Today’s NPC Athlete Spotlight is Mike Balan Men’s Physique IFBB Pro
Mike Balan Says: How I tuned Pro In the NPC
My names Mike Balan, I’m 27yr grew up in the small town of Swansea,Ma where I’m currently still residing… Training out of Fall River, Ma at General Fitness….I first started training about 5 years ago. I got to a point where I just felt unhealthy and out of shape…so I decided it was time to do something about it so off to the gym I went… I stuck to it everyday and made it my goal to better myself and felt great seeing the positive results. Soon I realize it would be my next goal to compete in bodybuilding, but I needed more time to grow and get bigger so I said to my self in two years I will compete…I knew bodybuilding would take me years to get to a competitive level but I was still going to try…then in 2011 the Men’s Physique Division in the NPC started. I found this more appealing to me and my size at the time was more suited for this division, so I took it apon myself to to do Men’s Physique instead of bodybuilding……I then end up switching gyms where I was approached by my current coach Rick Bisch owner of Body Reflexion Athletics, we got to talking and competing came up and told him I was thinking of competing the following year 2013, he told me you could do one this year. if you ever need help with your diet and prep I can give you a hand. At the time it was September 2012 and the 2012 NPC New England’s in Boston was 5 weeks away…it was at that time when I decided what the heck why not, Rick got me on a prep diet 5 weeks later at the show I placed 1st in my height class and ended up winning the Overall too! Also this had been the first time ever going to a bodybuilding show of any kind…after this me and Rick sat down and made a plan to do the 2012 NPC Eastern USAs in NYC just 4 weeks later…at that show I ended up placing 1st in my height class -that was the last show of the 2012 season…..I worked hard all winter training everyday with Rick putting on about 10lb of quality muscle over winter, we the. planned out my 2013 season starting with the 2013 NPC Rhode Island championship as my first show of 2013 where I placed 1st in my height class and won the Overall! The following weekend was the 2013 NPC Atlantic States In NYC this show is one of if not the biggest NPC show in the country! Again I managed to place 1st in my height class and won the Overall!!! So with 3 Overalls and one 1st place which is almost unheard of! We thought it was time to step foot on the national stage in an attempt to get my IFBB Procard! So the the weekend after the Atlantic States was 2013 Jr. Nationals in Chicago and off we went….where I placed 6th, I was disappointed but it was good learning experience and at the same time It let me know where I stood and what I need to improve. The short time i had i made most of it to improve as much as i could. So about 2 weeks ago was the 2013 IFBB North American in Pittsburg where I made my second attempt at getting my Pro card . I planned on this being my last show since I had done 6 shows in under a years time. I was burned out from dieting …… I ended up placing 2nd (earning my Procard) Class A and achieving my ultimate goal I set for myself for 2013!!!! Now for a much needed offseason…..See you in 2014 Pro stage!!!! Never would I have thought all this would eventually lead me to being a NPC Men’s Physique Competitor and eventually becoming an IFBB Pro in under a years time!!! I guess you never know until you TRY
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