MY ONE ON ONE WITH IFBB PRO HENRI PIERRE

July 2013, Halifax was host to the CBBF Nationals hosting Part 1 of the 2 part event. Part 1 was dedicated to the Bodybuilding division with the best of the best from all across Canada competing and hoping to win one of the 7 IFBB Pro Cards that were to be awarded to the Men and Women of muscle. One of those competitors looking to claim one of the IFBB Pro Cards for his own was Quebec's own Henri Pierre.  Not on the competitive scene for a lengthy period of time, Henri was hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Quebec competitor and mentor IFBB Pro Larry Vinette, who just the year prior became an IFBB Pro. Well, Henri Pierre did not disappoint. With a tough line up of competitors, Henri Pierre made his mark and became one of Canada's newest IFBB Pros.

I had the opportunity to talk to IFBB Pro Henri Pierre about his career in bodybuilding and his thoughts on the sport.

Q. Give a brief account of how you started in the fitness industry.

A. Ok I started to train at 26 right after I quit playing basketball college AAA! Right away I got biten by the bug! I did my first Regional show in 2007 and I won it all. That was it, I found my niche. After competing natural for several years, I followed fellow IFBB Pro Larry Vinette, and I decided to do the Nationals in 2012 and won it all in 2013.

Q. Going back to the day that you won your IFBB Pro card, how did it feel? What was that moment like for you? What did it mean?

A. Earning that IFBB Pro Card was really unexpected! Usually it takes 3-4 years before getting the crown but doing it in two made me very proud.

Q. Do you take an off season?

A. I do take an off season time usually about 4-6 months a year. I think it is one of the best things for you and your body. Adding the extra calories to the diet helps the training and the good temper lol! Usually I try to reach round 6000 calories a day. It's plenty of food when you are eating clean.

Meal 1: steak and eggs, oats and berries

Meal 2: post-workout shake: 2 scoops combat protein chocolate, 3 scoops carb powder, 10g créatine, 10g glutamine, 8 oz grape juice

Meal 3: 300g chicken, vegies, 2 scoop rice

Meal 4: 300g of bison meat, vegies, 10oz sweet potato

Meal 5: 300g of salmon, vegies, brown rice

Meal 6: 2 scoops MP vanilla caseinate protein, 1 tbsp almond butter, ½ cup oatmeal

Q. What is a typical training schedule like for you?

A. I train between 4-5 times a week off season and 5-6 while on contest prep. I always alternate my training split every 4 weeks In order to force my body to adapt and stimulate my growth hormonal system and get it to rise. 

4-6 weeks traning split off season: Monday : quad / mollets Tuesday : chest / biceps Wednesday: off  Thursday: hamstring / mollets Friday: dos /triceps Saturday: delts / traps Sunday : off

4 weeks training split in season: Monday : Legs / mollets / abs Tuesday : Arms Wednesday: off Thursday: hamstring / mollets Friday: dos /triceps Saturday: delts / traps Sunday : off

Q. Who are some of your influences or heros in the sport that you look up to?

A. Shawn Ray always was a big inspiration for me!!! I remember the first MuscleMag that I saw when I was 12 years old and Shawn was on the cover!! I think he represents the sport perfectly with his phenomenal shape of course but also with his class act and persistence!

Q. What has been your favourite moment to date?

A. My favorite moment till this day in this sport is definitly when I saw my first cover on stands next to Kai Greene and Phil Heath.

Q. What are your future plans regarding competition?

A. Planning to attempt the 2014 New York Pro this Spring and Toronto after.

Q. Advice for those getting into the sport.

A. Do this sport for the right reason. Not for the size, the girls (lol) or to get into competition with your friends at the gym! Do it because this is what you do best and because this is how you want to live your life. 

Q. How long are you usually prepping for a show?

A. Usually prep for the stage starts 6 months before season. I only prep 6 months a year max. And final phase is usually 16 weeks out.

Q. What is your take on doing cardio? Off season and not?

A. Ahhh cardio, the famous question. Well I have to tell you that in 7 years of competing, I only did cardio twice! My dear friend and coach the famous Larry Vinette can tell you about it. I believe more in diet and the rest will follow.
 
Q. How important is posing?

A. I think that posing is the most important thing on stage. Natural poser or not, you always have to practice your posing in order to show your body to its best.

Q. If you had not turned IFBB Pro by this year, what would your next steps have been in regard to competing again?

A. I would have competed again. I was giving myself 3 years to succeed.
 
Q. Looking back on your competitive career, is there anything you would change?

A. NO!

Q. What do you do when you are not competing?

A. Work as a personal trainer and firefighter.
 
Q. How did you get your nickname and what is the meaning behind it?

A. HP stands for my name. But now it's more like HORSE POWER!

Q. What is your favourite body part to train?

A. Arms or delts 

Q. Which brand of supplements are your favourite to take?

A. Assault pre-workout by MP.
 
Q. What are your thoughts regarding the direction of Men's Bodybuilding? Do you think the monster look that is on stage now will stick around, or do you feel that the classic look like Shawn Ray will come back?

A. We already clearly see that bodybuilding is going back to symmetry and esthetic. The time of the monster era is over. With all the new fitness images that everybody is trying to preach it's important that bodybuilding follows the trends!

IFBB Pro Henri Pierre is proof that hard work, dedication, focus and drive along with a clean diet and training program can help build not only the body but the dream of becoming an IFBB Pro.  Not being one to back away from a challenge and going into the sport with an open and realistic mindset, IFBB Pro Henri Pierre was able to do what he set out to do. Keep an eye out for IFBB Pro Henri Pierre in 2014 with an IFBB Pro debut in New York followed by the Toronto Pro SuperShow.