Questions and Answers with Homer Diaz

Q: What type of workouts did you use to get these results?
A: Barbaric workouts! I follow the NFE team workouts, which means that I am constantly changing my workouts and using a variety of high and low volume sets.  The workouts are intense; you have to see it to believe it.  Once you start, you don't stop.  The muscle has no chance to escape.  You train until you don't have another ounce to give.  This assures that I am constantly shocking the muscle and getting maximum results.  Before the show, my carb intake was so low, so I had to train very smart.  I reduced the volume of my workouts, but kept the weight heavy and the form strict.  This assured that I could target all the fibers without overworking.

Q: What motivates you to train so hard?
A: For this particular show, it was the not knowing what my competition would be, so I had to give 110% everyday I trained and with the support of Team NFE behind me I can promise you there was never a day I left feeling like I didn?t train hard enough.

Q: What types of supplements do you use?
A: I use NFE supplements.  The NFE multivitamin gives me the ultimate blend of vitamins and minerals with just the right amounts of nutrients that my body needs to recover from these types of workouts. NFE whey protein isolate was just as important for my muscle recovery.  After a workout, you have a short window opportunity to feed your body, so I wanted to assure that I fed it the highest quality protein.

Q: Do you have any advice for people who are interested in competing?
A: Yes! Be ready to go through tough times.  It's not easy eating the same thing for 12 weeks.  There are good days and bad days, but the key is to keep fighting.  It's the last one percent that is the hardest, but that can separate first and last place.  However, if you are honest with yourself and give 100%, the end result is so rewarding.

Q: Do have any muscles that are stubborn or more difficult to grow?
A: How do you train them? Yes! My calves have been a tough muscle to bring up with the rest of my body. The past year I've really focused and set out to grow my calves. I approached a good friend and training partner of mine, Theo, and told him about my plans to explode my calves like never before.  He calmly said, "I have just the workout for you."  One year later I have put on good size and fullness into my calves which has balanced my overall symmetry.

Q: How long did you diet before the show? How much weight did you lose?
A: I started about 12 weeks out at around 200lbs and 12% body fat. I had to get down to 176 to make the middle weight class. The day before the show I weighed in at 175 at 5% body fat. I was at the top of my weight class which is a good thing.

Q: What was the food you missed most when dieting? What was the first thing you ate after the show was over?
A: Chocolate cake! That's my favorite!  The first thing I ate was chocolate pudding that I made the day before my show. Jell-O makes this sugar free fat free pudding which I added 2 packs of NFE chocolate whey protein and away it went.