Rob Lagana

Athlete / CBBF / Male Competitors

Rob Lagana

Athlete Profile: Rob Lagana

Instagram: @roblagana

Category: CBBF Athlete

Do you use a Trainer? Yes

Trainer: Darren Mehling

What Motivated You To Begin Training?

To develop self-confidence and an outlet for my anger towards my condition. Was born with a rare vision problem called Ocular Albinismand I didn’t want to show people I was different even though in the classroom, I couldn’t see anything on the blackboard.. I learned by hearing everything. Managed to do well.. I overcame this with staying in sports, especially weight training. People showed respect even with my disability.

If you have transformed yourself what do you attribute to arriving at your starting point:

I’ve been competing since I was 20 years old.. I’m now 41 and I’m still competing.. l have to say, since meeting my coach Bob Weatherill, I’ve never looked better. I’m in the best conditioning and the best state of muscle size and conditioning I’ve ever been in my life.

Tell us a little about your training philosophy:

It has changed over the years in terms in terms of repetitions. I use to believe in the 4-6 rep range.. and did that type of heavy weight training for years.. now, in the past 3 years, I switched my to higher rep ranges, 12-15 and made more hypertrophy improvements in the past three years!! My approach is don’t waste time in the gym. I’m there to work, not talk or flex in the mirror(unless I’m 2 weeks out from a show.. posing practice in the gym helps) Consistency, Priority, and Hard Work ethic and balancing my physique is my overall goal.

Tell us a little bit about your diet philosophy:

My Diet philosophy is to have variety in my diet.. to be creative and to allow for clean bulking off seasons. I don’t believe in gaining 50 lbs off season.. Generally, I like to be within 25 lbs of my comp weight at all time. I don’t believe in fad diets.. and I do believe in good supplementation, such as Greens product (Greens First), fish oil, good multi-mineral. My diet changes every 4 weeks to keep up with my training and goals.

Rob Lagana’s Competitive History and Placings:

1994 OPA Ottawa Bodybuilding Championship – Junior Men open 1st place
1994 OPA Provincials Novice Junior Men open – 1st place
1995 OPA Eastern Ontario, Bodybuilding Light-Heavy 5th place
1995 OPA Ottawa Bodybuilding Championship – Light-Heavy 2nd place
1996 OPA Western Ontario, Bodybuilding – Light Heavy – 4th place
1997 OPA Ottawa Bodybuilding Championship – Heavyweight 1st place and Overall
1997 OPA Northern Bodybuilding Championships – Light-Heavy 1stplace
1998 OPA Ontario Bodybuilding Championships – Light-Heavy 7th place
2005 Neutron Canadian Bodybuilding Naturals – Open 5’9″ to5’11” 2nd place
2006 WNSO FAME 2006 Light Heavy Advanced – 7th place
2006 GNC MuscleMania Canada Open – 2nd place
2006 Neutron Canadian Bodybuilding Naturals – Opens 1st place andOverall
2012 OPA Ottawa Bodybuilding Championship – Opens Light Heavy 1stplace and Overall
2013 OPA Provincials June 1st – Opens Light Heavy 11th place
2014 OPA Sudbury May 24 – Masters 3rd place
2015 OPA Toronto Provincial Championships June 5th – Masters 2nd place

How many years have you competed?

Tell us about some of your short and long term goals:

Short term, and long term go hand in hand.. what I do short term becomes my long term goals.. Get my workouts in .. develop my weaknesses.. improve my conditioning every time and stay injury free. Learn how to continuously develop physically, through workouts and nutrition as well as mentally and spiritually. I want to share what I know with my clients. With competing, I like to step on stage with a better package every time. My ultimate goal since I was teen was to get my IFBB Pro card.

Who do you look to for motivation and why?

My motivation comes from internal.. myself. Proving to myself, that I can be the best I can be, every time, every workout, every day. I’m also motivated by seeing other achieve success. The more successful others around me become, the more positive energy surrounds me for motivation.

What are some of the most difficult obstacles that you have had to overcome?

I work 65 + hours a week. Sleep has been my biggest obstacle, my second has been gaining more mind muscle connection during exercises such as Squats for my leg development. The squat department after I met my coach Bob Weatherill and had several leg sessions with him.. WOW.. I get it now! My legs have developed significantly since training with Bob.

Tell us some of your pet peeves surrounding healthy life and the gym:

1. Younger crowd who thinks, all I got this way taking steroids. Just want to let you know.. I’ve been bodybuilding in the gym, since the time your mommy been spoon feeding you baby food. It takes many years to develop what I have . 2. Gyms that don’t have leg equipment. Seriously, I’ve been to gym that don’t have a hack squat, leg press is broken, there is a squat rack, but you can only do some many squats at my age, until your back is shot and most of the time, there’s guys curling in the squat rack. What is the number one piece of advice that you would give someone that looks to you for inspiration? Hire an experienced and successful coach, who walks the talk and looks the part. Do it the right way. Don’t quit. There’s gonna be road bumps,problems, challenges.. but don’t quit. Quitters never win and winners never quit.

Please share anything else you would like to say:

I apply 20+ years of Physique and Wellness expertise to help people achieve healthier, happier lifestyles. Eight 1st place bodybuilding championships and certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the IFBB Academy were the catalysts for the development of my proprietary, customizable fitness and nutrition model that has helped thousands of those I have trained, including training the trainers. I also use Reiki, a Japanese healing system, to help my clients develop a better sense of self-awareness and balance in life. If you are seeking a fitness and weight management lifestyle coach, competitive bodybuilding expertise, competitive figure training, or competitive physique or bikini coaching, I can empower you to believe in yourself and will provide total support in a compassionate, non-judgmental offline and online personal training environment. You Can Do This!! Thanks Rob!!