Future in building

Fitness Center worker Morgen Voelkner challenges mind and body training for his first bodybuilding competition; knowledge, experience open up opportunities for future

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- For over two years, Morgen Voelkner, a worker at the New Ulm Fitness Center, has been working toward a goal that challenges his physical abilities as well as his perseverance: bodybuilding.

When he began training two years ago, Voelkner knew he wanted to compete in a bodybuilding competition; he just didn't know when and where that would be. As he became more knowledgeable about what it took to become proficient in bodybuilding and toned his body, Voelkner formulated his plans, settling on a competition in Plymouth at Wayzata Central High School April 10 as his debut.

At this time last year, Voelkner had his eye on a competition, but postponed entering to be able to gain the knowledge necessary to do well.

"I found out soon enough that I lacked the knowledge for what it took to do it," he said. "I told myself that I wanted to do it, but I had no idea what it involved. So I just wasn't prepared. This is the type of thing that you have to be ready for and have the attitude that you are going to win."

And this particular contest is a little more rigorous, because it is a natural competition. Competitors cannot take anything that is not considered natural, like some legal steroids and growth hormone. To regulate this, participants take a polygraph test and urinalysis.

For supplements, Voelkner simply takes a multivitamin daily and takes care of his body to keep his body fat low and muscle mass and density growing -- something that can be difficult.

"As you get more advanced and have to do more things to keep growing, you really get creative with it," Voelkner said. Voelkner depends upon a wide variety of exercises, weights, reps and pacing to not only maintain his muscle mass and density, but also improve.

"You really have to marry your routine, make it your first priority," said Voelkner, who at peak times exercises 3-4 hours a day. "Sometimes, I've given up things with friends to come and work out. You need to fit it in."

But he was quick to point out that weight training and cardiovascular activities are just a part of the necessary training. He has researched methods used for bodybuilding at the library, the internet, and experiments in training, and he has found that diet is an aspect of bodybuilding that can't be overlooked.

"It's way more than lifting weights," he said. "Anyone can curl a dumbbell, but diet is the biggest part. That's what I'm learning more and more.

"It's really driving me insane right now (eating a certain way), but it feels good, because when I get on that stage, I know that I will look my best."

But looking good isn't the biggest thing that motivates Voelkner.

"It makes you feel really good in your body and mind -- you get a better self image," he said. "I really don't think it's a self-centered thing, but more so like a good addiction. You get done with a workout, your muscles are all pumped, and you feel like you have accomplished something."

Voelkner said he also used his training as a sort of therapy when he was having a hard time in high school. Training became a stress release for him.

Training for the competition -- and beyond -- has also led Voelkner to realize he has the desire, ability, and potentially the knowledge to attain other goals as well. Currently, Voelkner is studying on his own to get certification as a fitness professional.

"I started to get real interested in it, so I started to study it more and more," said Voelkner, who would like to go on to get certification as a personal trainer. "I really like helping people out at this job, but I'd rather train people one-on-one, because I could really give someone a lot better results."

Right now, Voelkner is concentrating on maintaining low 5.1 percent body fat and working on the poses he will have to do on stage, also hardening his muscles. He is also searching for a sponsor to defray costs and get his -- and his sponsor's -- name out there, because he would like to be able to continue with competitions.

"That's something cool about this," he said. "You can pretty much do it your whole life. There are people older than 40 who are doing competitions."