Muscle-up!

Meet Slobodan! He has worked for one year at PUMA as an accountant at the corporate headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. For him, bodybuilding is more than a hobby. It is a way of living. Read our interview to hear about his training, what drives him and get hold of some nutrition tips.

You do weight training, bodybuilding to be more precise. What are you training for right now?

Slobodan: I am currently preparing for a tournament in my home country. The competition starts April 21 in North Macedonia. Most of the competitions in the field are held as amateurs, professionals are very few. I have already participated in some championships; I have also been to the German championships a few times. Before I turn 40, I would like to fulfil my dream by achieving pro status.

“In Germany, the bodybuilding sport has no real lobby. It’s not like soccer, basketball, or tennis. In the USA it’s a little different, the sport is more respected there. It seems to me that in Germany you are sometimes ridiculed for it.”

How did you get into the bodybuilding sport and what drives you?

Slobodan: I started with weight training quite early. I used to play competitive soccer and was in the B-youth, in the highest class in Bavaria. After a complicated cruciate ligament rupture, however, I stopped the sport. I was about 16 years old at the time. The doctor advised me to do weight training to stabilize my knee by strengthening my muscles. That’s how I got into weight training. I then trained for a long time without pursuing a specific goal. I just liked the look of it. I finally started competing after my father passed away. That was in 2011. After the loss, I needed something to completely take me over. I was looking for something to put my complete focus on, so my mind wouldn’t wander. Then my goal was to go on stage, which I did for the first time in 2012. At that time, I became a newcomer directly. That had felt very good and was a huge motivation for me to keep going forward with the sport.

For training, my entire 24-hour day is geared towards this. This includes sleep, the right diet, when to eat and the training itself. In Germany, the bodybuilding sport has no real lobby. It’s not like soccer, basketball, or tennis. In the USA it’s a little different, the sport is more respected there. It seems to me that in Germany you are sometimes ridiculed for it.

In the beginning, I could not assess myself well, thought the others are all better and I’m too skinny. Then when I was on stage with the newcomers, where all weight categories and generations performed together, I won in part, against people who had 30-40 kilos more mass. Then I realized that I don’t seem to have bad genetics for the sport. That really motivated me.

“Personally, I stopped eating meat three years ago. I still eat fish from time to time. Factory farming got me into it. Nevertheless, I have no less muscles and have just as much strength. You just always have to look at how you combine it and eat lots of legumes and vegetables, for example. “

Do you follow a special diet plan?

Slobodan: I used to have a coach for a long time, Ercan Demir. He was also coach of Sophia Thiel, a good friend of mine. But I never had a coach who told me everything. There is no patent remedy, and every body ticks differently. If I have a weight limit at competitions, then I may also count calories. Otherwise, I know quite well how my body reacts and how I get to my weight. In the end, my diet form is low carb and high protein.

Do you have any specific nutrition tips for us?

Slobodan: I’m also a licensed nutritionist. Bodybuilders often eat a lot of meat. On the one hand, this is good because of the amino acids. Personally, I stopped eating meat three years ago. I still eat fish from time to time. Factory farming got me into it. Nevertheless, I have no less muscles and have just as much strength. You just always have to look at how you combine it and eat lots of legumes and vegetables, for example. A lot of fiber is also important for the intestinal tract.

 

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Do you always find what you’re looking for in our PUMA canteen?

Slobodan: Yes, definitely. At the moment, however, I’m doing a little meal prep and often bring something with me to have a precise overview and to get to my weight before the competition.

What shoe do you wear when you work out?

Slobodan: I have bought the FUSE and I love them! The sole is nice and hard, so you don’t hurt your knees even if they are put under additional strain during heavy leg exercises. I have them in white, but will buy other colorways soon.

How do you balance training and your full-time job at PUMA?

Slobodan: The flex time at PUMA is fantastic. I train twice a day and also use the gym in the PUMA headquarters. You can train fully in Herzo to stay fit or keep your muscles. At noon I usually go to the gym at PUMA HQ and do a 40-minute workout. This is primarily a cardio session. From time to time, I do an abdominal unit. In the evening I go to my gym near my apartment and do my strength exercises.