Owen Taylor is a WBFF Men's Fitness Model who was born in California and raised In Dallas, Texas. A Texas A&M graduate, Owen is finding his passion for fitness & modeling through being in 4 different states in 29 years.

MP: What sparked your interest in men’s fitness/fitness modeling?

OT: Growing up, I always had an interest in competing in athletics.  I was a late bloomer in this area due to the fact that I came from a single parent family and growing up, athletics were low on the totem pole with the people that I was raised around.  Also at the age of six, I was diagnosed with a neurological condition called Tourette Syndrome which was caused by an accumulation of a neurotransmitter called dopamine.  In addition, when working in a corporate setting for about six years, I knew that there was more to life than just sitting behind a desk and wondering what if all of the time.  Furthermore, there were quite a few expos that I had gone to throughout the U.S. last year and I did get some looks as far as people wondering why I was at this show or that show or talking to this person or that person.  In a way, you could say that I had been dating the industry for about a year and I knew what I was wanting was to compete.  However, I did not know how or where or at first who to turn to for guidance.  Fortunately, that changed in Kansas City in May of 2010 at Muscle Mayhem, when I met Mr. Micah Lacerte and Mrs. Diana Chaloux-Lacerte.  Also, later that summer, things in my life started to take a downward spiral with finances, professional life, and people that I thought that would have my back and that supported me were not around.  Or in other words, I had to now start work on selling me.  How I would do that, that became apparent last summer.  Basically, what sparked my interest in men’s fitness was not the aesthetics whatsoever, it was just wanted to be listened to, seen, and more important…believed.  Another person that helped as well was Coach Nick Tumminelo out of Baltimore, Maryland who has an operation called Performance University in which he trains quite a few Baltimore Ravens football players and UFC fighters.  In addition, with working out more and cleaning up my diet immensely, dopamine count from my medical condition decreased drastically which meant that endorphins started to skyrocket and I was getting much leaner.  Also, I was tired of playing into what others thought about me and pleasing others in sacrificing health and happiness.  Hope that answers your question.

MP: What are some of your biggest men’s fitness accomplishments to date?

OT: With only competing & training seriously for only 10 months, I already have landed a supplement sponsor out of Dallas, Texas called Dymatize & a few weeks ago, I ended up being a co-runner up for an essay contest that was put on by Dr. Ashley Mayer out of Arizona which was sponsored by FMI (Fitness Model International).  As far as photographers are concerned, I have shot with four different ones.  My first fitness photographer was OAMG from Chicago, Illinois.  Also, I have shot with Ron Delhaye, David Bickley, and Will Patterson.  In addition, at an event called ProScout in Kansas City, MO, I landed an agent out of the Midwest that I will be signing with called The Gregory Agency.  You can also say that my biggest men’s fitness accomplishments I haven’t accomplished yet because I am not done.  ;-)  Also, my second biggest is being able to inspire others to let them know that anything is possible and letting all of the people that counted me out, criticized me, and thought that I would never be strong nor fast enough or good looking enough know that they were wrong without bludgeoning it in front of them.  So, big accomplishments, they are soon to be getting bigger.

MP: What’s your favorite thing about training?

OT: The feeling afterwards, just feeling like you accomplished a lot; and lower stress levels.  Also, any feelings of futility that one has as far as any area in their lives is usually thrown out, but I can only say that for myself though.

MP: Your trainer and nutritionist is our March Prodigy of the Month, Micah Lacerte. What has Micah done for your training and dieting regimen?

OT:  Everything and much more.  Basically, he believed in me from the very start, didn’t prequalify, created a roadmap that was realistic and achievable, and more important helped me with lifestyle changes as well.  Furthermore, the way that he conducts himself in and around the industry is very professional.  Along with him, you also have to mention Mrs. Diana Chaloux-Lacerte.  She has helped a lot as well.  And also, their friendship has been one that has kept me going.  HitchFit has done wonders for me with being diet and exercise based along with building a lifestyle in which one thinks positive about themselves while transforming and inspiring others.  Also, Micah is one that actually cares for his clients and also people that train with him and wants to see them succeed.  He is definitely people/athletes focused, or in other words “others focused” if you will.  Especially in an industry in which is typically labeled as self absorbed and obsessed by outsiders.

