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Article care of Don Lemmon
Mike Coy is one of the
most dedicated, hardest working, goal oriented, striving individuals I
know. He came to me as a client and we became friends. He says it's an
honor to know me but I feel the same about him. He has everything a man
could want or need to achieve anything he sets his mind to. He is onr of
the few people I have taken the time to actually teach to become a trainer.
Read on. He and I recently hooked up and went through an extensive training
routine and nutrition course. I taught him the ropes. Was a good time.
You'll see below.
DON:
You're on my website with some pretty cool people. Are you excited? Is
this more exciting than being Mr Olympia or in a magazine? If yes, are
you crazy?
MIKE: Yes, I'm extemely
excited about being on your web site.I think it's more exciting than being
in a magazine because of all the different people from the different walks
of life that your web site reaches out there. Not just whatever type depending
on what magazine it is. Crazy? Well...depends on who you ask! I was a pro
athlete for a couple of years. I was in the company of some very well recognized
people. Wait a minute, maybe I did knock a screw loose!
DON: What was training
for professional sports like? What was the schedule?
MIKE: Training was extremely
brutal. Needless to say, my body was raked with pain for a long while!
The schedules once I started were basically determined by my desire. I
wanted to excell so I went out and trained all I could. Five to six nights
a week plus weekend mornings. Practically everyday.
DON: What can you tell
me about training and diet that you think most people do not realize.
MIKE: I think people dont
realize that you dont have to be rocket scientist. Lots of people make
it more complicated than it has to be on their own. And I was no exception!
Also let me add that most people dont have a clue about the "power" behind
separating your foods.
DON: What do you mean
power?
MIKE: Separating your foods,
regardless of ones' goals, makes the body run like a fine tuned machine.
The results are limitless.
DON: Tell me the best,
and the worst experience you have ever had in wrestling. Then the field
of bodybuilding?
MIKE: Been a fantastic ride.
The best thing I've experienced in my life was probably being a regular
on T.V. Great experience. Being in front of 7,000 people was pretty cool
too.
DON: The worst?
MIKE: I dont have enough
time to explain! To sum it up I'll just say the extreme politics and watching
people sell them selves out or do 'anything' for a "push". Sad really.
DON: Didnt you just win
your first bodybuilding show? And wasnt it all natural?
MIKE: Yes sir, I did. It
was held in Visalia, Ca. Promoted by the N.G.A and was very professionaly
done. I won my weight class and took a second in the overall, thanks to
you.
DON: What all have you
done to get here?
MIKE: I've always pushed
myself. Always striving to acquire more knowledge. Persistence is a must
in any endeavor. And always believe in yourself. That is a definite strength.
DON: What is your weakness?
MIKE: Pancakes! Peanut butter!
And not necessarily in that order!
DON: Diet. Tell me about
the different fad diets you have tried.
MIKE: Gosh, I've tried so
many! The Zone, Jay Robbs "Fat burning" diet, the Blood Type, high protein-
low carb- no fat, high carb, just to name a few. What worked? That's easy.
The "Know How" plan. By far the greatest means in which to eat. Numerous
reasons.
DON: Do you power lift?
What can you bench? Deadlift? What different routines have you tried? Split
routines, full body workouts, and what really showed the best results?
MIKE: No, I've never power
lifted per se. Always thought the possibility lies in there though. I have
come to learn that most people never even need to perform these movements
even with light weight to excel. I dont bench too often. My best was around
355 lbs. or so for a few of reps. I have always used a split routine for
as long as I can remember until now too. I am training on a full body routine
you gave me and am absolutely amazed at the results I am getting. Better
than any split routine by leaps and bounds.
DON: Whole body? How often?
MIKE: Yea, whole body. Kinda
wild huh? YOU put me on it! Seeing as how everyone trains using a split
routine I know it sounds bizarre. But you know what? I train just three
days a week and make more progress in a month than I used to in a year.
Honestly.
DON: What is your dream?
Career wise, family, home, car....
MIKE: My dream for a career
is to be involved in the fitness world and educate people on the endless
benefits of exercise, proper nutrition and supplementation. This is a passion
of mine. I would like to have a family some day with that special someone,
sure. But materialistic possessions arent the driving force in my life.
DON: Last CD bought, video
rented, book read, movie saw and junk food eaten?
MIKE: Uh, let's see. Something
'rock', Lethal Weapon 4, Fabulously Fit by Frank Zane, The Blair Witch
Project and my sisters birthday cake! Yum, yum.
