. In the past 19 years, I've seen my extended family twice. I've had to grow up fast and thrive under pressure. Oh, I'm single and love long walks on the beach, hahaha ;)
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=606162131
Contact Information
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