Big Rob is a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder from Compton, CA. Rob started lifting weights to train for baseball, but fell in love with bodybuilding in his 20s. Since then, Rob has gone on to inspire thousands through his social media and videos. He’s competing in the NPC USA’s for his Classic Physique Pro Card in July.
For Big Rob’s Website: htttp://www.robdiditmerch.com
To follow Big Rob on Instagram: @_BigRobDidit
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Transcript
Machine-generated from the episode audio and lightly edited — may contain errors.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
What's going on everybody? Welcome to the Warrior Soul podcast and today we have on one of my favorite people in the world, Big Rob from Rob Did It Fitness. Now, Rob is somebody I've known for a while and met him back when I was still owner and manager of Metroflex Gym in Long Beach, California. And I think I coached him through his second bodybuilding competition. We go we go into that in the episode.
But Rob, since that time, has built an absolutely amazing brand. He's got a huge following on social media, on YouTube and Instagram, and he's out there inspiring people to do their best and to make the most of what they've got. Now the thing about Rob is this, and this is true of so many people I know, guys like CT Fletcher and Mike Rashid. You you look at them today and they have this amazing brand and they have this awesome following on YouTube and on Instagram and you think, wow, that's a successful person. But the thing is, before they got to this point, there's a long story of suffering and failure and getting up when you've been kicked down and and just pushing forward.
And Rob's one of those people. Grew up in Compton, California, and he really made the most out of everything that was given to him. You know, he got himself an education, learned how to become a personal trainer, learned how to coach people, learned how to to learn all the fundamentals of fitness and nutrition and how to build his own body. He's been helping people for, I think, a good portion of the past decade as a personal trainer and a coach. And now he's inspiring the masses.
And so what I really want you guys to get out of this story is understanding where Rob came from and where he is today. No matter where you are, no matter what you're doing, you have to continually push forward. You can't stop just because you got knocked down. And Rob's a really inspiring guy. He along with CT Fletcher and Mike Rashid and Tanya Moore and all the great people I met at Metroflex back in the day, they've all gone on to do some amazing things.
And I'm so proud of everybody from that time and especially proud of Rob. He's about to go out there and dominate USA's and get his pro card classic physique and I couldn't be happier for him. So this interview we go into a little bit of our own history. We go into Rob's training methods, what his schedule is like every single day, what type of diet he's following, and what type of training he's doing these days. And like I said, he's just a great person and you'll get that from the interview as well.
Before we get into our conversation, I just want to give you a note from our sponsors. Two other amazing people, Ross and Kara from F Bomb Nutrition. They make an absolutely awesome product. They make these awesome portable packets of fats, and my favorites are their nut butters. They have macadamia nut butter base in all of them, but some of them are mixed up with chocolate, some of them are mixed up with sea salt, some of them are mixed up with pecan.
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They convert very quickly into ketones in your body. Omega-3s are vital for reducing inflammation. All right. And so many of us are following these diets and increasing our inflammatory levels, and that affects your brain, it affects your health. And regardless of what diet you're doing, I don't care if you're doing a full blown ketogenic diet, if you're not getting the right kind of fats in your body, you're going to reach a wall and you're going to hurt your health.
Beyond that, they've got collagen in there. And collagen is so vital for healing the intestinal tract and so vital for reducing total body chronic inflammation. If you're interested in checking this out, you can head over to our show notes that I will put in the link in the description here on iTunes and in the description box or on on YouTube, and you could check that out for yourself as well. Another awesome product. And with that, let's get into my conversation with Big Rob on the Warrior Soul podcast.
This is Chris Albert, and I'm here to remind you of one thing. Someday, you're going to die. Now that's not some morbid statement or scary idea. It's solid fact. Your time here on this earth is limited.
And you need to be reminded of this as much as possible for one simple reason, to live your best life while you can. This is the Warrior Soul Podcast. Alright. Big Rob, welcome to the Warrior Soul podcast, man.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Hey. Thank you. Thank you, Chris. What's up? How are doing?
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Good, man. It's been a while since I've seen you in person. We've talked on the phone, but what do you got going on lately?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Oh, man. Right now, just getting ready for nationals, USA, trying to go for this pro card NPC.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Doing that classic physique.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Right? Yeah. Doing classic physique right now.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's awesome, man. That's awesome. And you you just did a competition not long ago too. Right?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. I did a competition on March 24. It was called Muscle Contest in Venice Beach. Nice. I mean, not Venice Beach in where is that at?