DON: Are these the things
you do to relax?
MIKE: Relax? I need to work
on that! Even when I'm physically inactive, my mind is always going. But
a good book is relaxing. So is a good cup of herbal tea. You know what
I like to listen to when I want to unwind? Yanni. Very talented man and
his music is very unique and beautiful.
DON: So tell me something
about you that I do not already know and why you feel it's important everyone
knows this about you.
MIKE: That even though I'm
energetic and sometimes very intense, I use bodybuilding life style for
the Zen-like betterment of character as well as the body. Most people say
bodybuilders are ego maniacs, obessive fools and all round bozos and idiots.
DON: Is it true or is
it a cliche?
MIKE: This is not at all
true. Bodybuilders have the most disciplined lifestyle of anyone. More
heart, dedication and desire. Bodybuilders come from all walks of life;
doctors, lawyers. Some are idiots yes, some are less fortunate too. But
I know many who are in their own mold.
DON: Who says one cant
develope the body AND the mind? What supplements do you use?
MIKE: I currently use only
good vitamins and liquid minerals, plus essential fats. Creatine only during
contest prep at certain times as you suggested.
DON: What was your first
and last 'real' job?
MIKE: Construction work.
DON: That has to be rough.
A labor job and bodybuilding. How can you do both and progress?
MIKE: It could be. One must
consume enough calories and tune in to the body so you can "feel" the overtraining
syndromes approaching and adjust as necessary.
DON: You can achieve whatever
you put your mind to. Just dont let fear stand in your way.
MIKE: No body thought I
would become a pro athlete. But I did. And I quit on my own too. Noboy
told me I had too. In fact I could still be. But those same people who
said I couldn't also said "What? Now bodybuilding?" And then I won
a contest. Always believe in yourself...even when no one else does.
DON: Tell me about fear.
MIKE: None. Fear. It robs
us of our goals, dreams & ultimately the person we wish to become.
To realize your potential, fear must be conquered. Knowledge is where true
power lies. Gaining the knowledge of the 'Know How,' conquering fear thus
achieving victory over one's self.
DON: So why bodybuilding
anyhow?
MIKE: Last summer I returned
home to the San Francisco bay area after two years. After having experienced
the ins and outs of pro sports, I left. I left angry, disappointed and
let down. Nothing like having a dream go up in smoke before it is fulfilled.
Needing to channel my energies elsewhere, I contemplated another goal.
One that held long time interest. Stepping on to the stage in a body building
contest.
DON: Eating right and
exercising is one thing. Contest prep is all another game. It takes spirit,
commitment and probably a vanity obsessed fool to immerse in it. Dont you
think?
MIKE: Being the type of
person who fully immerses himself into anything of great interest, I read
everything I could get my hands on regarding the body, exercise and nutrition.
Being confident about getting myself into contest condition, I concluded
one day that I wasn't actually taking that "step" and signing up for a
show. I was hesitant. Why?? Possibly, fear.... Fear of failure. BUT that
is also what DRIVES me. You see, if you never TRY, only then have you actually
failed. I think it's easier dealing with the devil we already know than
dealing with the devil we don't know. After coming to this conclusion I
put my foot down and found a contest, picked a date and made it MY goal.
No turning back!
DON: So how long did it
take you to prepare, what did you do and what were the goals?
MIKE: I gave myself sixteen
weeks to see just how lean I could actually get. I altered my diet to what
is popular in most all mainstream magazines nowadays. All I accomplished
after six to eight weeks was the most lethargic, low energy leveled days
of my life. Like I said, I have a physical job so I NEED energy. But increasing
my calories certainly was not an option (that would be going against the
"grain" of what the 'experts' say works). But something had to be done.
So, I set out to find what exactly the pros did. Hoping it was available.
DON: Where did you look
and what did you find?
MIKE: While aimlessly floating
around the internet for a while, I stumbled across a rather intriguing
site. A site where info was 'in your face,' blunt and to the point. I decided
to get in contact with the 'founder,' state my problem and seek direction
to achieve my goals. That founder was of course Don Lemmon and the site
was called the "Know How". Giving you my diet, you totally restructured
it, TOTALLY against the grain of mainstream fitness and other media. I
took one look at it and thought to myself, 'What?!? Yeah RIGHT!' But wanna
know something? Intuition told me to stick to the diet without variation.
