Interview With Travis Leavitt
September 2009
Interviewed by: Leesa Paul
WP:
(WP): Travis, can you tell our readers a little about yourself?
(TL): My name is Travis Leavitt. I live in Logan, Utah; which is in the northern part of Utah. I am currently working as a mechanic for Firestone. I received my personal trainer's certification through NASM back in February. Pretty much all I do is work and workout. On the weekends, I enjoy spending time with my family.
(WP): What was it that made you know without a doubt that you wanted to go into bodybuilding?
(TL): I think I just wanted to feel better about myself and look better when I see myself in the mirror. It is amazing how much better it makes you feel when you like what you see. I don’t think of myself as a bodybuilder at all but just someone who enjoys working out hard and trying to change my body into the way I want it.
(WP): How long have you been lifting?
(TL): I have been lifting on and off since high school so it has been quite a few years. I would say that I got more serious about lifting about 2 and half years ago. And about 2 years ago I got even more serious about it and then started to eat healthier as well.
(WP): What are your best lifts?
(TL): I enjoy working out the entire body and seeing how it continues to change when I work hard. I do not think I have a best or favorite lift.
(WP): Do you have any advice to people that wish to build more mass and more cut?
(TL): I have know many people who say they want to build muscle, loose weight or whatever but the biggest thing they lack is the dedication that it takes to do it. I just ask myself how bad do I want it and go from there. Just remember it takes hard work, dedication, and patience.
(WP): What do you eat in a normal day?
(TL): Oh, how I love to eat. There are so many types of food I like that I wish the day would be longer so I could eat more. Ha Ha! I eat usually 8 meals a day and am pretty strict on what I eat though. Sometimes it is hard because of where I work I usually don’t have a lot of time to eat and do not usually get a lunch and am constantly running around. I have come up with a meal plan that works pretty well for me. I will try and switch it up here and there but for the most part I usually eat the same thing. Here is basically what I eat on a normal day right now.
Meal 1: Oatmeal or kasha cereal with protein shake.
Meal 2: Egg salad sandwich with banana.
Meal 3: Peanut butter sandwich, or slim fast, or tuna sandwich.
Meal 4: Chicken with vegetables.
Meal 5: Ham/turkey sandwich.
Pre workout: Super Pump 250
Post workout: Protein shake.
Meal 7: Chicken, sweet potatoes, or spaghetti with chicken, or something similar.
Meal 8: Protein shake.
(WP): Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
(TL): I try to stick with my diet but I usually crave the orange chicken at panda express so I will usually go there on my day off and get some. I crave a few other things but am able to resist.
(WP): Could you tell me a story of how you have gotten where you are today?
(TL): Well, since high school I always wanted to be big and ripped but have always been a shorter, skinnier guy. A couple years ago when I decided to get more serious about it I just asked myself how bad do I want it and I said I want it bad so I have been working hard for the last couple years and here I am. I am still not to where I would ultimately like to be but I am getting there.
(WP): Do you have anyone you can thank for helping you get where you are?
(TL): I guess I would like to thank my family for putting up with me. They always want me to go do this or that and I say sorry I got to go workout right now but maybe after. I have to stick with my routine or I feel kind of guilty. Other than that I do it all on my own and sometimes it is hard to stay dedicated and focused especially with so much stuff going on.
(WP): Where do you want to be in 5 years?
(TL): In 5 years, I would like to be married and hopefully at least have one kid. But the way I am going who knows if that will happen. As far as lifting and my body, I would like to continue to be healthy and gain more muscle mass and keep the body fat down.
(WP): You look great! How do you keep the physique you have? What is the hardest thing for you to face when it comes to keeping your physique?
(TL): Thanks! To keep the physique that I have I just have to keep asking myself how bad do I want it. I like to keep pictures around the house and on the computer so I keep reminding myself of what I look like. The hardest thing for keeping my physique would be that I guess sometimes it keeps me from going out and being social or spending more time with my family. Eating healthy is also probably one of the hardest things as well. There are a lot of foods that I like and would love to just chow down on.
