I was born in the Philippines in 1967 and speak Tagalog and Kapampangan fluently. I came here to the US when I was 14 years old back, in 1981.

I started lifting weights in 1989 when the company I worked for had a cheap membership at a local gym. I did not know how to work out at first, but my Dad bought me Arnold's Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding. I learned my basic bodybuilding from the book and started eating about five times a day and workout 3 days on one day off. After 3 months or so I saw big improvement on my strength and muscle size without having to take steroids or growth hormone. That is why until now I am forever natural and very proud of it regardless of the outcome of my competitions.

Anyway, I got into bodybuilding competitions when one day I was at a county fair and there was a local bodybuilding show. I was impressed of the guy who won overall - although he was the only lightweight, his symmetry and conditioning was incredible. I said to myself that someday I would like to compete and have a nice body like that guy. Two years later I entered my first competition and placed 3rd but at my 2nd show I did not placed. That made me push myself even harder and I won my first novice overall title a year later.

Today, I only do it for the fun. I have taken a lot of first placed local shows and only compete in natural events. In 1999, I watched Musclemania World and was very impressed of everything about the show and decided to do the 2000 Superbody in New York City where I won the Lightweight Class . The same year, I did Musclemania World and placed 2nd. After that, I started experimenting during peak week which screwed me every single time.

Last year, I did not mess with the last week of my diet and I won the Musclemania Pacific and placed 3rd at Musclemania World two weeks later! Even though I ate too much carbs for pre-judging which smoothed me out a bit, I was able to fix it for the Finals. My only problem was that I did not try to gain any muscle for the past two years and just tried to maintain my size - I was more concerned about learning how to peak during the week of the show.

Now, I am back to hardcore bodybuilding and gaining some muscles. I am"back to basics" using the only way I know good nutrition and years of experience in proper lifting. I always learn a lot from all of my competitions, especially from this last one. In my case, I learned,"Do not fixed what is not broken!"

I will start updating my progress as I prepare for Musclemania World in Hollywood in November.

Thanks and STAY NATURAL!

Ron Miranda

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