Culver City. Culver City. Yeah. Culver City. Won first place in my class, and now it's time for me to get even tighter, bigger, and go for my pro card.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's awesome, man. So so what are you weighing in at these days?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Oh, usually competition weight. I'll come in in, like, two thirty four. Walking around, like, two fifty. I don't go over two fifty no more.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's awesome. Yeah. Me and Rob go way, way back. Yeah, way back. I remember a first time meeting him. To tell you the truth guys, before we opened up Metroflex gym, I went and I scouted out a nearby Bally's because I just wanted to see what what what people were doing, what type of people were going to the gym and things like that, trying to figure out how to promote. I saw Big Rob back then, younger Big Rob, but he's still big, he's still massive. And then lo and behold, he comes into the gym one day and before I knew it, was training there.
He trainer was brought into the Metroflex family and he was there from the start. Was our family back then, man.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yes, sir. Yep.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Absolutely. So that's cool, man. What else you got going on in your life these days? Like just training, go down a goal?
Big Rob (link to this point)
I'm locally still training right here at Iron Addicts Gym in Signal Hill right now. And like I said, just training and working on myself on social media and, you know, just trying to further myself in my career.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's cool. That's cool. What's Iron Addicts like? I haven't been down there yet.
Big Rob (link to this point)
It's the same thing, almost like Metro, same good energy, same good people that's around, you know. Every gym we go to, you know, we bring the energy. So that's that's the best that's the best thing about it.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, man. I remember those days. It was like was crazy because there's crazy shit happening in the gym all the time.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
We just had so many good people around. So many so many good people. Just remember hanging out there late nights, fucking
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
You know?
Big Rob (link to this point)
I remember sometimes standing there till 12:00 at night, man, just, you know, hopping on the stair step and we just everybody's just talking and chilling.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. Music blaring and shit like that. Yeah. Blasting.
Big Rob (link to this point)
That's when we even we didn't even have the fucking writing on the wall back then.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
No, man. It was like It was just like a warehouse with white walls and then there would be like handprints everywhere because it was dirt.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah. It was so dusty.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
And I remember you come out of there no matter like, no matter what you did, you walked through that gym and you had like a layer of like, like soot all over you. It was like
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. Black stuff all over your hands and like
Big Rob (link to this point)
It was one time where when I went home, shit, I low key was coughing up the black shit that that was in there, the dust.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
You were?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Oh my god, dude.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. That's horrible. Yeah. That shit was it was it was the gym. It was like where you want the workout at, you know, just to fill out iron, you know, when you walk in, it smells like iron.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's awesome, man. So that's the thing, man. Cause like, I know I've known all you guys. I've known you, I've known Mike, I've known CT from like back. I remember the day CT walked into the gym like like he was walking on his way to Bally's and stuff like that.
Like Yeah. You know, I think about those days and I'm like, these guys have come so far and I'm so proud of you. But could you clue some guys in as far as like what it was like back then for you? Like where did you start out? Why did you start training?
What were your goals when you first started training in the first place?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Basically, my goal was back in the day was to play Major League Baseball. You know, that's what I used to play first. That was my first passion. Baseball was everything to me. That's all I knew.
And I ended up getting hurt. So the best thing for me to do was stop playing baseball. I pulled my hamstring and my quad on the same leg, on my right leg. So I ended up stopped playing because I was a catcher. So I couldn't move in different positions like how I really wanted to again because I was always on my knees my legs mean everything to a catcher.
So, and I couldn't block the ball as good because I couldn't move as fast as I wanted to anymore because I couldn't push off my right leg. So I ended up just giving baseball up. And then when I was going to school, I had a degree in kinesiology and sports therapy. So I said, Hey, let me just go into another passion that I like. And when I was playing baseball, I was lifting weights. And I've been lifting weights since I was like 13, 14 years old.
So I was like, you know what, let's do something else. Let's go into personal training. So that's when I went up to Bally's, they hired me. I became a successful trainer at Bally's and that's when I met CT right after that.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's a, I heard a story about CT from back then. He was a trainer and the fitness manager came up to CT and told him that he couldn't take a piss while he was at work or something like that, right?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I forgot what, I think because he was training that client, then he walked away to go use the restroom real quick. And they was tripping about him using the restroom while training the client.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
And what did he say? He was like, you must've been out of your goddamn mind or something like
Big Rob (link to this point)
Tell me what the fuck to do, you know? You know, you don't play that bullshit.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
It's funny as hell, man.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's cool. And then when you came, by the time you came over to Metroflex, you had your own business already. You were already-
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, yeah. That's, then I started, I currently had left Bally's and started working with my friend Jabbar and John at this, hey, I forgot the name of the place. It was called, let me think of it, Conquest. Conquest Fitness. Conquest Fitness and like Lakewood.
