TYRONE ASKS
Hey Ernie,
I’m 19 years old and I’ve been training for just under a year. My training has been very good but I used to be very undisciplined as far as diet and nutrition were concerned. In fact, my diet was just like any other junk-food eater’s.
Having said that, I’ve still made great progress and my physique has changed completely. At 5’ 11”, I weigh 200 pounds but my bodyfat measurement is only approximately 14%.
Recently I have started to eat properly and I now follow a very disciplined nutrition plan which my body responds to positively. Everything I do now is geared towards discipline in bodybuilding, and I’m determined to keep going by the book.
My ambition is to attain a pro card by the time I’m 28. Do you think it is possible, or is it too late?
Tyrone Young
ERNIE TAYLOR RESPONDS
Hi Tyrone,
You have been training for less than a year, yet you have made sensational gains despite following a pretty poor diet. Just imagine the gains you would have made if you had had proper nutrition right from the very start.
So obviously, I suggest that you continue to do what you are currently doing. However, I think it would be a good idea for you to learn as much as you can about diet and nutrition. The basic guideline here is to eat 1.5 g each of protein and carbohydrate per pound of muscle tissue, every day.
Tyrone, if you really want that pro card by the time you’re 28 then you’ve got to work extremely hard in the gym, plus you have to be totally dedicated as far as diet and nutrition are concerned.
I started training at 18, the same as you did, and I won my pro card at 24. You have plenty of time to pull this off if, as you say, you are going by the book. Discipline and motivation are the key, and it certainly appears that you have plenty of both.
Good luck,
ET