MP: Are you a volume or intensity guy when you hit the weights? Why do you think this philosophy has provided you with the best results?

OT:  I would say intensity due to the fact that I am still trying to get as lean as I can for the WBFF Worlds Championship in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on August 27^th, 2011 before I go on a six month bulking season.  Currently it would be intensity, but once I bulk, then it might change to volume.

MP: What do you consider your strongest lift? What have you done to get you to that point?

OT:  Due to getting lighter and lighter, strong lift would probably be non-existent due to feeling like such a wimp during this time while slicing up.  However, whenever in the off season and while wrestling in high school, I would say that squats might have been.  Not sure if that will change from September 2011-February 2012, but I would say squats.  However that could change as well.

MP: Do you believe that the muscle pump is the single best indication of a good workout or is actual fatigue the thing that plays the biggest role?

OT:  Depends on what one is training for; whether it be a sport or competition of some type and what that competition actually is.  But muscle pump being the single best indication of a good workout, absolutely not.  But that is just what I think though.

MP: What specific method (example: drop sets, pyramids, etc) do you find most effective in building lean muscle mass?

OT:  You need both.  Right now, for what I am accomplishing if one is wanting to get as lean as they can, light weights and high reps.  However, once I get closer to this show in Toronto, I will incorporate more drop sets to build a little bit.

MP: Do you believe that strength and size are correlated or can you build strength without size and vise versa?

OT:  Both of these are valid, however it does depend on one’s diet as well.

MP: Do you believe that sticking to a strict diet every single day is the best way to improve muscular vanity and balance or do you believe cheat meals are essential in getting the physique you want? Why is this so?

OT:  If used properly, depending on what one is trying to accomplish, I do think cheat meals are necessary.  If one wants more knowledge as far as cheat meals and refeeds and how to utilize, I do recommend in looking & reading some of Mr. Kelechi Opara’s articles in this area.  He knows far more about how cheat meals are to be used and when.

MP: You want to earn your pro status in the WBFF in Men’s Fitness. How do you plan on reaching that goal? When do you expect to be a pro?

OT: Counterintuitively speaking, the time line that I expect to go pro needs to be thrown out of the window.  The reason why I say this is due to the fact that I am wanting to promote quite a bit of platforms while reaching this goal.  In other words, there are many things within the industry and also outside of the men’s fitness industry that I need to do to reach this goal.  So, the “when” question, I do not feel right about time stamping that but still having pro status as a goal.  In addition, I know that I will turn pro eventually, but there is more to life than just turning pro and I have realized that throughout life whether it was in a college organization, or high school team, or whatever.  One big way is to keep surrounding myself with positive people and at any hint of negativity, cut it out immediately, no questions asked.  Even if the negativity comes from my own family, which it had last year.  Now they have been my biggest supporters.

MP: What are your future goals both personally and professionally?

OT: Professionally I would like to write for a fitness magazine, whether it be for Inside Fitness, Status Fitness, or a similar publication.  Also, would like to enter the ministry perhaps to do some sort of counseling for people that compete in this industry in some way, shape, or form; preferably to counsel male athletes first.  In addition, down the road, have thought about wanting to run for a political office & to do some investing as well as a bit of mission work.  Of course it always depends on where I am and being flexible to whatever is going on and how I can serve others.  In doing all of these things, or having this type of focus, then I will be ready to earn my pro status in the WBFF and not a moment sooner.  You could also say that these translate to personal goals as well.  In other words, personal goals are to inspire others, create opportunities around me and where I am plugged into, continue competing of course, and to train in areas and endeavors other than men’s fitness.