And I was already starting my own business where I did a program over there.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. And then that's when you started doing bodybuilding shows, right?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. That's when I started doing bodybuilding shows and CT had got me ready for my first show. That was like no other, you know, anything with CT. That's when the Still Your Motherfucking Set was born, when he got me ready for my first show. And that's when I was on the hack squad and he was fucking me up with this thing called five fifty five that we was doing.
And I was ready to just pass off because back then he only had me on like the day before like a week of the show, he had me drink like a little bottle of water. That shit was like, like a baby ounce of water for the whole day. And I was down there about to pass out from dehydration. And he was like, still your motherfucking set, keep going. You know what I'm saying?
I was like, Oh shit. That's what I went to throw up and he made me keep going because it was still my motherfucking set.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's awesome, man. That's awesome. Yeah. And then, so you went through that, you came over to Metroflex and then you did your next show. That was the, That was the natural show down there.
What's it called? I can't remember the name of it.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, Muscle Mania. Oh no, INBA.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
INBA. Yeah, you were doing the INBA competitions. And then I remember I coached you through that one there, right?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, Me and CT. Yeah, I got Me and CT ready for the INBA show. Because what happened was I had walked into Metroflex, that's when I first met you. You asked me like, Damn, how far are you off for your show? And I said, I think I was like three months out.
He was like, Three months? Hold on, you look like you're about to compete this week. And you just like, you need to eat.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah. I remember that because I was like, dude, because your cheeks were like, when I look at somebody's cheek, I see them like, like sunken in like that. Yeah. I'm like, oh my god, I don't, you know, is this person this person's either competing or they're nutritionally deficient.
Yeah. And I remember I was like, you were drinking like distilled water at that
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Was drinking distilled water. That's when you first told me like that that was shit. That that was made for iron.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. That's the thing. It'll deplete all the nutrients out of your system. And I was like, get that shit the hell out of here. Start eating right now.
Then you guys you guys was working with you guys for that show. And I remember we had a lot of fun doing it because I went down to that competition. And I said to CT, was like, was like, guys, it's like, get your suits in order, make sure you shaved up.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Make sure you don't wear no velour suit or nothing like that. And then CT forgot to shave that day.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. And he had to run over and go get a shaver from the guy. He said she had bald hairs just sticking out everywhere. That shit was so funny. I always bring that up to him all the time.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Was like, Oh my God. There was hair coming out of everything.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Everything.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
But but I love that dude, man. He was he he was freaking hilarious. And I think I think people don't get how good of a person he is and how good of a person you are and how good of a person Mike is. You know, videos and things like that. Because I watch a lot of I watch you guys still and and I see a lot of Internet commentary out there.
And CT is one of the nicest dudes I've ever met. One of most Yeah. Like honestly cares about everybody he's involved with, cares about everybody who's around. And you know, bothered me a lot when I saw a lot of the internet hate that was going on and everything. It's just
Big Rob (link to this point)
I mean, yeah, a lot of people just don't know how far CT came and what he have accomplished, you know. He accomplished a lot. I remember, like when I said, when I was working at Bally's shit, man, CT was fucking sharing gas money between each Like I will fucking break down for not having gas and he'll be the savior to come and help me put some gas in that truck, you know, back then. And same here for me with him. Like if one of his bills got cut off, shit, I'll try to help him get the bill turned back on.
So we've been through a lot, you know, together.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, man. People don't realize that, you know, the person you see up there who's like going through all the all the you know, putting all this stuff out there and who looks like they're on top of the world, That's a long and painful trip. That's a long that somebody has to go through for just to get there. You know, like for someone like CT that that story's, you know, thirty years long. Right?
Yeah. You know, from the time he was younger all the way up till now. Know, same thing for you. I remember you driving that car. Yeah.
