What sparked your interest in fitness and bodybuilding?

MB: I had a girlfriend that suggested I try it, telling me I had the right frame and look for men’s physique.

You enlisted in the United States Marine Corps right out of high school and spent five years in a Force Recon team. What can you say about this experience?

MB: I wanted to pursue a career in federal law enforcement. I wanted to serve my country and knew it would look good on my resume to have served in a special forces unit. I was in a five to eight man team. Our mission was to insert up to 500 miles behind enemy lines. The training was both physically and mentally demanding, completing frogman, scuba and airborne training to name a few. It instilled great foundations in team work, working under extreme mental and physical stress and a do or die mentality that has stayed with me to this day. I was given a combat medical discharge having suffered an arterial gas embolism while diving.

Is there a specific way to train and diet when you are in the military?

MB: Our training was physically and mentally intense. Pretty tough to eat the six meals a day like I currently eat. We ate three square meals with occasional snacks in between. With the intense activity it was hard to carry excess muscle weight so most of us carried a happy medium weight wise.

Describe the physical and mental discipline that goes into training for the military?

MB: You have to be able to take orders and push your body at times further than you thought was humanly possible, with an almost let go mentally mentality. Pushing at times through pain and injury and not letting your mind work against you.

What’s your favorite exercise to do when working out? Why is this so?

MB: I like to work back. It by most is easily left out or not trained hard enough because it is difficult to see like other muscle groups. When trained hard though the results and improvements in strength and size are very rewarding. The back is used far more in daily activities then people realize and is one of the healthier areas to focus on strengthening or working on defeating weakness.

What are some of your biggest fitness accomplishments? Have you competed in any shows?

MB: I was blessed and fortunate enough to compete in 2012 in two novice shows in men’s physique. On my third show I went to Pittsburg Pennsylvania and won my category there, earning my Pro card in the Ifbb at that point. I have competed in three pro shows on the Ifbb and am prepping for the upcoming San Jose Pro as well as other shows this year.

Do you believe form should always take precedent over weight? Why or why don’t you think this?

MB: I think proper form is critical and should take precedent over weight. I also believe in lifting heavy. Improper form can lead to injury and also using to many axillary muscles versus solely working the target muscle.

Do you believe that sticking to a strict diet every single day is the best way to improve muscular vanity and balance or do you believe cheat meals are essential in getting the physique you want? Why is this so?

MB: I believe in a diet that is strict. Six days and then on the seventh a cheat meal or the meals that day are reasonable healthy cheat meals. The seventh day tricks the metabolism into speeding up the following day. The other thing is my feeling us the average person will more likely stick to the diet more so when they have a day or meal ahead they can look forward to and helps keep the diet tight and straight for six days.

As a personal trainer, what are some of the fundamental training and nutritional principles that you preach to your clients?

MB: Strict form with consistency, with average person hitting muscles once in a week. Treat food like a drug and give the body equal doses throughout the day. Important to eat 1.5 hours before training and immediately following training.

Talk about your life being a father to 10 year old twin girls. How do you balance your time between fitness, your family and everything else that you do?

MB: I am a single father. I am so blessed to have my daughters. They are two amazing girls which I love watching grow daily. They are growing up to fast so I try and enjoy every moment I can. The other day they informed me they will be eleventeen on their next birthday. Guess I’m in trouble. They are two of my biggest fans and supporters for my competing. I have them fifty percent of the time so I schedule most of my training around having them. They love going to the gym to and I think it’s an important habit to teach and instill in children young.

What are your future goals both personally and professionally?

MB: I will continue to compete in men’s physique which is growing rapidly as a sport. I am going to continue personally training and coaching athletes to prepare for shows as well as offering online training and nutrition planning. The Olympia stage is a place I would love to compete and I will push hard to qualify to get there. I have interests in pursuing fitness modeling as well. I love the fitness industry and plan on being in it and fit for life.

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