Tuesday, December 24, 2013

He is the Real Deal!

Patrick Teutsch is the 2013 German champion of the lightheavy-weight-class in natural bodybuilding. I got to know Patrick through my friend, who has been going out with him for a couple of years. Patrick is like a book on legs when it comes to questions of exercising and nutrition. This holiday season I was lucky enough to ask him a couple of questions and share this mini-interview with you guys. And here he is (drums playing):





I hope his motivational tips and tricks will get you through the holiday season, as I am certainly struggling to stay away (...or better: not eat all) the cookies and sweets my mum keep at home for Christmas. If you would like to ask Patrick more questions regarding fitness, please leave a comment either here, or visit his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PatrickTeutschGNBF . Also, like his page and show your support for a clean and healthy way to get fit. He also posts great tips regarding meals, workouts and general fitness advice. A big thank you to Patrick, for taking the time and let us pick his brain. Enjoy people, and go have a christmas cookie now, I know you want it, and after reading this, you earned it :)

How long have you been involved in Bodybuilding?

When I started working out I wasn’t involved in bodybuilding straight away. The first time I went to the gym was in December 2008 when I was 19 years old. You see, I wasn’t very young when my interest in fitness was sparked. A lot of guys start earlier in their life. As time went on, I took more and more steps into the bodybuilding scene, and finally, I would say after maybe one year, I acted like a proper natural bodybuilder. Natural bodybuilding means that no Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) are allowed under any circumstances. Natural Bodybuilding is an idealistic way to sculpture the human body - you are creating the perfect physic with only your own abilities in a healthy way. That means no toxins, drugs or medicines. Natural Bodybuilding is purely based on hard training and a balanced diet.


How did you get into Bodybuilding?

At the beginning I just wanted to get stronger and improve y physique for aesthetic reasons. I think that’s the main goal of most people. I fell in love with the sport straight away. It is really quite simple: it’s just you against yourself. It is more of a mental war than a physical effort. If you don’t have the mental power, you don’t grow in the long run.  It’s all about pushing your limits. People often say “I can’t do this” or “It’s impossible”. I think that’s just excuses. If you want something, go and get it. Just decide to work for it! With this attitude and my love for the sport, I am made for bodybuilding.


What do you think is the best way to lose fat?

Losing fat is not as difficult as the most people make it to be. There are thousands of diets and nutritional programs out there in magazines and on the web, but to be honest - most of them are total crap. If you want to lose fat, you have reach an energy deficit. That means your caloric output has to higher than your caloric input. So, if your body uses more energy than you are absorbing through food intake, you are burning fat. I fond that the easiest way is a timed low carb diet. With this diet you only eat carbohydrates before and after training in combination with proteins. The rest of the time your nutrients mainly come from fats, proteins and lots of vegetables. Fats? Yes, if you want to lose fat you have to eat good fats. If you keep carb intake low, your body is able to constantly burn fat at a high level.


What do you think is the best way to gain muscle?

The best way to gain muscle is to workout intensively and eat a balanced diets including a lot of vegetables, good fats, a lot of proteins and enough carbohydrates. If you don’t eat more calories than you are burning, you won’t grow bigger in the long run. Believe me, many people actually don’t eat enough, even if they think they do. Another advice is: Don’t keep your workout monotonous - change it up. If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got.


What is your favorite workout? What is your favorite meal?

Well, I don’t really have a favorite workout; I enjoy chest, back and leg exercises. If I had to pick: deadlifts are my favorite move, as it engages pretty much all your muscles in your body.
My favorite meal is chicken with rice and curry sauce. I can eat it all day every day.


What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement is definitely becoming the German champion of natural bodybuilding in 2011 and 2013. 2011 I took part in my first competition in the light-weight-class, and 2013 I successfully entered the lightheavy-weight-class.


What has been your greatest challenge?

My greatest challenge is balancing my life and the sport. At times it is hard to keep focusing on my ultimate goals. The greatest difficulty is usually to stay within the boundaries of my clean diet.


How do you stay motivated/What motivates you?

I have an ideal of what I want to look like and what I want to achieve. If you are willing and ready to sacrifice a lot, you will reap the fruits of your effort in the end. I gained incredible discipline through the sport, and greatly strengthened my iron will and self-control. My motivation is unbreakable, I devoted myself to my goal of the perfect physique.


How do you push through a ‘bad’ day? How do you fight cravings during your cutting phase?

The easiest way to fight cravings is to eat vegetables. It is fine to eat a lot of vegetables. However, the most important part is to remember your goals. Realize why you are doing this and where you want to get. Realize how amazing it is, if you get stronger in every way and finally reach what you desire.


What would be your number one advice for a person who wants to get fit?


One of the ten economic principles is that people respond to incentives. In our case, this would be our ideal of the perfect body, a certain way what we would like to look like. The most efficient way to get fit is to clearly know what you want to reach. Challenge yourself, keep track of your achievements and your aim and dedicate yourself. Sooner or later you will reach it. It is ok to trat yourself from time to time, but try to stay on track most of the time.


Keep going people, stay healthy, be happy, and always keep smiling: