Brad's training style is nothing short of intense,

"HEAVY!  When I started training seriously in 2001, I had just taken the 12 week Maximum Overload Training or Max-OT course from AST Sports Science. I got involved with Skip LaCour and Jeff Willet as my “coaches” and I fell in love with Max-OT. Much of the time the weight is heavy enough that I can’t complete much more than about 5 or 6 reps. Although I know periodization is important, I still stick to Max-OT style training 80% of the time."

Brad feels his best body part is his hamstrings and glutes. Brad's selection of the best exercise for the hamstrings and glutes,

"I love the stiff leg dead lift. The dynamics of the hamstring pulling the ischial tuberosity of the pelvis down the fulcrum is the hip joint. Not dissimilar to prying a nail out of a board using the fulcrum of a hammer. The result is a very efficient joint and the ability to lift some really heavy weight. The bonus is as long as you keep your back flexed and straight, it’s a fairly safe exercise as well."

Brad's take on cardio training is similar to weight training, intense!

"I love short, intense bursts of cardiovascular activity. Interval training seems to work best for me. I really like 15 seconds sprints alternating with 45 seconds of recovery or active rest. I can really change it up too. I can use a bike or elliptical. I can mix that with some kettlebell exercises like snatches and jerks. I can also use bleachers and hills by sprinting up and jogging/walking down. There is a lot of research showing how that kind of activity spares muscle and is more efficient at burning fat. I however just love it because it’s fast and I love the high I get when I’m done.  For that reason I pretty much use that style year round." 

For contest prep Brad likes to eat several small meals per day and does not count calories.

"I’m a grazer. I’ll eat 7 or 8 times a day on or off season. I have gotten away from counting calories and started focusing more on Macro nutrients, and I am really starting to dial in what works best for me. Every year I get blood work done and as a result I have discovered that much over 350g of protein per day and my Urea Nitrogen or amount of excess protein in my blood is elevated. This year I was consistently getting about 275 – 300g of protein per day and my Urea was top end of normal. So I try to keep that amount all the time. Carbs and fats vary by season. If trying to go up or down in weight, I will increase or decrease both if the weight stalls. So if I’m trying to gain and get stuck at a particular weight, I will either increase my daily intake of carbs by 25g or fat by 10g. On average off season I will take in about 300 – 350g of carbs and 80g of fat per day. During this prep I have ranged from 300g all the way down to 100g of carbs per day.  Fat was a high of 75g and now is 20 – 30g per day."  

Brad's protein, carb and fat sources come from a variety of foods.

"I try to get a variety of sources on every nutrient. Protein will come from chicken, beef, eggs and egg whites, cottage cheese, greek yogurt and of course whey. Carbs will depend on the time of day. Around the workout it will be simple carbs. Off season, high carb sources like cereals and cereal bars, pop tarts etc. On season, lower carb sources like berries and grapefruit. For fat, I love nuts and nut butters so almonds, peanuts, cashews, and butter made from those are in high demand for me."

Brad is sponsored by AST Sports Science and that is strictly his source of supplements.

"I am honored and blessed to be sponsored by AST Sports Science so they are my exclusive supplement brand. The majority of my supplement use is whey. It’s hard to get 275 – 300g of protein per day from food. So VP2 is about 1/3 – 1/2 of my protein intake. VP2 is what I consider the gold standard in whey. There are numerous studies that have been published by the American College of Sports Medicine on VP2 and that is why I feel so strongly about VP2. My other staple supplements are Creatine Monohydrate for increased strength, GABA to help me sleep, BCAA’s to help with recovery and protein synthesis, and finally an energy booster to help me wake up and train at 4 in the morning. It’s my cup of coffee."