1. Biography
• Name: Carlos L. Love
• Age: 36
• Height: 5’9”
• Weight (Contest): 170 -175 lbs.
• Weight (Off-Season): 195 lbs.
• Body Fat: Under 7%
• Hometown: Jacksonville, FL (but currently resides in Hampton, GA)
• Gym: Muscle Beach Fitness
• Profession: Audio Engineering/Lighting Designer/Personal Trainer & Sports Nutritionist
2. What got you started in bodybuilding/fitness?
I’ve always admired the amount of discipline and dedication that this sport requires and therefore decided to try my hand at it.
3. What keeps you motivated to train?
God, my beautiful wife and my darling children. They are my pride and joy and since it’s only by the grace of God that I’m able to train and compete, I give Him all the glory.
4. What workout plan has worked best for you?
I switch it up based on how my body responds. Being a student of the human body, I believe that the body itself generally gives us clues as to how to achieve what I consider the “best body possible.” Therefore, listen to your body.
5. What is your philosophy about cardio?
Because of the high intensity of my workouts I usually require no more than 30-45 minutes of steady-state cardio no more than 4-5 days a week to prepare for a contest. This works well for me, but again it all depends on the individual. I believe that there are many ways to skin a cat. I think that it’s more about understanding what works well for one’s body type.
6. What is your philosophy about weight training?
Train hard but safe. Leave it all in the gym is my motto.
7. Do you prefer HIIT or steady-state cardio?
I do both. However, it all depends on my conditioning and Body Fat percentage as I approach my contests. Usually, I’m able to lose body fat fairly quickly do to my highly specialized eating regimen, which means I require less cardio.
8. What are your top 5 favorite exercises?
Squats, deadlifts, incline dumbbell presses, leg presses.
9. What is your philosophy about nutrition?
Nutrition is the foundation upon which every solid fitness program is based. Without it, you are working against yourself and sabotaging your results.
10. What nutrition plan has worked best for you?
I eat a complex mixture of high quality lean protein sources, complex low gycemic carbohydrates and a diet rich in omega 3 fats. Also equally important is the timing of macronutrients. There are times to eat high glycemic carbs in order to maintain an anabolic state and there are times when I eat only low glycemic carbs. There is also an ideal time to eat fats. More than not, I try to eat at least one serving of protein every 2-3 hours to maintain a positive nitrogen balance through the day. It’s kind of complex but I’ve got it down to a science.
11. What is your favorite cheat food?
It’s not cheating if you know how to plan. But if I had to name one it would be French Fries.
12. What is your favorite health food?
What is health food? I don’t believe any food is intrinsically healthy or unhealthy. It’s all about the context in which we eat it.
13. What supplements have given you the greatest gains?
I keep it basic: Creatine, BCAA’s, Glutamine and multi-vitamins.
14. What does your pre and post workout nutrition consist of?
Pre-workout consists of a substantial amount of a complex medium to low glycemic carbohydrate (yams), lean protein (chicken breast), creatine, BCAA’s, glutamine and multivitamins. I break my post workout meal into two meals: (1) Liquid form: I take this in immediately following my last set. It consists of a 2:1 carbohydrate & protein shake (carbs = 50/50 maltodextrin/dextrose mix). (2) I eat solid food about 1-1.5 hours later which again, consists of a complex low glycemic carbohydrate and lean protein source.
15. Which tools have helped you most with your nutrition and training?
Being that I am a sports nutritionist and personal trainer, I utilize many tools that I have developed including nutritional trackers, diaries, workout logs, etc. to track my training and nutrition progress. Without tracking, how can you really measure results?
16. Have online resources (social networks) helped you in your training? If so, what are they and how have they helped you?
Certainly, sites like MuscleDog.com, Bodybuilding.com and Naturalbodybuildingevents.com have all been useful in helping me to achieve success in the arena of bodybuilding.
17. Where is the first place you turn to when looking for training / fitness / nutrition advice?
I’ve studied a number of articles written by Dr. Joe Klemczewski, Layne Norton and others. I also have good friend and training partner Will Jenkins (personal trainer extraordinaire) who constantly gives me advice and critiques my progress (in addition to having a strong knowledge base myself).
18. Who are your favorite fitness/bodybuilder competitors or role models?
Right now, I don’t really have a favorite. I admire every bodybuilder, known or unknown, who has the guts to do what we do. God bless you all.
19. What obstacles have you had to overcome (injury, illness, relationships etc)?
For me, one of the greatest challenges that I have had to face is recurring joint pain and nagging injuries that seem to happen more and more frequently. I find myself pushing through the pain on most days just to be able to train with any level of intensity. Secondly, bodybuilding is not an inexpensive sport either (in time or resources). Therefore, I have to make some sacrifices to be able to maintain my dietary regimen and training schedule. Bring on the sponsors!
20. What was the biggest mistake you made when you first started training?
Trying to cover too much ground too fast. Take it slow. Ease your way into it. Your body will thank you later. Be safe.
21. What tips would you give to a beginner?
Safety first. Never compromise safety for any apparent gains.
22. What are your future fitness goals?
To become the next Natural Mr. Olympia (and to be healthy enough to throw a baseball with my now three-year-old son when he gets older).
23. Where can we find you on MuscleDog.com?
Check out my profile and add me as a friend. Be sure to check out my photo gallery there as well, where my before and after pictures are posted.
