SC: Thanks for the interview Dickens. Can you please tell us a little about yourself?

DL:  No, I should be the one thanking you for wanting to interview me. Hummm…I’m 31 years old and happily married to an amazing woman. We’ve been married for more than three years now. I’m a high school English teacher. I’ve been teaching for more than 6 years. I’m also a personal trainer. I’ve been in the fitness business for more than 14 years but only officially started up a personal training business with my wife less than a year ago. She’s an occupational therapist and personal trainer. The name of our company is BodyInfluence. Our company comprises rehabilitation, general physical training to aid clients in achieving and maintaining overall health as well as advanced physical training for those desiring to compete in a bodybuilding, figure & fitness competition or simply aspiring to  be fit beyond the normal standards of our modern society. Obviously, she and I have been really busy juggling the new business in addition to my full time job as a teacher & being the new & proud parents of our baby boy.

SC: How long have you been into bodybuilding / weight training?

DL:  I started weight training at the age of 14 but it only lasted a couple of months. I went back to the gym only three years later after having seen a personal trainer and bodybuilder walking out of the school gym as I was running out the school gymnasium to drink water. The guy was wearing a tank top and I could see his massive muscles. I was fascinated with his physique and with what the body could achieve through dedication and discipline.

SC: Tell us about how you got into bodybuilding?

DL:  After 18 months of serious training and frequent eating, I had gained more than 40 pounds. My membership at the gym where I was at the time was about to expire. My training partner at the time told me that there was another gym close by that would be worth considering going to.

We liked the machines and the atmosphere so my partner and I became new members. It’s only after a week of training at this new gym did I notice it was full of competitive bodybuilders. I slowly got into bodybuilding because I wanted to improve my physique beyond the normal standards of the average Joe and because the environment in which I trained pushed me to strive for more physical progress.

SC: What or who inspired you to compete?

DL:  The owner of the gym where I had recently become a new member told me I had the potential to compete in a bodybuilding contest. Thereafter, I trained extremely hard for a year to improve my physique in order to compete in my first bodybuilding competition in the junior division at the age of 19. I was crowned the junior overall champion at the competition. From then on, I caught the competition bug and never looked back.

SC: I wanted to congratulate you on winning the Pro Bodybuilding Division at the 2008 IDFA Canadian Classic IV?

DL:  Thank you so much. I’m honored to have won the competition. It was a great competition experience. I can’t wait to renew the experience.

SC: What is your favourite bodypart to train?

DL:  I love to train my back. I get a great pump when I work it out.

SC: Do you have any advice for anyone looking to compete for their first time?

DL:  Of course I do. First, Bodybuilding is about building the body that God has blessed us with. Each body type is different possessing its strengths & weaknesses. One must embrace this fact and try to improve it to the best of his ability with the natural limits that come with it. A first-time competitor must therefore not compare his body to the others because the latter may have more or less weight training years behind their belt which ultimately makes an enormous difference in how a physique looks. Any body type can improve as long as a person sticks to his training, meal plan and supplementation. The first-time competitor looking to compete must always remember that a bodybuilding, figure or fitness competition is the final destination to a personal journey of the body and the mind. Should the person choose to compete, emotional and physical contentment must be the result of the destination and not the first-timers placing at the contest.

Secondly, a first-time competitor must listen to his trainer and have confidence in his experience. Many people will tell the first-time competitor different things to get ready or peak for a competition. As the competition date gets closer, insecurity may tend to take over the competitor’s mind. Drastic changes in diet, training & supplementation might then be incorporated in the first-timers contest prep. The end result may be disastrous for the first-timer as well as frustrating to the experienced trainer who has realized that his athlete didn’t exactly follow his personalized contest prep. Essentially, always listen to your trainer.

Lastly, anyone who wants to compete for the first time should practice the mandatory poses in order to display their body appropriately and to his advantage while concealing the flaws that are currently present. It has to look easy even though multiple muscles are being flexed at the same time. Posing is an art that needs to be practiced in order to be correctly mastered especially if it’s the first time someone poses in front of a crowd. Then, the choreography or routine should focus on the first timer’s strong points as well as be entertaining for the public. Don’t forget to interact with the crowd.

SC: Do you train on your own or do you have a training partner?

DL:  I am training on my own right now. I used to have a training partner but unfortunately our different work schedule no longer allows us to train together.

SC: What about supplements?  What are your favourites?

DL:  I’m very fussy about the supplements I put into my body. Quality is very important to me that’s why I love ALLMAX Nutrition products and encourage my clients & and friends to use ALLMAX products.  Right now, I am taking Leutor-70, Isoflex whey protein, TestoFx, Glutamine and Quickmass to gain  mass before a competition. When I’m close to a competition, I remove the Quickmass from my supplementation and replace it with Rapidcuts because I want to lose bodyfat to be ready for the competition.

SC: Will we see you on an IDFA Pro stage in 2009?

DL:  I truly hope so.

SC: Any final words?

DL:  I’m really happy and proud to be apart of the IDFA organization. Its philosophy concurs with mine.

SC: Thanks for the interview Dickens.

DL:  Thank you Shaun.