That car that couldn't go in reverse.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. You remember that was my truck, my Explorer that I didn't have, like I said, I didn't have the money really to get anything new back then. So I was driving the same truck that wouldn't even go in reverse. So I had to get out the car, push it backwards and then put it back into drive to go.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, I remember that. And I was dirt poor right there with you guys just from opening up that gym.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Sleeping at the gym at Metroflex, I remember that, man. I used to walk in at five in the morning, you'll be sleeping on the couch.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yep. Yep. I was I had some guys, I'd be sleeping on the couch and I used to carry around a little nine millimeter with me. And had these guys, they they came in one morning, they woke me up a little bit too startled. I fucking I pointed that shit right at them.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That was those were the days, man. Like, we were all struggling. I remember going into the gym at, 5AM and it was freaking cold in there. Freezing in that shit
Big Rob (link to this point)
Where you had to have a sweater. When it was cold, it was cold. And when it was hot, it was hot.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yep. Yep. And Mike would bring everybody coffee. And he Yeah. But the
Big Rob (link to this point)
thing was time. Mike was was always the cool one to bring everybody something.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
You know?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, man. He was always he was always giving one. Mike was always giving.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yep. Yep. And he would always put like five espresso shots in that shit. So it had more caffeine.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Everybody fucked up. And I was just talking to Mike about that shit about about that. Like when he came out here, like a couple of weeks ago at Max Muscle, we went down there, did a meet and greet. And I was just telling him like back in the day, was cool, man. Because Mike, when he used to cook, he used to fucking put cayenne pepper on fucking everything and fucking used to and jalapenos. And he got me used to that shit now. Like if if I'm eating food, I'm putting cayenne pepper into jalapenos now. Told him he got me addicted to that shit.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's a funny thing. And my dog, my dog Piper, she's sleeping down here by my feet right now. Piper used to get fed by everybody. Like everybody used to give her something. And like to this day, when Piper sees a black dude, anytime she goes up, she wags her tail, sits down, and she's like, oh my god, I love you so much.
Please feed me.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Because Mike used to feed her so much. Yep. Mike and CT used to feed her everything.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Used to feed her everything. And freaking she's like, she she just she was so in love with all you guys.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. I I remember Piper. I remember
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yep. Yep. So right now, you're going for you're going for this goal. You're trying you're going for the nationals. And as far as what you're doing, what's you're you're a little bit older, a little bit wiser now.
Right? So what's changed now that you're older? Like what-
Big Rob (link to this point)
Basically the training methods is really different for me, you know what I'm saying? Because I'm getting older and I know that you could pull different muscles and joints. I listen to my body and lift a little lighter and no more squeezing. And I train like a real bodybuilder now, you know?
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah. So there's no more 400 pound incline presses or anything like
Big Rob (link to this point)
No. No. No. No. No more 400 pound benches. I might stay I might go to 405 and that's it.
No more trying to do 500. No more fucking 400, four zero five shoulder presses. I might stay at two and a quarter, you know what I'm saying? That's it. And just pump it out for reps of ten, fifteen.
I always try to keep my reps higher than 10 and never go under like eight at the max. Five, six, I don't even do those no more. I just, you know, I'm more about shape now too. So that's the difference. And I see that you don't always have to do heavy weight to be able to build muscle.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, that's a really good point. And I've seen some pictures of your lower body. You're looking a lot more tight. Things are coming out a lot more. There's a lot more detail coming out than you had back in the day.
As far as the training intensity though, without putting all that weight on, how are you remaining intense? Like what do you Like
Big Rob (link to this point)
I'm still doing like the same crazy shit that I usually do, exercise called like five fifty five. Or I might sometimes load up the leg extension or whatever I'm doing and still bust out like a couple of super sets, you know, to really and really squeeze those muscles. Like I might start off with two zero five for 12 reps and I'll go right into 160 for another 12 and I'll go 130 for another 12 and then I'll go 100 for another 12, you know what I'm saying? And one set And that's fucking burning the muscle out. So you don't really need too much heavy weight, just really focus on squeezing and really controlling the weight and building that muscle.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
And thinking back to when you were younger, if there was anything you could have done differently, what would it have done?
Big Rob (link to this point)
I would I mean, everything was going right, so I really have never had no crazy, crazy injuries. But I think I would have focused more on squeezing and really develop the muscle.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Like squeezing as far as like slow, slow reps, just trying
Big Rob (link to this point)
Slow, yeah, slow reps and, you know, more of a focusing in my connection with the muscle.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. And how's your flexibility and mobility and everything like that? Have you been working working anything like that?
Big Rob (link to this point)
And and the crazy part about it, yeah. Because now I have somebody that's stretched me out, like every, like every, I get, I get stretched out probably every twice a week, you know, twice a week. And it actually helps me a little more to be able to push more and be able to squeeze more. Because sometimes as like I'm getting older, the joints don't work as good as they used to. And like some muscles just like get stuck together, you know, and get knotted up and that shit hurts.
