Michael Lindberg

How did you get involved in bodybuilding?
I graduated high school weighing 125 soaking wet. I was fairly athletic but very weak, and I tried to change that over the first few years of college. I didn't really know what I was doing, but in July 2007 I got really serious into weightlifting. In the fall of that year, a friend of mine who had competed before kept bugging me to try doing a competition, and eventually I agreed. After that, I was hooked.

What was your training schedule for the 2009 Junior Nationals?
I started dieting 13 weeks out, and I was lifting 6 days a week. I started off with cardio twice a week and eventually moved up to doing it everyday as I got closer. I teach high school so I developed my training schedule around that. I probably lifted about an hour a day, and did a half hour of cardio on any given day.

Who helped you the most in preparing for the 2009 Junior Nationals? Include how this individual helped you.
My wife helped me the most getting ready for this competition. It would have been really difficult and not as rewarding without all of her support and encouragement. I would also like to thank Layne Norton, who provided my nutrition plan for the prep and was a key part in me coming in as well as I did.

Role Models in Bodybuilding?
The really serious natural guys, Doug Miller, Layne Norton, Jim Cordova, etc. I also like following some of the IFBB guys, especially Shawn Ray and Branch Warren.