Matt Meinrod:
How has your move to south Florida been thus far? Are you settled in yet?
Chris Hester:
The move to south Florida has been going well up to this point and I believe it will only get better the more comfortable I get and the more I learn about living down here in south Florida. I’m all moved in, rooming with my buddy from the Frontline Call Center, Matt Mulroy over in Boynton Beach which is cool, because it’s right by the Delray Beach gym.
Matt Meinrod:
You’re not just a featured athlete at Redcon1, but you now have a full-time job with the company. Tell me what you’re doing for Redcon1 and what does a normal work day look like for you now?
Chris Hester:
So, I’m working as part of the Frontline in sales here at Redcon1 to help promote and sell products and give customers advice on the best supplements to best fit their needs and goals. A normal work day for me starts at 9am, then from 11-1:30 I’m training with my coach, Neil Hill, and then I come back and work until 5, sometimes 6pm.
Matt Meinrod
You mentioned the gyms you’re training at now, are they better or worse than the ones that you’re used to in Chicago?
Chris Hester:
The gyms down here are pretty nice, they’re much fancier and cleaner and some have underground garages. The atmosphere is very motivational, because mostly everyone down here is in shape, they look good, they’re fit - so it keeps you disciplined and makes you work harder to always look and perform your best.
Matt Meinrod:
Have you had a chance to pick Aaron Singerman’s mind yet, not only on bodybuilding and supplements, but the industry and business as a whole?
Chris Hester:
I have not had the chance to pick Aaron’s mind yet on the business and bodybuilding aspect just yet, because he’s been doing a ton of traveling to Jersey, Pittsburgh and now the UK, but once he gets back, for sure I’ll try to pick his brain as much as I can.
Matt Meinrod:
Talk about working with Neil Hill, how has training been going and what have you learned now that you’ve done a lot of 1-on-1 workouts together?
Chris Hester:
Training with Neil Hill has honestly been a game changer. Each workout that we’ve had together has been intense, heavy, challenging, and has really changed my outlook and perspective on training. Some things that I’ve learned are different angles that I haven’t done before, different ranges of motion on different exercises, and training until absolute failure on each exercise.
Matt Meinrod:
Have you noticed any changes yet to your physique since working together?
Chris Hester:
Yes, I’ve noticed some changes, my weight has gone up, my delts are starting to cap more the way I want it, and I’m bringing up my calves and hamstrings up which was a big emphasis for me, so everything is going according to plan 100%.
Matt Meinrod:
You had previously talked about prepping for your first show, the NPC Southern States, but plans have changed I understand. What is the new game plan so your fans can finally see you hit the stage? Do you know when and where it will be?
Chris Hester:
So, the plan was to originally compete July 14th at the NPC Southern States in Fort Lauderdale, but after having a long sit-down and game planning with Coach Hill, we have pushed my debut back until mid-October and then hopefully NPC Nationals in Miami, right after. We have not picked out an exact show just yet, but I do have a couple in mind within that time frame.
Matt Meinrod:
Redcon1 has several athletes competing in 2018, does that motivate you to train harder and push yourself during prep knowing that you have Redcon1 teammates all around the globe working just as hard as you for their own goals?
Chris Hester:
Absolutely! Seeing all my other Redcon1 teammates kill it and doing well at their shows is definitely motivating for me and constantly pushes me each day, especially since I’ve never stepped on stage, so I know that once I do I really have to do well and show the world that I belong and live up to the hype.
Matt Meinrod:
I see you jawing with some other top local bodybuilders on Instagram – Dane Sellers in particular, is this a real heated rivalry we’re witnessing or just some online fake drama?
Chris Hester:
It started out with Dane sellers as a heated rivalry, but after training and having dinner with him he is actually a really nice dude. We both have similar backgrounds - both played football growing up, both played at Division 1 schools, so we are both transitioning into the bodybuilding world, so it’s just two competitive guys who are wanting to represent and be the best.
Matt Meinrod
And finally, rumor has it you’ve developed quite an addiction for MRE Bar since arriving in Boca Raton. How many are you gobbling down on a normal day? Does Neil Hill approve?
Chris Hester:
On a normal day, I’ll eat anywhere between 5-7 MRE bars. The oatmeal chocolate chip, those things are just two good. Since I’m not on a real strict hardcore prep right now, Neil doesn’t have a problem with