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OneStopMuscle talks to IFBB Mens Physique Pro and Gaspari Sponsored Athlete Ryan Hughes

Name: Ryan Hughes

Age: 24

Hometown: West Chester, PA (currently living in New York, NY)

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 215 lbs

How/Why did you get started in bodybuilding?

I began lifting to put on some size as I was an ectomorph and quite thin. This led to an “addiction” to the weights. Once I started putting on size, I was hooked. I always looked up to guys with great aesthetics and lines and strived to put together a great overall package. When I was 19, I decided to take my progress to the next level on stage. I did well in bodybuilding but putting on the incredible mass that some of these guys carry today was too hard for me. I enjoyed a more well rounded physique with a good balance of mass, conditioning and shape. This led to my debut in the new NPC Physique division which I obtained IFBB Pro status in earlier this year.

How do you stay motivated?

Set realistic goals and focus on you. Don’t strive for someone elses results. Find your strengths and weaknesses and work towards bettering your physique with those in mind. This will lead to faster gains and continued success in the gym, rather then reaching for something that might not be in the cards for you. I realized my physique was not going to make it in the IFBB Pro Bodybuilding ranks, so I worked with what was given to me and built a physique that I am happy with. I will continue to grow and get better as I love what I do and enjoy each session in the gym.

What’s your typical diet for the off-season and pre contest?

I haven’t been in a offseason now for 18 months, which is tough. My last offseason, I took in around 5-6k calories and really tried to push my physique to the limit in terms of size and mass. I always eat clean, its just a matter of how much food I take in. Pre-contest I carb cycle and keep fats and protein relatively high. My carbs are kept pretty low with higher carb days added in every so often to refuel.

Preferred type of cardio and why?

I prefer steady state cardio as I feel it helps me best preserve my muscle mass. I have tried running and HIIT and I end up losing size too quick. As I said, I am an ectomorph from the get go so I tend to struggle with mass for so then bodyfat %.

What’s it like having such a great team and supplement company behind you?

AWESOME! It is truly a blessing to be signed with Gaspari Nutrition. I will be honest, I would have never thought in thousand years I would be a part of something so great or be a sponsored athlete, especially by one of the industry leading supplement companies. Prior to being signed with Gaspari, I always used and stood behind their products, so it truly was a dream come to true when signing the contract! It really is like a family. Every employee and every athlete are down to earth and always willing to help out. It’s a great atmosphere and a great company which is really just beginning to tap into their potential in terms of product development.

What does your supplementation consist of?

I use the following produtcts:

Gaspari Nutrition MyoFusion (morning)

Gaspari Nutrition IntraPro (post workout)

Gaspari Nutrition Phenorex (pre-contest only)

Gaspari Nutrition Spirodex (off and on throughout the year)

Gaspari Nutrition Size-On PreContest (year round)

Gaspari Nutrition SuperPump MAX (daily)

Gaspari Nutrition Anavite (morning and post workout)

Gaspari Nutrition BCAA6000 (when dieting)

Karbolyn or Vitargo (post workout)

Favorite supplement?

Tough question! I would have to say SuperPump MAX (especially the Sour Apple flavor)

What’s your training routine?

I do a 5 day split. Chest, Legs, Shoulders, Back, Arms. Rest and repeat. I currently am doing an hour of cardio a day as well, preparing for the Olympia.

What’s your take on creatine?

Creatine is the most research and proven supplement in the industry. It works, period. No your not going to gain 20 lbs in a month, but over time creatine supplementation will benefit more then if you were to train without it. For that reason, I take Size-On daily.

Any training tips?

Train hard and treat every workout as another opportunity to get better. Whether its through one extra rep, five extra lbs or an extra five minutes of cardio, always look to improve!

Any diet tips for bulking and cutting?

Always eat clean. Bulking or not, don’t eat sloppy as it will only make things harder in the long run. When bulking, eat more food but don’t get your food from sloppy sources. Also, you don’t need 400g of protein to grow, this is a myth. Take in 1 gram to 1.5 grams MAX per pound of your bodyweight daily.

Any other tips and advice?

No matter your build, genetics, situation or financial state you can achieve a great physique. I was a 6’1” 135lb Ectomorph with a concave chest when I began. Now am I am a sponsored athlete and IFBB Physique Pro. Keep at it, it’s a marathon not a sprint!

Follow Ryan on Twitter! - http://twitter.com/#!/ryanphughes