By Chris & Eric Martinez (DDT)
November 2012-
What up peeps! For this month’s interview we have a very special guest. Someone that really inspires us because we can relate to his background, culture, and the fact that he grew up in the Bay Area which is very close to where we grew up. If you like natural bodybuilding, inspirational words, Mexican food, beer, and pop tarts then stick around and get your READ ON!
DDT: Could you give us a little background info on who Alberto Nunez is?
Berto: Born and raised in San Francisco California, and very proud of my “Frisco” roots. I attended an “academic” high school while growing up, and because of this we didn’t have a football program. This is how weight lifting came about, but it wasn’t my first choice by a long shot. I recall benching 160 lbs in 8th grade in front of my peers, and shrugging it off after. I didn’t really care much for muscles, or the work that went into making them bigger. Not until I realized that it might help me with the opposite sex, but what really got me hooked was the everyday challenge. Now I am a professional natural bodybuilder, and a coach to athletes from all over the world. It all started with a bench press in someone’s backyard. Fine mess I got myself into!
DDT: That is an excellent mess you got yourself into! How did 3D Muscle Journey begin, what is it for those that don’t know, and where do you see it going in the future?
Berto: Just a couple of good friends that loved bodybuilding, and wanted to promote it, and share information with others. The contest coverage part flopped bad, as often we didn’t really get the support we wanted from local promoters. So we focused more on writing articles, and less show coverage. Overtime it slowly evolved into a coaching service. Thinking back now I can’t believe it all worked out, and proud of the hard work it took to get here. The goal is to continue to be of service to the bodybuilding community, and simply enjoy the ride.
DDT: You are very familiar with living in the Bay Area in Cali like us, why do you think that there isn’t a very big bodybuilding community?
Berto: Good question because there seems to be something for everyone out here. I think a good part of it has to do with the stereotypes or the assumptions that others have about bodybuilding. I think if people actually had a better understanding of what natural bodybuilding really is we would have a much bigger following.
DDT: People are always going to have their stereotypes. Speaking of Natural Bodybuilding, you just did an incredible and inspiring video on staying natural. In your opinion, what do you think the biggest reason is that people don’t stay natural?
Berto: “The widespread use of steroids and other chemical supplements is frequently an admission that one has run out of training ideas to produce further progress naturally.”
-Dr. Mel Siff; Supertraining
“The widespread use of steroids and other chemical supplements is frequently an admission that one has run out of training ideas to produce further progress naturally.”
DDT: Awesome quote by the legendary Mel Siff. You moved to Sacramento to train at a REAL gym, when do you plan on showcasing all the hard work and what show?
Berto: I am taking my traditional two year off-season, and reflecting back on last years’ contest season I really wish I would have used my time more wisely. I feel that I could have improved more than I did, so this time I am training with more urgency. It’s really helping to have 4 week, 12 week, and 20 week goals, and yes a kick ass facility.
DDT: If you could start fresh again on your bodybuilding journey, what are 5 things you would do differently knowing what you know now?
Berto:
1) Get a mentor who has been around the block a few times.
2) Work on injury prevention much more, comes in handy in the later phases when you are really pushing closer to your limits
3) Patience…Boy did I lack that
4) Thought I knew it all a few times, and boy was I wrong
5) Competed at a much earlier age
Many of those would have been less of an issue or not at all had I known Jeff Albert’s in my corner as a teenager. Dude once beat a Australopithecus afarensis back in the day! So yes a mentor or a bodybuilder village would have come in handy.
DDT: You made an interesting point above on injury prevention. This is something we have started researching a lot and implementing into our training. Can you elaborate a little more on what you do for injury prevention or wish you would have done in the past?
Berto: I go through many warm-up sets before getting into my real work. Of course, after all dynamic stretching, and foam rolling. I will often even dedicate my off days to mobility work, and foam rolling. I still have my bumps and bruises, but thankfully no major complains since I have started making injury prevention a part of my routine.
DDT: Couldn’t agree more with you on the importance of mobility work, stretching, and foam rolling. What kind of advice can you give to an aspiring female & male bodybuilder who’s barely beginning their journey?
Berto: Avoid what I did on that list up there, and enjoy it all. The good, bad, and frustrating as they all combine to make triumphs that much sweeter.
DDT: At times life throws curve balls at you to test your mental toughness and heart as a person. How do you deal with overcoming these obstacles?
Berto: I like to consolidate my stress into things that will matter in three months. Really makes you realize what is important, and what is simply just your overactive imagination. For example having a bad workout is something that you should aim to forget about right away, as it won’t matter in a few months. So when an athlete tells me he is going to ditch his evening class in order to get legs per his schedule…..no way! Getting a less than stellar grade, or possibly failing will matter in three months as opposed to missing a workout. Finally most problems and issues that happen via bodybuilding are not as big as we make them out to be in our heads.
DDT: Life is about working hard and of course playing hard. What does Alberto like to do for fun?
Berto: Love it! In no particular order:
- Squatting
- Working out
- Hiking
- Reading
- Coaching
- Playing with my dogs
- Trying new foods
- Anthropology(current flavor is clovis migration)
DDT: Nice list of fun! You know us Latinos like our beers. Haha. What is your favorite type of beer?
Berto: I am a PALE ALE freak! King of beers in my opinion! All time favorite would be “Pliny the Elder” but I cannot wait to get my hands on the “king” of all beers Trappist Westvleteren 12. They are just not easy to come by.
DDT: Can’t go wrong with Pale ale. What is your favorite Mexican dish?
Berto: My dad’s tamales, and ceviche! Oh and yes tequila please!
DDT: Yeah Buddy…Tequila! Certainly Pop tarts isn’t part of the Latino culture, so if you had to pick one flavor for the rest of your pop tart eating career, what would it be and why?
Berto: Everyday use would have to go with smores. I love the seasonal gingerbread, and pumpkin. But smores I can eat on a daily basis. Cold, hot, or even frozen!
DDT: Ya those are pretty bomb! We will leave you with this, Halloween just passed, what did “The Ivory Latino” dress up as?
Berto: I will be at the Yorton pretending I am a bodybuilder in my coaching polo. Ha ha ha! It all started with a bench press in 8th grade.
DDT: We would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions. You are a great inspiration to us and others in the bodybuilding community. We look forward to seeing where your journey takes you.
Berto: Thank you! We should hit a nasty leg session one of these days! “Pocos pero locos” as they say.
DDT: For sure. TRAIN LOCO style! 🙂
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