Showcasing a body of work

After 15 years of training, Lodi bodybuilder Robert Rodriguez, 36, recently competed in his first bodybuilding competition. Rodriguez was nervous that he wouldn't measure up to the competition, but his doubts were put to rest after he was named the novice men's overall champion, the men's novice heavyweight champion and placed fourth in the men's open division at the NPC Sacramento Bodybuilding Championships earlier this month. Rodriguez's goal is to be a professional bodybuilder. (Courtesy photograph)

Showcasing a body of work

Q&A with Lodi bodybuilder Robert Rodriguez

By Joelle Milholm
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Friday, November 21, 2008 6:24 AM PST

Comments (1 comment(s))

For over 15 years, Lodi's Robert Rodriguez has dreamt of being a bodybuilder. He's sculpted his body and trained to do so during the whole period. On Nov. 1, the 36-year-old took part in his first competition and was named the novice men's overall champion, men's novice heavyweight champion and placed fourth in the open men's heavyweight division of the NPC (National Physique Committee) Sacramento Bodybuilding Championships.

He is now training for another NPC competition on May 6 in Contra Costa County. There he'll ditch his novice status and compete in the open division. If he can win, he'll qualify for nationals and get closer to realizing his dream of being a professional bodybuilder.

Q: What got you into bodybuilding?

A: "I have always been very competitive and always played sports in life. It gave me something to do when I was done with high school. I have been doing it for 15 years and I have had a lot of people that thought I should have competed a long time ago. Jed Green, of Max Muscle in Lodi, and I went to the Sacramento competition last year and decided I wanted to do it."

Q: What was it like competing for the first time?

A: "I was nervous. Very, very nervous. Backstage, you think everyone looks better than you and Jed kept me calm and told me I have nothing to worry about and we worked hard and I had every right to be there. After the first round, when I was chosen in the top five, I lit up like a Christmas tree. That got my confidence up and knew I was going to win from there."

Q: What was your strategy going in?

A: "I had to make weight to compete at the heavyweight level so I weighed in at 225 pounds. Then I put on 10 pounds between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. I ate a ton of white rice. That was the strategy on this one because I was going to be novice. I will be super heavyweight from here on out so the goal is to get as big as possible between now and the next show. I would like to be at 240-245 pounds."

Q: How was the competition judged?

A: "They judge you on critical scale — how symmetrical you are, how lean you are and how shredded. ... They are looking at every muscle, every little thing. You have to do specific poses next to the other guys because that they want to compare you too."

Q: How did you feel when you won?

A: "Overall it was a great experience to compete and go out and make an impression on people and I had about 50 people there to watch me and 40 of them were from here in Lodi. It was nice to have all the support and not to let them down."

Q: What is an average day like for you?

A: "When I am getting ready to compete, I get up at 4 a.m. and have a protein shake and then do an hour of cardio — just walking on the treadmill on an incline because you want to burn fat, not muscle. Then I have another protein shake and then I eat every three hours. Mainly high-protein foods. Lots of chicken breast, steak, oatmeal and white rice. I basically eat around the clock."

Q: What is your weight training schedule like?

A: In offseason training (not close to a show) I work out for two hours a day. I do four sets of 12 and usually do one body part a day like chest, legs, arms, back, shoulders and rotate. I am usually doing four sets of 12 and for my chest, for example, I will lift between 300-400 pounds."

Q: What does it take to be a bodybuilder?

A: "It takes a team. I couldn't do it without my fiancée Sandra Wright and Jed, who is training me. It is a full-time job."

Q: What would it be like if you turned pro?

A: "It would change dramatically. It would open a lot of doors for the sport I love so much. I would pick up more sponsors and compete for money because a lot of the shows have cash prizes."

A: How often would you compete?

Q: "I would compete in three or four shows max per year because the dieting is so hard. You are getting down to 3 percent body fat. You don't drink any water for two days before the show. You are really pushing your body to the limit and you have to be careful because it can be dangerous."

Reader Feedback

loadeye wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:11 AM:

" Great job, Robert! It takes a special perso and great discipline to become a great bodybuilder and you've already shown you have that capability. Good luck on your May 6 competition and hope to see your picture as the heavyweight overall champion. You've got great inspiration in Jed and Sandra and one great attitude. Congratulations! "

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