http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=11939021TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) – For the first time, a National Physique Committee national qualifier will be held in Tucson. Bodybuilding, fitness and figure competitors from all over the United States and Mexico will be here for the Desert Muscle Classic.
For this week's Fitness Friday, the organizer told us what it takes to compete at this level and why he chose Tucson's Fox Theatre as the venue.
Stryker Salman is the competitive bodybuilder, turned show promoter who is bringing the Desert Muscle Classic to Tucson.
When getting ready for a show, he trains just about every day. However, that is nothing compared to what his diet is like in the months leading up to a show.
When he starts his contest preparation, he eats only chicken and a cup of rice for the first four weeks.
"So, I probably eat 15 to 20 chicken breasts a day," Salman said.
For the next four weeks, he replaces chicken with white fish.
"Dinner fish, midnight snack fish, dessert fish, fish," Salman said.
When you show up on stage, it makes it all worth it, Salman said.
"It's a lifestyle, it is something you gotta want, how bad do you want it," Salman said.
Now, Tucson's historic Fox Theatre has been selected to be the focal point for a group of about 150 larger than life competitors.
"The moment I walked through the doors, I'm like this is it," Salman said.
For a place to make history, he said he wouldn't have it at any other place.
"The nostalgia, the feeling, the whole atmosphere, it starts from inside," Salman said about the theatre.
The Desert Muscle Classic is Saturday, Feb. 6th. 2009 Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler and IFBB Pro Gayle Moher will be guest posing. The pre-judging morning show is at 10:00 and the evening show is at 6:00 at the Fox Theatre. Visit the attached link for more information.