By
Mike Berry, President/Owner, Power-Up USA Inc.
Q:
Vice where do you come from?
Vice:
I was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA
Q: Tell us about your educational background.
Vice:
Did my undergraduate program at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. Received a
BNHS, Bachelor's Natural Health Science, in Exercise Science & Wellness.
I am currently working on my Doctrine of Chiropractic at Palmer
College of Chiropractic West.
Q: What motivated you to pursue a career in
chiropractic?
Vice:
The Kinesiology teacher at Bastyr was Andrew
Slater, DC. At this point I have never been to a chiropractor and he told me
all the benefits that chiropractic would have for my lifting career. Dr.
Slater was kind enough to care for me to show how well chiropractic would
work. I felt great immediately! Out of all the benefits, the most important
one to me and for any athlete out there is that chiropractic will enhance
your recovery! With my successful results, other lifters followed me to the
chiropractor to reap the same benefits.
Q: When did you start lifting weights, and at what
point did it graduate from a recreational to a competitive pastime?
Vice:
I started out lifting weights to get in shape. Believe it or not, I use to
be slightly heavy after high school. My health was in pretty bad shape and
once I started caring for myself with exercise & a diet / lifestyle
change, my energy levels were through the roof! I realized that if I can
overcome sickness and being overweight that anyone could. That is what lead
me to this wonderful health profession.
What
got me interested in powerlifting was where I was training at in Seattle,
WA. I was training at the Eastside Gym, a well-know local powerlifting gym.
I just saw all these strong men and women lifting huge amounts of weight.
Many times I would just go to the gym to watch these guys train. It was so
motivating to me. Then one afternoon, Mike & Jeff Magruder (Powerlifting
Coaches), came up to me and said that I have great genetics to be a somewhat
decent deadlifter. They inviting me to train with their team and the rest
was history. Since then I have been fortunate enough to have trained with
some of the best in the game including my good friend, World Champion Bench
Press phenomena and Strength Coach for the Seattle Seahawks, Bill Gillespie.
Q: How many competitions have you entered since
getting seriously involved with the sport?
Vice:
I have been in 8 competitions
Q:
What other victories (or top three finishes) did you have prior to Reno?
Vice:
Here's
a list of my powerlifting accomplishments.
-2002
WABDL Junior Men Washington State Champion
-2003 WABDL Junior Men California State Champion
-2004 WABDL Class I California State Champion
-2004 WABDL Class I World Champion
-2002, 2003, 2004 Best Lifter Honors
I
also currently hold 4 state records: 1 in California and 3 in Washington for
the Deadlift.
Q: What is your training regimen when you're
preparing for a competition?
Vice:
I do the following schedule; Tuesday: Dynamic Squat/Deadlift Day,
Thursday: Dynamic Bench Day Saturday:
Max Effort Squat/Deadlift Day, Sunday: Max Effort Bench Day
Q:
What supplements do you use?
Vice:
Everyone benefits from taking supplements. Nobody
eats right these days so it is vital to anyone concerned about their health
to take high quality nutritional supplements.
Athletes however, put more stress on their bodies.
Taking supplements will enhance an athlete’s performance by
increasing their recovery time, endurance, and muscle strength.
I use whey protein, multi-vitamin/mineral, creatine, B-vitamins for
energy and vitamin C.
Q: You were injured prior to the Reno competition
and you entered the event without much training; what was the nature
of the injury, how did you suffer the injury, and how what therapy did you
utilized in helping you reach a level
of comfort that enabled you to compete?
Vice:
In
the beginning of October, I injured myself doing a Good Morning.
I was lifting 500 lbs and for some reason I lost my balance. Instead
of being smart and letting the weight fall on the safety pins, I took a step
forward to catch myself. That wasn't the smartest thing to do because once I
did, I felt this massive-shooting pain go down my lower back and legs. After
I re-racked the weight, I collapsed to the floor and could not move. The
other lifters in the gym had to get me up. After a few minutes I was able to
slowly walk. The only thing I could think of was I was so close to my meet
and now I probably will have to back out. At the rate I was going, I was
going to pull 600 lbs in the deadlift at Reno. I decided to take it easy and
get good chiropractic treatment done. I had Dr. Quitoriano, Dr. Currie, and
my intern Jerry Mendez all watching my recovery. I owe much of my victory to
those gentlemen. My wife Megan (and fellow chiropractic student) was a big
part in my recovery as well by helping me stretch and ice my back several
times a day for many weeks. So Reno
was the first time I went heavy since the injury.
I think I pulled good for coming off an injury with little to
absolutely no training for almost six weeks.
Q: What is your next goal in powerlifting?
Vice:
I thrive on competition. I thrive on the fact that there are guys out there
training just as hard or harder than I am. Without my fellow lifters, I
would never reach my full potential. That is why I won't quit. My next goal
is to finally hit 600 lbs in the deadlift. Lifting weights is my vacation
from the world. For those couple of hours in the gym, I am in heaven. No
matter how busy you are, set aside time for those things you love to do. If
not, you'll drive yourself insane.
Q:
What other activities (academic/extracurricular) in which you're involved?
Vice:
I am very active with school. I am
co-president of the Perspectives Club with fellow classmate David Stubbles.
I am very proud of this club and where we are taking it. David and I are
working very hard to bridge the gap between health disciplines. I also
attend as many class electives, on-campus clubs, and health seminars that I
can. I do not want to miss any learning opportunity so that is why I am so
busy. I am becoming doctor and people are going to be coming to me because
they will want my help. So isn't it right that I be the best I can be? I
feel that I owe it to my future patients to take advantage of everything
being offered so I can better help them and make me outstanding physician. I
always remind myself that being a doctor is an honor and privilege.
Q: What is the game plan for you
(and wife Megan) following graduation?
Vice:
I have no idea where the road is going to take us, but I know we will
travel that road together. I am everything because of her. With her love,
Megan gives me the strength, love, and support to accomplish anything.
Note: Before becoming injured Vice had
his sights set on a 600 pound deadlift in competition. He had pulled 595 in
training before injuring his back doing Good Mornings six weeks before the
competiton. Now besides a 600 pound deadlift, Vice has is sights set on a
400 pound RAW Bench Press.
