47 Years Old And SHREDDED

HELMUT STREBL

Age: 47

Height: 6’3″ – 190cm

Weight: 200lbs – 91kg

How did you get started with bodybuilding?

At 12 years old, I was a skinny weakling and an easy prey for bullies as I stood out in absolute contrast to a schoolmate who was a muscle machine. At first, I got into lifting weights only to protect myself. But soon, I was also determined to put myself on a physical par with this schoolmate, my odd twin.

Here was wishful thinking. From it, there came my dream of becoming a fitness model. I liked weightlifting from the start. My first pair of weights was five kilos a piece. This was two bottles of washing detergent, filled with water though. I did not have proper dumbbells until a few years later.

I was 16 years old when I joined my local gym. From early on, high aspirations and mental conditioning have been the keys to my life in fitness training and competition.

What is Your favorite workout routine?

Monday: Back/Shoulders/Calves/Abs

• Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns – 4×16-20
• Chin Ups Close Grip – 3×12
• DB Rows (Pronation grip) – 3×8-12
• Seated DB Military Press – 5×8-12
• Seated DB Side-Arm Raises (neutral-grip) – 3×15-20
• Standing BB Upright Rows – 4×8-12
• Seated Calf Raises – 5×30-50
• Standing Calf Raises – 5×10-15
• Seated Machine Crunches – 6-8×30-50
• Leg Raises (in abdominal chair) – 5×20-40

Tuesday: Chest/Triceps

• Bench Press – 5×6-10
• Stability Ball DB Bench Press – 5×10-15
• Butterfly Machine – 5×10-15
• Seated BB Tricep Extension – 5×8-12
• Dips – 5×15-20

Wednesday: Biceps/Hamstrings/Abs

• Seated BB Preacher Curls – 5×8-12
• Standing BB Bicep Curls – 5×6-10
• Lying Leg Curls – 4×8-12
• Seated Leg Curls – 4×6-10
• Bench Crunches – 5×30-40
• Incline Bench Crunches – 5×30-50

Thursday: Quads/Calves

• Incline Leg Press – 5×20-30
• Seated Leg Extensions – 5×15-30
• Seated Calf Raises – 5×30-50
• Standing Calf Raises – 5×10-15

Friday: Glutes/Chest (Heavy)

• Lying-Down Machine Glutes Extension – 5×20-30
• Standing Machine Glutes Extension – 5×20-30
• Decline Close-Grip Bench Press – 5×3-5

Saturday: Rest

• Recovery Day

Sunday: Back/Calves

• Seated Row – 4×15-20
• Reverse-Grip Lat Pulldown – 5×10-14
• Seated Calf Raises – 5×30-50
• Standing Calf Raises – 5×10-15

What is your diet like?

As opposed to my workouts, my diet follows more detailed planning. I eat between five and seven meals a day. I have lean protein in every meal: Egg Whites, Turkey, Chicken, Beef, White Fish. For my carbs, I go heavy in season on the Sweet Potatoes and Brown Rice. During this time, I cut carbs in the evening.

What Tips can you can give to the all the lifters?

1. Always warm up
2. Observe proper posture
3. Breathe properly
4. Stop lifting if I feel pain
5. Observe proper form
6. Use torso stabilization
7. Execute full range of motion

Intensity and following my instincts are to the point here. I have a calendar notebook. In it, I sometimes plot in advance the exact days and hours for training my shoulders, chest, back, quads, hamstrings, triceps, and biceps.