When you see a bodybuilder you typically think of all the work he did in the weight room to attain such an impressive physique. However, there is a whole other side to it. In fact, Anthony Sniadach, a bodybuilder from Vernon, who is about two weeks out from his first competition, says it best. "What separates the men and boys is the kitchen," he says.

 

Sniadach, of course, is referring to the regimented dieting that is needed in order to compete against other specimens. He mentions that the food and dieting aspect is 70% of the equation when it comes to building the envied body.

 

He speaks in-depth about what his own diet requires of him. Because he has a full-time job at Pratt & Whitney along with being in the process of getting his MBA, he has to pack six meals a day. He'll cook all of his food on Saturday and Wednesday. The food is weighed to make sure exact amounts are cooked. He points out the fact that he always knows what day of the week it is based on how much food is in the refrigerator.

 

Sniadach has a demanding schedule for sure, but that is how he wants it. To fit work, school, and training all in, he will get up at 5 a.m. on a typical day. At that time, he will do a half-hour of cardio. Then it's off to his job. After eight hours there, he still has to go to school and fit in his workouts.

 

He takes pride in doing it all. That is what drew him to bodybuilding. He calls himself a "perfectionist in life." He always is striving to be better. Bodybuilding presents him the challenge that he is looking for. Of the sport, he says that it is a "never-ending struggle." That is what he loves as he says that it keeps him "motivated." He also adds that bodybuilding is such a commitment. In fact, he says that it is part of your life "every minute of the day." In other words, you can't escape it.

 

To survive, Sniadach says that you "have to be obsessed." What helps him is knowing that he always has to step up his game. He has already come a long way. When he was 20, he weighed only 130 pounds. Now, seven years later, he is shooting for the competition weight of 175. He is currently 178 and obviously ripped. He hopes to continue to grow and develop.

 

The words "grow" and "develop" refer to his size and therefore, his bodybuilding career. However, they are just as easily used to describe Sniadach when it comes to his personal life. He is always looking to further himself as a person. That is where the perfectionist comes in. He graduated from UConn with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. As said, he is now going for his MBA. He also speaks highly of the fact that he considers himself a very hard-worker. He talks of some of the possessions he has such as the four cars and the house. He doesn't say it to brag but instead to illustrate the point that he does work hard. It's used as a reference point to showcase the fact that he is always trying to move forward.

 

No matter where Sniadach finishes in his competition, you can be sure that he won't be satisfied and simply take time off. He'll be back at it. As he says, he is always learning. What he knew a year ago is a joke compared to what he knows now and he figures that next year, what he'll know then will be way more advanced than what he knows now.

 

The cars and the house and his pointing these goods out are used for a simple reason. One that can be related to bodybuilding and certainly will pertain to his first competition. It is simple enough. When you push and try to perfect a certain aspect of your life, you often become so focused on the goal. You forget how far you've come. You just keep pushing and trying to attain. You need the possessions (or victories) to reward yourself. They remind you, when you're having a tough day, that you can overcome. You know that your dedication is not being ignored.

 

There is the alarm at 5 a.m. Will you get up and stay at it for the whole day?