Bodybuilding a beautiful work of art

CEBU, Philippines - He is gifted with stunning good looks that could easily melt any girl's heart. With his well-chiseled physique, he doesn't need the help of Cupid for a lady to be enamored with him. But these are just the physicality of  his being. The essential thing is that he has become a fitness symbol worthy of emulation by those who aspire to nurture a healthy lifestyle.

For what he is now, a decorated bodybuilder, Dr. Spencer Nicolas V. Lee has earned it through years of hardwork, dedication and diligence.

Doc Spencer first did not initially intend to be a highly competitive muscleman as he works out at the gym only to keep himself physically fit and healthy.

But upon learning the ropes of the sport and the challenge it brings, he embraced bodybuilding with gusto – and is now an integral part of his daily repertoire.

"I've been working out for the past 10 years and had never been really serious about bodybuilding until three years ago when I started joining competitions. All I wanted was the experience coupled with fun, but seeing the other competitors gave me the challenge and made me value fitness even more," said Doc Spencer, a dentist by profession specializing in orthodontics.

"As a skinny little boy, I used to watch my elder brother come home from the gym and see the progress as he got bigger and bigger. So who does not envy having big muscles? From then on, I decided to go to  the gym and get myself some muscles, too. I never imagined that what was once a hobby has become a passion for me now. And I'm enjoying it still with benefits. It was never easy at first but once I saw my body transform from skinny to a well-toned physique, I realized we can all make it once we put our minds to it."

For Doc Spencer, bodybuilding is more than fitness. For him, it's a beautiful work of art.

"The thing that fascinates me about bodybuilding is how you can mold your body into something beautiful, like a work of art that people will either love it or hate it," he said.

And it entails a lot of sacrifice and challenges so tough for ordinary endurance.

"The rigors of being a bodybuilder first and foremost is the expense involved needed for a total body change from the off-season to the pre-contest state which really costs a lot more that the prize money. Secondly, the injuries you get from heavy training and last, but obviously not the least, is the misery of not being able to eat your regular food for 12 weeks," Doc Spencer pointed out.

"One of the great challenges as a bodybuilder is the number of times when you have to do hours and hours of cardio everyday on a very restricted diet, just to get as lean as possible without loosing muscle, and forcing yourself to eat 6 to 8 meals a day."

Fortunately, Doc Spencer survived all these challenges that came his way. He did not mind it though because afterall, it helped him build self-confidence and a positive outlook in life.

"Being a bodybuilder takes a lot of dedication and sacrifice. It takes most of your time from your family when your dieting for a show and it really drains you the whole day due to low calorie diet, but the benefits after are rewarding. A big plus is the self-confidence that you gain," explained Doc Spence, who is also a registered nurse here and in the United States.

As a bodybuilder, Doc Spencer has reaped numerous awards, the most recent was third place in Mr. Physique during the 2nd Phil-Asia International Bodybuilding Championships last September 22 at the Mariner's Court here in Cebu City. He also finished third in the Mr. Pysique 2007 and fourth in the Asia-Pacific International last year in Boracay Island.

Surprisingly, those are not Doc Spencer's biggest achievements for he considers the happy family life he has built as his greatest accomplishment.

"As an individual, my greatest achievement is having my family together all these years, which has truly made me a better person and a proud father to my son," he said.

The other thing of beauty about Doc Spencer is his passion to share to others his know-how in bodybuilding - an admirable trait that has earned him the respect of those who want to follow in his footsteps.

" As a bodybuilder, it gives me a great sense of fulfillment being able to help others achieve their goals by sharing what I have learned. Knowing people look up to me with respect gives me a sense of pride. Also, it's amazing to know that your son is so proud and brags about you to his friends in school."

Doc Spencer has nothing much to say about his personal goal because even though he's a devout bodybuilder, he's life is centered mainly on his family and profession.

"My ultimate goal in life is to be successful in my profession, as well as be the best  father and husband to my son and wife.  As a bodybuilder, I hope to help other people attain a well-toned body and serve as an inspiration to them," he elucidated.

For those who copy his formula to success, Doc Spencer has some enlightening words for them: "If you want to achieve something, go for it. It may not be an easy path but it should not stop you from getting there.

Discouragement should serve as your inspiration in life. Never give up on your dreams because we only have one life to live so we have to give it our best." (FREEMAN)