Christensen muscles past competition
PENN TWP — Finishing fourth in the National Physique Committee Teenage Nationals bodybuilding competition is pretty good.
But Erik Christensen doesn't think so.
He doesn't even believe he was ready for it.
"I prepared for a few months, but it wasn't enough," the Butler resident and 2008 Knoch graduate said. "I didn't put on enough muscle mass. Some guys trained for a year and a half for that event."
Christensen, 19, was fourth in the 2008 NPC Teenage Nationals in Pittsburgh. He stood 6-feet-2 and weighed 208 pounds at the time.
Following that competition, he took 21 months to train, work out and diet properly in preparation for the 2010 NPC Pittsburgh Bodybuilding Championships May 1 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland.
Weighing 243 pounds for that event, Christensen finished first overall in the NPC Pittsburgh Teen division and the Novice division. He finished second in the men's closed heavyweight division and men's open super heavyweight division.
"What he accomplished there was unheard of for someone his age," stepfather Jay Fennell said.
Christensen qualified for NPC nationals, but he won't be making the trip. He is taking another two years to train and diet, and plans to enter the NPC Pittsburgh competition again in 2012 to requalify for nationals.
"My goal is to add another 30 pounds of muscle, get up to 275 pounds or so," he said.
In the meantime, Christensen is seeking sponsorships from bodybuilding supplement companies and clothing companies.
"I want to represent a company that is willing to invest in me and believes that I will achieve what I set out to do," Christensen said.
He works out by himself at his family's Penn Township home, eats six meals a day and has adapted to a bodybuilder's lifestyle.
"I know I'm giving up a lot of things, but this is what I want to do for the rest of my life," Christensen said. "I like the look."
Christensen worked out in the family basement when he first started. Now the family's garage has been turned into his personal gym.
He has all the equipment he needs to keep his body toned while adding muscle mass.
Christensen works out at 8 a.m. every day, for about 45 minutes. He returns to the garage to work out from noon to 2 p.m. each day.
Meal times are 6 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 8 p.m.
"There's no straying from that schedule, not even for a day, not even a few minutes off," Christensen said. "Our house is fairly far from any gym, so it's easier for me to stay on schedule by training at home."
Christensen's food intake is primarily egg whites, oatmeal, yams, turkey burgers and turkey lunch meats.
"Compete and win nationals in either 2012 or 2013 and turn pro by the age of 23 — those are my goals right now," he said.