(WP): Tell me about your future projects. Have any in sight?
(TL): I don't really have any future projects. I would like to just continue to be healthy and look good in the mirror. Who knows maybe something will come out of being in this magazine and that would be pretty cool.
(WP): What gets you up in the morning?
(TL): My alarm clock usually. Ha! I usually wake up early at like 6 and do cardio. Sometimes it is very hard to get up because I know I got to do the cardio and I am not a fan of it. But I know I got to do it if I want the results.
(WP): How do you approach a challenge?
(TL): I guess I look at the challenge and figure out the best way to deal with it and do it. I usually like a challenge because after you complete it you usually feel better about yourself for doing it.
(WP): How do you create balance in your life?
(TL): That is hard to do sometimes.. I guess it is easier for me than most people though since I am single and have no kids. That is kind of nice because I can pretty much do what I want when I want. I would imagine if I had a wife and kids it would be a lot harder to balance working out and everything else.
(WP): What one piece of advice you can share with me on how to gain the most muscle the fastest?
(TL): I think it is kind of hard to gain muscle fast. I have always been a slow gainer. I think that everybody is different though. There are a lot of factors when it comes to gaining muscle. You got to eat a lot and eat right, working out properly, staying dedicated, etc. There are supplements out there that can help gain a little faster so that is always nice.
(WP): Are you married, dating, or do you have kids?
(TL): As I mentioned before I am single and have no kids. I will go on a date every once in a while if there is someone to go out with but I don’t date a whole lot. I would like to date more and eventually get married.
(WP): Who had the most impact on you growing up?
(TL): I would probably have to say my parents. They were always the ones there to help me and teach me. I know I wasn’t the perfect child at all and I am grateful for them for putting up with me and help me become the man I am today.
(WP): What is your work out regimen?
(TL): I workout 5 days a week Monday through Friday and take the weekends off. I also usually do cardio 5 times a week. I use the system from NASM in my workouts. Currently I am in phase 4 which is maximal strength and at the moment I am training most body parts twice a week. I am doing 5 sets of 5 reps and do about 3 exercises per body part each time I train it. I workout after I get home from work. Here is basically what my workout looks like:
Monday: Biceps/back, cardio in the morning
Tuesday: Chest/triceps, cardio in the morning.
Wednesday: Legs, cardio in the morning.
Thursday: Biceps/shoulders/back.
Friday: Chest/triceps, cardio in the morning.
Saturday: Off.
Sunday: Cardio.
I will usually train my abs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
(WP): Have you played in sports before?
(TL): Growing up I played soccer for about 10 years and played basketball for a few years. I was on the swimming team in 9th grade. Other than that I just like to play sports here and there but not on any team. I do enjoy watching the NBA.
(WP): Anything you would like to see change in the bodybuilding world?
(TL): I guess it would be nice if everybody was a natural and didn’t use things like steroids to cheat to get big.
(WP): Any shout outs?
(TL): All my friends and family, also I would like to thank everyone who voted for me in the contest.
(WP): What is the funniest story that has happened to you while working out?
(TL): I don’t think I have any funny stories while working out, sorry. Haha!
(WP): What is the proudest moment of your life?
(TL): I can’t think of one proudest moment but I am proud to have gotten to where I am today as far as my body goes. It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication. Also I am proud that I never got into the whole drug and alcohol scene.
(WP): What are your interests outside of bodybuilding?
(TL): I enjoy most sports, spending time with family, cars, riding motorcycles, going to the lake, movies, and television.
(WP): If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
(TL): I guess I wish I was a little more outgoing and not so shy. In certain situations I tend to be shy and quiet especially around girls and sometimes I wish I wasn’t like that but that is who I am so I deal with it.
(WP): Is there anything else you would like to add? Now is the time!
(TL): I just want to thank you for doing this interview with me. I want to thank everyone who voted for me in the contest. I hope that my story that I have shared can in some way help others to achieve their own personal goals. Thanks!
(WP): Travis, it was a pleasure to interview you. I wish you continued success in all your endeavors.
