We are here with recent Tall Class 
MP winner at the USA’s Nick Garton. Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
Thank you! I love nothing more than a new challenge and I relished the opportunity to train with the goal to compete like I had when I was playing football in college. There are so many ex-athletes like me out there that have never lost the passion for competition and still workout and maintain a healthy physique and finally we have an outlet display our hard work.
Can you tell us a little about the Competition you just competed in?
It was an extremely competitive division with a lot of guys that were in great shape! The entire experience of Lindsay Productions USA Championships was amazing from check-ins to pre-judging and finishing up with finals in the evening. The high level of competition at the biggest NPC show to date definitely made me have to step up my game. For this national show all of the competitors had to have placed in the top 5 at a national qualifying show to even compete on the Vegas stage. It all culminated with hearing my name being called for 1st Place in the Tall Class (Class C) out of the 40 or so competitors and the feeling at that very moment is one I’ll never forget!
How did you feel after pre-judging?
I felt confident after being in the first call-out and moved into the middle. However, I stayed focused on bringing my best for the evening show because it is not until the trophies are passed out and you walk off the stage that the judging is really over.
How did you feel about the final results of the show?
I felt great! All the hard work – lifting, cardio, dieting, posing and visualizing -- paid off for me by winning my IFBB Pro Card. I am definitely still using that sensation to fuel me towards working even harder to be competitive at the pro level.
What are your thoughts on the Men's Physique Division and what it may be able to do for your career?
Physique is the opportunity that so many of us have been waiting for. An athletic guy that loves to workout, eat healthy and compete without making so many of the sacrifices to their lifestyle that the top-level bodybuilders chose to. I think it’s great! I am humbled, proud and very honoured to get to be one of the very first few pros at this new division and cherish the opportunity to be a role model, voice and pioneer for the aspiring fitness minded competitors and otherwise.
Age: 27
Hometown: Dana Point, CA
Current city: Orange, CA
Years training: 12
Education: Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego
Occupation: 24-Hour Fitness Club Manager
Favorite type of training: Cardio Intervals and Pyramids
Favorite body part to train: Shoulders
Favorite exercise: Arnold Press Pyramid – 11 sets, 6 up and 5 back down Set 1 – 12 reps x 30lb Dumbbells, Set 2 – 10x40s, Set 3 – 8x50s, Set 4 – 6x60s, Set 5 – 4x70s, Set 6 – 2x80s and back down – minimal rest
Rep range: Depending on the type of training that I am doing.
For strength and size - I do a long warm-up and eventually end up doing my target weight for 3-6 reps – any more than 6 reps means I need to add more weight.
For cutting and sculpting - I do different compound and super-set style exercises for about 10-20 reps.
Number of sets: Again, this depends on my goal. When lifting super heavy, 4-5 sets of 3-6 reps. Light sets (pre-contest), I have been stacking 4 or 5 exercises together and doing 5 sets, 20 reps each with minimal rest.
Typical workout duration: 60-90 mins lifting and 25-40 mins cardio.
Training split: In the last 3 weeks before my contest I have been focused on mainly upper-body and my weak points as well as cardio intervals.
Sunday – Upper Chest
Monday – Cardio/Back
Tuesday – Shoulders/Biceps
Wednesday – Cardio/Back
Thursday – Biceps/Shoulders
Friday – Upper Chest
Saturday – Cardio/Abs
Typical daily eating plan: I eat about 6-9 times a day -- small portions that are around 35 grams of clean protein per meal. This helps maintain my muscle mass and keep my metabolism working fast. I have a little bit of sugar and caffeine prior to my workouts and always replenish with amino acids (BCAA’s) and a shake.
Breakfast - Egg Whites & Fat Free Cottage Cheese, Oatmeal; AM1 - Shake with Fat Free Milk; Lunch - Can of Tuna, Rice Cakes, String Cheese; Pre W/O - Bread with Jelly; Post W/O – Shake and Banana; PM1- Protein Bar; Dinner – Chicken Breast, Veggie, Rice; Evening - Yogurt
Favorite supplement: Met-Rx’s Pure Protein Peanut Butter Marshmallow Eclipse Bar
What peaked your interest in training? I grew up playing soccer and was a skinny, lanky kid. I originally started lifting to bulk up when I decided to try and switch to football in high school. I would spend hours in our “gym” in the garage with my dad doing every exercise I had ever seen. I would make adjustments as I learned new exercises and techniques and as my body developed and adapted to what I was doing. The harder that I worked the more that I saw changes in my body and was more successful on the field.
Who influences/influenced your training? My family because I always strive to set a good example for my younger sisters and make my parents proud through applying hard work and determination in everything I do. I’m extremely close with my family and my parents have always focused on instilling a strong work ethic in my sisters and I. They will always be my greatest support system. Additionally, IFBB Fitness Pro Venus Nguyen and NPC Bodybuilder Eli Blahut both helped me tremendously throughout the entire process and their wealth of knowledge and input proved invaluable.
Sports: Football (wide receiver, return specialist, and defensive back) for the University of San Diego (2002-2006), Soccer from a young age (nationally ranked club team through high school), Track and Field (100m and 200m).
Special interests: Cuban family dinners with my parents and sisters, watching my beloved San Francisco 49ers win, hiking with Lugg (my Lab/Bulldog mix), kayaking, camping, any excuse to exercise outside, and my obsession with Yelp – looking for new places to eat.
Physique, fitness, bodybuilding competition history: 
Jay Cutler Desert Classic, April 23rd, 2011 – 3rd Tall Class
LA Championships, July 23rd, 2011 – 5th Tall Class
NPC USA Championships, July 30th, 2011 – 1st Tall Class *Earned IFBB Professional Status
Awards and/or accomplishments: 2011 NPC USA’s Men’s Physique Class C Champion. Magna Cum Laude graduate from Hahn Business School University of San Diego, 1st Team All Pioneer Football League Wide Receiver and Return Specialist (football) University of San Diego, 1st Team ESPN the Magazine Academic All American Wide Receiver, Captain of Football Team at USD, hold numerous receiving and kick return (punt and kickoff) records at both University of San Diego (including most yards receiving in single game – 243 yards and 3 TD’s) and Dana Hills High School.
Next planned competition: Pro Grand Prix - Los Angeles
Men’s Physique Championships April 14th, 2012
What keeps you on track towards reaching your goals? I am constantly looking for a new challenge and adventure. When I first started playing sports, I learned that the most successful athletes are the ones that don’t need to rely on others to keep them motivated. After I have set a goal, I use self-discipline and determination to work hard and push myself to the end. I want to help motivate others and use that thought as additional motivation.
Interesting fact or something you would like our readers to know about you:
I accomplished my athletic achievements while overcoming a condition I was born with in my left eye that severely limits my vision in that eye. And I’m half Cuban.
Website and facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/nick.garton1
Contact Information: [email protected]
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