Pump it up

Fitness is life for this SUU bodybuilder

By DAVID DeMILLE
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

The fitness invasion is in full stride at this point, as America grows more and more conscious about health.
Gyms are entertaining more visitors than ever, and muscles are growing almost as quickly.
One result of the recent development is the increased popularity in bodybuilding, the sport made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger and nearly destroyed by Joe Piscapo.
The sport is gaining in popularity, but it remains far from mainstream. Case in point: SUU has its own bodybuilding champion, and no one knows about it.
Jeffrey Beck, a sophomore finance major from Cedar City, was crowned Mr. Teen Utah before his first day at college by winning the teenage division overall championship at the Utah Cup in 2000.
The victory inspired Beck to go further in his bodybuilding exploits, and he has been competing ever since, never finishing out of the top five.
“I don’t think I’ll ever feel quite like that again,” he said. “It was the first time I’d won anything major, and the pride I felt was what really got me thinking about going into serious competition.”
The love affair with building muscle started for Beck at a young age. The children of Wendell and Julie Beck had varying interests at a young age. Heidi played more conventional sports like basketball. Jeffrey was into something entirely different.
“All of the other kids wanted to be baseball players or basketball players,” he said. “I wanted to be Mr. Olympia.”
Mr. Olympia is the name given to the bodybuilder who wins the world’s top
contest and is declared the best in the world.
There are also contests for women, and there are amateur contests for less experienced competitors.
Now Beck is one of the top young bodybuilders in the nation, and at only 180 pounds is competing with much older, larger competition.
“I’ve been the youngest competitor in every contest I’ve entered,” he said. “It’s tough to go out there against guys who have been training for a lot longer. You have to really be confident and trust yourself.”
The original reason for Beck’s interest in the sport was the popularity of Schwarzeneggar. After watching the muscular movie star on the big screen, Beck discovered what he wanted to do.
“I first lifted weights when I was about 13,” he said. “I started to get into serious training when I was 17. I wanted to look like Arnold.”
The next step for Beck, as for anyone interested in bodybuilding, was learning how to get started and what it would take to keep it up.
“I usually spend about an hour and a half or two hours in the gym,” Beck said. “I lift six days every week, doing chest and legs twice, and back and arms once.”
Bodybuilding is more than just a sport, and the dedication it takes becomes a lifestyle. Beck has to watch his diet, remember to get enough nutrients and allow time for a trip to the gym.
In an average day, Beck tries to get at least 1.3 grams of protein for every pound of body weight. At 180 pounds, that means at least 234 grams of protein. To find the extra protein, he recommends supplements and meal-replacement shakes.
“I don’t think I’d be where I am now without the help,” he said.
One thing he doesn’t recommend is steroids or any other anabolic drug that would affect hormones.
Side effects from usage can include anything from liver problems to depression and eventual battles with cancer.