We have to get some work done now. And I'm learning that getting work done helps the muscle, you know, so I have to be able to push more butt into it.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, a lot of people forget about that because all of our muscles are encased in fascia. And if the fascia is keeping everything from growing, then you're not gonna be able to have those rounded out muscle bellies. Not gonna be able to get the shape you want. And I see so many people, they'll do heavy, heavy lifts, they'll build up scar tissue over time. But if you don't get that scar tissue worked out, it's not going to look right on the aesthetics at all.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, it sucks too, getting it pushed all that shit back out too. Yeah. Because like, the first time I was getting them shit, like the work done, it felt like I was getting sick every time from the fascia getting released, you know, all the poisons from the body. So I would have to drink like fucking three gallons almost of water that day just to flush everything out.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Shit. And then did you have like muscle soreness for like three or four days afterwards or?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Hell yeah. Like real, real sore, you know? And then it's because of the the I mean, when you let those fasteners go, it's a lot of toxin in the body too. It's just built up toxins.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yep. Now diet wise, what's changed since back in the day?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Right now, like me, I can't even take in that much carbs like I used to. My body don't process it right like how we used to have it. So right now I don't think I work with carbs like this. So my carbs are very, very low during prep. Because if I, when I take in carbs, just blow up, you know? And then I had got up to like three hundred pounds almost down there. I had to burn So more belly fat, you know, on around the stomach, you know?
Chris Albert (link to this point)
When were you three hundred pounds?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, I had got up to three hundred before that last show that I just did. So I came from two ninety five to hopping on stage at two thirty four.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Jeez.
Big Rob (link to this point)
And within four months. So people out there, they could do that shit. I know they could, it's just focus and determination.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
What did you feel like when you were over three hundred pounds? Was that like-
Big Rob (link to this point)
Oh, that just sucks, Chris.
I would never get that big again because it's hard to sleep. I mean, I started getting like sleep apnea where I'd just be sitting up somewhere and fucking fall asleep. Breathing was hard. Like even at night, my wife will be like, why are snoring? It's like, I can't even feel it.
It's just that you're breathing and everything is off because you're so heavy and the heart is trying to pump so much.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Did it take a toll on your workouts?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Not really because I lifted heavier, so I felt better, but, and I always move as fast as I could doing a workout. So it didn't mess up the workout, but like when I got home and different stuff like that, I could feel the the difference of walking up the stairs.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah. That's a I I mean, I got I mean, I'm a little guy, you know that. But like when I would get up to like two twenty, I'd have problems like tying my shoes.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah. It would be hard to tie the shoes. Yeah. Different shit like that.
Get out of breath. Clothes back then was hard for my wife to find me clothes because it's like everything won't fit because I was just too big.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's the thing, man. When you're a bodybuilder and you're trying to find a nice pair of jeans or something like that, it's hard. You can't get those things to fit your legs. It's not like back in the day, jeans aren't baggy anymore. Everybody's supposed to.
The tight jeans, the tighter fit.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah. So what I have to do is, now it's just, I'll have to get the waist a little bit bigger so my legs will be able to fit.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Nice. Nice. So nutrition wise, you're cutting the carbs down. You're you're you're you're eating a little bit more protein. Are you getting a little bit more fats these days?
Big Rob (link to this point)
You know what? Some days I kinda like try to, I try to, I try to get in fats too. So what I do is like every other day, check this out. Because I, you know, I'm kinda weird when it comes to dieting and differences. Chris.
I'm the same person. So, you know, I'm always in my head. So like, sometimes I'd be like, damn, I think the fats is gonna make me even fatter. You know how that shit is. Sometimes like today I'm taking it more, like before the workout, I'll take it some fast, maybe some almond butter or some cashews or avocado, you know, before the workout.
Other than that, I kind of just stick with, you know, just the protein and veggies, basically like spinach.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
You're getting MCTs in for energy instead?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Oh yeah, I'm getting all Yeah, I do take That's the new thing I take, MCT oil. I love that shit. I feel like that works a lot for me, bringing down the fast too.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Cool, cool. And who are you working with these days?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Right now, I'm working with Don Long and Chris Psycho out there at Gold's Gym. So, I mean, they're bringing a good package, you know, this time. So, you know, I got a lot of people, a lot of support. I got like Dexter Jackson helping me, like just stay focused. And, you know, I got Shawn Rhoden, of them cheering me on, telling me I could do it.
So that's really kind of motivated me even more when I see these guys telling me like, Hey, I think you need to go ahead and do nationals. That's what made me really do it because for the last show I was like, Fuck that. I'm never doing the show again because it was just so much, it was just hard and was just so much dedication I had to put in it. And when you're doing shows, you're basically selfish, you know what I'm saying, with your family because you gotta dedicate more time to the gym and doing cardio and different stuff like that. So it kind of messed the relationship where with your family because you're more focused on yourself than them.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. How are you balancing that? Because I know, I know you get married, you've I know you got a son now. He's got to be big by now. I haven't seen him How in a are you balancing that stuff?
