The Unseen Dedication Behind Bodybuilding Success with Robert Craig

It's a journey. You need to be willing to make sure that you have the ability to be dedicated. It's a huge sacrifice.” —Robert Craig 

Bodybuilding’s addictive nature could make you a permanent resident on the stage. But, each step you take towards the spotlight is a measure of your dedication. It might mean missing outings for training sessions, foregoing late-night activities for a full night’s rest, or even skipping your favorite food to stay within your diet plan. 

Dedication is not just a trait— it’s a commitment to your dreams. Essentially. bodybuilding is a form of art that involves sculpting your physique through many sacrifices. After all, bodybuilding is not just about the flexing of your muscles— it’s about the unwavering display of your willpower. 

Listen in as Sherrie and Classic Physique Competitor Robert Craig talk about the role of dedication in your bodybuilding journey, what sacrifices are required from an athlete, how to display dedication in your craft, and the benefits of having a partner to prep with. 

Connect with Sherrie: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherrie.massiakapach 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mindbodysoul_hypnothetapist 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrie-kapach-b5bb26243 

Email: skapach40@gmail.com 

Episode Highlights:

01:38 Hooked To Classique Physique 

04:35 Facing the Struggles 

05:33 Be Willing to Sacrifice 

07:54 Have a Support System 

Transcript

Sherrie Kapach: Welcome to Beyond The Prep. I'm your host, Sherrie Kapach. Today, I'd like to welcome Robert Craig. He's a competitor, just finished competing. So welcome. Thank you for taking the time to come. So you just finished one in June, how was that?

Robert Craig: It was good. It was a tough part.

Sherrie Kapach: And you did one in Calgary?

Robert Craig: Yes.

Sherrie Kapach: Congratulations. So what got you into the sport of bodybuilding?

Robert Craig: Bodybuilding? Been going to the gym since I was 15 years old. So probably about 10, 11 years ago. And someone approached me at the gym and said, hey. Actually, this lady, she actually gave me a card and said to contact this lady coach. I Talked to her, we met with her, and that was kind of my first competition. When I started, I competed, my first show 150 pounds with Pioneer Physique way back in the days, and then a few other shows, and then they came up with classic physique. So I switch to classic physique, and then in classic (inaudible),

Sherrie Kapach: So what's the difference between the classic physique?

Robert Craig: Physique is boardshorts for those who are looking for a big body. The classic physique kind of brings back to the old days where it's all the classic look. It's all about balance and perception that match your bottom section. You can be massive. So height and breed restriction. I tried bodybuilding, but I didn't like it so much. It's crazy, but you just need to be so big. I really enjoyed the classes.

Sherrie Kapach: So when you were given this card, did you know anything about bodybuilding at that time when they said you should compete?

Robert Craig: Yes. I went to a show way back, again, but I wasn't really, I just wasn't kind of top of my list. I was going to the gym just to continue to look good. I really didn't realize it existed. And it's a small world. It's small, though, and it's better in it. Everyone is very interesting. It's a great community. Is it a very squishy community? I'm going to the shows, and everyone's always very supportive. I wish I would have done it sooner because now I'm 45, so it's tougher to gain muscle. It's harder to compete. And if I want to compete in the open, which I do, it's harder to compete against younger people. It's still challenging because I want to beat them. If I would have started 10 years sooner than they probably would have been, maybe in public. Didn't have this belief in their belief. Yeah. But yeah, I can go back.

Sherrie Kapach: So did you have any struggles? What would you find is the hardest?

Robert Craig: Yeah. There'll be moments, that's why I went to physique. You can literally focus on the upper body. When I moved to classic physique, then I started really focusing on my ribs. Just my build is the challenge number one. And in my last competition, I think I could have played better if my ribs were so much bigger.

Sherrie Kapach: It may take a little longer, but I agree. That's great. So if someone came to you that was considering bodybuilding, what's the best piece of advice?

Robert Craig: It's a journey. They need to be willing to make sure that they have the ability to be dedicated, then it's a huge sacrifice. Because I'm eating chicken and rice with my family when they're having family dinner. I go out with them at a restaurant and I order my meal or order something. You have to be willing to sacrifice those little things. And obviously, you still need to make time for them. But you gotta make those concessions because it doesn't take much. Just follow those when you're prepping for a show. But even though you've been conditioned to start practicing because you want to go out with one of your other friends. You still can.

Sherrie Kapach: Yeah. Yeah. True. Your social life is limited too.

Robert Craig: The energy levels. Especially with your closest, immediate, right? So just be prepared for what's ahead. But I think it's awesome once you get the addiction of the stage. It was like 30 seconds or a minute.

Sherrie Kapach: Yeah. The icing on the cake. You get on that stage. And you say, give me that, I think from that cake.

Robert Craig: I want to do this again.

Sherrie Kapach: Yeah, it is. Okay, what's the next coach?

Robert Craig: Yep. Pretty much. And that's exactly why I said to my coach, why don't we got to do a bit (inaudible) for next year? It's always good to have a plan. And it's a goal. And that's the thing you just maintain. It's great that they're maintaining that goal in front of you. And it gives you something to just be ready, for sure.

Sherrie Kapach: So I understand you, and your fiance were prepping together. So how was your household? Both of you are doing this.

Robert Craig: I think there's two ways of looking at it. One, it is great to have support. Because I can afford it when no one supports you. And that's really difficult. When you have the support, it's awesome. Amazing. But obviously, good service. I'm harder to deal with, especially closer to me, closer to a stage. So she has to have patience, and because she understands.

Sherrie Kapach: Right. That's right.

Robert Craig: You don't understand what prep is like, and that she will probably end the relationship.

Sherrie Kapach: Speaking for myself.

Robert Craig: So I definitely appreciate the fact. And honestly, looking back, I wouldn't do it any other way. It's just because you're there together experiencing meal prepping. We're doing this together. We're gonna meal prep together. We're gonna make this. So we've been doing it together.

Sherrie Kapach: Much better. If you're not involved, you don't know unless you are alike. You can't explain it.

Robert Craig: You don't know what you don't know until you know.

Sherrie Kapach: Yeah, yeah, I know. Yeah. Even in my work, they bring in all this stuff. I'm like, you guys are killing me. And they're like, no, no, no, no. Okay. Okay. I have no idea. It's hard. Frustrated with that.

Robert Craig: I was getting close to the stage, I'm just like, I'm moving the microwave.

Sherrie Kapach: Well, on that note, I want to thank you for coming in. It's been great. And next time you're on stage, hopefully I can get you on podcast again. Experience from your next competition. All right, take care.