Butler graduate Noel enjoying pro bodybuilding career
BUTLER TWP — As a high school athlete, John Noel learned the importance of preparation.
The 2010 Butler graduate — and member of the Golden Tornado's WPIAL Division 2 boys lacrosse championship team that year — takes the same approach as a professional bodybuilder.
“I played basketball up until junior varsity,” Noel said. “At that point, I wanted to concentrate on lacrosse.
“I lettered all four years and we won the championship my senior year. It all worked out.”
And Noel never stopped working out himself.
Now employed as a trainer at Harlan's Gym in Butler, Noel began competing in bodybuilding (men's physique division) three years ago. He wasn't even an amateur for two years before earning his pro card.
Noel won the pro card during a competition in Southern California in 2017.
“I had won my division in previous meets, but you have to finish first overall to get a pro card,” Noel said. “It happened for me out there.”
Only he wasn't so quick to jump into a pro show. Noel did not compete at all in 2018 — because he wanted to be competitive in 2019.
“I knew I had to work on my body,” he said. “You prepare to meet a goal. This (bodybuilding) is no different from any other sport that way.
“I prepare for six months or longer before I compete. I have more flexible food choices that way. I'm all about analysis, statistics, numbers. My diet is not as strict as a lot of bodybuilders. I keep track of my protein numbers, fats, carbs ... I have a certain allotment for each day.
“If I'm craving cereal, ice cream or a pop tart one day, I work it in,” he said.Noel doesn't do the heavy cardio workouts. He keeps track of his daily steps, whether it's walking or work in the gym. He trains 10 to 15 people at Harlan's.“John's able to work in the fun foods,” gym owner Jeff Harlan said. “There is no right or wrong way to train. He likes the gradual approach.“You find a style that works for you and you go with it. He's comfortable with his system and it's working for him.”Noel does only drug-free competitions. He and the other competitors take polygraph tests and undergo urine analysis before each meet.Noel's first pro competition was the IPE Pro Elite Bowl in Virginia Beach in early April. He placed second.He competed two weeks later at the National Physique Federation's Mr. Ohio in Columbus and won. Noel then competed June 8 at the Katy Wayman-White Pro Invitational in Seattle, Wash., and took first place in men's physique again.“Jeff worked with me in my posing technique and it's made a big difference,” Noel said.Harlan said a bodybuilder “can have the best physique in the world, but if he can't pose, it looks like crap.“We made a couple of adjustments in John's form and he's taken off.”Noel finds time to get his weight training in. He prefers to do so when the gym is quiet and practically empty.He is training others during the gym's regular hours.“I've come in here at 4:30 in the morning before to get my personal work in,” he said. “I only live five minutes away, so it's convenient for me to come in here at different times.”Noel plans to comperte at a pro show Aug. 10 in Orlando, then Aug. 31 in Chicago. He is gearing toward the national championships, slated for New York City in November.“I learn a little bit more from every show I do,” he said. “The more, the better. I just want to maximize my potential.”
