Building Up The Body

Chocolate and peanut butter.

For bodybuilder Jon Decker, those are the hardest items to give up when he follows his strict nutrition program to keep his body in tip-top shape.

“I take it out of my house and give it to friends,” Decker said. “I take all my cheat foods out of the house.”

A personal trainer at the Canyons Athletic Club in Hamilton, Decker has recently started making a name for himself on the bodybuilding circuit, taking second in two recent shows.

“My first show was in September,” Decker said. “I’ve only done three.”

Though he’s somewhat new to the sport, 42-year-old Decker said he’s done bodybuilding as a hobby and soon started to get serious about it.

“I’m really focused now,” Decker said. “I thought I would never do it. It’s like jumping out of a plane. If I can get up in something less than a Speedo in front of 500 people, that’s me getting out of my box, out of my comfort zone.”

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Decker did just that at the National Gym Association’s Northwest Natural-Pro Atlas bodybuilding and figure championships in Idaho May 2.

There, Decker finished second in the Men’s Masters category.

“The thing I like about it is you can constantly challenge yourself to be better,” Decker said. “I’m working against myself and I can improve. It’s up to you how well you do and how well you stick to your nutrition plan and dedicate yourself.”

For bodybuilders, judges look for muscle size and shape, muscle definition and separation, symmetry and proportion and stage presence.

Prior to the competition, contestants are spray tanned and oiled up to help their appearance.

“It’s a very self-centered sport,” Decker said.

To prepare for a show, Decker said he starts 12 weeks out.

“I put a big “X” on my calendar,” Decker said.

In addition to hiding his cheat foods for his nutrition program, Decker focuses on high protein, low simple sugars and low simple carbohydrates, cutting fat out. The New Jersey native eats a lot of fish, tuna, chicken, broccoli, yams and sweet potatoes.

“Food is like fuel,” Decker said. “If you put bad gas in your car, it’s not going to run well. Same with food.”

Decker considers his dedication to his nutrition program one of his strengths.

“For most people, that’s really hard to do,” he said.

With the program, Decker also incorporates exercising five or six times a week mixing cardio with other workouts.

“You do different things are you approach the competition,” Decker said. “I pretty much come up with a plan and try to stick to it.”

For one of Decker’s clients, Eloise McConnaughey, Decker’s dedication and participation in the sport is impressive.

“I thought he was a great trainer before he even entered into these but I have to say I was really impressed,” McConnaughey said. “When you’re training with somebody, they have shorts or long pants on and you have no idea they’re so buff and fit. Makes me think I have to work harder.”

Source - www.ravallirepublic.com