Big Rob (link to this point)
So now like the cool part about it, my wife understands what's going on. So that's the good thing about it. And then like to say, if I do have to do extra cardio during the day or at night, I just tell her like, Hey, let's go for a walk. I might do a walk for the cardio, walk Signal Hill and walk up some hills. And she'll do it with me because she wants to get to her goals too and lose a little weight.
So it helps me out for her to go with me. So that's the cool part about it.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Nice.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Then with my son, I try to do like on Sundays, I'll try to just do my cardio in the morning and then I will kick it with him the whole weekend, you know, and just focus on him.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Just, yeah, just spend some time. It's good to get away from it every once in a while.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
I see a lot of guys, they get burnt out real quickly and I've definitely been there before as far as-
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, because bodybuilding would take over your life.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, it literally will. A lot of people don't understand that. It's like a twenty four hour job. You gotta measure everything you put in your body. You gotta monitor your sleep.
You gotta keep stress levels low and you gotta earn money, bring home the bacon and take care of your relationships too.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, because the food costs a lot too, you know, just to even stay on this program.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Oh yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Now, as far as nationals, where are nationals this year? Where you gotta go?
Big Rob (link to this point)
This year is in Vegas. National's in Vegas this year.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Is it USA's or is it nationals?
Big Rob (link to this point)
No, it's USA's.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
USA's, yeah. That's the Lindsey show.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. So it's USA's. It's a it's a national qualified show to get your pro card.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's awesome, man. That's awesome. Now so you've got these awesome mentors, you know, guys like Dexter Jackson and former mister Olympia, Shawn Rhoden, like one of the most aesthetic people out there, you know, as far as like waist size to shoulder size and everything like that. What's the biggest thing you're learning from these guys?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Basically, it's not, I'm learning from them that weight doesn't matter, like how big you are. Basically, it's more of a definition and bringing those cuts in more, you know? So I'm learning that you don't always have to be the biggest guy on stage.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Right, right. And, you know, when you're up there with Classic Physique, you've done bodybuilding shows and now you're doing Classic Physique. What's the biggest difference you're noticing with classic physique?
Big Rob (link to this point)
I actually like the classic physique category. Simple fact is just, it's more me, you know, I don't have to get as big as, you know, the typical bodybuilder that you guys usually see right now. And it's just a great class, more about aesthetics, you know. You don't have to be the biggest guy, like I said, to win a classic physique show.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Nice, nice.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Just bring the symmetry and definition and conditioning, ready to go.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, I did the very first classic physique show in the NPC.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Uh-huh.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
So that was about two years ago. And I placed second overall in my class. It was the biggest class. The thing was for me that just with ulcerative colitis that show nearly killed me.
Big Rob (link to this point)
I remember. Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
I got I got really, really sick. And know me with way I pull water and the way I do everything, I do everything a little bit extreme when I'm training for shows. For me, man, it was something that I just couldn't do anymore. But sometimes I really miss it like crazy. Like I miss
Big Rob (link to this point)
That's that's the thing too. Like, I wasn't gonna do any more competitions, but I mean, when you get hit by the bug, you get hit with it. So, I mean, you'll love it and and and it is what it is, dude. You know?
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yep.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yep. And I got hit with the bug again.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. Where where are you looking to to take yourself after this? You know, what are what are you looking to do with yourself? What's the long term vision?
Big Rob (link to this point)
So right now, my long term vision is, if I could, I mean, I'm going one day I my dream is to hop on the Olympia stage, you know, battle it out with some with the best of the best in the world and, you know, just to keep growing my brand and keep being Rob Did It.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. And and you know, can
Big Rob (link to this point)
and me.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
And what do you what's the biggest thing you're trying to teach people with Rob Did It?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Basically, I wanted I just wanna try to teach people that anything you put your mind to and that you're determined to do, you can do it. You know what I'm saying? Like, can do whatever you want to do, long as you put your mind to it and put the dedication to it. That's why I always tell people there's no limitations, it's all dedication. It's all dedication in what you do.
There's no limitations to what you do.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, and that's the big thing, man. And I think, like I said at the beginning, that's something I think a lot of people miss in the story. You know, they see they see things going on in YouTube. They see things going on on social media. But so many times they they they don't understand how much work it took to get there.
Don't understand, you know, all the bills you had to pay, all the forgiveness.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Especially like right now, as we talking right now, I'm over here fucking getting my stuff ready for prep right now, like my tilapia and everything right now, you know? And you got to do what you got to do while you're on prep, you know? So it's almost time for me to eat, so I got to get ready to eat. And then, like, as I'm on an interview with you, I eat at the same time because that's what we do. I mean, everything's at a time limit now.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
So what's your daily schedule like? I know you're training at iron addicts once or twice a week, you're going down to Gold's. It's like, what's a typical day like for you?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Oh man, so like, look, I got the fish right here, Chris, so you know I'm not a fan. It's basically just train, work out, and just eat. I mean, that's one of the hardest jobs that I'm really doing right now is eating the food. Because I mean, I'm always hungry. I mean, because I bring in the calories, my calories are so low right now that it's crazy right now that it's so low.
