Hi! Tell us about yourself and your training
I was moving to Southern California to pursue my dreams in the fitness industry. I touched down in Venice Beach California where I started training at the world famous Mecca of Bodybuilding, Gold’s Gym.
I have competed in seven bodybuilding competitions so far. Two of them being at the national level where I fell a few places shy of earning my IFBB Pro card.
Describe a typical day of training
After achieving my dream physique and then finding a look that was most marketable for myself, I have found it very easy to maintain my results.
One to two hours of rooftop training, All the home equipment you could ask for. Adjustable dumbbells and kettle bells, resistance bands, jungle straps, you name it we got it and as far as cardio, rollerblading is my jam.
After nearly 15 years experience under my belt, from when I started my fitness journey back in the 8th grade when I first picked up weights. I was able to dial back and now train two to three days per week for maintenance.
After achieving my dream physique and then finding a look that was most marketable for myself, I have found it very easy to maintain my results. So I preach, work hard for a few years to get to where you want to be because then and only then, less will then be more.
As far as my overall approach to health and wellness. I still exercise everyday. As I like to rollerblade on days I’m not partaking in resistance style training. I am all about longevity and my overall heart health as heart disease has run in my family.
I normally train alone but collectively it’s in a small group setting. A couple neighbors and I like to meet up on our rooftop where we have a waterfront view. We generally all do our own things, while overseeing each other, offering assistant and an extra eye when needed.
How do you keep going and push harder?
Loved ones. Family, friends & the people. They all motivate me and push me to achieve my dreams so they can be inspired and live out theirs.
I want people to live smarter & longer. To love more and live happy lives. What most important to me is to inspire & teach kids, teenagers and students so they can to have the building blocks they need on this journey we call life.
Personal health and longevity is very important to me. While living the good life; health, wealth, love, happiness. To accomplish the “Good Life,” you must start with your health and the others will then follow.
To expand on this more, with the ever changing Instagram algorithm and the platform limiting our organic reach. I find my goal of helping more people to be my biggest challenge.
We as humans, have been overloaded with propaganda, false information more specifically geared toward the fitness industry, example being the ever changing food pyramid.
Some of my friends have recently acquired audiences on TikTok and just this morning I hear that the US may ban the app… it’s things like this that make this vision a bigger challenge.
How are you doing today and what does the future look like?
I have been keeping busy throughout quarantine, from trying to get more mask out there, to educating fans of the options they have from ordering out. Business has taken a different approach that’s for sure but the future is still bright!
We see a national commercial in the horizen, I landed my first feature film, my goal is to be a successful working actor, there is a series called Beawatch my friends and I are producing and have interest in.
I will continue to grow on both Instagram and YouTube while pursuing an audience on both TikTok and Bigo. I hope to be verified by years end. You can make all dreams a reality if you believe in yourself!
If I were to start over I would have surrounded myself with different people at certain times in my career. I have drastically improved my business and communication skills over the last year and know I would have produced better results earlier on.
My advice to my younger self, you have to know when it’s time to let certain people go. I have had some very toxic people in my life who brought me down.
Keep your circle small, surround yourself with a strong minded people. Ideally five or so people who all have like minded interest and goals. You can call this your fortress of support.
How do you recover, rest and handle injuries?
I try to get six to nine hours of sleep depending on the week and workload. I am a big advocate of CBD and implement most days. Especially when I am feeling a little run down.
I can not remember my last injury. I am all about mobility and functionality, I stretch and invert a lot and focus on movements that will help increase my range of motion.
How is your diet and what supplements do you use?
I follow a Flexitarian type diet. I previously followed a vegetarian diet for the prior three years but added back in fish a few times a month to have a more versatile dinner palate to enjoy with my partner @Naonavarre and of late we have added meat back into our diets a couple times per month. This changes are examples of a flexitarian diet. In simple terms, it’s when you follow a primarily-plant based diet with meat & fish on occasion.
I usually like to have my cheat days on the weekend, these serve as an award for having a successful week. I like to enjoy myself and socialize on weekends so I find myself spending money out on dates and events.
I suppress my cravings simply by drinking tea or coffee. I also picked up intermittent fasting over the last year, which I do anywhere from 12-18 hrs. most days.
Fasting has trained my brain to easily handle cravings and put them to the side vs. in the past, I would be heading to the kitchen for a bite to satisfy this craving. You will find it is all mental.
What has inspired and motivated you?
My fitness journey began back in the 8th grade, I had a huge crush on a girl. She told my classmates my head was too big for my body. Being a small, skinny kid growing up, I was really hurt by these words.
I then seek’d out my dad’s help regarding weight training. He broke out his old school weight bench & equipment downstairs in our basement and taught me some basic movements. I fell in love with training and since then I have not looked back.
The best advice I have received was “Don’t give a f*** about what anybody thinks, just do it.”
Advice for other people who want to improve themselves?
I truly believe your environment plays a larger part than genetics do, where you spend the most time, who do you spend it with are keys attributes to living a healthy and happy l lifestyle.
Are you taking on clients right now?
Yes, I am taking on both private clientele where I train right in the heart of Venice beach and online clientele who will have the opportunity to touch base with me in our weekly check-ins.
As for specialty, I have two…. Manuel resistance training and TUT training (which is known as time under tension)
I have been taught by some of the best. A diverse range of professors in the Kinesiology depart at Penn State. A department that was ranked number one in the world when I was in attendance.
I have worked at four different gyms in which each had their own philosophies to training. I implement some of the best techniques from each into my training style
When you sign up with me, you will results in a minimum of six weeks, that’s the amount of time it takes someone new to see results. If they have previous experience training, then thanks to muscle memory they should start achieving results faster.
Where can we learn more about you?
The UnStahlables now have over 300+ blog articles to get lost in. Use to self-educate, as self-development has been a huge part of my success.
Let me use my experience and knowledge as an outlet to change your life just as fitness has changed mine, through your health, sport, overall well-being and success.
Also, please follow me on Instagram @nickstahlofficial
