By Roger Riedinger Beverly International Nutrition
Bodybuilder for Life ---now don’t get confused with Bill Phillip’s mass marketed Body-For-Life contest. Yes, while massive Chris Myers might meet that demographic - 32 years old, married, two children – that’s where any viable comparison ends.
Why? Well, the Chris Myers story starts long before MET-Rx or Bill Phillips and EAS made their first grand. Chris’ roots in weight training go back to the more primitive days of concrete weights homemade benches and cold, wet and dark basements.
When I first met Chris, he was 15 with 4 years of training behind him already. First with concrete weights in the basement, then at 12, with his first coach, Tom Geimeier, doing basic power lifts. It was the summer of 1984, 17 years ago when Chris walked into my gym, saying he wanted to be a bodybuilder.
Chris came to the gym everyday. He was a hungry 15-year-old who NEVER missed a work out. He was so into training that as a part of a school shop assignment he made a commercial quality, steel seated press bench frame (with racks) – upholstered leather seat and backrest. That Spring Chris competed in his first bodybuilding contest, taking 5th in the open teenage class at the Northern Kentucky. The next year he won it.
Then came a 14-year contest hiatus. He became a “local legend” always close to contest shape but never entering another contest. Chris’ training was his life. Competition was not necessary. He was in competition with himself. Throughout the 80’s into the early 90’s Berry DeMey had the look Chris desired, (lately Kevin Levrone has the combination of size, symmetry and conditioning that Chris tries to emulate).
Chris continued to train regularly (he’s missed just ten days training in 15 years) and focus on the basics. Periodically he’d enter a Powerlifting Meet and man this guy is REALLY strong, squatting 800 or more for five consecutive years.
But bodybuilding was his life -- unfinished business. Chris’ wife of 7 years, Jenny played a big part in his decision to reenter competition. Quite a bodybuilder herself, Jenny was ready to compete in a show and Chris wasn’t going to be left behind. So the entire Myers household including 6-year-old Stephen and 5-year-old Austin became precontest oriented. No junk food in the cabinet, 2 – hour training sessions and repeated posing sessions.
| Austin and Steven join Chris onstage to celebrate his win at the Northern |  |
So what contest to enter? There was no doubt in Chris’ mind. For the past 14 years there was one contest that meant more than any of the others. Ever since he’d competed as a Teen, the Northern Kentucky was the show he wanted to win.
Chris continued to train as he always had. Contest or not, training is always 2 days on - 1 off: just like this: Day 1: Chest / Triceps Day 2: Back Day 3: Off Day 4: Shoulders / Biceps Day 5: Legs Repeat Cycle
Since Chris’ leg development is definitely Big-Time, I thought you’d like to see how he trains legs. Here’s his February 17 workout, exactly 4 weeks out from the contest:
Off-season Chris normally eats two good bodybuilding meals (protein, low glycemic carbs and vegetable), two protein drink meals, and one what he considers “junk” meal. Since Chris eats a lot less protein than many bodybuilders he relies on Ultra Size, Muscle Provider, Beverly Ultra 40 and Mass Amino Acid tablets to make certain that he gets 100% utilization from the food he does eat. His contest diet started at 3500 calories and over 12 weeks decreased to 2600. Nutrient ratio started at 40% Protein – 40% Carbohydrate – 20% Fat. As the contest approached he dropped calories at regular intervals - first to 3200, then 3000, 2800 and finally, 2600. Protein intake was kept constant throughout while calorie cuts were from carbs and fat.
Here’s a typical day at 8 weeks out:
Meal #1: 3 oz chicken, 2 whole eggs, 5 egg whites, 1/2-cup oatmeal, 1 piece low calorie toast with sugar free jelly Meal #2: 6 oz lean beef, 1 medium sweet potato, 1 8 oz box frozen broccoli Meal #3: 1 can tuna, 1 Matzo Cracker, 1 box Brussels sprouts Meal #4: Protein Drink, 2 Rice cakes Meal #5: 6 oz chicken, small sweet potato Meal #6 1 can tuna, ½ cup rice Meal #7: 6 oz chicken, 2 rice cakes
With 25 Ultra 40 and 20 Mass Aminos spread out through the day with each meal. By the two week out point he had lowered his fat intake considerably:
Meal #1: 10 egg whites + ½ cup oatmeal Meal #2: 8 oz chicken + small sweet potato Meal #3: 1 ½ cans tuna + ½ cup rice + ½ box broccoli Meal #4: 7 oz chicken + ½ cup rice Meal #5: 8 oz chicken + ½ cup rice + 1 box broccoli
Additional Supplements: Beverly Lean Out, Muscularity BCAA’s, and up to 15 Joint Care each day. (He keeps using Ultra 40 Liver and Mass Aminos too).
 |
Jennifer and Chris Myers – Beverly supplements helped them win overall titles at the NPC Battle of Champions |
Chris started his diet at 239 at 7½% bodyfat. He competed at the Northern at 221 after a 16-week diet. By staying lean off-season and intelligent dieting Chris was able to retain nearly all his lean mass while getting ripped to the bone. When I asked if he had any secrets that he didn’t want me to share he chuckled and handed over both his training and diet diaries. “Use whatever you want.” Chris did very little cardio – sometimes on his off days while Jenny trained.
After seeing his wife, Jenny just miss winning (by a tiebreak – no less) Chris took the stage. And it was all over. He’d waited nearly fifteen years to compete again and it was worth the wait. Chris was phenomenal! He won the heavyweight class and overall title. A week later at the national qualifying Battle of Champions Chris repeated his success, once again winning the overall title. And this time Jenny won as well.
What’s next? Probably the 2002 JR USA. I asked Chris if he had any words of wisdom for our readers. His answer, "Consistency in training, nutrition and Beverly supplements – year round."