But I'm really like just trying to, it's, my day is just all about training. Basically I'm at the gym more than anything, even, even more than at home, you know? So, I mean, it is what it is. That's where I like to be at.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
So when you drive so you have to drive right now from Long Beach. You gotta head down to Gold's Gym, right? And that's a Yeah. So you gotta carry a few meals with you too. That's because because
Big Rob (link to this point)
if you don't, you're not going to fucking make the meals or you're going to have to stop and get something. But like me, I don't trust everybody's food. So I just cook my own shit because I know what I put on it.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, Exactly. So the big thing for this podcast, a lot of the guys who are listening to this, a lot of them are combat veterans. A lot of them served in the army, the Marine Corps, the Navy. And a lot of them been through some really, really hard times. Lot of them been through some shit. What's your biggest piece of advice for those guys out there?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Basically, a lot of guys that to me, appreciate everybody that does service for our country because, like I tell my Marines that I trained in different stuff, I couldn't do that shit. You know what I'm saying? Like, you guys got heart, you know? And, and that's a bit and I thank you guys for that too. But all I gotta do is tell them, like, basically just keep their head up and find something that, works for them, you know, because I know they just come home and sometimes not a lot of programs, to help them out, you know.
So, you know, like I said, like I tell some of my Marine guys, if they ever need to talk, I mean, talk it out with somebody because I know sometimes you guys come home and they're not the same because of the stuff that you've seen over there. So, I mean, I believe that talking helps it out a lot, you know? So like a lot of my Marines, like that I deal with, if they need to talk, I'm here for them, you know?
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Mhmm. And, you know, I know you came out of Compton, California, living in Long Beach now. You've had a lot of friends who became successful. You had a lot of friends who didn't make it. Right?
And the big question I have for you is is what's the difference between those who make it and those who don't? What are
Big Rob (link to this point)
Oh, basically basically, the question is that that that's a good question, Chris. The people that make it are the people that's dedicated and focused to their craft, you know? And the people that's not dedicated and don't make it is the people that let the streets bring them back down, you know? Because the streets will always try to bring you down, but you gotta stay mentally focused and, don't play it to the games, you know? Because that's all it is, is a game out there.
And you gotta stay focused and tell people no sometimes.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, that's so true. I mean, I lost a lot of friends that I grew up with to drug abuse, just shit, Right? Shit that they should have never been involved with in the first place. And the way I see it is that these guys, the guys who, who, who aren't with us anymore, they, they, they bought too much into that story. The story that they weren't going to be anything more than that.
The story that they they were gonna be a drug addict for the rest of their lives, that they needed that thing. And it's sad, man. Sad. I mean, I've seen too many people pass away even over the last couple of years. It just sucks.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. So when you are, when you're when you're talking to your son about what you're doing, what does your son think about it all?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Actually, Zai loves it. I mean, I think one day he's gonna grow up and be, something in sports because as he see me, he he wants to be just like me. So he he when he goes to the gym, he's he's trying to lift weights already. And, you know, and that that's one of my biggest supporters, dude, because anything I do, he knows it by the T, you know? The Rock did it, whatever.
Songs I come out with, Zai knows it from the T. That's one of my biggest supporters. And he just want to be his dad, you know?
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Mhmm. What's some of the big lessons that you teach him about what you do?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Basically, try to teach him to be better than me, you know? Because he always try to follow my footsteps, but I keep telling him that he could be better than me. You know what saying? He don't have to live the same life that I lived, you know? And I try to like really drill him to him right now to not be lazy, you know?
Get up and do something in your life every day. Like, because now, even on Saturday and Sundays when he's with me, I wake him up at seven in the morning and get him going, make him make up for bed, do a couple of pushups, and get his day started. He's not gonna lay around all day playing video games.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. That's a you know, like, we see so many kids these days, they they they expect to earn everything or they expect, to be given everything. Yeah. I think the more we teach our kids that they gotta earn everything, that there's no there's no honorable mentions in life, you know, that's, it's so important.
