Welcome NPC Bodybuilder, Thorsten Hisam to the Competitor Spotlight this week!
Where do you train? Anytime Fitness Gainesville
Weight On Season: 205
Weight Off Season: 210
Division(s) You Compete In: BB HW Open; 50+ Masters
What got you started in health & fitness?
I got started 30 years ago in Daytona Beach when that was an East Coast bodybuilding Mecca. First worked out with guys like Boyer Coe and I got to know the guys that graced the cover of Muscle & Fitness magazine at the time. One of my training partners when I started competing ended up winning a National NPC show. It was a great time, and I competed 1989-1991 with good regional, state-level results.
What prompted you to want to step on stage?
Then life happened: kids, career, etc and I still lifted some, generally stayed “in shape” but then found myself 40 pounds overweight and not as healthy as I should be at 48 years of age. That’s when I decided I’d compete in your show when I turned 50. That was last year – I competed again a few weeks ago. So, I gave myself 2 years to prepare for another visit to the stage. I enjoyed that last year, so did it again this year.
Which show was your first show? How many times have you competed since then? Where?
1989 Sun City Bodybuilding Championships, Daytona Beach, FL. I’ve competed six times since then, all but two before the end of 1991.
Are you going to compete again? If so, which shows are you targeting?
I probably will. The November show and/or April show in Woodbridge are both possible.
What’s your favorite body part to train? What exercises?
It depends on how I feel, but I love to squat heavy.
What’s your LEAST favorite body part to train? What exercises?
I really can’t answer, that but will say that I don’t do dead lifts, because i feel that my squat day covers most of the same. I prefer other compound exercises for back. Dead lifts are also pretty risky at my age from an injury standpoint.
Do you have a consistent playlist for when you’re working out? Any favorites to get you motivated?
Anything by Disturbed!
Favorite cheat meal? Go to food?
Burgers – I eat pretty clean though.
Favorite clean eating meal? Recipe?
Hungarian goulash with protein pasta; Thai food; BBQ chicken; smoked fish and lots of vegetables
Do you have a strong support network in place?
Moderate – I train solo and do my own cooking, but my wife is very supportive of my lifestyle.
What do you do for a living? How does your training and nutrition work around that?
I do international business development for defense-related and intel-related services worldwide. A lot of travel, mostly abroad. I have most of the world covered with favored hotels that have good training options and the locations of good food. Riyadh, Dubai, Paris, Bogota, Cairo, London, Medellin, Caribbean islands, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Australia, etc – I have my “approved” ways to stay on track at all of these locations. A good hotel fitness center and flexible food options (especially buffets) are key!
How can people connect with you?
My email, thorsten.hisam@gmail.com, or LinkedIn are my two online presences. No other social media.