I had only eight weeks to go til show time. You told me take it or leave
it but decide now. Risky. You bet. Any regrets? Hell no! Don Lemmon patiently
worked with me all the way until show time (not to mention answering literally
every one of the questions my hungry little mind came up with).
DON: You said increasing
calories wasnt an option to you because of what you read in the magazines.
What did I have you do first thing?
MIKE: Increase my calories.
What was shocking was even though the calories were immediately increased,
so were my energy levels and down went my body fat. As I added things I
was told I shouldn't to by others 'in the know,' the fat just melted off.
Fast! And DAILY! Truly amazing. No gimmicks or snake oil products. Just
food, lots of work and a little faith. I no longer consult other people
and disagree with everything I hear now.
DON: What happened from
that point on? You didnt do any aerobics until almost the last minute did
you? And isnt REAL butter fantastic at curbing the appetite?
MIKE: Oh man! Hell yeah!
So the day finally came. I was ready. I had had my final conversation with
you the evening prior calling from the hotel room. I entered the contest
that morning knowing that if nothing else, I followed the diet to a T and
I personally did all I could. I was at least finally walking on stage.
Like you told me, 'You are a winner for just stepping up on a stage at
all. Nobody loses. Remember, no one else in the audience has the nerve
to get in their underwear and flex and dance around!' Maybe he is right
I figured. I got on stage. A little heavier than I had planned to be. I
mean I wanted a weight class lower and you forced me to enter a weight
class higher. That is really why I was nervous. I remembered something
else you said. 'The difference between a hero and a coward is not how they
feel in the face of challenge. It's what they decide to do about the fear
that makes them a winner.' Well guess what? I exited that stage that night
a champion with the trophy for my weight class and 2nd place in the overall
to a man 40 pounds heavier than myself! I really am a winner! Winning my
weight class and taking a second in the overall! Holy cow! With Don and
his "Know How", I had achieved what fear had at first make seem unachievable.
I later realized I had something in my possession of greater value. Not
the trophy. Not the knowledge. I had a gained friend.
DON: Thanks bro. It's
been fun for sure. Next year it's an NPC event like the Nationals. Deal?
MIKE: Deal.
Don: I flew up and trained
you. What was it like?
Mike: That was by far the
most brutal, intense training session I have ever had!! More intense than
anything I ever experienced before. I was literally trembling when it was
over. And it only lasted 10 minutes!
Don: What did you learn
about nutrition while I was there?
Mike: I learned lots of
specifics. Eating cheese with beef to balance the sulfur and phosphorus
for example. Interesting. What foods complement each other. Oh! And to
start eating as soon as I make it out to the kitchen. When you awoke, and
realised I had been up for a while, you laughingly slapped me on the back
of my head and said " You always start eating as soon as you awake, Dillweed!
laughs." LOL
Don: How about personal
training? What conceptions did I help you realize?
Mike: You gave me different
tips on training people of differing ages for example. Body builders vs.
the average middle aged adult. Also how to deal with people and their preconceived
notions based on all the
false literature that's
out there. I learned lots in this area!
Don: Marketing yourself.
What about that. Did you pick anything up?
Mike: Oh yea. Different
ways in which to advertise, tips on flyers, business cards. Talking with
people in a book store, for example, who were looking at different "diet"
books. It's all in the approach eh Don?
Laughs.
Don: Yes it is. If you
could sum up your goals before our meeting and what they are now, whats
the difference?
Mike: That instead of just
training people, I now more than ever want to teach these concepts of yours
along with exercise. The passion is burning inside of me! THAT'S how bad
I want to spread the gospel
according to St. Don. LOL
Don: That's good! St Don.
What ran through your mind and what was your impression or... describe
our first meeting
Mike: I was excited that
we were finally going to meet. I knew we would get along but I feel that
you and I really clicked. Our first meeting was at the Musclemania contest.
We chit-chatted then did what two health concious people do...we went and
ate! laughs. A few weeks later you flew up to S.F and we hung out for a
few days. With out going into alot of detail, I was great to have you up.
Don: Thanks bro
Mike: Let me sum up by saying
to those people who doubt you practice what you preach....You are definately
the real deal. Straight up truth with no bull sh#t lagging behind. I thought
I was going to have to
remind us when it was time
to eat but that didn't happen once. And you (we) always ate exactly as
you preach. Actually you have some nice and simple food combo's. Eggs w/
cottage cheese and Udo's oil! yum yum. (How many eggs DID we go through?
laughs ) You're smart, funny and someone whom I am glad entered my life.