Big Rob (link to this point)
And and that's what I try to teach my son that, nothing comes nothing comes to you if you just sit around. So even like he asked me for money, I make him go collect cans just to get money, you know? Mhmm. So you teach him teach him how to save his own money.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
That's awesome. So Rob, couple of things, you know, number one, how can people find you? You have a website up these days?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah, so I got a website, it's called robdiditmerch.com. And then you can hit me up on Instagram at underscore big rob did it.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
And you still got war juice out there. Right?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Yeah. I got I still got my pre workout war juice. What that shit is fucking crazy. If you ever took it, you know that shit is powerful as hell.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
I have taken it, and it has made me very, very crazy.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. That shit is powerful as hell. And that and that's how I am in the gym. That's what gets me through some of my workouts. Basically, it's just, the warriors.
You know what I'm saying? Being so strong that it just gets me through my shit. Awesome.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Awesome. And then, so you got nationals. What's the date on nationals?
Big Rob (link to this point)
Oh, so nationals I'm sorry. Nationals July, July 27. So right now, I'm seven weeks out.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
July 27, USA's, Las Vegas, Nevada. That's awesome.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Seven weeks out right now. Ready to go, man.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Well, dude, you trying
Big Rob (link to this point)
to pull everything together and get tight. So right now, I'm just eating like a of fish, gang of tilapia, just trying to get fucking right and get shredded as possible.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Well, you're looking great and it looks like your coaches are doing a great job with you. I told you that before and, you know, I think you're gonna do great out there, man. Honestly, wish you the
Big Rob (link to this point)
Thank you, Chris. I appreciate that too, man. You know, I appreciate that. Like I said, and I know that's why I called you one time because I know that you know me better than a lot of other people. So that's why I asked you like, Hey Chris, what'd think about me eating carbs?
And you're like, Fuck that, you're very carb sensitive. That's what I had to tell my post, like, Hey, let's drop it down a little bit.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Yeah, man. Well, that's the thing. Everybody's a little bit different, right? Responds to nutrition a little bit differently. And, you know, you can't just cookie cutter anything.
You got to really watch the person. You got to watch how they respond. You got to watch how their biology functions within nutrition.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. And then I got to tell a lot of people, a coach is gonna help you through it, but you know yourself better than anybody else. So you gotta be able to know yourself and then be able to tell your coach, hey. Like, I don't respond to this that good. So you gotta be able to speak up a little bit too.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Exactly. You're the man in the arena. You know what mean? When all is said and done, it's it's up to you. It's up to you to look at yourself.
It's up to you to understand how you're feeling. It's up to you to be objective, and it's up to you to get it done and get all that work done. And it's not the coach that that that makes the athlete. It's the athlete along with the guidance of the coach that that that helps everything. Right?
And then Yeah. That's coming through at the end of the day.
Big Rob (link to this point)
So Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
You know, that's the biggest thing. Well, Rob, dude, it's great talking to you. It's always great connecting with you.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Know, you're my boy, man. You already know.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Absolutely, man. Yeah. I miss you. I miss all you guys.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. I miss you too, man. I was just telling Tonya Moore I had talked to you the other day.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
I gotta connect with Tonya. I talked to her on the phone a few weeks ago. Yeah. That's another great person.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Man, that's my girl. Like, I don't let, even my wife know I don't let nobody mess with Tonya.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Nobody, nobody. Absolutely. She's such a great person.
Big Rob (link to this point)
She's a great person, a great person.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
She puts herself out there for everybody. We're talking about Tanya Moore, IFBB Pro, female body builder. Probably one of the most aesthetic females of all time. Like, as
Big Rob (link to this point)
When I go to if I need any advice about training, always ask Tyan too about it. Hey, what you think of? What should I do for this shoulder to cap it off? She'll let all do these. She'll come up with some crazy ass shit for you to do and teach you some shit.
She'll take out her time to teach you too.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
She's been through it all. She was in, she's been in the game since like the early nineties, I think something like that. So, you know, it's freaking she's been in for a while. So, you know, she's probably the most knowledgeable person in Long Beach or or even LA area as far as bodybuilding is concerned.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Absolutely. T T more is a shit.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Cool, man. Yeah, dude. I gotta get out there and see all you. I gotta
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah. Man, I gotta tell you if you're ever in Long Beach, come down, man. I've and then from there out there, you know, I'm a hit you up.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Definitely. Definitely. Come come out here to the desert.
Big Rob (link to this point)
Yeah.
Chris Albert (link to this point)
Well, to everybody out there, first off, I wanna thank you for listening. I'm gonna put all of Big Rob's links up on the show notes for this episode. Be sure to look out for him at USA's this summer in July. I'm sure he's gonna make a big dent in that lineup. For everybody out there who's listening, get out there and live your best lives while you can.
Host of the Warrior Soul Podcast and founder of Warrior Soul. Worldwide trainer and nutrition coach, contributing author at Testosterone Nation and Muscle and Strength.
