Competitive Bodybuilder Michael Sausedo

By Eddie Cervantes, Muscle-4Life-Nutrition.com

Editor's Note: Special thanks to Michael for taking the time to speak with Muscle-4Life-Nutrition.com. All photos courtesy of Michael Sausedo

Hello Everyone! I want to introduce a competitive bodybuilder who has dedicated 11 years of his life to achieving the outstanding physique he has now. Michael is the Epitome of what an athlete really is. From Northern California Michael Sausedo. He has been getting a lot of attention in the fitness world and we are proud to have the big man on Muscle 4 Life Nutrition.com

Eddie: Hello Michael, great to be interviewing you. Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in bodybuilding?

Michael: Hi Eddie and everyone at Muscle4LifeNutrition, thank you for this opportunity. I am 31 yrs old and have been a competitive bodybuilder for over 11yrs. I technically started back when I was 13...I was introduced to weights by my father. I read the muscle magazines and knew I wanted to look like that. But then HS came, and the weights were not a priority of mine any more. I was too busy hanging with friends and having fun. It wasn’t until right after HS and was working at a desk full time that my metabolism slowed WAY down and I got fat. So I started my mission to lose weight and lost 65lbs that year. I did my first BB show 2 years later at 20yrs old, I was hooked on Bodybuilding ever since!

Eddie: 65 pounds in one year that shows dedication. How did you know that the world of bodybuilding was something you wanted to be apart of?

Michael: I have always loved the look of a bodybuilder. The size and look of power has always appealed to me and I knew that’s how I wanted to look. After I did my first show, I absolutely LOVED it. The whole process was an awesome feeling to me. From being on stage all the way down to the diet. Knowing that not everyone can do what we do, day in and day out, is very appealing to me. I like to think of us as a select few. It takes a certain mindset to do this and actually enjoy it.

Eddie: Yes you need that strong mindset to succeed in bodybuilding. Could you inform our readers on what your stats are?

Michael: I am currently 5’10’’ @ 240lbs. My Contest weight for many years was 198lbs (Light heavy). However, I am now moving up to Heavyweight class.

Eddie: Where do you reside and train at?

Michael: I live and train in San Carlos, CA.

Eddie: I love and miss the bay area. What is your training philosophy?

Michael: I personally believe in lifting heavy with a pyramid rep scheme for the majority of my workouts. I make sure I am using good and proper form, but I maximize the weight I am using. Starting with 12-15 reps for warm ups, working down to 6-8 reps. On the flip side, I like to throw in different workouts like TUT(Time Under Tension) where I use lighter weight, doing 20 reps, but each rep is around 3 seconds. TORTURE!!! lol

Eddie: Sounds very intense, I have to give it a try. Can you give us a rundown of your training routines?

Michael: I lift normally 4 days a week. The body parts are usually broken up; Chest/Biceps; Back/Triceps; Shoulders/Light Arms; Legs. I do biceps and triceps a couple times a week because I feel that is where I am lacking. I normally do 3-4 exercises per body part with 3-4 sets each.

Eddie: It's evident that your training routine works. Is this training routine something that our readers can use to build muscle and lose body fat or is this something that is more suited for an advanced athlete?

Michael: I think a moderately experienced lifter could benefit from this. As long as they understand how proper form is used to minimize injury.

Eddie: Yes, I agree proper form is the first priority. Can you give us a rundown of all your bodybuilding competitions?

Michael: 2010 NPC USA Championships - Lt Heavy - 16th place
2010 NPC San Jose BB - Lt Heavy - 1st place
2009 NPC Excalibur BB Show - Lt Heavy - 1st place
2009 NPC Sacramento Pro/Am - Lt Heavy - 3rd place
2009 NPC San Jose BB - Lt Heavy - 2nd place
2008 Muscle Beach Classic - Heavy - 1st Place/Overall
2008 NPC California State BB - Lt Heavy - 9th place
2006 WBFA Monterey Bay Champ - Heavy - 1st place/Overall
2006 NPC Contra Costa BB - Lt Heavy - 3rd place
2004 WBFA Santa Cruz BB - Heavy - 1st Place
2004 NPC Nevada State BB - Heavy - 5th Place
2002 NPC San Jose BB - Middleweight - 7th place
2000 Santa Cruz Muscle Beach - Lightweight - 4th place
2000 INBA SF Natural BB - Junior Class- 1st Place

Eddie: That is very impressive! What is your favorite body part to work out and why?

Michael: I would have to say shoulders are my favorite. However, even though I dread doing legs because I know I will be in pain. I really do love hitting them.

Eddie: How important are supplements in your nutrition and bodybuilding program and which supplements do you use year round?

Michael: Supplementation is important, however, not nearly as important as proper nutrition. Food intake is way more valuable than any supplement. That being said, I do believe it is important to have a good protein powder available at all times. In addition, a good joint support helps along with Glutamine.

Eddie: Proper nutrition should be definitely be achieved, supplementation will help you where you are lacking in your diet. Could you share with us your philosophy on nutrition for the off season and contest prep?

Michael: My off-season diet is not too far off from contest prep, with the exception of a few more cheat meals and larger meal portions. In the off-season I still eat my base diet of chicken, red potatoes, brown rice, etc. However I allow myself a few cheat meals each week, consisting of hamburgers or sushi, etc. For contest, I just cut out the extras and increase cardio. So the transition is not that severe for me. Besides, I like to stay fairly lean in the off-season, which means I can’t go crazy with the eating of ‘junk’ food.

Eddie: What was the hardest thing you had to deal with when it came to your diet?

Michael: The diets are not all that bad for me, especially the last few years since I stay pretty lean. I’d say the hardest is the cravings and knowing I can’t have it. Not being able to just munch on things randomly during the day is very hard too, lol.

Eddie: : That is where the strong mind set comes into play. Are you married? Can you tell us a little about your family?

Michael: I am divorced, and have a wonderful son named Steven. He is 13 now, and already is as tall as I am….which is a scary thing…lol. My family is great! I have the best parents you could ask for. They are very supportive, which is important in this sport. Unfortunately, this sport is very selfish and can be taxing on the family and home life. So it is very important to have people in your corner that understand and support you. You need to have that back bone to rely on. I am very blessed that everyone in my family is behind me 100%.

Eddie: You cannot fail with all your family support. What do you do to relax, you know when it's "Michael Time?"

Michael: I like my down time. I am very much a homebody, so I love just relaxing watching a movie or listening to music.

Eddie: Do you participate in any other additional sports?

Michael: I did in high school, I played football. But not anymore.