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The Bodybuilding.com amateur of the week may not be ready for the Olympia stage, but he or she is making impressive gains while deriving the benefits of a fit lifestyle. Meet this week's winner! SIGN UP!

Our Amateur Bodybuilder of the Week was...
Matt Sossamon

VITAL STATS

How Did You Get Started?

Originally I had no intentions of getting into bodybuilding. All I wanted to do was gain weight and not look so skinny. As a couple of years went by I started seeing amazing results from my workouts and gaining serious size and mass to my small boned body.

My third year into working out I was asked by a friend of mine if I ever considered bodybuilding and I said know but, I thought why not give it a try. Being a competitive person by nature I started training in 2003 for my first show on May 1st of 2004.

What Workout Plan Worked Best For You?

First of all in order for my body to respond the best I work one body part per week. The following is one of my workouts that I do:

arrow Sample Workout Routine:

    1) Monday-Chest
    Flat Bench - 4 sets, 6-8 reps, (off season), 10-12 (pre-contest)
    Incline Bench - 4 sets, 6-8 reps, (off season), 10-12 (pre-contest
    Flat Dumbbell - 4 sets, 6-8 reps, (off season), 12-15 (pre-contest)
    Standing Cable Flyes - 3 sets, 10-12 reps squeezing hard (as in a crab most muscular pose)

    2) Tuesday-Legs
    Leg Extensions - WARM-UP
    Squats - 4 sets, 6-8 reps (off-season), 10-12 (pre-contest)
    Leg Press - 3, 6-8 reps (off-season), 10-12 (pre-contest)
    Hack Squat - 3, 6-8 reps (off-season), 10-12 (pre-contest)
    Lunges - 3, 20 total steps
    Leg Curls - 3, 8-10 reps (off-season), 12-15 (pre-contest)
    Legs Extensions 3, 10-12 reps (squeeze hard at top till failure

    3) Wednesday-Arms
    Biceps
    EZ Bar Curls (standing) - 3 sets, 8-10 reps (off season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    One-Arm Dumbbell Preacher - 3 sets, 8-10 reps (off season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Hammer Curls - 3 sets, 8-10 reps (off season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Standing Machine Curls - 3 sets, Till Failure

    Triceps
    Skull Crushers - 3 sets, 6-8 reps (off-season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Overhead Extensions - 3 sets, 6-8 reps (off-season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Kick Backs - 3 sets, 6-8 reps (off-season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Push Downs - 3 sets, Till-Failure

    4) Shoulders
    Rear Delt Machine - 3 sets, 8-10 reps (off season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Rear Delt Dumbbells - 3 sets, 8-10 reps (off season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Front Delts Dumbbells - 4 sets, 8-10 reps (off season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Shrugs - 3 sets, 8-10 reps (off season), 12-15 (pre-con)

    5) Back
    Deadlift - 4 sets, 6-8 reps (off-season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    One-Arm Dumbbell - 3 sets, 6-8 reps (off-season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Seated Rows - 4 sets, 6-8 reps (off-season), 12-15 (pre-con)
    Machine Pulldowns 4 sets, 6-8 reps (off-season), 12-15 (pre-con)


magnifying glass Click Image To Enlarge.

What Nutrition Plan Has Worked Best For You?

Off season I pretty much eat whatever I want. My metabolism runs so high I can't stay on a clean diet throughout the year. I usually stay around 8-9 percent body fat sometimes lower through the year.

Contest diet I start about 10 weeks out. Here is a sample of my diet that is very effective for just about anybody:

arrow Sample One Day Diet:

    6:00 a.m. - Oatmeal and eggs
    9:00 a.m. - Steak and baked potato
    12:00 p.m. - Chicken and baked potato
    3:00 p.m. - Steak and rice
    6:00 pm - Chicken and rice
    9:00 pm - Whey protein drink

What Supplements Have Given You The Greatest Gains?

Whey Protein
NO-Explode
Glutamine
Men's Mega Vitamins

Why do you love Bodybuilding?

Bodybuilding to me is something most people can't even imagine doing. It's a huge challenge for me to look like this and have everyone you know or don't know say WOW! It motivates me to see other people getting interested in such a great sport.

I will continue bodybuilding not only for myself but to motivate other people to stay fit. It's such a rush when you're onstage and the judges picked you as the best. Even if I don't win it just motivates me even more to achieve the ultimate goal and winning it all.

What Are Your Future Bodybuilding Plans?

I will be competing at The Arkansas State Championships on July 8th. After that it's up in the air. I'm still looking at other competitions especially Nationals this year just to get my feet wet and see how it feels to compete with the best.


magnifying glass Click Image To Enlarge.

What One Tip Would You Give Other Bodybuilders?

Stay focused and don't give up so easy. It takes time to build your physique the way you want to look and have other people admire your achievements.

Who Are Your Favorite Bodybuilders?

Jay Cutler, Darrem Charles, Branch Warren

More Pictures!

Pic 1, Pic 2
You Could Be Our Next Bodybuilder Of The Week!

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