GJ Spotlight – IFBB Pro Tim Fernandez
First time I met Tim was during a local competition 15 years ago. I was competing as a light heavy weight. Had just come off of winning multiple OCB competitions and was getting my first taste of competition in the NPC.
It was the evening time and finals were just about to begin. I knew I had the light heavy weight class in the bag and was focused on getting that overall win!
Fast forward to the finals…
We are lining up to walk on stage and battle it out. In front of me stands Tim in a windbreaker. I had not seen him before that moment but also didn’t care because I just KNEW i was going to win!
Tim looks back, says good luck and takes off the jacket.
DAMN!
Suffice to say I did not win the overall, LOL!
That was the very moment I learned to be humble and the moment that I also learned I had A LOT of work to do in order to get my back to his level of development and conditioning!
That was the day I became obsessed with the gym and bodybuilding in general!
Meet IFBB Pro, Tim Fernandez!
How did you get your start in Bodybuilding?
I’ve always been very competitive. I wrestled in middle school and in high school. One day I was with my mom at the grocery store and saw a flex magazine with Lee Priest on the cover. I read an article about him and I knew right then and there I wanted to be a body builder. I told my mom about it and my 15th birthday was pretty close at that time. She actually bought me a weider weight set with all the cool attachments. Needless to say I was hooked and bodybuilding was all I thought about. I wore that weight set out! Here we are twenty five years later and still blessed to still be doing what I love!
Where does your motivation come from?
This is a great question. Over the years my motivation has changed. When I was young I was picked on because I never really fit in. I never wanted to hang out and do pointless shit. Needless to say I was motivated by anger and felt I had something to prove. I was able to flip a switch on in the gym and take all that anger and put it into something positive. I could go to a very dark place and it seriously made me so much stronger. It was definitely an edge I had on most.
These days are different though. Don’t get me wrong, I can still tap into that dark place but I choose not to. Now I am motivated by my beautiful family. I want my kids to know that with hard work and dedication they can achieve anything. I truly believe in leading by example. At the end of the day I just want to make my family proud.
What workout routine has worked best for you? (Maybe a sample routine you have used)
My favorite routine has always been each body part once a week. I believe if you train hard enough that’s really all you need and you allow ample time for recovery. Leg day I always allowed two days of recovery after training. Then I would simply train each body part and allow a day of rest in between each one. I was never one to over think or over complicate things. I like keeping it simple. Work your ass off, eat, rest, grow and repeat.
If you had to pick only 3 exercises, what would they be and why?
The top three for me would without a doubt would be squats, deadlifts, and dumbbell bench press. I chose these because these are the big muscle builders they really lay a strong foundation for getting strong and building muscle.
What’s a normal day of eating for you like?
These days I honestly am an intuitive eater. I pay attention to the mirror, not the scale. Bodybuilding judges don’t ask you your weight when you’re up there. When I go into prep mode I do get very serious as far as weighing out food and getting meals in every few hours. The goal is to keep as much lean mass while dieting. Again, I keep it simple though and eat pretty clean all year round. I’m in it for the long haul now, as I get older and now that I’m a father and a husband I need to stay healthy.
So, as far as the foods I eat in a typical day. For breakfast I eat eggs and oatmeal along with my water and coffee. Next two meals are chicken, rice, and avocados. Then I do a shake and some natty PB. Post workout consists of another shake. Before bed I like to eat my egg whites and oats. If I wake up in the middle of the night I slam down another shake. Again, I like to keep things simple!!
What’s the best advice you can give someone looking to get started in the bodybuilding/fitness lifestyle?
99 percent of getting good at something is being consistent. It’s not going to happen over night and remember this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Train smart and leave your ego at the door. Every and any injury is a set back in the wrong direction. Train hard, get your nutrition in and rest up. The most important thing is to have fun doing it. It truly is rewarding and the discipline you learn from bodybuilding will take you far in life.
Favorite Quote?
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”– Mahatma Gandhi
Tim is one of the most authentic, hardworking, consistent guys you will ever come across. His passion for the sport and knowledge of nutrition and training is top notch!
Although newly inducted as an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, Tim is first and foremost a family man, and business owner. Tim and his wife own the businesses linked below! Check them out!!! Support our fellow Gym Junkiez!
Tim appreciate you taking the time and letting everyone get to know a little about you bro!! Thank you!
As for everyone else. Eat Smart! Train Hard!!!
